DrPH Foundational Competencies

Data & Analysis

Explain qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, and policy analysis research and evaluation methods to address health issues at multiple (individual, group, organization, community, and population) levels.
Design a qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, policy analysis, or evaluation project to address a public health issue.
Explain the use and limitations of surveillance systems and national surveys in assessing, monitoring, and evaluating policies and programs and to address a population’s health

Propose strategies for health improvement and elimination of health inequities by organizing stakeholders, including researchers, practitioners, community leaders, and other partners.
Communicate public health science to diverse stakeholders, including individuals at all levels of health literacy, for purposes of influencing behavior and policies.
Integrate knowledge, approaches, methods, values, and potential contributions from multiple professions, sectors, and systems in addressing public health problems.
Create a strategic plan.
Facilitate shared decision making through negotiation and consensus-building methods.
Create organizational change strategies.
Propose strategies to promote inclusion and equity within public health programs, policies, and systems.
Assess one’s own strengths and weaknesses in leadership capacities, including cultural proficiency.
Propose human, fiscal, and other resources to achieve a strategic goal.
Cultivate new resources and revenue streams to achieve a strategic goal

Design a system-level intervention to address a public health issue.
Integrate knowledge of cultural values and practices in the design of public health policies and programs.
Integrate scientific information, legal and regulatory approaches, ethical frameworks, and varied stakeholder interests in policy development and analysis.
Propose interprofessional and/or intersectoral team approaches to improving public health

Assess an audience’s knowledge and learning needs.
Deliver training or educational experiences that promote learning in academic, organizational, or community settings.
Use best practice modalities in pedagogical practices

Implement qualitative research studies to inform public health practice.
Design a community engaged intervention utilizing social and behavioral theories, concepts, and models from a range of disciplines.
Design and apply evaluation methods and frameworks to real-world public health interventions.
Using scientific data, create and communicate tailored public health information for specific audiences.
Conduct a community asset and needs assessment and articulate concerns in communications with diverse stakeholders, decision-makers, and academic audiences.

Evaluate current environmental health risk assessment methodologies.
Assess occupational hazards and social contextual factors that influence working conditions and contribute to injury, illness and health disparities.
Evaluate the performance and impact of regulatory agency policies and programs to prevent and control environmental and occupational hazards.
Develop an assessment plan or outbreak investigation to characterize a particular environmental or occupational risk in a community or workplace setting.
Assess risk communication approaches in relation to issues of environmental and occupational justice and equity.

Identify appropriate data sources and apply advanced statistical methods for causal inference to answer epidemiologic research questions.
Synthesize epidemiologic research findings, including assessment of strengths and limitations, ethical considerations, and policy implications.
Communicate the findings from advanced epidemiologic data analyses orally and in writing to colleagues, policymakers, and the public.
Select and evaluate surveillance and screening approaches to identify and mitigate chronic or infectious disease outbreaks.
Develop data management and statistical analysis plans appropriate for a chosen epidemiologic study design.