Community Health Ph.D.
The Community Health program is an interdisciplinary course of study providing students with specialized training in public health promotion. Students will learn to address factors in the broader social, economic, policy and built environments to improve the health of populations. In this program, students build practice and research skills for population-level interventions—including program development, implementation and evaluation. The curriculum further offers opportunities to focus on health across the lifespan. Graduates of the Community Health program will be able to effectively recognize and assess health disparities, promote health equity, and mobilize resources for social change.
Students admitted with a Master’s Degree in Public Health take will take the required coursework as shown. Students admitted with an undergraduate degree or a graduate degree other than a Master in Public Health will be required to take EPI 612 Epidemiology I and PHE 511 Foundations of Public Health as electives.
For more information and instructions on how to apply visit the PhD in Community Health web page.
Degree Requirements
Health Core
| PHE 612 | Principles of Health Behavior | 3 |
| PHE 546 | Urban and Community Health | 3 |
| PHE 622 | Health and Social Inequalities | 3 |
| PHE 623 | Doctoral Seminar in Health Research | 1 |
| PHE 626/SW 626 | Teaching and Learning in Health Promotion & Social Work | 3 |
| HSMP 671 | Health Policy | 3 |
| HSMP 673 | Values and Ethics in Health | 3 |
| ESHH 612 | Global & Planetary Health Concepts | 3 |
| PHE 632 | Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) - Epidemiology | 3 |
| HSMP 681 | Population Health: Policy and Practice Implications | 3 |
| PHE 619 | Mentored Teaching Experience | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 37 |
Students are required to be enrolled in the 1-credit per quarter PHE 623 Doctoral Seminar in Health Research for a total of 6 credits during the first two years (6 quarters) of the program. The Doctoral Seminar in Health Research will meet weekly with a faculty instructor on topics such as the critical evaluation of health research, hypothesis generation, publication and review process, grant application process, and program requirements.
Methods Core
| PHE 520 | Qualitative Research Design | 3 |
| PHE 624 | From Philosophy through Power Calculations: Writing Methods Sections for Research Proposals | 3 |
| PHE 625 | Advanced Methods Toolkit: Design, Sampling, Scale Development, & More | 3 |
| PHE 634 | Social Epidemiology Methods & Theory | 3 |
| BSTA 611 | Estimation and Hypothesis Testing for Applied Biostatistics | 4 |
| BSTA 612 | Linear Models | 4 |
| CPH 636 | Community Based Participatory Research | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 23 |
The required methods courses will cover traditional epidemiological as well as other social science research methods. Competencies will include study design, sampling, measurement, evaluation, qualitative research and analysis.
Electives
Methods Electives
In addition to the required methods courses, students must enroll in at least 6 credits of methods electives. Elective course selections must be approved by the student’s advisor.
Substantive Area Electives
Students must also take at least 12 credits of electives on health topics related to whichever of the three defined areas of emphasis the student has chosen (i.e., social and behavioral health, aging and health, or urban health) or otherwise related to the student's interests and approved by the student’s advisor.
Comprehensive Exam
The written and oral comprehensive examination is taken after the student has finished all required and elective coursework. For full-time students, this exam is expected to take place during the fall term of the student’s third year. Scheduling of this exam for part-time students will be negotiated by the student and his/her advisor.
Dissertation
Upon successful completion of the comprehensive exam, the student will form a committee of 4 faculty members and a Graduate Office representative who will help guide the preparation of the dissertation proposal. After committee approval of the student’s written and oral presentation of a dissertation proposal, then approval of the project by the University Human Subjects Research Review Committee application, the student will advance to doctoral candidacy. Students must complete at least 27 credits of PHE 603 Dissertation credits, in addition to having an approved written dissertation and successful oral defense of the dissertation, to be eligible for graduation. The PHE 603 Dissertation credits are by-arrangement credits supervised by the PHE advisor or the dissertation chair (faculty within PHE). Continuous registration with a minimum of 1 PHE 603 Dissertation credit is required while engaged in dissertation research.
Total Credit Hours: 108
Other Professional Development
The core curriculum has a strong emphasis on community engagement, research mentorship, critical evaluation of research, and professional development. Doctoral students, however, are expected to do more than simply fulfill degree requirements while in the Community Health doctoral program. Some of these extracurricular activities, such as attending lecture series, workshops, and brown bag seminars, are expected of any member of the community of scholars. Other activities, such as serving as research or teaching assistants, provide opportunities for professional development, publication, presentation at conferences, and remuneration.