PhD in Population Health

Lehigh University's Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Population Health degree prepares doctoral students to investigate, integrate, and address health determinants using data science and to develop novel and effective avenues for disease diagnosis and prevention, health promotion, and intervention. The program combines foundational courses in population health with additional data science, qualitative research methods, population health survey methods, research ethics, and policymaking. By providing a strong disciplinary and methodological foundation in Population Health through coursework, experiential learning opportunities, research projects, and engagement with traditional and non-traditional partners to pursue a healthier world, the PhD program prepares students to pursue an independent line of inquiry and develop their own body of research.  

The PhD degree requires a minimum of 72 credits.  During the last semester of coursework, students will complete the qualifying exam, developed by the doctoral adviser and secondary faculty mentor. Once students pass the qualifying exam, they will work closely with their doctoral committee to complete the dissertation proposal and dissertation defense stages.

CourseCourse TitleCredits
Core Requirements12
HLTH 400Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Population Health 
HLTH 412Research Ethics in Population Health  
HLTH 416Grant Writing 
HLTH 417Teaching Community and Population Health 
Determinants Courses16
Two courses focused on the determinants of health, chosen in consultation with the adviser.
Biostatistics Course13
One biostatistics focused course, chosen in consultation with the adviser.
Qualitative Course13
One qualitative methods course, chosen in consultation with the adviser.
Epidemiology Course13
One epidemiology focused course, chosen in consultation with the adviser.
Electives127
A minimum of 27 credits, chosen in consultation with an adviser. Students are encouraged to take courses that will provide them with additional expertise in substantive and/or methodological areas of interest; 9 credits must focus on a methodological area of interest.
Population Health Dissertation Proposal26
HLTH 482Population Health Dissertation Proposal 
Students will work closely with their doctoral advisor and doctoral committee to develop their dissertation proposal. Students will orally defend their dissertation proposal to their doctoral committee and will need to obtain approval before proceeding to the dissertation phase.
Population Health Dissertation312
HLTH 499Population Health Dissertation 
Students will work closely with their doctoral advisor and doctoral committee to complete their dissertation project. Students will be required to pass their dissertation defense and incorporate feedback from the committee in order to meet the graduation requirements for the doctoral degree.
Total Minimum Credits72
1 Courses taken outside the College of Health must be approved by an adviser.
2 If students complete 72 credits beyond the undergraduate degree and prior to advancing to candidacy, they need to be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours per semester.
3 After completion of 72 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, students are permitted to register for ‘Maintenance of Candidacy’ and will be charged a single credit hour of graduate tuition per semester.