DrPH Competencies & Outcomes

1. The learner will be able to apply evidence-based practice and research methods to advance the field of public health.
2. The learner will be able to apply relevant scientific knowledge, legal approaches, ethical principles, and stakeholders’ cultural perspectives to address public health problems.
3. The learner will be able to formulate strategies for effectively communicating information on public health issues that are appropriate for different stakeholder groups and are guided by principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Profession & Science of Public Health

1. Explain public health history, philosophy, and values

2. Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Services

3. Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health

4. List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. or other community relevant to the school or program, with attention to disparities among populations, e.g., socioeconomic, ethnic, gender, racial, etc.

5. Discuss the science of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc.

6. Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge

Factors Related to Human Health

7. Explain effects of environmental factors on a population’s health

8. Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population’s health

9. Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population’s health

10. Explain the cultural, social, political, and economic determinants of health and how the determinants relate to population health and health inequities

11. Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease

12. Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health, and ecosystem health (e.g., One Health)

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, and population) levels

2. Design a qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, policy analysis, or evaluation project to address a public health issue

3. Explain the use and limitations of surveillance systems and national surveys in assessing, monitoring, and evaluating policies and programs and to address a population’s health

Leadership, Management & Governance

4. Propose strategies for health improvement and elimination of health inequities by organizing partners, including researchers, practitioners, community leaders, and others

5. Communicate public health science to diverse audiences, including individuals at all levels of health literacy, for purposes of influencing behavior and policies

6. Integrate knowledge, approaches, methods, values, and potential contributions from multiple professions, sectors, and systems in addressing public health problems

7. Create a strategic plan

8. Facilitate shared decision making through negotiation and consensus-building methods

9. Create organizational change strategies

10. Propose strategies to promote inclusion within public health programs, policies, and systems

11. Assess one’s own strengths and weaknesses in leadership capacities, including cultural proficiency

12. Propose human, fiscal, and other resources to achieve a strategic goal

13. Cultivate new resources and revenue streams to achieve a strategic goal

Policy & Programs

14. Design a system-level intervention to address a public health issue

15. Integrate community-informed knowledge such as cultural values and practices in the design of public health policies and programs

16. Integrate scientific information, legal and regulatory approaches, ethical frameworks, and varied parties’ interests in policy development and analysis

17. Propose interprofessional and/or intersectoral team approaches to improving public health

Education & Workforce Development

18. Assess an audience’s knowledge and learning needs

19. Deliver training or educational experiences that promote learning in academic, organizational, or community settings

20. Use best practice modalities in pedagogical practices

Biostatistics Competencies

1. Interpret analytic methods used in the public health and biomedical journals, as well as critique published reports of public health and biomedical experiments as to the validity of the inferential conclusions.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in statistical software such as SAS or R to handle complex public health and biomedical data analysis problems.
3. Develop the statistical plan for clinical trials.
4. Demonstrate the ability to flexibly apply prior information to solve a wide range of public health biomedical problems using Bayesian Analysis.
5. Demonstrate the comprehension of the underlying statistical theory that supports the biostatistical methodology.

Community Health Behavior and Education Competencies

1. Analyze theories, concepts and models from a range of social and behavioral disciplines in public health research and practice.
2. Develop collaborative partnerships with community stakeholders, policy makers, or other relevant groups.
3. Assess and argue cultural, environmental, and social justice influences on the health of communities.
4. Adapt evidence-based public health programs and research to address geographic disparities.
5. Demonstrates the ability to facilitate group discussion around sensitive topics ensuring inclusion of ideas and resolution of challenges.

Epidemiology Competencies

1. Demonstrate the ability to identify deficiencies in scientific knowledge or public health practice using existing sources of epidemiologic data.
2. Construct a public health and epidemiologic research question from ideas, conditions, or events using critical thinking skills.
3. Utilize advanced epidemiologic research methods to inform public health action.
4. Develop a data analysis plan using appropriate statistical tools and methodology to analyze and summarize epidemiological data.
5. Disseminate information based on advanced epidemiologic studies to lay or professional audiences.

Health Policy

1. Appraise how relevant policy process theories and/or models are used to understand public health issues.
2. Select relevant informatics principles in the design of public health information systems.
3. Evaluate the potential of health policies to mitigate health disparity and inequity for rural & underserved populations.
4. Apply appropriate research methods to address public health policy issues, particularly concerning rural and underserved populations.
5. Develop advocacy and communication strategies to inform public health policy development & decision-making.

Public Health Leadership Competencies

1. Propose leadership skills for building partnerships in public health.
2. Evaluate how information systems can assist decision makers in solving public health issues and problems.
3. Appraise existing policies, evaluate impacts, assess options, and propose modifications to improve the health status of populations.
4. Evaluate a public-health focused organizational strategic plan that aligns with organizational mission.
5. Analyze the financial status of public health/healthcare organizations to inform internal and external decision-making.