The Doctor of Public Health in Health Promotion & Health Education is designed to train students for leadership roles as public health professionals in governmental and non-governmental agencies, health departments, or for work in a research or academic setting. It emphasizes the development, implementation, and evaluation of theory-based public health interventions in various settings. An essential component of this degree program is the ability to communicate findings to policymakers and the public. Students are expected to contribute to and apply scientific discoveries through research.

See the Fall 2024 to Summer 2025 DrPH HP/HE Degree Planner. 

All doctoral students have access to expertise, faculty, and research across all locations.

This degree program is managed by the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences (HPBS).

The department chair is Dr. Christine Markham, and the academics and admissions advisor is Jennifer Roberts.

For more information about the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, visit their web page.

In addition to the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health’s general admission requirements, Health Promotion/Health Education DrPH candidate applications will also be evaluated against the following considerations: 

• Recommended cumulative GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 scale
• Demonstrated competence in math and social and behavioral sciences
• Master’s in Public Health degree or equivalent and/or pending completion of a Master’s in Public Health degree or equivalent prior to enrolling at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
• Submission of a writing sample (theses, publications, or other academic work) that demonstrates competence in written communication for academic work; the applicant should be the sole or first author on submitted work"

The DrPH program requires students to complete 54 credit hours* as detailed in the Health Promotion/Health Education DrPH degree planner. Most full-time students complete the DrPH program in four to five years. All students are eligible to elect to complete one or more graduate certificates in addition to required coursework. 

For more information about academic requirements at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, reference the academic catalog. 

*For students who do not hold a graduate degree in public health, additional coursework and time to bring you up to competence may be required.