The Penn State Nittany Lion statue is seen in the courtyard at Penn State College of Medicine.

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Program

Providing Advanced Public Health Education

The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree is the terminal professional degree in Public Health.

Our program is designed to provide advanced public health education and training.

We prepare our graduates for evidence-based practice and translational science leadership.

DrPH graduates pursue career opportunities in federal, state, and local government, as well as in non-profit, academic, and private sectors.

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About the Program

Curriculum

DrPH students must complete a minimum of 45 credits of coursework plus 15 credits of doctoral research and advanced field experience beyond a master’s degree.

Within these credits, students complete focused study in an advanced area such as evidence-based public health intervention, public health preparedness or social marketing and behavior, among many other topics.

Select courses are offered in the late afternoons or evenings to accommodate working students, and several courses can be completed at Penn State’s University Park, Harrisburg, Great Valley, or World (online) campuses.

Learn more about the DrPH curriculum.

Upcoming Events in PHS

Accreditation

The logo for the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is a circle with the words Master's/Doctoral CEPH Accredited and an image of three red and gray interlocking circles.

The DrPH degree program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

To request a copy of our accreditation self-study document and final accreditation report, please email Jessica Yingst at jmy5048@psu.edu.

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Student Resources

Penn State College of Medicine strives to create the best culture of respect and inclusion for our students. A number of programs, services and facilities are available.

A sign noting a maximum occupancy of four people, and reminding people entering to stay six feet apart, appears on the door of a study room in Harrell Health Sciences Library in fall 2020. The precautions are due to COVID-19.
Penn State College of Medicine is taking precautions to ensure students have access to safe study spaces in light of COVID-19.
See more resources for current students

Campus Life

Student Housing

Housing is available to Penn State College of Medicine students, residents and postdocs in University Manor East and West apartment complexes. One of the complexes is pictured as seen from a higher floor of a nearby building, with a road and trees framing it in the background.
Housing in University Manor apartments is available to Penn State College of Medicine students.

Penn State College of Medicine offers housing in its University Manor East or University Manor West apartments to full-time students, residents, postdoctoral scholars and visiting scholars.

Read more about on-campus housing.

Life in Hershey, PA

Penn State College of Medicine is in Hershey, PA, a town known as the home of the HersheyPark amusement park and the Hershey Chocolate Factory. Two banners depicting cartoon candy characters are seen on a light pole in downtown Hershey, PA, in summer 2016, with a brick building with large glass windows in the background.
Hershey, Pa., is known as "The Sweetest Place on Earth."

Penn State College of Medicine's primary campus is located in Hershey, Pa. The area provides numerous diverse and delicious dining experiences, sports, concerts and entertainment, and is a short drive away from the Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, metro areas.

Read more about life in Hershey.