Joint Degree in Law and Public Health (DrPH)

The J.D./Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program is offered jointly by Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This joint degree offers students an accelerated course of study and advanced training in law and public health, culminating in the terminal professional degrees in both fields. The curriculum prepares students for evidence-based public health practice, translational science leadership, and legal analysis and advocacy with expertise in health law. Graduates are uniquely positioned to pursue career opportunities in federal, state, and local government, as well as in the nonprofit, academic, and private sectors.

Students will have two academic advisors: one from the Department of Public Health Sciences at Penn State College of Medicine and one from Penn State Dickinson Law.

First, students will need to apply to the J.D. program at Penn State Dickinson Law. After being accepted to and matriculating, students are eligible to submit a Penn State graduate application for admission into the DrPH program during their first through fourth semesters of law school. The program officially begins in the Fall semester following the academic year in which the student applies.

J.D./DrPH students must meet the admissions requirements of both programs, and each program makes its own admissions decision. Learn more about Penn State Dickinson Law’s admissions requirements. Learn more about the College of Medicine’s admissions requirements. For students already accepted to Dickinson Law, the College of Medicine will accept LSAT scores in lieu of GRE scores.

The application process opens in August. Students must apply by January 15 to attend in the fall. Students will receive an admissions decision by April 15. Information on Penn State Dickinson Law’s admissions process can be found here.

Students in the J.D./DrPH program fulfill all requirements to earn a J.D. from Penn State Dickinson Law and a DrPH from Penn State College of Medicine.

Once enrolled in the joint degree program, students must complete the first-year J.D. curriculum before enrolling in any classes in the DrPH curriculum. After the first year, 21 credits of J.D. coursework may be double-counted toward the DrPH degree. Up to nine credits of DrPH coursework may be double-counted toward the J.D. degree. All courses in the DrPH curriculum are three credits unless otherwise noted.

Core Curriculum

Applicants without a Master of Public Health degree are required to take the following core courses before or concurrently with the DrPH program requirements in order to ensure a firm foundation in discipline-specific public health competency domains:

PHS 809: Principles of Public Health
PHS 504: Behavioral Health Intervention Strategies
PHS 520: Principles of Biostatistics
PHS 550: Principles of Epidemiology
PHS 571: Health Services Organization and Delivery

Some or all foundation courses may be waived based on previous graduate-level course work or by passing a written exam demonstrating foundational public health knowledge.

All DrPH students take the following core courses:

PHS 575: Integrative Seminar in Public Health Leadership
PHS 576: Integrative Seminar in Public Health Policy
PHS 577: Integrative Seminar in Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health
PHS 554: Statistical Methods in Public Health I
PHS 555: Statistical Methods in Public Health II
ADTED 550: Qualitative Research in Adult Education
PHS 806: Public Health Ethics
PHS 892: Directed Studies in Public Health

Electives

Students may (1) select from a pre-approved list of electives or (2) propose alternate electives for consideration and approval by the program in order to fulfill the 21-credit elective requirement. At least nine elective credits must fall within the Health Systems Organization and Policy track. Students may fulfill up to 21 elective credits by double counting J.D. coursework to the DrPH degree program.

Comprehensive Examination

Upon completing all core and most track elective courses, students will take comprehensive exams to ensure they meet DrPH core and track program competencies. Comprehensive exams will be overseen and evaluated by each student’s doctoral committee.

Practice-Based Learning

All students complete at least six credits of Advanced Field Experience, which bridges professional academic preparation and advanced public health practice. The Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic fulfills four of these credits and is built into the curriculum to reinforce students’ academic and professional development and their ability to become competent in the practice of public health and health law. Although not required, students will be encouraged to link their advanced field experiences to their integrative doctoral research project.

EXPCL 904: Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic (4 credits)
PHS 895B: Advanced Field Experience

Culminating Experience

Coursework in Integrative Doctoral Research will enable all students to complete two publishable-quality manuscripts on public health practice and a doctoral portfolio. Components of the doctoral portfolio may include, but are not limited to, research (e.g., publications, conference presentations), teaching (academic and non-academic, community-based teaching), and field and other service learning experiences. These components of the DrPH integrative experience demonstrate students’ competencies in data and analysis, communication, systems thinking, leadership, critical thinking, and problem solving. Written and oral presentation of this work is required.

PHS 896A: Integrative Doctoral Research I (6 credits)
PHS 896B: Integrative Doctoral Research II (3 credits)

For questions about the J.D./DrPH program, contact Professor Medha D. Makhlouf at mdm5849@psu.edu or 717-241-3521.

For more information about applying to Penn State Dickinson Law’s J.D. program, contact Rebecca Schreiber, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, at rms822@psu.edu or 717-240-5297.