Student Handbook 2024-2025
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Contents
I. DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION ........................................................................... 4
II. THE COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH ................................................................................................................... 5
III. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ......................................................................... 5
A. MISSION, VISION, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................ 5
IV. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CODE OF ETHICS .................................................................................... 5
A. ACADEMIC HONESTY AND CODES OF CONDUCT ........................................................................................................... 5
B. ACADEMIC STANDARDS IN DRPH COURSEWORK ......................................................................................................... 5
V. ADMINISTRATION OF THE DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM ............................................................... 6
A. DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND ACADEMIC ADVISOR .............................................................. 6
B. DOCTORAL DISSERTATION COMMITTEE ...................................................................................................................... 6
VI. DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH GENERAL INFORMATION .............................................................................. 6
A. GRADUATES OF THE DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM ARE EXPECTED TO: ................................................................. 6
B. GENERAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................................ 7
C. ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT .................................................................................................................................... 7
D. CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT/RESIDENCE .................................................................................................................... 7
E. DOCTORAL TIME LIMITS .......................................................................................................................................... 7
F. SATISFACTORY PROGRESS TOWARDS DEGREE COMPLETION ........................................................................................... 8
G. TRANSFER OF CREDITS ............................................................................................................................................ 8
H. ELECTIVES ............................................................................................................................................................ 9
I. PROGRAM DISMISSALS ........................................................................................................................................... 9
J. APPEALS ............................................................................................................................................................ 10
K. DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM COMPETENCIES .............................................................................................. 11
VII. DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH CURRICULUM ............................................................................................. 13
VIII. DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH APPLIED PRACTICE EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT ......................................... 14
IX. COMPREHENSIVE DOCTORAL EXAMINATION .............................................................................................. 15
A. EXAMINATION CONTENT ....................................................................................................................................... 15
B. EXAMINATION FORMAT ........................................................................................................................................ 15
C. ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY ................................................................................................................................... 15
D. TIME LIMIT ON CANDIDACY ................................................................................................................................... 15
X. DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH DISSERTATION RESEARCH ............................................................................... 16
A. SELECTION OF DISSERTATION TOPIC AND FORMAT ..................................................................................................... 16
B. DISSERTATION COMMITTEE ................................................................................................................................... 17
C. DISSERTATION PROPOSAL DEFENSE ........................................................................................................................ 17
D. DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH FINAL DISSERTATION DEFENSE ......................................................................................... 18
ANNEX A: COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION ........................................................................................................ 19
ANNEX B: DISSERTATION PROPOSAL DEFENSE FORM .......................................................................................... 21
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Department of Health Policy and Management
Doctor of Public Health Student Handbook
2024-2025
University of Georgia Policy Statement
The University of Georgia, College of Public Health and the Department of
Health Policy and Management reserve the right to change policies, curricula,
or any matter in this handbook. Students will be notified of major changes as
soon as practicable after they are decided. Students will have the option either
to remain under the policies and curricula in place at the time of matriculation
or to accept new policies and curricula adopted by the program.
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I. Doctor of Public Health Program Administration
(Updated and Approved on May 10, 2024)*
Zhuo (Adam) Chen, PhD, MS, MMgt
DrPH Program Coordinator
Health Policy & Management
M. Mahmud Khan, PhD
Department Head and Graduate Coordinator
Health Policy & Management
Margaret McCallister, BSW
DrPH Practice Coordinator
Lindsey Welton
DrPH Admissions Coordinator
DrPH Program Committee:
Zhuo (Adam) Chen, PhD, MS, MMgt (Chair) [email protected]
Associate Professor, DrPH Program Coordinator, Health Policy & Management
M. Mahmud Khan, PhD Mahmud.khan@uga.edu
Professor, Department Head, and Graduate Coordinator, Health Policy & Management
University Professor, Health Policy & Management
Ishtiaque Fazlul, PhD ifazlul@uga.edu
Assistant Professor, Health Policy & Management
Assistant Professor, Health Policy & Management
Assistant Professor, Health Policy & Management
Assistant Professor, Health Policy & Management
Associate Professor, Health Policy & Management
Ashley Suker, MPH Ashley.Suker@uga.edu
DrPH Candidate, Health Policy & Management
*Students will be notified of any changes in the names and titles of the program
administrators, if any.
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II. The College of Public Health
The College of Public Health (CPH) at the University of Georgia (UGA) promotes
health in human populations through innovative research, exemplary education, and
is engaged in service dedicated to preventing disease and injury within the state and
around the world.
CPH is composed of four academic departments (Epidemiology and Biostatistics
(EPID & BIOS), Environmental Health Sciences (EHS), Health Promotion and Behavior
(HPB), and Health Policy and Management (HPAM)), and four institutes, Global
Health Institute, Health Informatics Institute, Institute for Disaster Management,
and Institute of Gerontology.
III. The Department of Health Policy and Management
A. Mission, Vision, Goals, and Objectives
The mission of the Department of Health Policy and Management (HPAM) is to
advance the health of the public by developing leadership expertise and promoting
an evidence-based approach to public and private policy making in health and
medicine.
IV. Student Responsibilities and Code of Ethics
A. Academic Honesty and Codes of Conduct
Students at the University of Georgia are responsible for maintaining and adhering
to the strictest standards of honesty and integrity in every aspect of their lives.
Honesty in academic matters is a large part of this obligation. Specific regulations
governing student academic conduct are contained in the UGA Student Handbook
and in the UGA culture of honesty policy:
http://www.uga.edu/honesty/ahpd/procedures.html.
The Office of Student Conduct, located in Memorial Hall, maintains and publishes
the Code of Conduct for the University office. The Code of Conduct can be found at
https://conduct.uga.edu.
No student shall perform, attempt to perform, or assist another in performing any
act of dishonesty on academic work to be submitted for academic credit or
advancement. A violation of the honesty policy does not rest upon intent.
Accordingly, a violation of the honesty policy for any reason is subject to disciplinary
action.
B. Academic Standards in DrPH Coursework
Students in this program must average at least a B (3.0 on a 4-point system) over all
graduate courses attempted. Doctor of Public Health students must maintain
“Satisfactory” performance or at least a grade of a B in all DrPH core courses. Two
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grades of “Unsatisfactory”, or two grades of “B- (B minus)” and below, or one
“unsatisfactory” or one B- and below will result in dismissal from the DrPH Program.
Please see section 0.I Program Dismissals (page 9).
V. Administration of the Doctor of Public Health Program
A. Doctor of Public Health Program Coordinator and Academic Advisor
Advising for coursework will take place each semester. The Doctor of Public Health
Program Coordinator or a member of DrPH program committee will serve as the
advisor for DrPH students regarding core coursework and electives. DrPH students
are encouraged to reach out to program committee members to discuss their
research ideas and/or to identify their academic advisor.
B. Doctoral Dissertation Committee
The Doctoral Dissertation Committee is selected in consultation with the doctoral
student, Academic Advisor, and DrPH Program Coordinator. The committee consists
of no less than two Graduate Program faculty members from the College of Public
Health, the University of Georgia, and one outside, non-UGA committee member.
The committee may be expanded to include additional members. If there are more
than three members, more than 50% must be members of the Graduate Program
Faculty. See section X. Doctor of Public Health Dissertation Research (page 2016) for
additional information
VI. Doctor of Public Health General Information
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program at the University of Georgia is an
advanced professional degree program for professionals working in the fields of
public health and health care. The program is congruent with the Institute of
Medicine’s (IOM) recommendations for linkages of academic and field experiences in
public health. The program curriculum is competency-based and is designed to
prepare public health professionals with the tools necessary for successful leadership
in addressing complex public health problems at the local, state, national, and
international levels.
The DrPH curriculum provides students with practical training in management,
leadership, policy development, and policy analysis specifically applicable to health
sector. Components of the program will include the acquisition of core as well as
specialized knowledge through coursework, interdisciplinary seminars, special
studies, an Applied Practice Experience (APE) and the development of a doctoral
dissertation relevant to the research and practice of public health and health care
delivery.
A. Graduates of the Doctor of Public Health program are expected to:
• Act as public health leaders;
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• Comprehend and integrate knowledge across traditional academic
disciplines;
• Provide sound recommendations and advice to national and international
agencies in public health;
• Communicate effectively with governments, academia, non-governmental
organizations, and the public.
B. General Degree Requirements
Students in the Doctor of Public Health program must complete 57 graduate
credit hours: 30 hours of Core courses, 12 hours of Elective courses, 3 hours of
Applied Practice Experience, and a minimum of 12 hours of Dissertation research
and preparation.
C. Annual Progress Report
The DrPH Annual Progress Report documents the overall progress the student
has made during the past academic year and must be completed by the end of
each summer term while in the program. Each student provides a summary of
the progress made within the year pertaining to course completion, Applied
Practice Experience, and the dissertation product (where applicable). Failure to
complete an Annual Progress Report will cause a hold to be placed on
registration until the Annual Progress Report has been completed and accepted
by the Research Advisor or Academic Advisor and the Program Coordinator.
Students will receive written feedback based on the annual evaluation. The
written feedback will indicate if satisfactory progress is/is not being made and
recommendations for improvement will be provided to each student.
D. Continuous Enrollment/Residence
A student must be continuously enrolled for a minimum of 2 of the 3 semesters
each year (Fall, Spring and Summer). Students who do not enroll in at least 2 out
of 3 semesters each academic year must apply for readmission to the program. If
a student is accepted after applying for readmission, the academic rules and
standards in effect at the time of readmission will supersede those in effect at
the time of initial admission. Additional information can be found at the
University of Georgia Graduate School.
https://grad.uga.edu/index.php/current-students/policies-
procedures/academics/enrollment-policy/
E. Doctoral Time Limits
The Department of Health Policy and Management requires that Doctor of Public
Health students complete the required and elective coursework and be admitted
into candidacy within six years of matriculation or risk having to repeat course
work and the comprehensive exams. Transferred credits must be within the six-
year period as well. This time requirement dates from the first registration for
graduate courses on a student’s program of study. See section IX.D for time limit
post candidacy.
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Per UGA Graduate School policy, doctoral students must complete all
requirements for the doctoral degree and the degree must be awarded within
eight (8) calendar years after initial enrollment/registration in the program. For
example, if the date of first registration for a doctoral student is the fall semester
of 2024, the eight-year time limit expires in summer semester of 2032. The
student’s time-to-degree clock starts with the first course approved for inclusion
in their doctoral Program of Study, or the date of matriculation into the program,
whichever occurred earlier. Individual colleges/schools or academic programs may
have more restrictive requirements than the above stated Graduate School policy.
The eight-year time limit does not include approved periods of leave. Additionally,
doctoral time to degree is calculated separately for degrees obtained in each
academic program.
Students who fail to complete their degrees within eight years after initial
enrollment will be considered as not making satisfactory progress to degree
completion and will be dismissed from Graduate School. The Graduate School will
notify all doctoral students when they have reached the 7-year mark to warn them
about the impending 8-year degree time limit.
Doctoral students in good academic standing who experience extenuating
circumstances that prevent them from completing their degrees within the
requisite 8 years may petition for an extension of the degree time limit to the Vice
Provost/Dean of the Graduate School. Such circumstances include military
obligations, family and medical challenges, and other life events. A petition for an
extension of the degree time limit requires support from the major professor,
graduate coordinator, and academic unit head. The maximum extension of the
degree time limit that may be granted is 24 months and the total time to degree
shall not exceed 10 years. Please refer to UGA Graduate School policy on
https://grad.uga.edu/policy-update-doctoral-time-limits/ for details on how to
request an extension.
F. Satisfactory Progress Towards Degree Completion
Doctor of Public Health students must maintain “Satisfactory” performance in
HPAM 9300: Doctoral Dissertation. Two (2) “Unsatisfactory” grades in HPAM
9300 will result in dismissal from the DrPH program. Please see Section VI.I
program dismissal policy on page 9.
G. Transfer of Credits
No courses taken prior to a doctoral student’s admission to their degree program
at The University of Georgia are eligible for transfer. Doctoral students who have
matriculated and are active in the Doctor of Public Health program may take
courses at other accredited institutions and have up to nine semester hours of
credit transferred to the UGA program of study with the prior approval of the
DrPH Program Coordinator.
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H. Electives
Students may select their electives from a list of preapproved courses or choose
courses not appearing on this list based on a discussion with their academic or
dissertation advisor. Advisors should report all non-preapproved elective
selections to the DrPH Program Coordinator in writing. The DrPH Program
Coordinator will provide a list of preapproved courses at the start of the Fall
semester or as appropriate.
Students may use HPAM 9000 (Special Topics) to fulfill the requirement of one
but no more than one elective course. Students who intend to use a HPAM 9000
to fulfill one of the elective requirements must, after consultation with the
instructor, submit a draft syllabus to the DrPH Program Coordinator for approval.
Note: The five MPH core courses within the College of Public Health will not
apply to the DrPH degree as they are considered as prerequisite for DrPH
program admission. The five courses are: BIOS 7010 – Introduction to
Biostatistics I; EHSC 7010 – Fundamentals of Environmental Health; EPID 7010 –
Introduction to Epidemiology I; HPAM 7010 – Introduction to Health Policy and
Management; HPRB 7010 – Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health.
In addition, HPAM 7410 cannot be used as one of the electives as its doctoral
equivalent, HPAM 8410, is a core course required for DrPH students.
I. Program Dismissals
Students are expected to demonstrate professional behavior while enrolled in
the graduate program and to act in a manner that demonstrates integrity and
respect for others and the campus environment. Students are expected to
adhere to all UGA policies governing research and academic conduct, non-
discrimination and anti-harassment, and workplace violence. See the following
links for detailed information:
• UGA Academic Honesty: https://honesty.uga.edu/Academic-Honesty-Policy/
• UGA Non-Discrimination & Anti-Harassment Policy:
https://eoo.uga.edu/policies/non-discrimination-anti-harassmentpolicy
• UGA Workplace Violence Policy:
http://safeandsecure.uga.edu/workplace.html
A student who has not made satisfactory and sufficient progress towards the
completion of the degree will be dismissed from the program at the end of the
semester in which failure to progress occurs. A lack of satisfactory progress
towards the degree is defined as: 1) Two consecutive semesters with a semester
GPA lower than 3.0, 2) Two failed attempts at the comprehensive examination,
3) Receipt of a grade of “Unsatisfactory” in two semesters of HPAM 9300, 4)
Failure to comply with degree program time limitations, 5) Failure to comply with
Program, Department, Graduate School, and University policies and procedures
(i.e., continuous enrollment and Academic Honesty).
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J. Appeals
Students may appeal the decision of dismissal from the Doctor of Public Health
program to the Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public
Health Curriculum and Academic Programs Committee (CAPC), and the Dean of
the College of Public Health within 30 days of being notified of the decision.
Additional information can be found at:
http://grad.uga.edu/index.php/current-students/policies-
procedures/academics/appeals/
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K. Doctor of Public Health Program Competencies
Doctor of Public Health Program Competency
Course #
Course Name
Foundational Competencies
Data & Analysis
1. Explain qualitative, quantitative, mixed
methods and policy analysis research and
evaluation methods to address health issues at
multiple (individual, group, organization,
community or population) levels.
HPAM 8300
HPAM 8850
HPAM 9200
Research Methods
Economic Evaluation Methods in Health
Doctor of Public Health Seminar II
2. Design a qualitative, quantitative, mixed
methods, policy analysis or evaluation project
to address a public health issue.
HPAM 8300
HPAM 8850
Research Methods
Economic Evaluation Methods in Health
3. Explain the use and limitations of surveillance
systems and national surveys in assessing,
monitoring and evaluating policies and program
and to address a population’s health.
HPAM 8410
HPAM 8840
Informatics and Analytics in Health
Managerial Epidemiology
Leadership, Management & Governance
4. Propose strategies for health improvement and
elimination of health inequities by organizing
stakeholders, including researchers,
practitioners, community leaders and other
partners.
HPAM 8840
HPAM 9100
HPAM 9200
Managerial Epidemiology
Doctor of Public Health Seminar I
Doctor of Public Health Seminar II
5. Communicate public health science to diverse
stakeholders, including individuals at all levels
of health literacy, for purposes of influencing
behavior and policies.
HPAM 8450
HPAM 8800
HPAM 9100
Policy Evaluation in Public Health
Leadership in Public Health
Doctor of Public Health Seminar I
6. Integrate knowledge, approaches, methods,
values and potential contributions from
multiple professions and systems in addressing
public health problems.
HPAM 8840
HPAM 8800
HPAM 8450
Managerial Epidemiology
Leadership in Public Health
Policy Evaluation in Public Health
7. Create a strategic plan.
HPAM 8700
Management of Healthcare Organizations
8. Facilitate shared decision making through
negotiation and consensus-building methods.
HPAM 8700
Management of Healthcare Organizations
9. Create organizational change strategies.
HPAM 8700
Management of Healthcare Organizations
10. Propose strategies to promote inclusion and
equity within public health programs, policies
and systems.
HPAM 8670
Law and Ethics for Public Health Practitioners
11. Assess one’s own strengths and weaknesses in
leadership capacities, including cultural
proficiency.
HPAM 9100
HPAM 9200
HPAM 8800
Doctor of Public Health Seminar I
Doctor of Public Health Seminar II
Leadership in Public Health
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12. Propose human, fiscal and other resources to
achieve a strategic goal.
HPAM 8700
Management of Healthcare Organizations
13. Cultivate new resources and revenue streams
to achieve a strategic goal.
HPAM 8700
HPAM 8850
Management of Healthcare Organizations
Economic Evaluation Methods in Health
Policy & Programs
14. Design a system-level intervention to address a
public health issue.
HPAM 8840
HPAM 9200
HPAM 9300
Managerial Epidemiology
Doctor of Public Health Seminar II
Doctor of Public Health Dissertation Research
15. Integrate knowledge of cultural values and
practices in the design of public health policies
and programs.
HPAM 9200
Doctor of Public Health Seminar II
16. Integrate scientific information, legal and
regulatory approaches, ethical frameworks and
varied stakeholder interests in policy
development and analysis.
HPAM 8760
HPAM 9100
Law and Ethics for Public Health Practitioners
Doctor of Public Health Seminar I
17. Propose interprofessional team approaches to
improving public health.
HPAM 8800
Leadership in Public Health
Education & Workforce Development
18. Assess an audience’s knowledge and learning
needs.
HPAM 9200
HPAM 8800
Doctor of Public Health Seminar II
Leadership in Public Health
19. Deliver training or educational experiences that
promote learning in academic, organizational or
community settings.
HPAM 8800
Leadership in Public Health
20. Use best practice modalities in pedagogical
practices.
HPAM 8800
HPAM 9200
Leadership in Public Health
Doctor of Public Health Seminar II
Additional Competencies: Health Management and Policy
1. Design an economic evaluation of a public health
intervention, program, or policy
HPAM 8850
Economic Evaluation Methods in Health
2. Evaluate critical needs in health information
systems and data systems of a healthcare or
public health organization
HPAM 8410
Informatics and Analytics in Health
3. Develop proficiency in data science and analytics
to address research and practical questions
related to population health and management
HPAM 8410
Informatics and Analytics in Health
HPAM 8300
Research Methods
4. Apply and then critically critique relevant ethical
and legal principles to decision-making in public
health settings
HPAM 8760
Law and Ethics for Public Health Practitioners
5. Develop financial and business plans for public
health programs and services
HPAM 8700
Management of Public Health Organizations
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VII. Doctor of Public Health Curriculum
Students in the Doctor of Public Health program must complete the credit hours in four
categories: (1) Doctor of Public Health Core (2) Elective Coursework (3) Public Health
Practicum and (4) Doctoral Dissertation Research. The Doctor of Public Health Program
Committee has general oversight of the academic aspects of all students and candidates.
Doctor of Public Health Requirements and Electives
Semester
Hours
Course #
Course Name
Fall 1
3
HPAM 8840
Managerial Epidemiology
Fall 1
3
HPAM 8760
Law and Ethics for Public Health Practitioners
Spring 1
3
HPAM 8850
Economic Evaluation Methods in Health
Spring 1
3
HPAM 8700
Management of Healthcare Organizations
Spring 1
Optional Electives *
Summer 1
3
HPAM 9100
Doctor of Public Health Seminar I
Summer 1
Optional Electives *
Fall 2
3
HPAM 8450
Policy Evaluation in Public Health
Fall 2
3
HPAM 8410
Informatics and Analytics in Health
Fall 2
Optional Electives *
Spring 2
3
HPAM 8300
Research Methods
Spring 2
3
HPAM 9200
Doctor of Public Health Seminar II
Spring 2
Optional Electives *
Summer 2
3
HPAM 8800
Leadership in Public Health
Fall 3/Summer 2
3
PBHL 9560
Applied Practice Experience
Fall 3
Optional Electives *
Fall 3
0
Comprehensive Examination
Spring 3
Elective*/ and/or Doctoral Research (HPAM 9300)^
Summer 3
Elective*/ and/or Doctoral Research (HPAM 9300)^
Fall 4 graduation
Doctoral research (HPAM 9300) ^
* Total credit hours for electives: 12 (up to 9 credit hours can be
transferred). Students can choose to take elective courses starting from
the spring semester of Year 1 or later but the total number of credits
must satisfy program requirements. A minimum of four electives are
required.
^ Minimum credit hours required for Doctoral Research: 12
57 Hours
Minimum Required for Degree Completion
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VIII. Doctor of Public Health Applied Practice Experience Requirement
The Applied Practice Experience (APE) provides students with an opportunity to apply the
knowledge and skills acquired through their coursework and further develop and demonstrate
attainment of program competencies. All Doctor of Public Health students are required to
engage in one or more applied practice experiences in which they are required to complete at
least one project that is meaningful for an organization and to advance public health practice.
Relevant organizations include governmental, non-governmental, non-profit, industrial, or for-
profit settings. The student’s own work setting may be used; however, the selected project
must not be in the realm of the day-to-day work responsibilities of the student. The work
product may be a single project or a set of related projects that demonstrate depth of
competence. The applied practice experience must be approved, in advance, by the Doctor of
Public Health Program Coordinator and DrPH Practice Coordinator.
Students will be eligible to sign up for the three-credit hour course to complete the Applied
Practice experience if the following conditions are met:
1. The student is in good academic standing as outlined by the DrPH program and
Graduate school with a GPA of 3.0 or better and no grade less than B in core courses.
2. The student has demonstrated professionalism during coursework.
3. The student has completed at least two semesters in the DrPH program and completed
all core courses, however, the final core course and the APE course may be taken
concurrently.
4. The student has met all departmental requirements, completed APE Advisement,
submitted all required documentation, and received approval from the DrPH
Coordinator and DrPH Practice Coordinator.
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IX. Comprehensive Doctoral Examination
All Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) students will be required to pass a formal, comprehensive
examination consisting of written and oral components that address the DrPH program
competencies before being admitted into doctoral candidacy. To be eligible to sit for the
examination, a student must have completed all DrPH core coursework, or must be enrolled in
the remaining, not yet completed courses in the semester of the examination. This does not
include the DrPH Applied Practice Experience or elective requirements, which may be
completed following the examination. Some additional details on comprehensive examination
are provided in Annex A of the handbook.
A. Examination Content
The written examination will consist of broad integrative case studies addressing the
breadth of competencies on the following Council on Education for Public Health
(CEPH) domains: Data & Analysis; Policy & Programs; Leadership, Management &
Governance; and Education and Workforce Development.
B. Examination Format
The comprehensive exam has a written and an oral component. Students who pass
the written component will be invited to take the oral comprehensive exam. The
written part will evaluate students' grasp on the three broad areas: data analysis;
leadership, management and workforce; and policy and programs. The oral exam
may include topics related to the coursework and written comprehensive exam.
Moreover, one part of the oral comprehensive will be dedicated to presenting the
student’s dissertation prospectus. The candidate can expect questions based on the
proposed research project. See more detail on the comprehensive exam in Annex A
C. Admission to Candidacy
Admission to candidacy for a doctoral student is requested immediately after the
successful completion of the comprehensive examination. The following is a complete
list of requirements for admission to candidacy:
1. All prerequisites set as a condition to admission have been satisfactorily
completed;
2. Completed all coursework and the public health practicum requirement;
3. The final program of study has been approved by the Doctor of Public Health
Program Coordinator and the HPAM Graduate Coordinator;
4. An average grade point of 3.0 (B) has been maintained on all graduate courses
taken and on all completed courses on the program of study (no course with a
grade below “B-” may be included in the final program of study);
5. Comprehensive doctoral examinations have been passed.
D. Time Limit on Candidacy
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The dissertation must be completed within five years following admission to candidacy.
Student should carefully select the scope of the dissertation so that the work can be
completed within the time limit. Student must complete all doctoral degree
requirements in eight years. See Section 0.E for time limit on coursework.
In exceptional circumstances, a student may request extension of time limit by providing
a detailed timeline and plan for completing the dissertation with supporting letters from
the chair of the dissertation committee, the DrPH Program Coordinator and the
Graduate Coordinator of HPAM Department. 0EThis request for an extension of time
must include the specific reasons that the student did not complete the requirements in
the time allotted. The student must include a specific timeline for the completion of
degree requirements. The student’s major professor must review the student’s request
and write a letter to the Vice Provost and Dean of the UGA Graduate School stating
approval or disapproval of the petition. The graduate coordinator and department head
must review the major professor’s recommendation and indicate their concurrence by
writing an additional letter. If they do not concur with the recommendation, further
information should be provided by them in the letter. An extension of time may be
granted only on conditions beyond the control of the student.
X. Doctor of Public Health Dissertation Research
The University of Georgia Doctor of Public Health integrates foundational knowledge, such as
public health theories and methods; competencies of leadership, management, communication
and innovation to enable change and field engagements to translate knowledge into practice.
The culminating experience will provide the candidate with an opportunity to practice and
develop their personal leadership skills while engaging in a project that contributes
substantively to public health results. The dissertation is expected to analyze and propose
solutions to health policy, management or leadership issues by applying new theoretical or
analytic approaches to current problems in health care.
Additional guidelines are in UGA DrPH Dissertation Guide.
A. Selection of Dissertation Topic and Format
Each candidate will prepare a dissertation demonstrating the ability to analyze and
solve complex, practice-based problems in public health policy, management and
leadership. The dissertation should reflect a variety of perspectives needed to meet
major public health challenges and should include explicit solutions, strategies and
implications for high-level public health and health care leadership officials. Students
will apply DrPH foundational and additional competencies in the process of
developing and executing their dissertation projects. Thus, an acceptable DrPH
dissertation will:
• Address a complex public health problem of strategic importance to public health;
• Advance or contribute to the evidence base of public health practice;
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• Utilize an explicit methodology and study design that clearly specified and
specifically designed to address the problem selected for investigation, as
effectively addressing complex problems often requires an integration of analytic
methods;
• Draw upon and be grounded in both the scholarly and practice literature in an
effort to establish a conceptual framework for the dissertation;
• Contain clear public health leadership implications;
• Must be publishable findings or research.
The format will be determined largely by the nature of the public health problem
addressed. Appropriate dissertation formats may include:
• Case studies and policy, management, and leadership analyses;
• Development of new practice interventions;
• Design and implementation of public health programs;
• Program or policy evaluations;
• Historical program or policy analyses;
• Substantial legislative proposals.
The Doctor of Public Health dissertation could be based on original and/or outside
data collection by the student. Use of secondary data for Doctor of Public Health
dissertation is also acceptable, if appropriate for the dissertation topic selected.
B. Dissertation Committee
The dissertation committee will consist of at least 3 members: at least 2 UGA
Graduate Program Faculty members (1 must be from the Department of Health
Policy and Management), and 1 outside practitioner in the related field of research.
Chair of the dissertation committee must be a regular Graduate Program Faculty at
College of Public Health, UGA. A regular Graduate Program Faculty at other colleges
and units of UGA may serve as a Chair of the DrPH dissertation committee with
strong justifications.
To ensure an objective evaluation of the dissertation, no immediate family member
(spouse, parents, siblings, children, and in-laws of the same) of the student nor
anyone who is in romantic relationship with the student can serve on the student’s
dissertation committee.
Outside committee members must:
• hold a terminal degree in their field or have a high level of expertise,
• be approved by the DrPH Program Coordinator and the Graduate School.
C. Dissertation Proposal Defense
The dissertation proposal should provide a clear and thorough plan of the proposed
research. The proposal should include the first three chapters of what will become
the dissertation. The three chapters are: Chapter 1: Introduction and Background;
Chapter 2: Literature Review; Chapter 3: Methods.
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The students should request approval of the proposal using “Doctor of Public Health
(DrPH) Program Dissertation Proposal Defense Form” from their committee and file
the signed form with the DrPH Program for record.
Students must be registered for at least 3 credit hours during the semester they
defend their dissertation proposal.
D. Doctor of Public Health Final Dissertation Defense
Candidates must be registered during the semester they have their final oral defense
of their dissertation. If the student plans to defend during the summer, he or she
must be registered for dissertation credit hours during the summer session.
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Annex A: Comprehensive Examination
All students eligible to take the comprehensive examination should contact the DrPH
Coordinator of their intention to take the examination at least three months prior to the
scheduled examination start date. The examination will be made accessible via eLC
beginning at 12:01 am on the start date of the examination. There will be two offerings
of the comprehensive examination in an academic year: around mid-October and around
mid-March. Students can select any of these two offerings to sit for the examination.
The comprehensive examination is divided into three sections. The sections are listed below:
1. Data and Analysis,
2. Leadership, Management and Workforce, and
3. Policy and Programs.
Each section will include a multi-part question or case study that is reflective of the
programmatic competencies and the relevant content covered in the DrPH core courses.
Students will have an opportunity to attend an information session to ask questions
about the format of the examination and/or any other examination related issues. The
faculty members writing the questions will be present in the information session to
provide general guidelines on the examination and type of questions to expect.
Each exam will be deidentified and graded blindly. Students should not mention their
names or any other form of personal identification in their responses to the questions.
Full examination instructions will be sent to students via email and/or placed on the eLC
Doctor of Public Health Comprehensive Examination webpage. The faculty members
writing the examination questions will grade the questions and the grades will be sent to
the Graduate Coordinator of the Department within three weeks after the final
comprehensive examination date.
A grade of 75% or higher must be achieved in order to successfully pass each section of
the exam. Graduate Coordinator of the Department will notify students on the
examination results within five weeks from the final day of the comprehensive
examination. After successful completion of all three sections of the written
comprehensive examination, the student can proceed to the oral comprehensive
examination.
In the oral portion of the comprehensive examination, student may present a potential
dissertation prospectus, explaining the problem being addressed by the proposed
dissertation research, methodology to be used, analytical or statistical approaches,
results and policy implications. All students passing the written examination are required
to take the oral comprehensive examination in the same semester the written
examination was successfully completed.
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In case a student fails one or more sections of the comprehensive examination, the
sections in which the student failed will be graded by second readers selected by the
Graduate Coordinator of the Department. The second readers will evaluate the
examination questions independently. Graduate Coordinator will receive the grades from
the first and second graders. If the second grader’s grade agrees with the first grader, the
final grade on that question will be “Fail”. In case of disagreement on the grade by first
and second grader (first grader grading the section as “fail” but the second grader
grading the section as “pass”), Graduate Coordinator will arrange a meeting of the two
graders to come up with a consensus grade and the consensus grade will be the final
grade for the section. If a student fails one section out of three sections of the
examination, the student will be permitted to retake that section in the next offering of
the comprehensive examination. If a student fails two or more sections of the
examination in the first attempt, she/he will have to retake the entire comprehensive
examination (all three sections) in a future offering of the comprehensive examination,
preferably the next offering of comprehensive examination.
A student may request reevaluation of grades assigned on the comprehensive
examination by notifying the Graduate Coordinator in writing within 10 days after the
receipt of the results via e-mail. The Graduate Coordinator will review the request based
on the information provided in the request and, if needed, will request the graders to
reevaluate the sections based on the specific issues and concerns raised in the
reevaluation request. The graders will provide their reevaluation results within a week
after the start of the reevaluation process.
If a student fails one or more sections of the comprehensive examination in the
second attempt, the student will immediately be dismissed from the Doctor of Public
Health Program.
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Annex B: Dissertation Proposal Defense Form
UGA DrPH Dissertation Proposal Defense Form
Student Name: UGA ID Number
Date (Semester/Year) of Comprehensive Exam Completion:
Approved Program of Study Attached: Yes No
Date of Proposal Defense:
Proposal Title:
_ __ ___ __ __ ___ __ ___ __ __ __ ___ __ ___ __ __
Student Signature:
Vote of Student’s Advisory Committee:
Print Name Signature
Date
Pass
Fail
(chair)
(member)
(ext. member)
Approvals
Program Coordinator Date
Department Head Date
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University of Georgia Doctor of Public Health Program
Dissertation Proposal Defense
A. Instructions for DrPH Students:
Prior to submitting your dissertation topic approval request to the DrPH Committee, confirm with members of your
dissertation committee have read and support your topic approval request. Once you have finalized your
dissertation topic with your dissertation committee, complete the form and include this document with your
dissertation topic approval request, which should be submitted to the Program Coordinator [email protected] no later
than one week of the proposed date of proposal defense.
Competency Requirements
On a separate page, DrPH candidates must identify the foundational and concentration competencies (listed in the
DrPH Program Guidebook) that they will apply in the process of developing and executing their dissertation
projects. Candidates must also discuss how they intend to synthesize these competencies to achieve their
objectives.
B. Instructions for Dissertation Committee Members:
Please read your doctoral candidate’s dissertation topic approval request and, if necessary, suggest any needed
revisions. A typical successful proposal should have the following components:
• On a title page, present the formal title of the dissertation and the list of your committee members and
clearly state the public health question that you are addressing in this dissertation.
• How will your dissertation improve the public’s health in a practical way by contributing to the solution of a
current public health problem while providing some generalizable lessons practitioners can use?
• How will the research be carried out? (The more explicit students can be concerning their research design
and methods, the greater the likelihood for approval by the DrPH Dissertation Committee.)
The program’s goal is to have the student explicitly identify the public health practice relevance of the topic and
briefly describe his or her chosen methodology so that the DrPH Dissertation Committee has confidence it will be
completed.
• Once the student has produced a satisfactory topic approval request, please signify your agreement by
checking the box next to your name.
• After the topic is approved by the DrPH Dissertation Committee, the student will work with you and your
colleagues on the student’s dissertation committee to complete a formal dissertation proposal and,
ultimately, his or her dissertation.
