The PhD degree program emphasizes the scholarship of discovery and integration. PhD students focus on the creation of new knowledge through the testing of hypotheses with the overall objective of improving the health of populations. During the program, students develop skills in generating research questions to advance knowledge, research design, grant proposal development, collection and analysis of data, and communication of scientific findings. Courses focus on theory, research methods, statistics, and scientific writing. Employment opportunities include academic public health (research/teaching), state and national government agencies, and private research organizations.
Students in the Health Behavior Research doctoral program will complete coursework that provides a broad introduction to public health and display competency in the following public health learning objectives:
- Explain history, philosophy & values
- Identify the core functions & 10 essential services
- Explain role of quantitative & qualitative methods & sciences to describe & assess a population’s health
- List major causes & trends of morbidity & mortality in the US or other relevant community
- Discuss the science of primary, secondary & tertiary prevention in population health
- Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge
- Explain effects of environmental factors on a population’s health
- Explain biological & genetic factors that affect population health
- Explain behavioral & psychological factors that affect population health
- Explain the social, political & economic determinants of health & how they contribute to population health & health inequity
- Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease
- Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health & ecosystem health (One Health)
The School of Public Health (SPH) is a member of SOPHAS (Schools of Public Health Application Service). Students may apply online at www.sophas.org. SPH admits PhD students during the fall semester only. The admission application deadline to SOPHAS is January 15th.