FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Fairfield University’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies has launched an online doctor of public health (DrPH) program, the first of its kind in the state of Connecticut. The low-residency program is currently accepting applications for its first cohort, slated to begin classes in September 2025.
“The launch of our new online DrPH program marks a transformative step toward empowering public health leaders,” said Program Director and Professor of Public Health Anthony Santella, DrPH, MCHES, CPH. “By combining academic rigor with the flexibility of online learning, we are expanding access to advanced education that drives real-world impact and innovation in public health practice."
The DrPH program is designed for those who hold a master’s degree or higher in any academic field, and offers two plans of study: a 42-credit plan for students with a master of public health (MPH) degree, and a 57-credit plan for students with master’s degrees in other areas. The part-time program can be completed in 33-44 months.
The curriculum includes three distinct residencies held in Washington, D.C. and at Fairfield’s campuses in Austin, Texas and Fairfield, Conn. Spanning three-to-four days each, the residencies are designed to enhance students’ practical learning, community-building among the different cohorts, research skills development, practice partner networking opportunities, and leadership skills.
Coursework for the program is completed asynchronously, providing flexibility for working professionals who wish to pursue a doctoral-level education while managing their other commitments. Students will collaborate directly with faculty as well as a career coach consultant and student success coach to ensure they are fully prepared for leadership positions in practice and academia upon graduation.
With the launch of the program, Fairfield becomes the first Jesuit university to offer a full contingent of public health degrees—a bachelor of science in public health, an MPH, and now a DrPH.
The public health program at Fairfield Egan is currently undergoing a review by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH) to transition from an accredited undergraduate program to a public health program inclusive of the MPH and DrPH programs. A decision is expected in June 2025. The national accreditation by the independent agency is the highest standard of recognition for public health programs.
In addition to its graduate programs in public health, Fairfield Egan offers a range of graduate degrees, from its nationally ranked doctor of nursing practice degree programs in midwifery and nurse anesthesia to its interdisciplinary master of science in healthcare administration and dual master of nursing practice and master of business administration degree programs.
Learn more about the DrPH at Fairfield University at www.fairfield.edu/drph.
Fairfield University is a modern, Jesuit Catholic University, rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 44 states, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and 46 countries, are enrolled in the University’s five schools. In the spirit of rigorous and sympathetic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.