Rollins Expands its Academic Offerings

Education is at the heart of why Rollins exists and the ability to adapt and remain flexible to the needs, and wants of learners is tantamount to the school’s ability to serve its students. A core component of the school’s five-year strategic plan was to: “enhance our educational content so students are prepared to engage in multisectoral public health research and practice, addressing current and emerging public health challenges and prioritizing social justice and health equity.”

With these ideas in mind, the school recently unveiled three major new educational initiatives with the joint aim of sharing knowledge, fostering excellence, and meeting students’ unique needs.

“In a period of dynamic social and political transformation, equipping and empowering individuals to build resilient communities and advance global health equity is central to our school's mission,” says Delia Lang, PhD, executive associate dean of educational affairs. “We are thrilled to offer new educational opportunities, accessible regardless of location, for both degree-seeking students and professionals pursuing continuing education. These programs provide the tools needed to amplify their public health impact.”

Launching the Part-Time Online MPH

As more and more students—particularly working professionals juggling the demands of their careers and families—voiced their desire for an online-only degree option, the next natural course became apparent. In June 2024, Rollins announced the launch of four fully online, part-time MPH programs.

Online part-time programming is now available for MPH degrees in behavioral, social, and health education sciences; global environmental health; global health; and health policy. Coursework is offered asynchronously with synchronous components (like meetings) and peer interactions built in. Students receive the same high-caliber instruction and advisement as on-campus students, but in a virtual environment, enabling Rollins to make its coursework more accessible to learners around the world and/or those where regular travel to campus may be a barrier to attendance. Each of the four programs is 42 credit hours in length, with 5-6 credit hours per semester (though, the quantity of credits taken each semester may vary to meet the needs of the student).

This effort also provides further flexibility in course scheduling for in-person MPH students, who may have competing time commitments that were previously a barrier to enrolling in certain courses.

DrPH Program to Begin Fall 2025

In May 2024, the Emory University Board of Trustees approved the DrPH program at Rollins. This new addition is in response to requests from alumni and other degree-seeking students looking to receive an additional public health credential that can help elevate their careers and expand their opportunities in public health leadership. The program is currently enrolling its first cohort of approximately 30 students who will begin in fall 2025. Fully online, the 60-credit hour curriculum was designed to prepare early- to mid-career public health professionals for leadership roles in public health settings, giving them the ability to continue working in their current roles while earning the degree. Students can choose between concentrations in implementation and evaluation science or public health preparedness and response.

“The DrPH is an important complement to our excellent existing programs” says M. Daniele Fallin, PhD, dean of the Rollins School of Public Health. “Our MPH and MSPH programs already train a public health workforce that is making an impact around the world as well as researchers and policy makers in public health. Our PhD programs develop public health researchers making discoveries that inform public health strategy and are a significant part of our research activities. This new program will provide doctoral level training for those who plan leadership careers in public health practice.”

Continuing Education Through Rollins Health Education Institute

Those seeking to expand their knowledge on timely public health topics without enrolling in a degree program now have a new avenue for select workshops and short courses: the Rollins Health Education Institute. Launched in summer 2024, RHEDI will offer a variety of courses catered to the public health professional, public health student, or anyone interested in deepening their knowledge about timely public health concepts or seeking to gain new skills. Courses are offered in various formats and lengths and have included topics like public mental health, applied informatics, and advanced critical race theory.