Doctor of Community Health (DCH) – 100% Online
Why Choose SWOSU’s DCH Program?
Designed for Mid-Career Professionals
- 100% online format with evening courses
- One 8-week course at a time for work-life balance
- 3-year completion timeline for efficient doctoral training
Real-World Application
- Field Research Project embedded in your own community
- Hands-on projects that address immediate health challenges
- Professional portfolio that demonstrates impact to employers
Focused Career Tracks
Choose a specialization that aligns with your career goals:
- Health Systems Leadership & Entrepreneurship
- Rural Health Management
- Quality Improvement in Healthcare
How the DCH Fits into the Landscape of Public Health Doctorates
Many prospective students ask: What is the difference between a DCH and a DrPH?
At SWOSU, the Doctor of Community Health (DCH):
- Covers the same foundations as a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH).
- Is structured as a practice-based, professional doctorate.
- Prepares graduates for executive leadership, applied research, and systems-level innovation.
Comparison: DCH vs. DrPH vs. PhD vs. MPH
|
Feature |
PhD in Public Health |
DrPH (standard) |
SWOSU DCH |
|
Public health foundations |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Applied leadership focus |
❌ |
✔️ |
✔️ with entrepreneurship |
|
Academic research focus |
✔️ |
✔️ (applied) |
✔️ (applied + practice-based) |
|
Systems-level innovation |
Limited |
✔️ |
✔️ with focus on sustainability |
|
Practice-based learning |
❌ |
✔️ |
✔️, with portfolio evidence |
|
Suitable for executive roles |
Sometimes |
✔️ |
✔️, with career-aligned tracks |
|
Epidemiology |
|
✔️ |
❌ |
|
Bioethics |
|
✔️ |
❌ |
|
Biostats |
|
✔️ |
❌ |
|
Design thinking & Innovation |
|
❌ |
✔️ |
|
Community Health Implementation |
|
❌ |
✔️ |
|
Entrepreneurship |
|
❌ |
✔️ |
|
Financial Sustainability and Grants |
|
❌ |
✔️ |
The DCH is both a professional and academic degree, emphasizing practice-based learning and leadership development.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Program Overview
● 48 credit hours
● 3 academic years
● 15 eight-week terms
core learning Areas
● Cultural competency and health equity
● Strategic public health leadership
● Public policy and systems transformation
● Applied research and evaluation
capstone experience
● 12–30 credit hours
● Address real-world challenges through community-based research
● Guided by faculty mentors
● Build a comprehensive, career-ready portfolio
career outcomes
Graduates of SWOSU’s Doctor of Community Health (DCH) are prepared for leadership roles such as:
● Chief Population Health Officer Director of Community Health Programs
● Public Health Policy Analyst Healthcare Innovation
● Consultant Executive positions in hospitals, nonprofits, government, and international
NGOs
With rising demand for public health doctorates, the DCH positions you for both immediate career advancement and long-term leadership opportunities.
Faculty Expertise & Support
Our faculty are scholar-practitioners who:
- Academic and Professional Leaders who maintain doctoral credentials in healthcare or related disciplines, with demonstrated expertise in community health through professional practice and scholarly contributions
- Active Innovators: who advance the field through significant contributions to community health initiatives, ensuring students learn from those at the forefront of population health management
- Industry-Connected Practitioners who maintain current professional engagement in healthcare and community health settings, bringing real-world insights from their ongoing work with health organizations, advisory boards, and community initiatives directly into the virtual classroom
You’ll also benefit from a cohort-based model, building a professional network of peers across multiple disciplines.
Admissions & Tuition
Requirements
- Master’s degree or equivalent (e.g., MPH, MHA, MSN, MSW, PharmD, JD, DO)
- Professional experience in any relevant field (healthcare experience preferred but not required)
- Strong interest in public health leadership and community impact
Admissions
- Rolling admissions: Fall, Spring, Summer start terms
- First cohort begins Fall 2026
Application Process
- Graduate admission application - Submit online
- Official transcripts - All previous college work
- Professional resume - Highlight your experience and achievements
- Admissions committee interview - Discuss your goals and program fit
International Students- TOEFL (79 iBT) or IELTS (6.5) for non-native English speakers
Tuition & Financial Aid
- Competitively priced for working professionals
- Employer-friendly and federal aid eligible
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The program welcomes professionals from education, social work, business, government, and other fields. Diverse perspectives are highly valued in addressing community health challenges.
Yes. The program is designed for working professionals. Courses are offered in the evenings, and the one-course-at-a-time format allows you to focus deeply while managing your career and personal commitments.
Students typically spend 15–20 hours per week, which includes class time, readings, assignments, and group work. The 8-week course format is intensive but allows for breaks between terms.
Yes. The Field Research Project is designed to address real community health challenges. Many students partner with their current employers or local organizations. Additionally, the curriculum regularly integrates real-world case studies drawn from your own community.
- The MPH provides foundational training in public health and serves as essential preparation for advanced doctoral study. Building upon this foundation, the DCH is a doctoral-level program that requires applicants to hold a master's degree (MPH or equivalent graduate degree in a related field) as a prerequisite for admission. The DCH advances beyond foundational competencies to focus on executive leadership, innovation, and applied practice in community health management, preparing graduates for senior-level positions in healthcare administration, policy development, and population health innovation.
The DCH is academically equivalent to a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) but is distinguished by its emphasis on entrepreneurship, process improvement, and sustainability in community health systems.
Yes. Like the DrPH, the DCH is a professional terminal degree designed to prepare graduates for practice-based leadership roles.
Yes. Both are doctoral degrees. The PhD emphasizes academic research and theory, while the DCH focuses on applied leadership and real-world solutions.
Yes. Demand for public health leadership has grown significantly due to global health challenges, workforce shortages, and systemic reform.
Yes. Many graduates work in hospitals, health systems, public health agencies, NGOs, and universities, where they lead population health initiatives and drive policy change.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Contact Us
SWOSU DCH Program Office
College of Pharmacy, Weatherford, OK
Phone: (580) 774‑3069
Email: tami.moser@swosu.edu