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Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School of Public Service Leadership

Epidemiology specialization

Delve deeply into epidemiological theories, research, and evidence-based practices and make an immediate impact in your field through an applied epidemiological research project. This professional doctorate, developed around national public health curriculum standards, is one of few online DrPH specializations in Epidemiology. The curriculum emphasizes the biogenetic, environmental, psychosocial, and occupational factors that contribute to national and global population-based health disparities and the epidemiological practices associated with infectious disease investigation, prevention, and control in public health environments. All courses are taken in sequence, allowing you to learn and build professional relationships with the same cohort of students. Capella's multidisciplinary approach to public health education also provides you with opportunities to collaborate with other public and private sector professionals whose work often intersects with the field of public health. People who choose this specialization are often pursuing leadership positions in government, private, or community-based public health organizations focused on disease prevention and control.

Read what others have to say about this specialization, or leave your own comment, and be sure to check back often to converse with others about their Capella experiences.

Total Program: 80 quarter credits
Next Start Date: April 9, 2012
Course: $4,080
Quarter - Dissertation: $4,023
Dissertation Writer's Retreat: $1,995

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Residency requirements: One Dissertation Writer’s Retreat

As part of your program, you will attend 1 Dissertation Writer’s Retreat in addition to your online courses.

The retreat offers:
  • 5 days of uninterrupted writing time in a distraction-free environment
  • All-inclusive hotel accommodations, free wireless access, and a comfortable atmosphere
  • 1-to-1 support from writing faculty, librarians, IRB specialists, and research methodologists
  • Valuable feedback and inspiration from faculty and peers

What is the cost to attend?

The price for each Dissertation Writer’s Retreat is $1,995, which includes the cost of a hotel room (pricing is subject to periodic adjustment). This doesn’t include costs for travel. You’ll be responsible for making your hotel reservations and travel arrangements.
  • Call an enrollment counselor at 1.877.269.7780 to learn more

Core Courses (each course 6 quarter credits unless noted)

All courses taken in a prescribed sequence:

  • DRPH8004 - Introduction to the Public Health Profession
  • DRPH8005 - Professional Communications Laboratory - non-credit
  • DRPH8110 - History and Theory of Public Health*
  • DRPH8120 - Domestic and International Public Health Policy Action*
  • DRPH8170 - Advanced Practice in Epidemiology*
  • DRPH8180 - Advanced Action Research Methods*
  • DRPH8190 - Experiential Project*
  • DRPH9920 - Dissertation Courseroom - non-credit*
  • DRPH9921 - Disseration Research 1* - 5 quarter credits
  • DRPH9922 - Disseration Research 2* - 5 quarter credits
  • DW-R8001 - Professional Dissertation Writer's Retreat*+ - non-credit
  • DRPH9923 - Disseration Research 3* - 5 quarter credits
  • DRPH9924 - Disseration Research 4* - 5 quarter credits

Specialization Courses (each course 6 quarter credits unless noted)

  • DRPH8400 - Epidemiological Issues in Urban and Rural Health*
  • DRPH8404 - Fundamentals of Epidemiological Research*
  • DRPH8408 - Chronic and Infectious Diseases in Epidemiology*
  • DRPH8412 - Biogenetics in Epidemiology*
Admission to the Epidemiology specialization requires learners to complete and submit the Cohort Auto-Registration Form.
Learners are responsible for the cost of their travel, accommodations, food, and other expenses associated with this course.
* This course has a prerequisite. Contact an enrollment counselor for more information.

Course Descriptions

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Association of Schools of Public Health

January 20, 2011T. Will the DrPH and Epidemiology program eventually become accredited? Is this something that is in the works now since the first few programs in Public Health have already started? I check the Association of Schools of Public Helath and Capella was not listed as an accredited school. Please let me know if this going to happen down the line within the next few years. Thanks. TM

Accreditation of this doctoral program

August 13, 2010Christian Hi, I'd like to know more about the accreditation of this doctoral program. Is this accredited by CEPH? Thanks,

Doctoral Comprehensive Exams

October 27, 2010Christian I would like to know more about the doctoral comprehensive exams for DrPH program. Thanks /Christian

Transfer of credit into this program

September 7, 2010Scott How much credit transfer is allowed for this program?

Review of this specialization is pending in SC

July 29, 2010yvette I just want to know basically what does it mean that specialization of Epidemiology is pending in SC? Does that mean that this specialization is not yet accredited in SC?

Is this program accredited by CEPH

August 5, 2010lb Hi- I am looking at various DrPH programs. I live in California and I know programs like UCLA offer DrPH degrees, and their school of public health is accredited by CEPH. Do Capella also offer this accreditation? Also, would your program be comparable to that of another prestigious DrPH program in the US? Thank you.

PhD Dental Public Health

September 26, 2010Sarah Hi! I've just finished MSc in Dental Public Health from Queen Mary University of London, England. I have two questions: 1- Is there any PhD degree in Dental Public Health (such as Oral Epidemiology) offered? Or is there a chance for it to be offered in near future? 2- Do I need to show IELTS results for admission? I have been studying in English all my life and the last degree is from England. 3- How long is the program for? Thank you!

Earning a Degree at Capella University

September 19, 2010Teresa Earning an on-line degree at Capella University is just absolutely wonderful for me! As a current Master's learner at Capella, my life plans have finally fallen into place. I know what I will be doing for the next 4 years and this makes me a calmer person. Life happens to all of us, but attending Capella University allows me to work around those life issues and continue my educational journey without missing my assignments or discussions. I can access the courseroom any place in the world and I am just loving this. Next month will be the beginning of my final Master's course with Capella and the following term (January 2011) I will begin the Doctorate of Public Health with this same school. Capella, thank you for allowing me to be the first person in our my immediate family to venture into the higher educational level of a Masters and Doctorate Program!

Epidemiology careers

August 5, 2010kathy i have been looking into this as a career choice, I am currently in the masters program, why is this specialty only offered on the PHD level? Are all epidemiologist usually Dr's- or can someone with a masters be an epidemiologist?

Experiential Project*

November 10, 2010Tasha What is the experiential project?
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