Focus Area of Study
Incoming DrPH students will be able to choose from a pre-constructed focus area in Social and Behavioral
Health Sciences, Health Policy and Management, or Public Health Analysis or a Generalist Track. Students
choosing a focus area should indicate this intention at the end of their 2nd semester in a formal documented
meeting with their advisor prior to registering for their second year courses.
Behavioral Health Sciences (BHS) Objective
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Behavioral Health Sciences focus area provides foundation for students to
be public health leaders who are able to innovate and advance public health practice through the critical
synthesis, generation, translation and dissemination of applied public health research grounded in social and
behavioral science. Students following the focus area are expected to move on to careers where they will be
providing leadership and frameworks for other public health practitioners and engaging in management of
planning, implantation and evaluation of social and behavioral health interventions, particularly for urban and
underserved minority populations.
BHS Courses
DrPH students choosing to follow the Behavioral focus area must enroll in three Behavioral Health courses
found below and choose one elective course within the department’s course offering:
PUBH 618 Community Based Participatory Research ................................................................................ 3
PUBH 710 Preventive Health Behavior ...................................................................................................... 3
PHBH 704 Translation and Dissemination of Public Health ....................................................................... 3
Health Policy and Management (HPM) Objective
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Health Policy and Management focus area provides foundation for students
to be public health professionals with the requisite knowledge and skills to lead in the analysis, development,
advocacy, and implementation of health policies and programs, thereby improving health outcomes and
reducing health disparities. Students following the focus area are expected to move on to careers where they are
able to lead organizations or interdisciplinary teams that develop, promote, implement and evaluate effective
public health policies and programs, who are mindful of and sensitive to the community cultural context.
HPM Courses
DrPH students choosing to follow the Health Policy focus area must enroll in three Health Policy and
Management courses found below and choose one elective course within the department’s course offering:
PUBH 742 Health Services Planning and Evaluation ................................................................................. 3
PUBH 712 Public Health and the Law ........................................................................................................ 3
PHHP 705 Strategic Leadership in Health Policy ....................................................................................... 3
Public Health Analysis - Epidemiology (EPI) Objective
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Public Health Analysis – Epidemiology focus area trains students to be
professionals in Epidemiology so they can lead teams and contribute to the development of knowledge and
methods for the study and identification of the scope and distribution of public health problems, their causes,
mechanisms, solutions, and evaluation of interventions, and who represent and work with the most affected
populations. Graduates from the DrPH in Epidemiology program will be able to design and conduct
epidemiologic designs to respond to public health problems and health disparities that affect minority
populations; lead efforts for public health data collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination, with the
highest ethical standards and cultural sensitivity; provide technical expertise to multi-disciplinary team efforts;
demonstrate independent thinking for analysis and interpretation of critical public health issues; contribute to the
training of future public health analysts and practitioners; and translate epidemiologic knowledge into
community health interventions and public health programs and policies.
MSU School of Community Health and Policy
Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook- DrPH Curriculum
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