Term |
Application Deadline |
Fall |
February 1 |
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SOPHAS Application Link
Prerequisites
Application Materials
Check Your Application Status
Step 1 | Apply for admission to the Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH) program
Applicants are required to complete the online Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) application.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites for the DrPH program:
- MPH or MSPH from a CEPH accredited institution. Additional foundational coursework will be required for individuals who do not meet this requirement.
- A minimum of 3 years of relevant public health practice. See concentration prerequisites below for additional detail.
Prerequisites for the Epidemiology concentration:
A minimum of 3 years of relevant public health practice experience with emphasis on epidemiology. Examples of such experience include but not limited to:
- Designing, implementing, and evaluating a public health surveillance system
- Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating public health data
- Analyzing health trends and patterns in a population to assist in the development of interventions or needs assessments
- Creating data visualizations and reports based on analysis results
- Conducting data automation and linkages between systems
- Responding to and advising on public health data requests, including data sharing and research agreements
- Conducting outbreak investigations
- Designing and preparing surveillance and field investigation protocols, survey instruments, and surveillance forms
- Responding to public inquiries on epidemiologic issues
Prerequisites for the Emergency Preparedness concentration:
A minimum of 3-5 years of relevant emergency preparedness experience. Examples of such experience include but are not limited to:
- Conducting a Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA)
- Gathering community stakeholders to discuss vulnerabilities and planning strategies
- Coordinating and writing an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
- Conduct workshops to review the EOP
- Design, develop and execute Tabletop, Functional and Full-Scale Exercises to test the EOP
- Update the EOP on a regular basis
- Conduct community or organization Emergency Preparedness educational programs
- Participate in community planning meetings
- Actively contribute to the Incident Command (IC) process in an Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
- Coordinate (recruit, train, retain) community volunteers to assist in disaster response operations
- Work closely with community response organizations (Emergency Management, Volunteer Organizations, Law Enforcement, EMS)
- Write and submit periodic reports on community/organization ongoing operations
Prerequisites for the Advocacy and Leadership concentration
A minimum of 5 years of relevant public health management or leadership experience.
Examples of work experience:
- Designing and implementing programs
- Leading strategic program planning
- Gathering community stakeholders
- Analyzing, creating, and adapting public health messaging
- Advocacy and Lobbying
- Political and community organizing
- Sustainable development
- Labor organizing
- Managing employees
- Designing and conducting workshops
- Driving public health policy
- Health systems policy and management
- Community work for social justice
- Budgeting and financial management
- Grant writing for research
- Conflict resolution in various public health domains
Application Materials
Official Transcripts
Official transcripts are required from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.
Domestic or US Transcripts
Must be sent from the institution's Registrar’s Office directly to SOPHAS at the following address:
SOPHAS | P.O. Box 9111 | Watertown, MA 02471
617-612-2090 | Email | Website
- This applies to current or former UNMC students.
- Photocopies of transcripts will not be accepted.
International Transcripts
All non-US transcripts must be evaluated by the World Education Service (WES) using their ICAP course-by-course evaluation service. For further instructions, visit www.wes.org/sophas.
- WES reports should be sent directly from WES to SOPHAS.
- Please enter your SOPHAS ID number on your WES evaluation request to ensure your evaluation can be matched to your application.
Letters of Recommendation
Applicants must submit 3 letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to academic, practice and/or research abilities. Guidelines and suggestions:
- Ideally, your recommenders are recent professors, researchers or employers.
- For those who may have graduated or have been employed in the workforce for several years, or who is a member in the armed services; recommendation letters from employers and supervisors would be appropriate.
Personal Statement
Applicants must submit a personal statement. It should be no more than 1,500 words in length and answer the following questions:
- Why are you interested in pursuing a DrPH degree?
- What are your specific areas of interest related to the concentration for which you are applying?
- How has your public health practice experience prepared you for the DrPH concentration to which you are applying?
- How will obtaining a DrPH in the selected concentration area will help you meet your career objectives?
- What are your personal skills and general preparation that will help you succeed in this DrPH program?
Resume or CV
Applicants must submit an updated resume/CV that includes:
- Employment history
- Relevant public health practice experience
- Volunteer/service experience
TOEFL or IELTS Scores
Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS scores are required of all applicants whose primary language is not English or whose undergraduate degree is from a college or university outside of the United States.
- A minimum TOEFL score of 550-paper; 213-computer; 80-Internet
- TOEFL scores must have been earned within two years prior the desired term of entry
- Educational Testing Services (ETS) send official scores to the SOPHAS TOEFL code: 5688
- Official IELTS scores should be sent directly to SOPHAS. The minimum score requirement is 7.
- An Institution code is not required
- IELTS Taken in a Test Center
Inform your IELTS test center that you wish to send your results to us. You can do this during the test booking process by selecting SOPHAS or asking your test center to select SOPHAS after you receive your results. IELTS results are sent to us electronically. - IELTS Online
Send your results to SOPHAS using the IELTS test taker portal. You can send your IELTS results to as many organizations as you wish with no additional fee. IELTS Online results are provided in an electronic format.
Step 2 | Check Your Application Status on SOPHAS
You should check the SOPHAS portal to ensure that all required documents have been received by SOPHAS and that your completed application has been sent to UNMC College of Public Health. Please note that it may take SOPHAS up to 3-4 weeks to process and send your SOPHAS application to UNMC. It is recommended that you begin the application process well in advance of the application deadline.
Upon receiving your completed application and supporting documents, your application will be considered ready for review. The UNMC College of Public Health Admissions Committee will review your application once it is complete and verified. Following review, a decision will be made regarding your application status. You will receive notification of the decision via e-mail within 7 days of the committee decision.
Admissions Contact Information
UNMC College of Public Health
984359 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE. 68198-4359
Phone: 402-552-9867
Email