The changing pattern of doctoral education in public health from 1985 to 2006 and the challenge of doctoral training for practice and leadership.
We examined trends in doctoral education in public health and the challenges facing practice-oriented doctor of public health (DrPH) programs. We found a rapid rise in the numbers of doctoral programs and students. Most of the increase was in PhD students who in 2006 composed 73% of the total 5247 current public health doctoral students, compared with 53% in 1985. There has also been a substantial increase (40%) in students in DrPH programs since 2002. Challenges raised by the increased demand for DrPH practice-oriented education relate to admissions, curriculum, assessment processes, and faculty hiring and promotion. We describe approaches to practice-based doctoral education taken by three schools of public health.
Declercq
Eugene
E
Maternal and Child Health Department, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118-2526, USA. declercq@bu.edu
Caldwell
Karen
K
Hobbs
Suzanne Havala
SH
Guyer
Bernard
B
D000068:Accreditation; D015142:Baltimore; D001900:Boston; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D005178:Faculty; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D017145:Models, Educational; D009657:North Carolina; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012106:Research / Q000193:education; D012581:Schools, Public Health / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D012952:Societies; D040443:Students, Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States