Graduate Committee
Dr. Tzeyu Michaud (Chair & Graduate Program Director), Dr. Michelle (Shelley) Strong (MPH Program Director), Dr. Fabiana Brito, and Dr. Regina Idoate, and Dr. Chad Abresch
The PhD in Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Research provides students with the training necessary to become skilled research scientists who will have a significant impact on the health of the population by thinking critically and integratively about complex public health problems and applying scientific rigor to the design and evaluation of health promotion and disease prevention research and programs. The program is housed in the College of Public Health Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, where students have the opportunity to pursue research involving epidemiological, intervention, evaluation, and dissemination studies, using qualitative, quantitative, and/or systems tools. Graduates of the program will be prepared for careers as scientists in government and private research agencies, as faculty in colleges and universities, and as leaders in public health.
PhD Curriculum
Students pursuing the PhD degree in Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Research are required to complete the courses listed below. All coursework (except HPRO 999) must be completed prior to starting the dissertation.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum (27 credits) | ||
| GRAD 800 | RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH TRAINING * | 0 |
| HPRO 901 | SYSTEMS THINKING FOR HEALTH PROMOTION RESEARCH * | 3 |
| HPRO 902 | COMPLEX SYSTEMS THINKING * | 3 |
| HPRO 915 | FOUNDATIONS OF THE CBPR APPROACH * | 3 |
| HPRO 916 | IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE MODELS AND METHODS * | 3 |
| HPRO 917 | ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS IN HEALTH PROMOTION DISEASE PREVENTION STUDY DESIGN | 3 |
| HPRO 996 | DIRECTED READINGS AND RESEARCH * | 3 |
| HPRO 970 | SEMINAR (3 semesters) | 3 |
| HPRO 925 | SCIENTIFIC WRITING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH | 3 |
| BIOS 808 | BIOSTATISTICS II * | 3 |
| Selectives (Minimum 6 Credits) | 6 | |
| HPRO 910 | HUMANISTIC TRADITIONS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH * | 3 |
| HPRO 903 | MIXED METHODS RESEARCH * | 3 |
| BIOS 835 | DESIGN OF MEDICAL HEALTH STUDIES * | 3 |
| EPI 837 | SOCIAL EPIDEMIOLOGY * | 3 |
| Electives (15 credits) | 15 | |
At least 9 of these credits must be at the 900 level; HRPO 996 can be taken up to an additional 6 credit hours | ||
| Dissertation | ||
| HPRO 999 | DOCTORAL DISSERTATION (12 credits) | 12 |
| College of Public Health Required Course | ||
| HPRO 830 | FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH (Foundations of Public Health is required for students who have not completed a master’s degree from a CEPH-accredited unit. Other exemptions based on previous coursework may be considered by the COPH Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs on a case-by-case basis. *) * | 3 |
| Each Student and his/her Supervisory Committee will determine the appropriate elective courses | ||
| *indicates course must be completed prior to Comprehensive Exam | ||
Students entering the PhD program without a master's degree must complete an additional 27 credit hours of coursework: HPRO 830, EPI 820, BIOS 806, HPRO 895, HPRO 814, HPRO 827, HPRO 860, HPRO 805, and HPRO 809.
PhD Competencies in Health Promotion
| HPROPHD1 | Conceptualize quantitative and qualitative research that is ethical, rigorous, and innovative and is based on an advanced knowledge of health promotion theories and disease prevention. |
| HPROPHD2 | Conduct rigorous quantitative and qualitative research based on methodologically sound principles and analytical techniques. |
| HPROPHD3 | Conduct needs assessment related to quality of life, health outcomes, and health behaviors in communities or priority population groups. |
| HPROPHD4 | Develop measurable objectives and evidence-based interventions in response to needs assessment to promote health and prevent disease among targeted populations. |
| HPROPHD5 | Implement evidence-based and high-impact health promotion and disease prevention interventions that effectively target policy, environmental, community, or individual health behavior change. |
| HPROPHD6 | Evaluate the reach, effectiveness, cost, and impact of evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention interventions and programs using scientifically sound study design, indicators, and analytical techniques. |
| HPROPHD7 | Disseminate and communicate results of research to a broad audience through such avenues as scientific conferences, community forums, and peer-reviewed journals. |