About PhD Program,
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree at Berkeley School of Public Health is conferred in recognition of a candidate’s command of a comprehensive body of knowledge in the field of public health and related disciplines, and of the candidate’s proven ability to initiate, organize and pursue the investigation of significant problems or interventions in public health. The focus of this degree is the development of transdisciplinary knowledge about the determinants of health and the scientific and professional leadership skills to translate this knowledge into effective health interventions.
Those who earn this degree are expected to occupy leadership positions that have major influence on public health research, policies, programs, systems and institutions. Such leadership may be in diverse traditional and nontraditional settings at the international, national, state, or local levels and in the public, private and academic sectors.
Applicants must hold a master’s or doctoral degree in the health sciences or in another related field or non-US equivalent degree. Applicants must also have a minimum of two years or more of professional public health experience post-master’s degree showing progressive responsibility and evidence of leadership potential.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
- A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;
- A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum B average (3.0) or equivalent (focused on work completed in the last two years of a bachelor’s degree program and in all post-baccalaureate coursework). If your undergraduate GPA does not meet the minimum, you may still submit an application. Remember to provide evidence of other academic and professional accomplishments to demonstrate your capability to be successful in an academically rigorous environment. Alternative evidence may include courses you have successfully completed as work-related training.
- Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen area of study – see the Individual Program Requirements section below for more information
- Evidence of English Language Proficiency (only for applicants from countries / regions in which the official language is not English)
- Submission of all required application materials
PhD Funding Coverage
PhD candidates typically receive funding through a variety of sources such as soft-money grants, Graduate Division Fellowships, and fee remission from working as a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) or teaching as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI).
PhD programs are fully funded for up to 5 years. Full funding includes regular tuition, fees, SHIP, and a salary or stipend if you are in good academic standing. Please note that our funding packages do not include housing offers. Reach out to your program of interest for more details.
PhD candidates may also be AB 540 eligible for tuition purposes. Please see the University of California’s website for more information.
DrPH candidates are funded by departmental funding and are also eligible for fee remission from working as a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) or teaching as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI). However, they are not guaranteed funding for the duration of their program or offered a living stipend as a part of their funding package.
Application Requirement,
SOPHAS application and fee
Berkeley Graduate Application and fee ($100 – $155)
Official Transcripts from each institution you have attended
3 Letters of Recommendation
Statement of Purpose
Personal History Statement
CV/Resume
GRE scores if applicable – view which programs require it here
Additional application items for applicants with Bachelor’s Degrees from non-US and non-English speaking Canadian institutions
Degree Certificates (if your transcript does not contain conferral date)
Official TOEFL or IELTS test score (test taken after June 1, 2023)
WES ICAP course-by-course evaluation of international transcripts sent to SOPHAS ($208 + delivery fees)
Applicants must hold a master’s degree in the health sciences OR in another related field or non-US equivalent degree.
Applicants must have a minimum of two years of professional experience post-master’s degree showing progressive responsibility and evidence of leadership potential.
Submission of all required application materials.
A writing sample. Writing samples should be no more than 7,000 words in length and all or mostly written by the applicant. Examples include: publications in peer-reviewed journals on which you were the sole or first author, papers written for a graduate course, media pieces, or reports written for public agencies.
Application Deadline
Dec 01, 2024
Application Fee
- Berkeley Graduate Application and fee ($100 – $155)
