PhD in Population Health

The PhD in Population Health degree prepares doctoral students to investigate, integrate and address health determinants using data science and 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.  All PhD students will be fully funded.

Pursue an independent line of inquiry and develop a robust, self-determined body of Population Health research.
Flexibility: in-person only

CourseCourse TitleCredits
Core Requirements27
POPH 401Population Health Concepts and Methods 
POPH 403Biological Basis of Population Health: Concepts and Methods 
POPH 405Qualitative Research Methods 
POPH 409Social Determinants of Population Health 
POPH 412Research Ethics in Population Health 
POPH 416Grant Writing 
BSTA 402Health Data and Computational Science 
CGH 417Teaching Community and Population Health 
EPI 404/304Methods in Epidemiology I1 
Methods or Electives27
Twelve graduate-level courses, a minimum of 36 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; three of these courses must focus on a methodological area of interest. Courses taken outside the College of Health must be approved by an advisor.
Population Health Dissertation Proposal26
POPH 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
POPH 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 If EPI 304 /EPI 404 Methods in Epidemiology I was completed at the undergraduate level at the College of Health, the student will be expected to take EPI 450 Special Topics in Epidemiology or a second epidemiology course selected in conjunction with an advisor instead.
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.