Doctor of Public Health Program
The National Institutes of Health defines the four components of public health as health, population, society-wide issues, and vulnerable populations. As a public health professional, you already know public health entails much more than disease monitoring.
You create public policy, prepare for natural disasters, address environmental impact, ensure access to health services, and act as a barometer of society’s overall well- being.
The goal of East Carolina University’s Doctor of Public Health program is to extend your knowledge and advance your leadership skills. Our public health degree places emphasis on rural, underserved, and multicultural communities. ECU’s DrPH online program helps you leverage your current expertise by training you to be a transformative public health leader.
Our Doctor of Public Health offers two concentration areas to align with your individual interests:
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Health Policy, Administration, and Leadership.
With ECU’s public health online degree, you’ll be empowered to defend and protect all human rights.
Why earn your public health degree At ECU?
ECU’s Doctor of Public Health program offers two focus areas. Choose the concentration that meets your career goals:
Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH)
Our Doctor of Public Health, EOH concentration program is designed for mid- to senior-level public health and healthcare professionals who are seeking executive leadership roles in the field of environmental public health.
If you are interested in conducting environmental research, creating solutions to maintain the health and safety of communities, and advancing sustainability, the DrPH, EOH is worth exploring.
Health policy, administration, and leadership (HPAL)
The HPAL concentration of East Carolina public health degree program is designed for mid-to senior level public health and health care professionals seeking preparation for executive administrative leadership, research and teaching in academic settings. If you are interested in advancing your public health policy, administration and leadership skills, this applied, practice-based, concentration is tailor-made for you.
ECU’s Brody School of Medicine is exceptional
Whichever Doctor of Public Health concentration you select, you’ll receive a comprehensive, in-depth education from a multidisciplinary faculty. The faculty members of our DrPH are recognized as leaders in public health.
You’ll also be eligible for competitive Doctor of Public Health assistantships associated with Brody School of Medicine.
Courses you will take to earn your public health online degree
ECU’s Doctor of Public Health provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary curriculum.
Courses in the EOH concentration of your DrPH include:
- Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
- Environmental and Occupational Exposure Assessment
- Pests and Vector Borne Diseases
Sample courses you’ll take if you choose the HPAL focus:
- Health Information Systems
- Quality Improvement and Cost Effectiveness
- Strategic Planning Theory and Practice
To review all of the courses of our public health online degree programs, visit the department catalog page.
What can you do with your public health online degree?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 16% growth for health-related occupations through 2030—a rate much faster than the average for all occupations.
Environmental and occupational health jobs include:
- Epidemic intelligence officer
- Academic professor
- Environmental health science engineer
- Industrial hygienist
- Occupational medicine physician
- Global health worker
Examples of health policy, administration, and leadership jobs:
- Hospital executive leadership
- Health insurance executive positions
- Governmental (local, state, military) public health officers
- Health management/research organizations
- Long term care administration/policy positions
- Academic professor
Where do Doctors of Public Health work?
- Local, state, and federal government agencies
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting firms
- Engineering firms
- Health care facilities
Get started on your public health online degree
The benefit of applying your public health degree from ECU cannot be overstated. Are you ready to take your career to the next level with a DrPH? Connect with East Carolina University today.
How to Apply
For DrPH admissions consideration, a two-step application submission process is required. (1) Applicants must first apply through SOPHAS. Upon submission of your SOPHAS application, you will receive a unique applicant ID. (2) The provided SOPHAS ID is required to begin, and subsequently submit, an additional application through the ECU Graduate School.
All applicants to the program should submit the following to SOPHAS:
- Application and fees
- Transcripts
- 3 letters of recommendation from an academic advisor, professor, and/or supervisor (non-relatives)
- Letter of intent (essay)
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Once the SOPHAS application has been submitted. Please apply to the ECU Graduate School. The above documents DO NOT need to be resubmitted!
ECU Graduate School
131 Ragsdale Hall
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858
Degree programs related to the Doctor of Public Health
ECU offers three robust certificate programs that align with your Doctor of Public Health:
Accreditation for the Doctor of Public Health program
East Carolina University’s Doctor of Public Health Program is nationally accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health through 2027.