A DrPH Program without a Dissertation? How Practice Makes Perfect - A DrPH Residency Program

The Doctor in Public Health (DrPH) Practice Residency Program is the dissertation equivalent experience for the DrPH Practice degree in the School of Public Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC). The intent of this experience is to assist students with developing evidence-based leadership skills by interacting and collaborating with senior public health practitioners and by applying the DrPH Core Competencies in a public health organization. Residency sites are selected under the guidance of the DrPH Program Director with a focus on the DrPH Candidate's career goals. The Residency is completed over a minimum of two semesters and requires each Candidate to complete a Learning Contract. During a minimum of 720 contact hours, DrPH Candidates in collaboration with the Site Supervisor and the Faculty Mentor (Academic Advisor/Major Professor), also have to complete an approved Major Project that contributes to the mission of the organization, the community, and the field of public health. DrPH Candidates initiate their Intent to Defend and are required to defend their Doctoral Residency and Major Project to a panel comprised of graduate faculty members of the DrPH Program Committee. Upon successful completion of the Doctoral Defense, DrPH Candidates are allowed to move forward with completing their Doctoral Residency and presenting their Major Project at the Doctoral Symposium. The Residency Program is an intensive, final learning experience for DrPH Candidates validating their practice-based skills and knowledge gained throughout the DrPH Practice degree in preparation for their public health career.