"For my dissertation I will be studying the experience of young Mexican women who have immigrated to the United States, specifically assessing the potential influence of racial, ethnic, and social stratification on the sexual decision-making and reproductive health of this population. Based on my findings, I hope to develop interventions aimed at addressing these structural forces which result in widespread inequality and poor health."
"Prior to my enrollment at UC Berkeley, I worked as a technology and strategy consultant for a wide array of organizations in the health care and public health arenas. My work focused primarily on preparedness for disaster situations, including surveillance of disease trends. My experiences underscored the importance of choosing a degree program focused on practice and leadership in order to further my long-term career goals; this was one of the primary criteria I considered in my choice of the Dr.P.H. program at UC Berkeley."AREAS OF CONCENTRATION
Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.)
Overview
The Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.) degree program is an interdisciplinary, school wide professional degree program which trains doctoral students to be research leaders, public health policymakers and public health practitioners. The Dr.P.H. degree is conferred in recognition of a candidate's command of a comprehensive body of knowledge in the field of public health and related disciplines, and of the candidate's proven ability to initiate, organize, and pursue the investigation of significant problems or interventions in public health.
The focus of this degree is the development of transdisciplinary knowledge about the determinants of health, and the scientific and professional leadership skills to translate this knowledge into effective health interventions.
Those who earn this degree are expected to occupy leadership positions that have major influence on public health research, policies, programs, systems, and institutions. Such leadership may be in diverse settings at the international, national, state, or local levels, and in the public, private and academic sectors.
Curriculum & Requirements
The Dr.P.H. program is a full-time campus based program of study designed to be completed in three or four years for those applicants with an M.P.H. from an CEPH accredited institution and at least two years of postgraduate professional public health leadership experience. Any students with deficiencies in coursework equivalent in content to the M.P.H. at UC Berkeley must take prerequisite courses during the first year of the program.
Students participate in an integrative doctoral training program that incorporates knowledge and skills from all divisions of the School of Public Health as well as the Schools of Education, Public Policy, Social Welfare, and the Haas School of Business. The required course work consists of 4 full-time semesters (48 units) and a minimum of 12 units of dissertation research credits. This course work encompasses a thorough grounding in leadership, research methods, and the application of these methods to the analysis of public health and policy issues. Due to the diverse experience each student brings to the program, it is expected that students will select courses and independent studies that advance their knowledge and ultimately their proficiency in all of the required core and breadth knowledge areas listed below.
Core
A minimum of one course is required in each of these areas:
- Management
- Research Design and Methods
- Public Health Ethics
- Leadership
Breadth
A minimum of one course is required in two of these areas:
- Health Politics and Policy Analysis
- Public Health Interventions
- Environmental Health Sciences
Each student is also required to complete a research and/or professional residency in a public health setting that will provide the opportunity to advance knowledge and skills, identify data for dissertation research, conduct analyses, and participate in decision making. Examples include: positions with local, state, or national legislatures, international agencies, city, county, and state departments of public health or health services, multi-hospital systems, and large health maintenance organizations.
For more detailed information on the Dr.P.H. program visit:
http://drph.berkeley.edu/programinfo/
Fall 2008 Admissions Statistics:
- Admission Ratio: 19% (9/48)
- Average GPA of admitted applicants: 3.54
- Average GRE scores of admitted applicants:
Verbal - 600, 79%; Quantitative - 690, 70%
What we look for in competitive applicants:
Applicants must hold an M.P.H. from an CEPH accredited school and have a minimum of two years of professional public health experience post-master's degree. Any students with deficiencies in coursework equivalent in content to the M.P.H. at UC Berkeley must take prerequisite courses during the first year of the program equivalent to the following:
- PH 200C: Public Health Core Breadth Course
- PH 200D: M.P.H. Integrative Breadth Course
- PH 142: Introduction to Probability and Statistics in Biology and Public Health
- PH 250A: Epidemiologic Methods
Employment Opportunities:
UC Berkeley Dr.P.H. graduates are now employed in leading universities, policy research centers, and "think tanks" across the country and internationally.