The field of global health addresses the challenging and complex public health problems facing the world today.

The IU Online Doctoral Program in Global Health Leadership (DrPH) is a three-year, cohort-based distance education program with a global curriculum, global faculty, and global network. Coursework is applicable whether you live and work in Indiana, the US, or anywhere in the world. The faculty includes both US-based and international faculty based in other parts of the world. The program leverages relationships with other schools and programs, including opportunities to collaborate with faculty and scholars around the world.

The target audience is mid- to senior-level professionals anywhere in the world who are working full-time in organizations in which they have the ability to influence the health of populations. We seek scholars from a wide range of backgrounds, including nonprofit and for-profit health care settings, NGOs, nonprofit organizations, pharma, government agencies, ministries of health, and foundations, as well as nontraditional settings.

Successful applicants will, at minimum, have strong academic records, a master's degree (not necessarily in public health), and leadership experience in positions with substantial management responsibility in varied public health settings. We admit scholars into two separate cohorts each year depending on level of experience. Mid- to senior-level practitioners with at least several years of experience post master's degree in positions with substantial management responsibility comprise an advanced cohort of 12-15 scholars. A second cohort of up to 25 scholars who are more junior, with at least a few years of experience post master's degree in positions with substantial management responsibility, comprise a cohort of emerging leaders. For both cohorts, we seek individuals who aspire to practice-oriented careers and leadership roles in organizations in which they can have maximum influence on the public's health. 

As a student in this three-year, cohort-based distance education program, you take classes via real-time internet video, meet your classmates face to face three times a year in year 1 and year 2, and complete your dissertation or field-based, culminating project in year 3. You cultivate leadership skills through diverse experiences and exposure to a wide range of perspectives. You learn experientially, through highly interactive debates and discussions.

The IU Online Doctoral Program in Global Health Leadership (DrPH) prepares you for top positions in government agencies, foundations, non-governmental organizations, not-for-profit or for-profit organizations, and health ministries, including positions such as:

• Chief executive officer 
• President
• Agency commissioner/secretary
• Executive director 

Degree Requirements

To graduate with the DrPH in Global Health Leadership, you must complete 45 credit hours.

Requirements are broken down as follows:

• Leadership courses (15 credit hours) 
• Public health courses (7 credit hours) 
• Research courses (14 credit hours)
• Dissertation or field-based, culminating project courses (9 credit hours)