The Ph.D. in Public Health program focuses on seeking solutions to significant public health problems by applying and integrating knowledge into public health practice and research. The program fosters the development and demonstration of research and analytical skills to prepare students for careers in academia or in public and private organizations and institutions. Students may elect to specialize in either Community Health Education or Epidemiology.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the program, students will be able to:
1. Utilize critical-thinking and assessment skills in order to analyze barriers, assess needs, and advance the knowledge and practice of public health.
2. Evaluate and apply population-based theories and strategies used in the prevention of disease and disability.
3. Lead and inform professional communication, marketing, and public relations on key issues in public health.
4. Apply fiscal and organizational tenets to public health program leadership.
5. Demonstrate advanced competency in health informatics and surveillance techniques used in public health programs.
6. Apply public health research to promote positive social change concerning the health of diverse populations.
Specializations
Community Health Education
Epidemiology
Degree Requirements
- Number of credits depends on specialization
- Track I: 82–83 total quarter credit hours
- Track II: 110–111 total quarter credit hours
- Professional Development Plan and program of study
- Foundation courses (6–34 cr., depending on the track)
- Core courses (23 cr.)
- Specialization courses (33–34 cr., depending on specialization)
- Research proposal, dissertation, and oral presentation (20 cr.)
- Minimum 10 quarters’ enrollment
- 16 units of academic residency (four 4-day residencies)
- Measured Success Writing Assessment
Curriculum
The Ph.D. program has two tracks, providing different levels of foundational knowledge based on the students’ studies prior to entering the program. All students complete the same core and specialization curriculum.
-
Track I: Students who enter the program with a master’s degree in public health complete PUBH 8005 Foundations for Graduate Study followed by the program’s core and specialization courses.
-
Track II: Students who enter the program with a bachelor’s degree or with a graduate degree that is not in public health complete a set of foundational courses in the core competencies and practice of public health before they move on to the sequence of courses described for Track II, followed by the core and specialization courses.
Return to: