Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University: An Overview

The Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH) at Emory University, established in 1990, stands as a leading institution in public health education and research. With a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff, Rollins is dedicated to addressing the world’s most pressing public health challenges. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the school, its programs, and its impact on the field of public health.

A Legacy of Excellence

Founded 36 years ago, the Rollins School of Public Health has quickly risen to prominence. It is named after O. Wayne Rollins, a business entrepreneur and innovator, following an endowment by his son, Randall Rollins. A significant donation of $50 million from the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation and Grace Crum Rollins in 2007 doubled the school's physical structure, enabling further growth and development.

The school is an integral part of Emory University, a renowned institution known for its commitment to academic excellence and research. Rollins benefits from its location in Atlanta, a hub for public health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CARE, and The Carter Center, providing students with unparalleled opportunities for collaboration and real-world experience.

Academic Programs

Rollins School of Public Health offers a wide range of academic programs designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in various public health fields. The school has more than 1,100 students pursuing master's degrees (MPH/MSPH) and over 150 students pursuing doctorate degrees (PhD). These programs are structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of public health principles and practices, preparing graduates to address complex health issues both locally and globally.

Master of Public Health (MPH) Programs

The Master of Public Health (MPH) programs at Rollins are designed for individuals seeking to advance their careers in public health. These programs require a minimum of 42 credit hours of coursework, a 200-hour applied practice experience in the field, and an Integrative Learning Experience. The curriculum ensures that students gain baseline knowledge across disciplines, including health care, environmental health, and global health. Rollins also emphasizes interprofessional training, fostering collaboration with professionals in other fields like medicine and nursing.

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Rollins offers online, part-time MPH programs tailored for working professionals and students who prefer a flexible learning schedule. These programs cover various specializations, including:

Epidemiology: Focuses on the causes, prevention, and control of disease.
Global Environmental Health: Addresses environmental challenges and promotes sustainable development.
Global Health: Aims to improve the health of global populations and health care delivery systems.
Health Policy: Utilizes policy to shape the future of health and enact change in health care access, affordability, and equity.

Applied Practice Experience (APE)

A cornerstone of the Rollins MPH program is the applied practice experience (APE), which provides graduate students with a unique opportunity to apply their coursework knowledge in a professional public health environment. Students are required to complete at least 200 work hours in a public health agency, institution, or community, under the supervision of a site supervisor and guidance from their academic department.

Integrative Learning Experience (ILE)

The integrative learning experience (ILE) is another critical component of the MPH program. It requires students to apply the competencies they have developed throughout their studies to a capstone project or thesis. Capstone projects allow students to explore a topic of interest in depth, enhancing their practical knowledge, presentation skills, and career development. Thesis projects involve independent research or evaluation projects conducted under the mentorship of a thesis chair and committee.

Joint Programs

In addition to single department degrees, students at Rollins can participate in joint programs within the school and in conjunction with other Emory professional schools, including the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University School of Law, and Goizueta Business School.

Faculty and Research

Rollins School of Public Health boasts over 200 expert faculty members who are actively involved in groundbreaking research. These faculty members are dedicated to mentoring students and fostering a collaborative learning environment. Their research spans a wide range of public health areas, including infectious diseases, cancer, and health policy.

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The school's faculty and students collaborate with leading public health organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CARE, and The Carter Center, to address urgent public health issues. This collaboration provides students with invaluable real-world experience and contributes to the school's reputation as a leader in public health research.

Facilities

The Rollins School of Public Health has a 500,000 square foot multi-complex campus consisting of three buildings:

The Grace Crum Rollins (GCR) Building: Opened in fall 1995, this 10-story building houses academic departments, classrooms, student breakout and reading rooms, computer labs, a furnished kitchen, Starbucks, and Rollins Cafe.
The Claudia Nance Rollins (CNR) Building: Opened in fall 2010, this building features wet and dry research labs, the Office of the Dean, and community partner offices for organizations including the CDC, The Carter Center, American Cancer Society, PRISM, Food Fortification Initiative, and CARE. The CNR building is certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The R. Randall Rollins (RRR) Building: This LEED Gold Certified 10-floor building opened in fall 2022. It offers workspaces conducive to a variety of working styles, with open-floor office spaces, collaborative meeting rooms, and private offices. The building includes 10 new classrooms, multiple areas for studying and training, a Dancing Goats coffee shop, and an expansive reading room and outdoor terrace.

Student Life and Engagement

Rollins School of Public Health offers a vibrant and engaging student life. Students come from all 50 states and over 40 countries, creating a diverse and community-oriented environment. There are numerous student organizations and programs dedicated to connecting students with communities, resources, and support services.

GEMMA Program

The GEMMA (Global Elimination of Maternal Mortality from Abortion) program, established by RSPH professor Dr. Rochat, focuses on abortion and tackles concerns involving medical, ethical, legal, human rights, and religious views. The GEMMA seminar is a public health course that concentrates solely on abortion. Dr. Rochat, a physician and epidemiologist, has worked in over 40 countries during his 30 years with the CDC, providing him the opportunity to research around 70,000 instances of unsafe abortion and abortion-related deaths.

Notable People

Rollins School of Public Health has been home to many notable individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of public health. These include:

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James W. Curran: Emeritus Dean.
Walter Orenstein: Directed the United States Immunization Program and was a senior advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
David J. Sencer: Former director of the CDC.

Admission

The Rollins School of Public Health seeks students who have an interest in and commitment to the field of public health. The admissions process aims to identify students who will be successful in the academic program. The school offers several informative programs to help prospective students submit a strong application for admission.

MPH/MSPH application requirements include:

Complete and verified application through SOPHAS
Transcripts (WES evaluations for international transcripts)
Two letters of recommendation
Personal statement
List of research/work/volunteer/honors experiences
TOEFL scores (for international applicants)

The GRE is not required for admission to most academic programs and will not be considered as part of the application for admission. The Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (BIOS) offers a GRE optional policy, allowing students to submit a GRE score for consideration.

The priority deadline for admission to the programs is January 5. Applications that are complete and verified with all supporting documents by the deadline are automatically eligible for priority merit consideration. After the deadline, applications are accepted on a space available basis.

Global Impact

The Rollins School of Public Health is committed to making a global impact through its research, education, and service initiatives. The school's faculty, students, and alumni are working to address public health challenges in communities around the world. Through collaborations with international organizations and partnerships with local communities, Rollins is helping to improve the health and well-being of populations worldwide.

Continuing Education

The Rollins Health Education Institute (RHEDI) offers continuing education opportunities for the public health workforce and professionals from other fields who are interested in learning about or transitioning to public health work. These courses provide opportunities for knowledge sharing about vital issues in public health. A discount is available for public health professionals who have lost their employment due to recent federal actions. Emory University employees who plan to take this course for credit towards a degree may be eligible for a courtesy scholarship. Emory Healthcare employees may be eligible for tuition benefits.

Passion and Collegiality

Rollins School of Public Health is known for its passionate community of students, faculty, and staff. The school fosters a collegial environment where collaboration and mentorship are highly valued. Students are encouraged to work together and support each other, creating a strong sense of community.

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