Doctor of Philosophy in Health Policy and Health Services Research

The Ph.D. program in Health Policy and Health Services Research is administered by the Department of Health Services Administration and Policy. This program is unique in that it provides students with an opportunity to develop mixed methods research to investigate the development of health policy and its impact on population health, access to care and health services utilization, and reduction in health disparities. The program trains students in the use of qualitative and quantitative research methods using primary data collection and secondary data sets to research the development, implementation, and impact of health policy and health services initiatives. The Ph.D. program in Health Policy and Health Services Research emphasizes health services, economics, and outcomes research as well as healthcare administration and leadership in investigating health disparities, public health interventions, and clinical outcomes as the basis to inform health policy. The program trains students to develop, evaluate, and implement health policy at multiple levels (i.e., local, state, national, global) and in both private and public institutional settings. The Ph.D. program: provides training and experiences that support interdisciplinary learning, promotes critical and theory-based problem-solving skills to address public health problems, and fosters the development of public health professional values and ethics.

All students in the Health Policy and Health Services Research Ph.D. program complete common core course requirements that include foundational courses in comparative health policy, economics, legal issues, and theories of health policy-making, and are introduced to critical public health research methods and statistical techniques. Beyond these core courses, students take specialized courses in their chosen subdiscipline and engage in research and scholarly productivity with faculty members. Students in the program work closely with faculty members to explore key public health issues such as improving the quality and outcomes of healthcare services, examining healthcare costs, addressing health disparities, and developing policy initiatives targeting areas of population health, including aging, chronic disease, mental health, risk behaviors, substance use, and violence/injury prevention.

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: Nearly all students admitted to the program have a master's degree. Although a master's degree specifically in Public Health is not required, preference is given to applicants who have a background in the health sciences, including behavioral medicine, environmental health, epidemiology, health communication, health psychology, medicine, or a public health discipline.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree is required, although it need not be in Public Health. Preference is given to applicants who have a background in the health sciences, including behavioral medicine, environmental health, epidemiology, health communication, health psychology, medicine, or a public health discipline.

Statement of Goals: In no more than 750 words.

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master's degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

TOEFL iBT: 79 (send officially to SOPHAS using the SOPHAS-specific TOEFL code 5688)
TOEFL Paper Total Score - 550
IELTS Academic: 6.5
The minimum admissions standard for all graduate students is ordinarily an undergraduate grade point average of B or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or the functional equivalent for students who have attended universities outside of the United States.
Resume: Current CV required.

Writing Sample: Scholarly articles, technical reports, or academic professional papers are desirable. Unless it is a published work, the writing sample should be no more than 10 pages.