Transferring from a DrPH program to a PhD program?

[AstuteGrad]

I got accepted to a DrPH program for fall 2015. The DrPH is more practice oriented and I think I might want to do more research in the future, thus I am deciding to switch to the PhD program at the same school. Does anyone know if it is possible to transfer from a DrPH program to a PhD program or I would need a new application for the PhD program? I just needed some feedback from my fellow grads before asking the DrPH Director about switching programs.

 

Thanks

[AlphacentauriC]

Typically, you can't. Requirements for DrPH vs. PhD are usually slightly different. For example, the adcom demands some kind of work experience in the field to be admitted to the DrPh, which is not the case with the PhD. This is just one factor. However as I always say, don't take anybody's word....check for yourself. I mean, for many people DrPH transfer to PhD impossible, but that situation might be different for you.

[juilletmercredi]

It depends on the department. Some make it easier than others.

 

However, you can certainly do research with a DrPH. In my SPH, DrPH students were virtually indistinguishable from PhD students - they did much the same research as PhD students, and most intended to go into research careers. A close friend of mine did her DrPH in the same department I did my PhD and she had more publications than me when she finished, and is about to take a position as a research scientist at a top university.

[AstuteGrad]

It depends on the department. Some make it easier than others.

 

However, you can certainly do research with a DrPH. In my SPH, DrPH students were virtually indistinguishable from PhD students - they did much the same research as PhD students, and most intended to go into research careers. A close friend of mine did her DrPH in the same department I did my PhD and she had more publications than me when she finished, and is about to take a position as a research scientist at a top university.

 

Thank you juilletmercredi.