Program Overview
Introduction to the Doctor of Public Health Program
The Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH) at the University of Toronto offers a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program, the first of its kind in Canada. This program aims to strengthen public health and health systems capacity in Canada and globally by providing practice-based training and applied research skills.
Program Overview
The DrPH program is a full-time, four-year professional degree that focuses on accelerating the use of research evidence to inform practice and policy. It is designed for mid-career professionals with relevant Master's-level training and a minimum of five years of work experience. The program emphasizes competencies that support the comprehensive evaluation and translation of evidence in policy- and practice-decision-making contexts.
Degree Requirements
The program requires the completion of 5.5 Full Credit Equivalents (FCEs), including:
- 4.5 FCEs of required courses
- 1.0 FCE of elective courses
- An applied research project
- A comprehensive exam
- A thesis
- A final oral exam
Course Requirements
The program includes the following required courses:
- CHL4001H: Contemporary Approaches to Population Health and Health Equity
- CHL4002H: Critical Appraisal and Use of Evidence
- CHL4003H: High Performance Leadership
- CHL4005H: Governance and Financial Leadership
- CHL4006H: Seminars in Public Health
- CHL4050H: Applied Project
- CHL5132H: Population Health Intervention Research
Applied Research Project
The applied research project is a 16-week practical experience that takes place in the summer between the first and second year of study. It involves a critical review of the literature, identification of gaps and weaknesses in current knowledge, and the development of recommendations for resolution.
Comprehensive Exam
The comprehensive exam is a take-home written exam that assesses the student's knowledge and understanding of relevant theories and methods as they apply to a field-oriented challenge.
Thesis
The thesis is an independent piece of work on an applied research topic of significance to the practice of public health. It demonstrates the student's ability to produce original applied research or advanced scholarship that merits publication.
Supervision
Each student is assigned a supervisor who provides mentorship throughout the program. The supervisor guides the selection of courses, applied research project, and thesis topic, and provides feedback on the student's progress.
Finances
The program is self-funded, and students are responsible for paying tuition fees. Tuition fees can be found on the University of Toronto's tuition fee lookup tool. Students may also be eligible for funding from external sources, such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the DrPH program considered a remote program? No, the University of Toronto does not offer fully remote doctorate degrees. However, the program is designed with maximum flexibility for the student cohort to manage several responsibilities concurrently.
- Can you provide additional information on the DrPH Applied Research Project? The project involves a 16-week practical experience that takes place in the summer between the first and second year of study.
- When will a formal list of classes be posted for the upcoming academic session? Course timetables are posted in mid-July, and enrollment opens in mid-August.
- As a professional degree program, what advice can you offer as I discuss commitments with my work supervisor? It is crucial that time commitments be pre-discussed to ensure a smooth balance between work and academic responsibilities.
- Can you provide a checklist of responsibilities of the student from acceptance to start of classes? Yes, the checklist includes organizing a work-school schedule, confirming acceptance and commitment with employer, reviewing course timetable, searching for a supervisor, and applying for financial aid.