Online Doctor of Public Health in Leadership for International Health and Sustainable Development

DrPH Core Courses 

• Sustainable Health and Development Program Design
• Health Systems and Policy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
• Leadership and Strategic Management for International Health and Sustainable Development
• Budget and Financial Management
• Evidence for Decision Making
• Strategies for Effective Workforce Development

Program-Specific DrPH Required Courses

• Implementation Practice
• Knowledge Management for Public Health Impact
• Strategic Use of Data and Evidence in Global Health Programs and Systems
• Systems Thinking in International Health and Sustainable Development

Elective and Portfolio Courses

• Electives: Minimum of 9 credits 
• Applied Practice Experience Integrative Learning Experience

Students without a CEPH-accredited MPH degree will also be required to take 15 semester hours of foundational courses:

• Foundations in Public Health* 
• Biostatistics for Public Health (or equivalent)** 
• Epidemiology for Public Health (or equivalent)** 
• Health Systems Policy and Management (or equivalent)** 
• Design Strategies in Public Health Programs (or equivalent)**

*Students without a CEPH-accredited bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree must pass a Challenge Exam or take SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health.

**Some prerequisite coursework may be waived with an earned MPH or equivalent coursework with a B or higher on the transcript.

DrPH students complete two practice-based portfolios: experiential learning and a culminating experience.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for federal financial aid and work-study. The Celia Scott Weatherhead School’s school code is 002029. Tulane Financial Aid can provide additional assistance

Merit-Based Scholarships

All program applicants who have submitted and completed their applications by the priority deadline are automatically considered for scholarships without any additional application. You must apply by the priority deadline to be considered for scholarships upon admission. Students who are eligible for any of the scholarships below will be considered for them at any time, not just for priority deadlines. Priority applicants who qualify for any of the scholarships below will receive the higher-value scholarship package. Scholarships are available, with nearly half of all new students receiving some kind of merit-based award. Scholarship amounts may vary. Tulane employees using the tuition benefit are not eligible for scholarships. Scholarships awarded are intended to cover university tuition and fees. 

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

Weatherhead School is deeply passionate about the mission of the Peace Corps and is dedicated to supporting volunteers throughout their academic careers. We offer incoming returned Peace Corps volunteers (RPCVs) a scholarship equal to 35 percent of tuition.

Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship

Managed by the Celia Scott Weatherhead School Office of Global Scholars, the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship is awarded to three RPCVs each year. The application for the Coverdell scholarship will be displayed to eligible students within the admitted student portal.

Miscellaneous

The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) is also a useful resource for options on financing your degree. 

Graduate-level students (pursuing master’s/PhD) seeking aid to supplement any assistance being offered by the Celia Scott Weatherhead School and/or the various departments may work with Tulane Financial Aid.

WSPH utilizes SOPHAS - You will need to create an account on SOPHAS in order to apply.

Materials required in SOPHAS:

• Official transcripts sent directly to SOPHAS from all attended institutions (degrees earned abroad require a WES, ECE, or TEC (formerly known as SpanTran) evaluation)
• CV
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Personal Statement that clearly and directly addresses the following:
  • Describe any international work or volunteer experience that you have, as well as any background that you have in applying analytical skills, using data-driven approaches, and/or demonstrating management, coordination, or leadership to influence policies and/or programs.
  • Discuss how your future career goals align with the DrPH program in International Health and Sustainable Development, which is designed to cultivate leaders equipped to address complex health challenges in low- and middle-income countries.
  • The DrPH is an applied, terminal degree that emphasizes practice-based leadership. Please explain why you choose to pursue a DrPH rather than a PhD.
• Non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores (min 89 TOEFL/min 6.5 IELTS/min 120 Duolingo) unless eligible for a waiver.
• All application materials must be received in SOPHAS in order for your application to be reviewed. 

Applications that are submitted and completed by the priority deadline will be considered for funding opportunities (no additional application required).

International students (or students who have earned their degree outside the U.S. or Canada) must submit a course-by-course evaluation of international coursework. Evaluations can take a month to complete from the time the agency receives your international transcript(s), so we recommend getting an early start on this process to ensure the evaluation is received by the deadline for which you're applying.

We can accept WES, ECE, and SpanTran evaluations. SOPHAS will only accept WES, but if you have an ECE evaluation, please send it to sphtmadmissions@tulane.edu. If you use SpanTran, please be sure to use the custom application it has created. Access SpanTran here.

International students may also be required to submit proof of English language proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL). Please refer to the international student section in the FAQ to determine whether you're required to submit scores.