Best Online Doctor of Public Health Degree Programs

Earning an online Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree can provide a significant boost to your career and enable you to give back to your local community. However, the question remains: would a PhD be a better fit for your professional aspirations? Moreover, should you consider a traditional on-campus program before exploring hybrid or online alternatives? Every individual has unique preferences and career goals, but here are three factors to consider before deciding if online DrPH programs are the right choice for you.

Professional experience. Typically, online DrPH programs attract public health professionals with a minimum of three years of leadership experience. These programs are designed to refine existing skills and equip graduates with the knowledge and tools needed to better address community health needs both medically and administratively. Coursework may cover topics such as public policy, the development and management of public health campaigns, and effective communication with diverse populations. If you believe that these skills align with your career objectives and personal growth goals in public health, then pursuing a DrPH may be a wise decision.

Career objectives. If you are considering an online DrPH program, start by assessing your long-term career aspirations in the field. If your goal is to secure a leadership position such as public health information officer, community health director, or research analyst, an online Doctor of Public Health degree could be the ideal path for you. However, if you are drawn to research and academia, pursuing a PhD may be the more appropriate choice.

Flexibility. Online DrPH programs are designed to be flexible, with most interactions and collaboration taking place through online channels. Asynchronous programs offer even more flexibility, allowing you to focus on coursework outside of business hours and on days that suit your schedule. Although there may be deadlines, you can choose when and how to work toward them. Synchronous programs are less flexible but still leverage online platforms. For example, students and professors often meet during pre-set hours, with live presentations and other activities taking place in real-time. If you value flexibility in work or study schedules, pursuing a DrPH degree could be the perfect fit for you.

Depending on the program, DrPH students may be able to complete their studies entirely online, while other programs require that students complete some work online and some work on campus. In these programs, much of the curriculum can be done independently, so courses in areas such as organizational leadership, health behavior theory, epidemiology methods, health care marketing and public relations, and health policy can be taken online. However, in some cases, students are required to receive hands-on training. For example, Capella University offers an online DrPH program that requires a practicum, where students are expected to receive 100 hours of supervised training in a public health setting that has been approved by the school. During this time, students apply the skills they learned to the real-world, day-to-day issues that public health professionals face, and at the end of the practicum, they write a capstone paper that is the culmination of the competencies they gained throughout the program.

Admissions requirements for online DrPH programs vary from one school to the next. However, prospective students are generally expected to:

• have a public health master’s degree from a school accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health
• earn a certain minimum score on the GRE
• submit writing samples
• have a 3.5 minimum grade point average
• submit letters of recommendation
• submit a statement of purpose
• submit a resume
• have work experience in the public health field

Students who enroll in an online DrPH program can usually concentrate their studies on a more specific aspect of public health. In fact, most students apply to and enroll in programs with specific concentrations that dovetail with their current profession. The following are examples of some of the concentrations that programs may offer.

• Advanced leadership. This concentration is designed to help students hone their leadership skills and meet the challenges that come with running a public health care facility. Students who pursue this area may take coursework in organizational behavior, public health advocacy, and social media marketing.
• Cancer prevention and control. With the effect of cancer devastating the lives of so many families around the country, some public health professionals may want to dedicate their careers to addressing this problem in their community. Students who enroll in this concentration learn about the environmental factors that contribute to the development of cancer, as well as how to track, control, and prevent the disease.
• Demographic-focused studies. This specialization addresses the public health concerns of specific demographics in a community, such as women, the elderly, children, or people who are a member of a specific cultural or racial group.
• Environmental health. The curriculum of this concentration addresses the relationship between the environment and the health conditions that people may develop. Specific topics studied may include water quality, environmental chemistry and biology, toxicology, air quality, and industrial hygiene.
• Global health. Professionals who want to expand their understanding of public health issues beyond borders may enroll in a global health problem to learn about the complex issues that affect populations around the world.
• Public health policy and law. Students who want to focus their studies on how health care and law intersect can enroll in this concentration to take coursework about advocacy, drug regulations, legal analysis, and health care ethics.

While both the DrPH and PhD degrees are at the doctoral level, they are not interchangeable. Understanding the differences between the two is essential for students to select the degree that aligns with their career aspirations. For those seeking a program that focuses on practical training to prepare for leadership roles in public health, a DrPH may be the better option. On the other hand, a PhD in public health is suitable for individuals interested in pursuing an academic career.

Does a PhD sound like the better fit? Read our full page about blended and online PhDs in public health.

Capstone projects and dissertations are similar in that they require students to demonstrate their knowledge of a curriculum or academic field. However, capstone projects are designed to deliver a solution to a real-world problem and have a training component where students get hands-on experience in a public health setting. Dissertations add to the academic research of the field, and students conduct original research to an original and relevant issue.

When DrPH hopefuls research schools, they should not only consider how the curriculum fits into their career goals, but also how the cost fits into their budgets. Since an online doctor of public health is a commitment of both time and money, students should look at the cost involved with earning this degree, as well as the financial aid that may be available to them. The following table outlines how much five different schools charge for their DrPH programs.

As prospective online DrPH students research the schools they’re interested in, they should also add accreditation to the list of characteristics they want in a school. However, it’s important to know what kind of accreditation to look for. Regional accrediting agencies—like the Higher Learning Commission and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges—provide accreditation to the school as a whole. While important, people should also look for public health programs that have been accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, which ensures the curriculum of a DrPH has been evaluated for quality by people with industry knowledge and experience.