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Work with your Faculty Mentor to decide your program progression and which elective courses you need to take
The DrPH program is intended designed to be an individually designed tailored program that makes it possible for enables students to develop the a course of study that best fulfills meets their unique needs, with under the advice guidance of their Faculty Mentor(s) and doctoral committee. Students should develop mentoring relationships throughout their Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) experience. Mentors will be needed for the applied practice experience (APE), and a senior-level mentor tis needed o is required to participate on the doctoral committee.
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Students will be assigned one or more Faculty Mentor(s) by the end of their first year of the program. The Faculty Mentor must be a full-time COPH faculty member. Your Faculty Mentor is your main primary advisor/major professor throughout your DrPH experience. Profiles of each faculty member and their research and practice interests can be found here.. If you click on an individual faculty, you will find their areas of specialization and more detailed information.
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Faculty Mentor/Major Professor: You need a Major Professor (or co-majors) to lead your doctoral committee. This role is typically filled by your Faculty Mentor.
Committee Member: You need a second faculty member from the COPH to be on your doctoral committee. This position can also be filled by a Faculty Co-Major if you have two primary advisors.
External Mentor: In the DrPH program, we require you to select someone in a senior level position in the field to be your external member. That person must have a graduate degree, and be active in the profession and in a mentor role to you.
🖊️ A justification statement that details what the external mentor will contribute to your research must be provided for credentialing purposes.
Other members: You are welcome to have other members of the committee, if your Major Professor recommends it.
⏰ To get your doctoral committee approved, you must submit your committee appointment request through Archivum. The directions can be found here, and in the DrPH Canvas site. Committee forms must be submitted at least 10 weeks prior to your qualifying exam request.
Practice-Based/External Mentor
The role of the mentor is to assist the DrPH student with developing professional and organizational leadership skills, goal setting, access to resources, and connecting the student with an appropriate local and national network of colleagues and resources. A practice-based mentor on a doctoral project committee plays a crucial role in guiding a doctoral student, particularly in applied, professional, or practice-oriented research. This mentor typically brings industry or field-specific expertise, complementing the academic insights of the COPH faculty members.
📋 Their role includes:
Bridging Theory and Practice – Ensuring that the research aligns with real-world applications, industry standards, and professional best practices.
Providing Subject-Matter Expertise – Offering specialized knowledge that enhances the practical relevance of the doctoral project.
Guiding Methodological Approaches – Advising on appropriate practice-based research methods, such as action research, case studies, or applied qualitative/quantitative techniques.
Ensuring Feasibility and Impact – Helping shape data collection, and findings to be meaningful and applicable in professional settings.
Facilitating Access to Resources – Assisting in securing industry contacts, data sources, or organizational approvals needed for the doctoral project.
Supporting the Doctoral Project Process – Offering feedback on drafts, participating in committee meetings, and helping the student navigate challenges in completing the project.
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