Doctor of Public Health

Admission into the graduate programs within the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH) is competitive. Decisions are based on the applicant’s demonstrated ability to excel at graduate work and alignment of the applicant’s research/career goals with faculty interests and abilities.

Deadline

Applications for the JPHCOPH graduate programs are accepted for Fall admission only.

February 1 — Final Deadline for all DrPH applicants.

Application Timeline

Please refer to the timeline in the SOPHAS Quick Start Guide.

• SOPHAS Timeline – To ensure your application is forwarded (sent) to JPHCOPH on time, all materials should be received by SOPHAS at least four (4) weeks prior to the JPHCOPH application deadline date. Once your application is considered complete, it can take up to four (4) weeks to be processed and verified by SOPHAS.
• Georgia Southern University Timeline – The DrPH Admissions committee will begin reviewing all applications immediately after the admissions deadline. Applicants passing an initial review will be notified to schedule a virtual or in-person interview. After all interviews have been completed, decisions will be made and promptly communicated to applicants.
• Waitlist – Applicants may be placed on a waitlist to be considered for admission later in the admissions review cycle. In this case, the applicant will be notified by email and offered the opportunity to remain on the waitlist or to be removed from the applicant pool. Waitlist candidates will receive information regarding their updated status on or before May 1.

Application Support

For technical support questions such as how to submit supporting documents, please visit the SOPHAS Applicant Help Center.

For more information on the DrPH program, please reach out to JPHCOPH Admissions.

Regular Admission

1. Application – Completion of an application in Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS).
2. Degree – Completion of a master’s or terminal degree** from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants who do not have a graduate degree in public health will be required to complete prerequisite public health coursework*.
3. Transcripts – Official transcript(s) from each college or university previously attended. A transcript is required even if the courses from one school appear on the transcript of another school. SOPHAS will not process your application without receiving all official transcripts. Please refer to the SOPHAS Applicant Help Center for instructions on Sending Official Transcripts to SOPHAS.
   • All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES). Visit World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation to view which documents are required for your country and to request an International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) Course-by-Course Report.
   • Transcript(s) should show completion of at least one (1) graduate-level core course in each of the following five (5) areas: biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences in public health, health policy and management and environmental health. (Applicants may be asked to provide syllabi for courses taken.)
   • Courses must have been completed in the last five (5) years and each must have been passed with a grade of “B” or better. Applicants who have not completed these courses but whose applications show exceptional potential for success in the DrPH program may be admitted but will be required to complete the courses (as presented in the JPHCOPH MPH core course requirements) with grades of “B” or better before progressing to the Public Health Core and Concentration Courses of the DrPH program. If the applicant has completed a master’s degree in a field other than public health, professional public health work experience in one or more of the five core areas may be substituted for the corresponding MPH-level courses at the discretion of the College. Applicants who took these courses more than five years ago but who work in the public health field may request a waiver. Requests for this waiver must be submitted in writing to jphcoph-admissions@georgiasouthern.edu.
4. Grade Point Average (GPA) – Preferred minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 scale in graduate courses. Competitive candidates will have a graduate GPA of 3.5 or higher.
5. Quantitative/Analytic Experience and Ability – Provide a concise statement detailing your previous quantitative/analytic experience, such as courses completed (whether for credit), quantitative/analytic work completed for research and publications in which you meaningfully took part, standardized test scores and/or work experience. Please use this statement to detail what you have accomplished and, if applicable, how you have used your abilities outside of the classroom. In addition, provide examples of the experience/ability included in your statement.
6. English Language Proficiency – International applicants and U.S. citizens whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. Prior to consideration for admission, international applicants whose native language is not English must take and post acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), unless they have received a degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada (except Quebec), Australia or New Zealand. The TOEFL and IELTS examinations are administered at various times of the year and in many centers throughout the world.
   • A score of at least 75 (internet-based test, IBT) or 537 (paper-based test) on the TOEFL and 6.0 on the IELTS is normally required to be considered for regular admission. The official TOEFL and the official IELTS scores may not be more than two (2) years old. Those who do not meet the minimum proficiency standard may be recommended for enrollment in University English courses or for English courses offered by the English Language Program (ELP) on campus. Successful completion of Intensive English Programs (IEPs) at other English Language Program (ELP) providers will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
7. Letters of Recommendation – Three (3) letters of recommendation. It is strongly advised that two letters be from individuals who can address your past academic performance, and it is encouraged that the third letter be from a work or internship supervisor.
8. Curriculum Vitae/Résumé – A CV/résumé that includes the following: a) educational experiences, b) professional goals and objectives, c) work history, d) professional experiences, memberships and/or participation in professional organizations, and e) experiences in public health programs. For the Public Health Leadership concentration, a minimum of three (3) years of experience in public health, health care or a closely related area are required. Work experience is not required for applicants to the Biostatistics, Community Health Behavior and Education, Epidemiology, or Health Policy and Management concentrations.
9. Statement of Purpose – A Statement of Purpose (700-1,000 words) that conveys the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a DrPH and how admission into the program relates to the applicant’s professional aspirations.
10. Interview – Applicants demonstrating potential for success in the DrPH program may be required to participate in an in-person or telephone interview prior to a final decision by the admissions committee.

*Some students may be required to take prerequisite coursework prior to beginning the program of study. Conditions of admission will be presented at the student’s first advisement appointment.

** Acceptable terminal degrees include M.D., J.D., DrPH or Ph.D.

Other Important Links

• JPHCOPH Graduate Application FAQs
• Application Deadlines
• DrPH Graduation Requirements
• Doctorate Non-Degree Requirements
• DrPH Competencies and Outcomes
• Plans of Study
• Disclosures

Contact Information

jphcoph-admissions@georgiasouthern.edu

912-478-2674

At Georgia Southern, enjoy the flexibility of fully online courses that fit within your busy schedule, allowing you to study while you continue to work and earn. Online instructors weave interactive experiences into each course, ensuring you engage at a deeper level. 

Plus, you’ll have access to an academic and technical support team, so you’re never on your own.

For All Online Programs

Federal law requires colleges and universities to make certain disclosures to prospective students of these programs. These disclosures include information on the University’s authority to operate outside of Georgia, complaint processes, adverse actions, and refunds.

For required disclosures in general with regard to online programs offered by the University, visit the Office of Legal Affairs website.

The Doctor of Public Health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.