DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP(DrPH)

The Doctor of Public Health in Public Health Leadership provides extensive training in the public health sciences, public health practice, and leadership skills necessary to respond to the rapidly shifting, sometimes unanticipated challenges of the public health and health care systems. The focus of the DrPH program is in developing public health leaders who can integrate public health science into public health practice, apply models and theories in public health to chronic and emerging issues in practice, and demonstrate leadership in working with public health teams. Further information about the DrPH program may be found in this catalog and on the COPH website at www.uams.edu/ coph/applicants.

DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Students in the DrPH in Public Health Leadership program are mid to upper-level practitioners in public health who desire more extensive training in the public health sciences, public health practice, and leadership skills necessary to respond to the rapidly shifting, sometimes unanticipated challenges of the public health and health care systems.  The focus of the DrPH program is in developing public health leaders who can integrate public health science into public health practice, apply models and theories in public health to chronic and emerging issues in practice, and demonstrate leadership in working with public health teams.  Upon completing the DrPH program in Public Health Leadership, students will be proficient in the following areas.

·    Demonstrate a commitment to community-based public health principles, including the processes involved in engaging community partners in assessing needs, planning and implementing programs, and evaluating those programs.

·    Anticipate and respond to the public health related needs of a community, population, or other stakeholder group by utilizing sound epidemiologic and statistical approaches to identifying, collecting, validating, and analyzing relevant data regarding health status, health risks and behaviors, environmental factors, health resources and policies that affect the community.

·    Formulate and effectively communicate community health priorities based upon community data and established theories or models of health.

·    Identify appropriate funding resources for public health programs, and describe approaches to successful grantsmanship.

·    Serve as a mentor and leader to the public health workforce in developing, implementing, and evaluating public health programs and applying current public health science to practice.

·    Demonstrate a commitment to ensuring cultural sensitivity and competence within oneself, the public health workforce, and community programs.

·    Evaluate political and ethical aspects of public health practice, and contribute as a leader to political and ethical processes that support quality public health principles.

·    Understand mechanisms to mobilize the broad public health community in response to unanticipated emerging public health disasters or crises.

·    Apply systems level thinking to problems and issues in communities and organizations.

The DrPH degree program is designed to address the considerable need for the development of the public health leadership infrastructure in Arkansas. The curriculum for the DrPH includes coursework in public health sciences and public health practice as well as in leadership skill development.  The DrPH program requires a minimum of sixty-one (61) semester credit hours and is offered on a part-time basis. The overall curriculum model includes:

· Public Health Sciences Core Courses          15 semester credit hours

· Public Health Practice Courses                  15 semester credit hours

· Leadership Courses                                 15 semester credit hours

· Doctoral Practicum/Field Experience             6 semester credit hours

· Capstone Seminar                                     4 semester credit hours

· Capstone Project                                 6-12 semester credit hours

From initial enrollment and throughout the degree program, each student will work with the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair and/or selected faculty advisor (s). The function of the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair and/or selected faculty advisor (s) is to assist the student in selecting a course of study that will best serve her/his professional and academic goals, and to provide other needed professional and career-related advice.

As the DrPH program continues to develop, courses and course descriptions are subject to change.  Students are encouraged to contact the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair and/or selected faculty advisor (s) for updated information regarding current course offerings beyond those listed below.

The capstone sequence consists of 3 inter-related courses: the Doctoral Practicum, Doctoral Capstone Seminar, and Doctoral Capstone Project. The Doctoral Capstone Project should grow out of the coursework that precedes it, including the Doctoral Practicum.  The Doctoral Capstone Project will be finalized during the Doctoral Capstone Seminar. Students are advised to begin thinking about their Doctoral Capstone Project early in their doctoral career so that they can choose coursework and field experiences that serve and facilitate its completion. A student may select among 3 major experiential tracks: community-based participatory public health; health policy change; management and administration; or a combination thereof and/or any other innovative leadership practicum approved of by the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair and/or selected faculty advisor (s).

DrPH COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

1. Public Health Sciences Core (Students must complete all five.)

PBHL 9003: Advanced Biostatistics

This course will cover experimental design and advanced linear methods of analysis; non-parametric analysis of variance, multiple regression and linear models, factorial analysis, repeated measures, and multiple covariates, logistic regression, and survival analysis will be covered. Prerequisites: PBHL 5013: Biostatistics I or its equivalent; Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health. Students who demonstrate proficiency in biostatistics beyond the level of this course will select, with assistance from the Chair of Biostatistics, another course in the department.

PBHL 9013: Advanced Epidemiology

Includes an advanced review of epidemiological methods and issues; covers sampling and data collection strategies, study design concerns, including bias, confounding, stratification; students will gain practice in interpreting and reporting research results. Prerequisites: PBHL 5173: Epidemiology I or its equivalent; Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health.  Students who demonstrate proficiency in epidemiology methods beyond the level of this course will select, with assistance from the Chair of Epidemiology, another course in the department.

PBHL9023: Advanced Health Behavior Theory

This course will review the major theories of behavior change and explore the complex relationships between socio-demographic factors and theory constructs.  Students will gain substantial experience in designing behavioral theory-based public health interventions. Prerequisites: PBHL 5133: Introduction to Health Behavior and Health Education or its equivalent; Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; or permission of instructor.

PBHL 9033: Advanced Public Health Policy and Management

This course provides an advanced examination of issues related to the development, implementation, and impact of public policies and health system management strategies on population health.  It will include an in-depth exploration of: (1) theories of policy development applied to health issues, including the often-competing influences of political, economic, and socio-cultural forces; (2) strategies for agenda-setting and policy formation in the health arena; (3) policy implementation and management approaches; (4) policy analysis methods and tools; and (5) policy and managerial decision-making strategies in health, including values-based and evidence-based perspectives; case studies of policy and managerial decisions made at national, state, and community levels will provide opportunities for in-depth discussion and analysis. Prerequisites: PBHL 5123: The Health Care System or its equivalent; Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; or permission of instructor.  

PBHL 9043: Advanced Environmental and Occupational Health

This course is designed to stimulate critical thinking about environmental and occupational health risk management, including their effectiveness, efficiency, and fairness; alternatives to traditional means of regulating and controlling environmental hazards will be explored, along with issues regarding environmental justice and ethics and the role of participation by affected groups of citizen and workers. Prerequisites: PBHL 5113/OEHM 5023: Environmental and Occupational Health or equivalent; Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; or permission of instructor. 

2. Public Health Practice Courses

a. Required Practice Courses 

PBHL 9103: Community-Based Public Health Program Design/Evaluation (I)

PBHL 9113: Community-Based Public Health Program Design/Evaluation (2)

These courses are a two semester series integrating concepts of community-based program design and evaluation. This approach builds on the philosophy that evaluation should be considered simultaneously with program design.  This first course focuses on concepts and theories, and the second, on application.  The courses will be taught using an interdisciplinary approach with an emphasis on the community-based participatory model, although traditional and hybrid approaches will also be addressed.  Students will learn about social and structural issues affecting both communities and the effectiveness of community-based public health programs.  The role of the practitioner as a participant with communities in issue selection, data collection, and analysis will be examined to learn how to apply these concepts and methods to program design and implementation. A range of interventions, as well as the levels they target, will be described through illustrative case studies.  Evaluation frameworks and logic models will be studied, and formative, process, impact, and outcome evaluation purposes and techniques will be compared.  The role of both quantitative and qualitative methods will be explored. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; successful completion of three public health science core courses, including PBHL 9023: Advanced Health Behavior Theory or equivalent; PBHL 9473/5473: Health Services Research Methods or equivalent; or permission of instructor (s). Note: PBHL 9103: Community-Based Public Health Program Design/Evaluation (1) must be completed prior to registration for PBHL 9113: Community-Based Public Health Program Design/Evaluation (2). 

PBHL 9123: Grantsmanship and the Peer Review Process

This course provides information and cultivates skills required to develop grant applications supporting health programs and prevention research.  Relevant topics include: funding agencies and mechanisms; justifying proposals; rigorous assessment and intervention methods; and working on a research team. Students will gain experience in writing funding proposals and creating program budgets. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; and PBHL 9473/5473: Health Services Research Methods; or permission of instructor. 

PBHL 9473: Health Services Research Methods

This course provides an overview of study design and methods for health services research (HSR) applied to health policy and public health problems.  It will include exploration of: (1) study design principles with emphasis on the non-experimental and quasi-experimental designs most often employed in health policy and services research; (2) methodological problems often encountered in applied health policy and services research; (3) the “toolbox” of quantitative methods most often used in health policy and services research; and (4) principles and strategies for interpreting study results and communicating them to diverse stakeholders in public health.  The course will emphasize hands-on exercises in using HSR methods and case studies of published HSR studies, with a focus on health policy and public health topics.  The course will focus on quantitative research methods grounded primarily in the disciplines of econometrics and statistics, while highlighting the many close connections to other methodological perspectives including epidemiology, sociology, demography, and political science.  Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; successful completion of three public health sciences core courses; or permission of instructor. 

b. Practice Selectives

(Students must select one) 

PBHL 9353: Health Disparities Research Social/Cultural Determinants of Health

The purpose of this course is to provide students with (1) an understanding of how social, economic, and health system characteristics interact in contributing to racial/ethnic, socioeconomic and gender disparities in health and health care, and (2) a toolkit of research methods and measures that can be used to identify, quantify, and understand disparities. Students will learn ways to achieve the appropriate application and practice of culturally competent behaviors as they relate to health care and public health programs and research. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; or permission of instructor. 

PBHL 9413: Tobacco Use and Cessation

This course provides in-depth exposure to research and theory addressing the determinants and consequences of tobacco use.  Practical application of techniques to decrease tobacco use and reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality also is addressed.  Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; or permission of instructor. 

PBHL 9433: Obesity Seminar

This graduate seminar explores public health aspects of obesity including the epidemiology and health implications of overweight and obesity, social ecological models of etiology, treatment and prevention, and efficacy of state of the art treatment and prevention approaches.  The epidemiology of physical activity and dietary intake, as well as public health approaches to promoting increased activity and healthy nutrition, will be addressed.  Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; or permission of instructor. 

PBHL 9453: Women’s Health and Behavior

This class will analyze the major health problems of contemporary women, with an emphasis on health care in minority populations, the impact of the women's health movement, and health promotion and disease prevention. Lecture and discussion will address common diseases and disorders of women and barriers to women’s health, with emphasis on current status and trends in the health of women. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; or permission of instructor. 

PBHL 950V: Special Topics in Public Health Practice

(Offered intermittently) Course offerings from visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or in-depth examination of a current topic in public health practice; requires prior approval of faculty advisor, course instructor, and the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; or permission of instructor. 

PBHL 9563: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Cancer Control

This course examines interdisciplinary perspectives on the etiology and prevention of cancer.  Lecture and discussion will address the integration of epidemiological, behavioral, laboratory, and clinical findings.  Topics addressed include: behavioral risk factors, interactions among behavioral and biological processes, and cancer prevention strategies. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; or permission of instructor.

PBHL 960V: Directed Study in Public Health Practice.

Provides an opportunity for students to engage in the detailed study of a public health practice area that is relevant to their program of study, with the guidance of a faculty supervisor. A completed and signed directed study contract is required at the time of registration; requires prior approval of faculty advisor, course instructor, and the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; or permission of instructor. 

PBHL 9663: Behavioral Aspects of HIV Infection

This course focuses on behavioral approaches to HIV prevention and the management of HIV-infected individuals, their caregivers, and families.  Students will learn the biological basis of HIV infection, the changing epidemiology of the epidemic, and the interactions among behavioral, biological, and social factors in disease transmission, progression, and treatment.  Students will learn how to design a culturally-sensitive, theory-based behavioral intervention related to HIV prevention or management. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; or permission of instructor.

PBHL 971V: Professional Development Seminar

While course content will vary, this course is designed to increase doctoral students’ competencies in some of the following areas: effective written and oral communication, advocacy for public health programs and resources, group dynamics, unbiased listening, professional interaction, leadership, team building, negotiation/conflict resolution skills, basic human relations skills, motivation of personnel, collaboration skills, team and organizational learning. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; or permission of instructor. 

3. Leadership Courses

a. Required Leadership Courses 

PBHL 9303: Advanced Organizational Behavior and Leadership in Health Delivery Systems

This graduate course will explore the scientific study of the components of organizational behavior and leadership that help administrators of health systems maximize the performance of personnel in their organization. The framework of the course will examine the three core elements of organizational behavior including individual, group and organizational components. It will examine the common research methods in organizational behavior and current research findings. It will also explore leadership theories, research and current approached to leadership development that can be applied to health care systems. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; successful completion of the public health sciences core courses; or permission of instructor. 

PBHL 9313: Communication for Public Health Leaders

Theoretic overview of organizational communication; includes communication flow, networks, organizational relationships, groups, conflict, language. Special topics may include teams in organizations, diversity, organizational politics, leadership, and change. The focus is on applying organizational communication theories and concepts to understand others better and to control one’ own communication in organizations.

Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; successful completion of the public health sciences core courses; or permission of instructor.

PBHL 9323: Strategic Planning in Public Health Programs

The course will review the theories of strategic planning, principles of the planning process, forecasting methods, change management, and plan evaluation, particularly as they apply to health-related programs. Students will develop strategic plans in response to public health-related cases presented in class. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; successful completion of the public health sciences core courses; or permission of instructor. 

PBHL 9333: Management Skill Development

This course is designed to introduce students to human resource management, information management and financial management concepts and skills needed by executives in public health organizations. Students will apply these skills in a variety of in-class activities and have the opportunity to learn from practicing executives. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; successful completion of the public health sciences core courses; or permission of instructor. 

b. Leadership Selectives

(Students must select one) 

PBHL 9343: Legal/Legislative Issues in Public Health

This course surveys the field of health law and policy. The goal is to familiarize students with the key legal issues in health care today, including fraud and abuse, access to care, regulation of managed care, provider oversight, medical malpractice, antitrust law, privacy law, and the changes in the tort system. Review of legislative issues in public health facing Arkansas will be included. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; successful completion of three public health sciences core courses; or permission of instructor. 

PBHL 9373: Effective Crisis Communication

Issues such as terrorism, public health crises, and corporate malfeasance have increased the importance of crisis communication. This course will: facilitate understanding of the critical role of communication on the onset and recovery of crisis; enhance the student’s effective crisis communication skills; promote understanding of the counter intuitive nature of crisis communication; utilize crisis communication theory and perspectives to argue for effectiveness and ineffectiveness in crisis communication; and assist interactions between students, researchers, and policy makers on effective crisis communication. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; successful completion of three public health sciences core courses; or permission of instructor. 

PBHL 9383: Organizational Development in Public Health Settings

This course focuses on the challenges of managing complex public health care systems. Leadership skills necessary for effective management and support of individuals, units, and organizations will be emphasized. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; successful completion of three public health sciences core courses; or permission of instructor. 

PBHL 970V: Special Topics in Public Health Leadership

(Offered intermittently) Course offerings from visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or in-depth examination of a current topic in public health leadership; (requires prior approval of faculty advisor, course instructor, and the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair). Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; or permission of instructor.

PBHL 980V: Directed Study in Public Health Leadership

Provides an opportunity for students to engage in the detailed study of a public health leadership topic/experience that is relevant to their program of study, with the guidance of a faculty supervisor; a completed and signed directed study contract is required at the time of registration; (requires prior approval of faculty advisor, course instructor, and the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; or permission of instructor. 

4. Doctoral Practicum

(Required Field Experience) 

PBHL 997V: Doctoral Practicum

The Doctoral Practicum consists 270 hours of field experience under the joint direction of a COPH faculty member and a practicing professional with leadership experience in a public health institution.  A written report specifying activities, potential products, and outcomes of the experience is required upon completion of the practicum. Prerequisites: Doctoral student standing in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; completion of public health science core courses; completion of PBHL 9103: Community-Based Public Health Program Design/Evaluation (I) and (2); or permission of the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair. 

5. Doctoral Capstone Seminar (Required)

PBHL 9981: Doctoral Capstone Seminar

The Doctoral Capstone Seminar is designed to support the development of the capstone proposal for the Doctoral Capstone Project which should originate and evolve prior to and during participation in the Doctoral Practicum. Students will meet with selected faculty advisor (s) to collectively formulate an applied project focus or question and decide on appropriate methodologies and analysis strategies as well as the context in which the Doctoral Capstone Project will be documented. The student will present the proposal to the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair and/or selected faculty and upon the conclusion of that first tiered review will then be required to make a public presentation of the proposal to the general faculty in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health for additional input and/or suggestions of application. At the conclusion of the open forum, the student in collaboration with the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair and/or selected faculty advisor (s) will formally finalize the Doctoral Capstone Project proposal. Prerequisites: PBHL 997V: Doctoral Practicum and permission of the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair.

6. Doctoral Capstone Project (Required)

PBHL 999V: Doctoral Capstone Project

The Doctoral Capstone Project is a culminating experience that requires the student to synthesize and integrate knowledge by applying learned theories and principles to an area of public health practice relevant to the health needs of Arkansans. A written product must be submitted and must take the form of a dissertation, "n" manuscript (s) that is/are suitable for publication in a national-level public health journal (s), a technical report with supplemental materials if applicable accompanied by a grant proposal, case study (ies) from initiation to completion/ethnography and/or other similar scholarly document approved of by the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair and/or selected faculty advisor (s). The written product must be presented and successfully defended. Prerequisites: PBHL: 997V: Doctoral Practicum; PBHL 9981: Doctoral Capstone Seminar and permission of the DrPH Faculty Leadership Chair. 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP 

ALL required materials must be received by the COPH Office of Student Services by 4:30 p.m. on February 1 for applicants seeking admission to the Doctor of Public Health program.

To apply to the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, applicants must submit the following materials:

1.  A completed and signed COPH original application form available on the COPH website.

Four recommendations from persons who may also be contacted in regards to scholastic ability and professional experience. It is preferred, but not required, that one letter is from a current or previous supervisor, one letter is from a current or previous colleague, one letter be from a current or previous supervisee, and one letter be from an individual who can address the candidate’s academic potential. Letters should address the candidate’s capacity for public health leadership or the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses as a leader, must be enclosed in a sealed envelope signed by the letter-writer across the seal, and must be enclosed with the application packet. (Completed forms may be accompanied by a formal letter of reference, at the discretion of the recommender; however, the letter will not suffice as a recommendation without the completed form.)

2.  A baccalaureate degree transcript from an accredited college or university. Official, original transcripts of all academic work must be sent to the COPH Office of Student Services directly from each college or university attended, whether or not a degree was awarded at that institution. This includes transcripts showing courses completed at the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health.  The applicant must request an official transcript from the COPH Registrar. Transcripts from foreign institutions must be translated.

3.  Official transcript(s) of MPH or related masters degree(s) (or terminal clinical/doctoral degree) from a regionally accredited college or university showing grades earned, dates and award of degree. Official, original transcripts of all academic work must be sent to the COPH Office of Student Services directly from each college or university attended, whether or not a degree was awarded at that institution. This includes transcripts showing courses completed at the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health.  The applicant must request an official transcript from the COPH Registrar. Transcripts from foreign institutions must be translated.

4.  Official transcript(s) showing completion of at least one (1) graduate-level course in each of the following five areas: (a) Biostatistics, (b) Epidemiology, (c) Health Behavior/Health Education, (d) Health Management/Policy, and (e) Environmental and Occupational Health. These courses must have been completed with a grade of “B” or better. Applicants who have completed only four(4) of these courses but whose applications show exceptional potential for success in the DrPH program may be admitted conditionally to the DrPH program; however, they will be required to complete the remaining course (as presented in the COPH core course requirements for the MPH degree) with grades of “B” or better before progressing to the Public Health Sciences and Public Health Practice Cores of the DrPH program. Individuals who have completed three (3) or fewer of the above-listed courses will not be considered for admission to the DrPH program.

5.  Personal statement or letter of interest (including a description of work experience in a public health-related field). Statement should also specifically address prior experience in or demonstrated capacity for public health leadership roles (500-700 words).

6.  Original and official GRE scores sent from the testing agency to the COPH, code 6512. The requirement for completing the GRE may be waived at the discretion of the DrPH Faculty Leadership Committee. This requirement must be made in writing on or before the November 15^th preceding the February 1 application deadline. Applicants should be advised that waivers are not typically granted. Applicants are encouraged to study for the GRE while awaiting a decision.

7.  Current curriculum vitae or résumé.

8.  A $44 non-refundable application fee in the form of a check or money order, payable to UAMS COPH.

9.  In admission reviews, first consideration is given to Arkansas residents. In recognition of the support of COPH programs by private and federal organizations highly qualified applicants who are residents of another state may compete for admission. Those whose native language is not English or who do not have an undergraduate degree from an accredited US college or university, are required to submit a minimum score of 600 on the paper based examination, 250 on the computer based examination, or 100 on the internet based examination on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The test must have been taken within the five years immediately preceding the requested semester of admission. An original report of the test score, sent by the testing agency to the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, is required before any action is taken on an application. Copies are not acceptable. 

10. An on-campus interview will be required for selected applicants.

The Office of Student Services must receive all required materials by 4:30 p.m. on the published deadline date of February 1 for consideration for admission to the program. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure that her/his file is completed and received by the Office of Student Services as required by the deadline. An offer of acceptance is valid for a maximum of one calendar year from the admitted term of acceptance. Acceptance is defined as enrolling with the COPH. For additional information contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Chair of the Health Policy and Management Department at 501-526-6622 or 501-526-6621 respectively.