Program Overview

Doctor of Public Health Program

The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree program is the highest professional degree for individuals focusing on Public Health practice. It is intended for leaders and future leaders in public health who want a flexible career that combines high-level leadership, management, and research.

Objective

The objectives of the 3-Year Doctor of Public Health Program are to produce a Public Health Specialist who will:

1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of public health.
2. Incorporate cultural, social, behavioural, and biological differences in the planning and development of public health programs to investigate and mitigate risks to population health.
3. Critically evaluate and synthesize public health approaches in monitoring and addressing population health.
4. Advocate for timely effective action in response to important public health issues.
5. Set health priorities and develop solutions to address health issues using scientific skills.
6. Demonstrate leadership, autonomy, and responsibility in the practice of public health.
7. Integrate knowledge for lifelong learning with the development of new ideas and solutions to improve population health.
8. Identify emerging ethical and professional issues in the practice of public health.

Programme of Study

The program of study shall be named the Degree of Doctor of Public Health, which is a program of study comprising two parts (Part 1 and Part 2). Part 1 consists of courses, including an internship course, and Part 2 consists of research that leads to a thesis.

Part 1

Part 1 is for advanced studies in the specialty chosen. It includes coursework, tutorials, assignments, field visits, practical training in the chosen specialty (internship/attachment), and the preparation of a research proposal for a research project in an approved subject of the chosen specialty.

• Coursework: 21 credit hours
• Professional attachment (Professional Internship: MWA8041): 3 credit hours
  • Planning and design of health programs
  • Policy development and implementation
  • Relationship with other organizations
  • Advocacy
  • Impact and effectiveness

Part 2

The candidate will undertake the research project on-site or based in the department. The conduct and progress of the research will be monitored by both the field and academic supervisors.

• Public Health Attachment (PHA: MWA8040): 10 credit hours
• Research thesis (Thesis: MWA8002): 80 credit hours

Overview of Courses

The following courses are part of the program:

• MWA8001: Advanced Research Methods (ARM) - 3 credit hours
• MWA8005: Health Policy and Leadership (HPL) - 3 credit hours
• MWA8035: Epidemiological Methods and Practice in Public Health (EMPPH) - 3 credit hours
• MWA8036: Safety, Health, and Human Resource Management (SHHRM) - 3 credit hours
• MWA8037: Advanced Data Analysis (ADA) - 3 credit hours
• MWA8038: Epidemiology of Diseases (ED) - 3 credit hours
• MWA8039: Social and Behavioural Sciences in Public Health Practices (SBSPHP) - 3 credit hours

Marking Scheme

The assessment for the examination for the coursework component shall be based on the following marking scheme: | MARK | GRADE | GRADE MARK | MEANING | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 90.00-100.00 | A+ | 4.00 | High Distinction | | 80.00-89.99 | A | 4.00 | Distinction | | 75.00-79.99 | A- | 3.70 | Distinction | | 70.00-74.99 | B+ | 3.30 | Pass | | 65.00-69.99 | B | 3.00 | Pass | | 60.00-64.99 | B- | 2.70 | Fail | | 55.00-59.99 | C+ | 2.3 | Fail | | 50.00-54.99 | C | 2.00 | Fail | | 45.00-49.99 | C- | 1.70 | Fail | | 40.00-49.99 | D+ | 1.50 | Fail | | 35.00-39.99 | D | 1.00 | Fail | | 0.00-34.99 | F | 0.00 | Fail |

Duration of Study

• Minimum duration: 6 semesters
• Maximum duration: 12 semesters

Entry Requirement

Admission requirements to pursue a Doctor of Public Health program by Mixed Mode are as follows:

1. Master's in public health with a CGPA of not less than 3.00 or its equivalent.
2. Possess a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery or other equivalent medical doctorates from a recognized university.
3. Has relevant work experience of at least one year or for a period as stipulated by the Department from time to time.

English Language requirement:

1. A non-citizen applicant who wishes to follow a degree program of study shall fulfill the English Language competency requirement determined by the University if he obtained his degree from a university or institution of higher learning which does not use English as the medium of instruction for the relevant degree.
2. English Language competency requirements for non-citizen applicants are as follows:

• TOEFL: a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based total (PBT), a score of 250 for the computer-based total (CBT), or a score of 100 for the internet-based total (IBT).
• IELTS (Academic): a minimum score of Band 6.0.
• Pearson Test of Academic English (PTE Academic): a minimum score of 42.
• A Levels English Language subject with Grade C and above.
• Cambridge English: First (FCE) with Grade C and above.
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) with Grade C and above.
• Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) with Grade C and above.
• MUET with minimum Band 5.

Award of Degree

No candidate shall be recommended for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Public Health unless the candidate has completed all parts of the course and has passed the prescribed Examinations in Part I and satisfactorily completed and defended the thesis in Part II of the DrPH.

Part I

Candidates must obtain at least a 'B', i.e., a score of more or equal to 65 (Grade Point Average 3.0) in the course to be considered to have completed the course. Candidate must have successfully completed 21 credits of core courses and 3 credits of the professional internship to be considered to have passed Part I and can proceed to Part II of the DrPH program.

Part II

Candidates must obtain at least a 'B', i.e., a score of more or equal to 65 (Grade Point Average 3.0) in the Public Health Attachment to be considered to have completed the course. Candidates will need to undergo an examination through Candidature Defence (CD) no later than the 5th Semester. Only after the successful completion of the CD, the candidates will be allowed to submit the completed thesis for the final examination. The thesis will be assessed by two independent examiners, i.e., an external examiner (a qualified academic or professional from an international university or public health institution) and an internal examiner from the University of Malaya. After both the examiners have completed the assessment, the candidate is required to attend a Viva Voce to defend the thesis. Upon satisfactory performance in the examination and the Viva Voce, the candidate will be awarded the Doctor of Public Health degree.