phd in population health sciences

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Offered By: Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health

Onsite | Full-Time | 4 years

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About the PhD in Population, Family and Reproductive Health Program

The emphasis of the PhD program is to integrate coursework in life course, population health, and core PFRH areas of interest with the application of a range of research methods. Doctoral program requirements include a core set of courses that cover developmental, demographic and social science frameworks that represent common conceptual foundations for the work of PFRH faculty. Students also complete coursework in biostatistics, epidemiology, and data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Upon completion of required courses and preliminary exams, students engage in dissertation work. Students complete one or more research apprenticeships and serve as teaching assistants for PFRH courses. 

PhD in Population, Family and Reproductive Health Program Highlights

World-renowned centers and initiatives.

Work directly with faculty on grant-funded research and publishing opportunities at 11 PFRH centers, institutes, and programs

Interdisciplinary methods

Explore and expand your expertise, with courses in social science, demography, epidemiology, health economics, and health services research and evaluation 

Community Engagement

Partner with local and international collaborators to understand and influence public health

Participate on Research Teams

The Bloomberg School is the leading recipient of NIH research funding among U.S. schools of public health, providing unparalleled hands-on research opportunities

What Can You Do With a Graduate Degree In Population, Family And Reproductive Health?

Visit the  Graduate Employment Outcomes Dashboard to learn about Bloomberg School graduates' employment status, sector, and salaries.

Sample Careers

• Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer
• Senior Research Analyst
• Program Officer Evaluation Consultant
• Assistant Professor

Curriculum for the PhD in Population, Family and Reproductive Health

Browse an overview of the requirements for this PhD program in the JHU  Academic Catalogue , explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School  Course Directory . 

Areas of Interest

The Department's current areas of interest in the PhD program include:

• Child and Adolescent Health
• Maternal, Fetal and Perinatal Health
• Population and Health
• Women's, Sexual and Reproductive Health

Admissions Requirements

For general admissions requirements, please visit the How to Apply page. This specific program also requires:

Prior Coursework

A general-level biology or biological science course

Standardized Test Scores

Standardized test scores (GRE, MCAT) are  optional  for this program. The admissions committee will make no assumptions if a standardized test score is omitted from an application, but will require evidence of quantitative/analytical ability through other application components such as academic transcripts and/or supplemental questions.  Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all application components.

Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the JHU PhD Union, the minimum guaranteed 2025-2026 academic year stipend is $50,000 for all PhD students with a 4% increase the following year. Tuition, fees, and medical benefits are provided, including health insurance premiums for PhD student’s children and spouses of international students, depending on visa type. The minimum stipend and tuition coverage is guaranteed for at least the first four years of a BSPH PhD program; specific amounts and the number of years supported, as well as work expectations related to that stipend will vary across departments and funding source. Please refer to the  CBA  to review specific benefits, compensation, and other terms.

Need-Based Relocation Grants Students who  are admitted to PhD programs at JHU starting in Fall 2023 or beyond  can apply to receive a need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to be able to attend JHU.   These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to afford to relocate to JHU for their PhD program. This is not a merit-based grant. Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need.  View more information about the need-based relocation grants for PhD students .

Questions about the program? We're happy to help. 

Academic Program Manager Gilbert Morgan (Primary Contact)  410-614-6676 [email protected]

Academic Program Manager Kristen McCormick 410-955-1116 [email protected]

Population Health Sciences

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You will be part of a program that is at the vanguard of integrating both the social and life sciences. You will be able to choose your path of interest from a program anchored in our cohort-driven model and built on the research and proven knowledge of our five fields of study—environmental health, epidemiology, global health and population, nutrition, and social and behavioral sciences—all viewed through the lens of statistics, health determinants, and social justice.

In this fully funded program, you will have access to the resources of 13 Harvard schools, including Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Graduate School of Design, and Harvard Medical School, as well as have the opportunity for in-person coursework at MIT, Tufts, and Brown.

Examples of PHS doctoral dissertations explore critical areas such as air pollution, novel epidemiologic methods in HIV research, health system quality improvement interventions in Africa, obesity and food insecurity, eviction and children’s health in the United States, and epidemic preparedness and response.

Graduates have gone on to fellow and postdoctoral positions at Harvard, Yale University, and University of California, San Francisco. Others have gone on to careers at the CDC, Pfizer, Takeda, Genentech, and various consultancies.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the PhD Program in Population Health Sciences , and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Areas of Study

Environmental Health | Epidemiology | Global Health and Population | Nutrition | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Admissions Requirements

Please review the admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the PhD Program in Population Health Sciences.

Academic Background

Although a previous graduate degree is not required, applicants should have successfully completed coursework in introductory statistics or quantitative methods. Preference will be given to applicants who have either some relevant work experience or graduate work in the chosen field of study after completion of a bachelor’s degree. Applicants are required to select a field of study in their application and indicate an area of specialization. Secondary interest in an additional field of study may also be indicated in the application and statement of purpose.

Writing Sample

A writing sample is required as part of the application and should be a term paper, senior thesis, master’s thesis, first authored report or manuscript, research report, or similar work. It should be no longer than 10 pages, single spaced; citations and references should not be included as part of the page limit.

Statement of Purpose

Describe your reasons and motivations for pursuing a graduate degree in your chosen program of study at Harvard. What experiences led you to your research ambitions? Concisely state your past work in your intended field of study. Briefly indicate your career objectives. Your statement should not exceed 1,000 words. Please ensure that your statement of purpose covers the following points:

• your motivation in seeking doctoral-level training in population health sciences in your chosen field of study at Harvard
• a self-assessment of any past research experience and analytical skills
• a description of your current research interests and a suggestion of up to three faculty members whose work most closely matches your research interests
• your career aspirations.

Personal Statement

Standardized tests.

GRE General: Required iBT TOEFL minimum score: 100 with sub-section scores of 25 or higher* IELTS minimum score: 7.5

*The preferred minimum score for the iBT TOEFL is 104+

See list of Population Health Sciences faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Population Health, PhD

• Program description
• At a glance
• Degree requirements
• Admission requirements
• Tuition information
• Application deadlines
• Career opportunities
• Contact information

Analytics, Community, Data Science, Environmental Health Science, Epidemiology, Equity, Health Administration, Health Care, Healthcare, Policy, Public Health, Research, ethics, healthcare administration

Embark on a research career with a profound impact on the health of communities and populations. Tailor your academic experience to conduct research in close collaboration with the communities you aim to help.

The PhD in population health brings together multiple disciplines, illustrating the complex factors that affect the health and well-being of populations.

The program addresses the interaction between health systems and other sectors of society --- including the private sector, government, nonprofit and academia --- to affect the health outcomes of entire populations.

Students personalize their program of study by completing courses from one of four tracks:

• complex adaptive systems: teaches students about theory, principles, models and techniques used to analyze complex systems and data as applied to population health
• dissemination and implementation science: trains students to identify, translate and implement research that will enable rapid dissemination of evidence
• health equity: trains doctoral students to conduct empathetic research, incorporating the lived experience of populations vulnerable to health disparities into applied research
• health services research and policy: enables students to examine access to and use of health care services, costs, quality and safety of care, health care delivery models, organization, financing, and outcomes of health care
• urban environments for health: prepares students to meet challenges from an evidence-based and transdisciplinary environmental perspective

Required courses reinforce a strong repertoire of systems science, quantitative and qualitative research methods, ethics, epidemiology and biostatistics. The practicum offers an applied experience, and the dissertation requires novel research on population health.

• College/school: College of Health Solutions
• Location: Downtown Phoenix
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation - Complex Adaptive Systems Track, or 84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation - Dissemination and Implementation Science Track, or 84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation - Health Equity Track, or 84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation - Health Services Research and Policy Track, or 84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation - Urban Environments for Health Track

Required Core (15 credit hours) BMI 515 Applied Biostatistics in Medicine and Informatics (3) EXW 645 Advanced Applied Methods and Data Analysis (3) POP 605 Population Health Systems Science and Theory (3) POP 633 Population Health Ethics (3) POP 641 Qualitative Research Methods (3)

Track (15 credit hours)

Electives (30 credit hours)

Research (6 credit hours) EXW 700 Research Methods (3) EXW 701 Scientific Grant Writing (3)

Other Requirement (6 credit hours) POP 591 Seminar: Evaluating the Population Health Literature (3) POP 780 Population Health Practicum (3)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) POP 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information Students select from tracks in complex adaptive systems, dissemination and implementation science, health equity, health services research and policy, or urban environments for health.

Students entering the doctoral program with a master's degree in a related discipline may count up to 30 credit hours from the master's degree toward the total credit hours, with program approval.

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the College of Health Solutions.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or a master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Preference is given to applicants who completed a data-based research thesis during their master's degree program.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• personal statement
• resume or curriculum vitae
• three references (academic or professional)
• writing sample (6 to 10 pages)
• oral interview (via videoconference)
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

All applicants must have completed an undergraduate or graduate-level course in epidemiology (e.g., EXW 642, HEP 444, or NTR 557) and a graduate-level research statistics course (e.g., EXW 501 or NTR 502).

It is expected that students admitted to the program have documented academic training and a strong interest in public health, health care or population health. Thus, depending on the student's academic training, background, scholarly interests and focus area, they may be asked to take course deficiencies prior to or concurrently with graduate course enrollment.

The personal statement should indicate research or scholarly interest, primary program area, statement of career goals and the name of one or more potential faculty mentors. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact one or more possible mentors to discuss their research interests prior to submitting their application.

Contact information for three references is required. References will be contacted via email to submit a letter of recommendation and respond to a series of questions about the applicant. References must be academic or professional sources who are familiar with the applicant's potential to be successful in the field of population health.

Students are strongly encouraged to pursue postdoctoral research opportunities upon graduation.

Graduates of this interdisciplinary program are prepared to become:

• executives or analysts in private industry, such as health IT startups or medical device, biotechnology, health insurance or health care delivery organizations
• faculty at research-intensive universities in schools of population health, public health, medicine or health sciences
• leaders and directors of health in local, state and federal government agencies
• program directors and officers for global health organizations, such as the World Health Organization or the World Bank
• program directors and officers of local and national nongovernmental foundations such as the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association
• research or policy analysts at federal health agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Career examples include:

• entrepreneur
• epidemiologist
• global health professional
• health information manager or director
• health scientist
• population health analyst or manager
• postsecondary public health teacher
• public health consultant or policy advisor
• research scientist

College of Health Solutions | HLTHN 401 [email protected] 602-496-3300

Population Health Sciences

The Program in Population Health Sciences offers doctoral training that builds on multiple disciplinary perspectives to understanding origins and determinants of health and disease across populations, and developing theoretical and methodological skills to conceptualizing and evaluating population-level interventions to address health inequalities. The program is a joint collaboration between the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health to offer a Ph.D. in population health sciences. Students in this program will belong to one of the following fields of study: Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Global Health and Population, Nutrition, or Social and Behavioral Sciences.

PhD in Population Health Sciences

Population health sciences.

The PhD program in Population Health Sciences prepares students to be leading researchers in population health sciences: an emerging interdisciplinary scientific field that aims to improve population health by addressing the multiple determinants of health and health disparities across populations and seeks to improve healthcare delivery.    

Our students are trained to investigate the social, behavioral, and biological determinants of health through measurement, design and evaluation of research studies that address the critical issues in health outcomes and delivery of healthcare services among the underserved. Students receive didactic interdisciplinary training in biostatistics, data science, epidemiology, health informatics, and health policy and economics, as well as principles of population health sciences. Students also receive hands-on training in state-of-the-art data science methodologies such as machine learning that prepare students with cutting-edge tools to solve complex population health challenges.    

Featuring a partnership between Weill Cornell’s Department of Population Health Sciences and the Population Science Research Program of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), our students have the opportunity to work with nationally renowned and federally funded faculty in multiple areas including health informatics, epidemiology, outcomes research, biostatistics & data science, health policy & economics, and behavioral sciences.    

Graduates of the program are positioned for research careers in population health sciences, including postdoctoral positions and tenure-track faculty positions in population health at schools of medicine, public health, and public policy across the country. Population health scientists are also recruited heavily by industry, including pharmaceutical, technology and consulting firms, as well as governmental agencies, like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).     

Program Requirements

Admissions Applicants to the program are expected to have a bachelor’s degree, strong academic record, demonstrated research interest aligning with faculty members, and prerequisite coursework in statistics, calculus, and at least one computer programming or statistical programming language such as R, Python, or SAS. Candidates must apply for admission online.   

Successful applicants will  likely have  a background in one of the following data-driven disciplines:     

Public Health     

Statistics or biostatistics     

Epidemiology     

Health or biomedical informatics     

Economics     

Health policy     

Computer science     

Industrial engineering or operations research     

Quantitative social sciences such as sociology     

Mathematics     

Medical, genetics or natural sciences     

Application materials will include academic transcripts from all post-secondary education, three letters of recommendation, CV/resume, and a statement of purpose. Applicants are not required to take the General Graduate Record Examination (GRE exam). International Students who have not completed an academic degree in an English-speaking institution are required to take an English language proficiency exam. Applicants can demonstrate English Language proficiency using IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT scores.     

Applications for fall 2024 will open in fall 2023. The application deadline is December 1, 2023.  

Becoming a Doctoral Candidate   In years one and two, students are required to complete required core coursework, participate in a credit-bearing colloquium, complete elective courses, and prepare for and complete their admission to candidacy exam (ACE). Students with advanced degrees may be able to complete the ACE after one year. Students will complete at least one 3-credit-hour research rotation directed by a faculty member before beginning their dissertation research and can take up to 3 research rotations (9-credit hours) as appropriate . These research rotations will provide students an opportunity to choose their primary dissertation advisor and to broaden their understanding of population health sciences by participating in ongoing faculty research projects or completing an independent project under the guidance of a faculty member.  

PhD Research and Degree   Before beginning their dissertation research, each student will form a dissertation committee with a primary dissertation advisor and at least 3 internal committee members. The dissertation committee will evaluate the student's progress towards their dissertation every year during the dissertation phase.  

The culmination of the student's successful progression through the program is the final examination (the "defense") and certification by the dissertation committee that the dissertation satisfies the requirements of the Graduate School for a PhD degree. Students are expected to complete this degree within five years of entering the program.  

Bao,  Yuhua  

Begg , Colin  

Gany , Francesca  

Kaushal,  Rainu  

Pathak,  Jyotishman  

Schackman , Bruce  

Sedrakyan , Art  

Tamimi,  Rulla    

Courses and Required Curricular Components

• Biostatistics I with R Lab
• Biostatistics II - Regression Analysis
• Data Science I
• Data Science II - Statistical Learning
• Introduction to Health Informatics
• Introduction to Health Services Research

Additional Curricular Components

In addition to the core coursework, PhD students are also required to:

• Register for 7 elective courses, selected from existing WCGS advanced graduate coursework in biostatistics and data science (including artificial intelligence), health informatics, health policy and economics (including comparative effectiveness), and in computational biology.
• Participate in a credit-bearing colloquium.
• Take one 3-credit-hour research rotation directed by a faculty member before beginning their dissertation research (students may complete up to 3 research rotations). These research rotations will provide students an opportunity to broaden their understanding of population health sciences by participating in ongoing faculty research projects or completing an independent project under the guidance of a faculty member.
• Complete the Responsible Conduct in Research course

Program Co-Chair  

• Bruce Schackman

Program Director  

• Samprit Banerjee

Program Coordinator 

• Suklima Roy Barua

Population Health Sciences   402 E. 67 th St.   New York, NY 10065   (646) 962-8078   [email protected]

Applications will be evaluated on a number of criteria, with a focus on the quality of the candidate's research interests, alignment with population health sciences, and fit with a primary mentor within the department. 

Application Deadline

2024-2025 Application Deadline:  December 2, 2024 

The application for the Ph.D. in Population Health Sciences is now open. Please apply online through the  Duke Graduate School .

Application Requirements

• Transcripts
• Letters of recommendation
• Statement of purpose
• GRE scores or MCAT scores  
• English language proficiency test scores (if English is not your first language)

Application fee waivers:

The Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee waivers. Domestic applicants should refer to this link for information on requesting a waiver: Graduate School Fee Waiver Policy .

International applicants may qualify for an application fee waiver from the department. These waivers are limited, and requests will be accepted from August 30, 2024, to September 30, 2024. Applicants who are granted waivers will be notified by November 1, 2024. If awarded a departmental fee waiver, you will need to enter the single-use code on the “Fee Waiver” page of the application.

To request a fee waiver, international applicants should provide the following:

• A detailed statement of need (socioeconomic challenges such as hyperinflation or currency devaluation, living in a conflict zone, or explicit personal hardship). Socioeconomic need is identified in countries with an IHDI value below 0.5 on the Inequality-Adjusted Human Development Index.  
• A current CV.

Please be aware that all materials submitted for admissions purposes may be subject to verification .

Requests should be sent to [email protected]

KINDLY NOTE: Please refrain from sending blanket emails with attachments such as CVs, publications, or detailed project proposals to our faculty members. Connection with a faculty member prior to application is not required, and such emails do not improve your chances of being accepted into the program. 

Our admissions committee reviews all applications thoroughly once they are submitted, and ensures that all students offered admission have a strong match with a department faculty member. Offers of admission are based on formally submitted and reviewed application materials and any additional documents or inquiries sent outside of this process cannot be considered.

The application for the Population Health Sciences Ph.D. cohort will open in August each year and can be submitted through the  Graduate School . Please be sure to review your application prior to submission. All application materials should be sent directly to the Graduate School and not to the department.

Applications are due by  November 30, 2023 . 

Besides why you are applying to a graduate program, specifically one at Duke University, we are looking primarily for a commitment to a research career in population health, and research interests that align with those of a faculty mentor. You should also include descriptions of prior education and research experience. The specifics of these areas are up to you.

The department staff and faculty cannot read, edit, or advise on any application material prior to its submission.

The PhD in Population Health Sciences is a quantitatively and methodologically rigorous program; students will take courses that rely on prior knowledge of statistics and mathematics. All PhD students must have experience equivalent to the core MS courses (or year 1 of the DPHS Master’s program). This includes coursework or work experience in research methodology; a minimum of two semesters of statistical methods, including use of at least one programming language; and prior coursework or work experience relevant to population health topics. Except in very unusual circumstances, this will be obtained through a prior master’s degree.

Faculty receive a very high volume of emails from prospective PhD candidates, and are thus unable to reply to each inquiry they receive. If you wish to contact a faculty member, please be prepared for an absent or very delayed reply (in other words, do not wait to submit your application until you have received a response). The Admissions Committee and the Education leadership take great care and thought in making sure all PhD applicants who are offered admission have a strong match with a faculty advisor.

We encourage applicants to contact Education leadership or staff with questions, or to attend one of our Virtual Information sessions. Please visit our  faculty webpage  to learn more about our faculty and their areas of research.

All submitted applications will be reviewed by the DPHS Admissions Committee. This committee is comprised of both department faculty and staff members, who have extensive experience in the field of Population Health. These individuals include faculty from multiple various research areas, staff from different departmental groups, and at least one representative from the  DPHS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee . Selected candidates will be asked to complete a virtual interview with several committee members prior to a decision being reached.

All application decisions will be released in Spring 2024 for the next application cycle. Duke Graduate Admissions is the only office authorized to release the official decisions. Decisions will be released through email notification only. Additional information may be found on the  Graduate School's admissions website .

GRE test scores are optional for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle.

The department reviews all applications holistically, which means no single element of an application (e.g., test scores) will automatically eliminate a candidate from consideration, nor guarantee them admission. The Graduate School Admissions office has  a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding test scores , which we encourage you to review.

No. DPHS staff and faculty are NOT authorized to review any application materials prior to their submission, including any standardized test information, nor are they authorized to confirm your eligibility for any waivers. If you believe you qualify for an IELTS/TOEFL/DuoLingo English test waiver, you may indicate so in your Graduate School application. Please direct any questions regarding IELTS/TOEFL/DuoLingo English tests to the Graduate School admissions office.  You may also review a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding standardized tests here .

No. Any issues or questions regarding your application materials should be directed to the Graduate School Admissions office , who oversee receipt and processing of all application materials. Prior to application submission, DPHS staff and faculty are not authorized to review application materials or make any decisions regarding their acceptability.

The School of Medicine and the Department of Population Health Sciences hold as a central tenet that diversity and inclusion are key drivers of institutional excellence and amplify our capacity for innovation and solving complex problems. The department takes seriously its responsibility to recruit and retain students that exemplify a diversity of backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives. We strongly encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented minorities, those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and those with disabilities. Duke offers the following resources in that regard:

• Duke University School of Medicine Office of Diversity & Inclusion
• Duke University School of Medicine Multicultural Resource Center
• Duke University Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
• Duke Health Sciences Gay-Straight Alliance

• Partnerships

Population Health (PhD)

YOU ARE BOUVÉ

Explore the complex factors that affect the health and well-being of populations.

The PhD Program in Population Health at Northeastern University integrates interdisciplinary education and experiential learning opportunities to train students to become public health researchers and leaders who understand the complex factors that affect the health and well-being of populations. The program has:

• Close mentoring by distinguished faculty
• A focus on solution-based, innovative research
• Specialized training in critical population health topics

Our program trains students to become public health leaders through simultaneous examination of multiple determinations of health, including social, environmental, nutritional, and behavioral risk factors.

Our students investigate the underlying causes of adverse health, including disease, disparities, and disability, through training in core population health disciplines:

• biostatistics
• epidemiology
• health services

This training is done together with individual-specific and specialized training in topics related to student research.

Our students are mentored by Northeastern’s distinguished faculty, who individually and together conduct innovative, solution-focused research in critical population health topics.

Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy in Population Health (PhD)

Study options: – Full-time – On-ground (Boston campus) only Need flexibility around daytime classes – *Fall semester start only

Application deadlines: Dec 6

Prerequisites: None Most applicants have a master’s degree

Applications accepted: Domestic and international

Grad assistantships available : Full-time students only

GRE: Optional

Please Note: PhD students in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences may not request enrollment deferrals. If you are admitted for a given term but wish to be considered for a future term instead, you must re-apply to the program in order to be considered for admission and funding. 

Population Health doctoral students conduct research that addresses key determinants of health including:

• Social and Neighborhood/Community Contexts
• Environmental Risks
• Health Care Access and Delivery
• Economic Stability

All Population Health PhD candidates must earn at least 33 credits by completing core research courses, selecting a concentration, and taking additional electives and directed study courses, as needed and in consultation with their faculty advisors. They must complete a dissertation in order to earn their degree.

Sample Curriculum

Curriculum subject to change. For most up-to-date information please refer to the university’s academic catalog .

• Research Core
• Social/Environmental Concentration
• Health Services /Policy Concentration

Students investigate the underlying causes of adverse health, including disease, disparities, and disability, through training in core population health disciplines.

Biostatistics in Public Health

Epidemiology

Principles of Population Health

Economic Perspectives on Health Policy

Applied Regression Analysis

Intermediate Epidemiology

Research Skills and Ethics

Students are trained to conduct research examining the social and environmental determinants of health through a cohesive, transdisciplinary program that integrates topics that include the five pillars of public health, including epidemiology, biostatistics, health program evaluation, environmental health, and social determinants of health.

Social Epidemiology

Advanced Methods in Biostatistics

Dissertation preparation classes ( exact credits determined in conjunction with faculty advisor )

Directed Study ( can be repeated as needed )

Sample Electives

Various electives ( exact number of courses determined in conjunction with faculty advisor )

Theoretical Foundations of Personal Health Informatics

Health Organization Management

Public Health Policy and Administration

Strategic Management and Leadership in Health Care

Global Health

Health Education and Program Planning

Advances in Measuring Behavior

Social Movements in Health

Qualitative Methods in Health and Illness

Causal Inference in Public Health

Data Mining

Statistics for Big Data Sets

Students are trained to conduct highly rigorous research examining the financing, organization, and delivery of health care services through the use of quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Microeconomic Theory

Evaluating Health Care Quality

Sample Electives – 3 credits

Admissions requirements.

The Population Health PhD program accepts applications through December 15 for Fall entry. While there are no prerequisites for this PhD, most of our applicants have a Master’s degree.

Applicants with an interest in rigorous research training in public health are encouraged to apply. Receipt of a previous master’s degree in public health or related field is not required however evidence of skills and aptitude in quantitative research methods from degree transcript and work experience will be noted. Submission of GRE test scores is optional. You may be asked to participate in an interview with  member of the admission committee and/or potential faculty mentors prior to an admission being made.

Completed SOPHAS application

Official transcripts Mailing Address:

SOPHAS Transcript Processing Center P.O. Box 9111 Watertown, MA 02471

Electronic transcripts: See  SOPHAS Instructions

Personal Statement

Official test scores Submission of GRE test scores is optional.

TOEFL or IELTS scores are required from international applicants who possess degrees from institutions outside the United States. Use code #5688. The PhD Program requires a minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL (official test scores from similar English-language tests may not be substituted in place of the TOEFL).

Requests to be waived from the TOEFL requirement are determined on a case by case basis by the Program Director. Email Dr. Beth Molnar at  [email protected]  with your request and relevant materials (eg, CV/resume, transcripts).

3 letters of recommendation Only academic and professional letters of recommendation will be accepted.

SOPHAS application fees and fee waivers:

Got questions?

We welcome your questions about our program. Please send general program inquiries and admissions-related questions to:

Tracy Hunt  Program Manager

Student Spotlight

Northeastern University researcher studies the use of social robots in mental health and well-being research

At a hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts, Jibo asks a group of veterans how they’re doing. They tell Jibo they’re in a lot of pain and Jibo reminds them that stretching helped them the other day. Perhaps they’d like to try it again today?

STUDENT spotlight

Ashley Houston

‘Fulfilling’ and ‘invaluable’ experiences shape Population Health PhD student’s journey The programs at Bouvé are engineered to put our students ahead of their peers. The college’s faculty and staff know what it takes to succeed in competitive fields that are in demand of graduates. You can read all the material put out by the school, but sometimes it’s best to hear it straight from one of our students, like Ashley Houston. 

Interviews with alumni

Why did you choose to apply to this program?

I chose to apply to the Population Health program because it is unique in that it combines multiple facets necessary to understand how to approach improving the health outcomes and behaviors of an entire population. This includes statistical and epidemiological methods, social theory and determinants, and how to translate health outcomes into policy recommendations.

What kind of research are you doing?

I am currently evaluating biases associated with different survival analysis methods and censoring techniques, particularly during their use when analyzing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment cohorts. I aim to identify more efficient means to analyze these data under differing scenarios, resulting in less bias outcomes and more accurate effect measures to inform treatment recommendations.

What kind of research or professional experiences have you had?

I have over 6 years experience implementing clinical trials, including drug trials for asthma treatment and international research assessing tuberculosis treatments. My most current research, evaluating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment outcomes in adolescents, was presented at the 46th UNION World Conference on Lung Health in December 2015.

What are your professional aspirations?

I aspire to be a member of an academic institution, teaching epidemiology and/or research methods courses, to mentor students early in their research careers, and to conduct personal research related to identifying more efficient processes for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of tuberculosis patients worldwide.

I chose this program due to its multidisciplinary take on health research.  It lets me merge together my interests and think of translational research.

I am focusing primarily on nutrition research, but have been able to work with a wide array of projects that incorporate this component, such as air pollution and the human gut microbiome.

I have gone to several conferences and also traveled to San Diego to do a research fellowship.

I like this program because I do not feel limited in my future career and plan to keep the options open.

I actually started in the Personal Health Informatics program but realized that I was doing most of the course work for Population Health and I switch programs last year. The Population Health program fit my interests in healthcare delivery and quality better, and I am glad I made the change.

My research is centered on healthcare delivery, utilization, and quality. I am interested in exploring the challenges in our healthcare system that lead to waste, low efficiency, and poor outcomes. I working on two projects at the moment: one on hospitals in accountable care organizations and how hospitals performed on a variety of measures including quality, community spending, and community benefits; the other is going to explore patterns of diagnostic imaging across Massachusetts with data from a massive claims dataset collected by the state.

I have worked in healthcare for many years in clinical, managerial, and research settings. I have presented at radiology conferences and quality symposiums on several occasions, and have worked extensively with faculty in research and clinical settings.

My goal is to work in an academic setting where I can do healthcare services research and teach.

  A mentor of mine and faculty member at NYU advised me to apply here.

I am working with Becky Briesacher, an amazing new faculty member.  We are researching nursing home prescribing practices. With a novel dataset she has acquired I hope to be able to investigate prescribing practices among HIV/AIDS nursing home patients.

The majority of the last 10 years of my professional career were spent in clinical laboratories in NYC, clinical chemistry and genetics specifically. During my MPH, worked at CHIBPS NYU on a study of young men who have sex with men in NYC and their HIV outcomes. After finishing my MPH, I took a data management and analysis position working with the New York City Fire Department studying health outcomes of 9/11 first responders.

After completing my PhD here at NEU, my hope is to go on to broaden the scope of literature on HIV/AIDS among under represented populations such as the different sub populations within the LGBT community and the elderly. Teaching is a challenge I would like to take on, but research is my real passion.

Frequently Asked Quesions

Do i need an advanced degree to apply to the program.

No, our program does not have specific requirements with regard to classes applicants must take or have taken prior to applying. However, the majority of the students in the program enter with a previous master’s degree.

Can I be waived from submitting official test score ?

Submission of GRE test scores is optional.

TOEFL or IELTS scores are required from all international applicants who have not earned an undergraduate or graduate degree in the Unites States or in a country where English is the primary language.  Fluency in English is integral to success of graduate students in our program. Guidelines for submitting a request to waiver the TOEFL/IELTS requirement are outlined in the Admissions section.

Can I be waived from any courses?

Certain required classes (for example, introductory classes in Biostatistics and Epidemiology) can be waived if you’ve taken equivalent classes in previous graduate programs. Course waivers will be determined on a case-by-case basis once a student is accepted and officially matriculates into the PhD program. Please note: course waivers do not substitute for the 33-credit requirement. Students can enroll in elective courses to meet the requirement.

What kind of funding does the PhD program offer?

Our program offers graduate assistantships for doctoral students, which cover tuition and include a yearly stipend in exchange for 20 hours of work each week. You do not need to do anything further than submitting your application to the Program to be considered for a graduate assistantship.

Does the program offer online courses?

A few required courses have online course equivalents that doctoral students may choose to take. However, we do not offer the program as an  online program , and these online class offerings are very limited.

How does matching between PhD students and faculty advisors happen?

It is a critical part of the admissions process that there be a close match between a prospective student’s research interests and one of our faculty members. The first step is to examine faculty profiles and discuss potential matches in your personal statement. The next step happens within our faculty committee. There is no need to obtain any commitment from a faculty member before you apply.

Contact Information

We welcome any questions you might have about our program. Please feel free to send general program inquiries and admissions-related questions to the Program Manager , Tracy Hunt.

Program Manager, Population PhD Program and Exercise Science Graduate Program Public Health and Health Sciences

Beth Molnar

Director, PhD Program in Population Health; Professor Public Health and Health Sciences

323 International Village

Have more questions about Bouvé? We’re here to help.

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Population Health, PhD

The Department of Population Health Sciences, part of the School of Medicine and Public Health, strives to provide leadership in the emerging, integrative field of population health. Its mission is to create, integrate, disseminate, and apply knowledge promoting the most efficient, equitable, and effective possible use of resources to maintain and improve the health of populations.

The department offers two graduate degree programs: an MS and PhD in population health and an MS and PhD in epidemiology. The MS and PhD in Population Health can be taken with either a named option in Epidemiology or a named option in Population Health .

The research-oriented degree programs are designed to provide rigorous, interdisciplinary training to develop students' abilities to synthesize knowledge and skills needed to address today's health-related problems. Methodological and analytical training is grounded in biostatistics, epidemiology, and health services research, but also emphasizes methods employed in the social sciences and econometrics that contribute to the study of health in populations. While the program is based on a sequence of core courses, students, in consultation with their major professor, have the flexibility to design advanced study and research that best prepares them for their chosen area of interest.

Individuals choose this program because of its innovative approach, strong research focus, and personal attention to students. It is an ideal option for those considering a broad array of fields including epidemiology, public health, health policy, health economics, health services research, environmental health, industrial engineering, demography, and more. UW–Madison ranks as one of the most prolific research universities in the world, consistently placing in the top five among American public universities for research expenditures. The program's interdisciplinary focus allows students the flexibility to work with a wide array of research/faculty on campus. For instance, program faculty include members from a number of other departments such as business, family medicine, industrial engineering, law, medical history and bioethics, medicine, nursing, ophthalmology, public affairs, sociology, and veterinary medicine. The multidisciplinary faculty coupled with the diverse backgrounds of the students provides a rich and stimulating training environment.

Faculty, staff, and students in the Department of Population Health Sciences engage in a wide variety of world-class epidemiological and health services research projects to understand determinants of health and health problems in populations, analyze public and clinical health policies, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare. Research topics may include (but are not limited to) chronic, infectious, and environmental disease epidemiology; public health; studies of medical outcomes; health economics; maternal and childhood health; the determinants and measurement of population health status; and health administration and policy. These multidisciplinary research programs may include (but are not limited to) the study of the effects and interactions of genetic traits; biologic and metabolic processes; pathogens; pollutants; lifestyles; behaviors; economic social and physical environments; and public health and health care systems on the health of populations. Methods employed involve developing and maintaining long-term cohort studies, disease registries, population surveys, and retrospective analyses of large observational databases. Researchers in the department also work to advance methodology in health economics, population health evaluation, and statistical analyses.

For more information, see the graduate program Academic Guide .

Students apply to the PhD in Population Health through one of the named options:

• Epidemiology
• Population Health

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid.  Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Students admitted to our degree programs are automatically considered for any available scholarships, traineeships, or graduate assistant positions in the department. The most common forms of funding support for our students are assistantships, traineeships, and fellowships.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Major requirements, named options.

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Curricular Requirements

Required Courses

Select a Named Option for courses required.

A named option is a formally documented sub-major within an academic major program. Named options appear on the transcript with degree conferral. Students pursuing the PhD in Population Health must select one of the following named options:

View as list View as grid

• Population Health: Epidemiology, PhD
• Population Health: Population Health, PhD

Students should refer to one of the named options for policy information:

• Professional Development

Take advantage of the Graduate School's  professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

• Learning Outcomes
• Articulate research problems, potentials, and limits with respect to theory, knowledge, and practice of Population Health, based on understanding of its health services, health assessment, microeconomic, biostatistical and epidemiologic foundations.
• Assemble, evaluate and synthesize evidence from literature and data sources to formulate ideas, concepts, designs, and/or techniques beyond the current boundaries of knowledge within Population Health.
• Demonstrate breadth of knowledge of Population Health in its subject matter, historical and social context.
• Create research that makes a substantive contribution to the knowledge base of Population Health.
• Develop mastery of scholarship in Population Health relevant to academia, for-profit and non-profit organization and/or government.
• Communicate complex ideas both in writing and orally in a clear and understandable manner.
• Recognize and apply principles of ethical professional conduct in their scholarship.

Faculty: Professors Durkin (chair), Cruickshanks, Gangnon, Kanarek, Mullahy, Oliver, Patz, Remington, M. Smith, Trentham-Dietz; Associate Professors Astor, Bautista, Burns, Ehrenthal, Engelman, Johnson, Malecki, Peppard, Sethi; Assistant Professors Cochran, Green, Lindberg, Myerson, Ouayogode, Pillai, Warren-Andersen

• Requirements

Contact Information

Population Health Sciences School of Medicine and Public Health pophealth.wisc.edu

Corinne Engelman, Director of the Graduate Programs [email protected] 608-265-5491 Room 1007a WARF Building 610 Walnut St., Madison, WI 53726

Quinn H. Fullenkamp, Graduate Programs Coordinator [email protected] 608-265-8108 744 WARF Building 610 Walnut St., Madison, WI 53726

Grievance Advisor, Marguerite Burns, Associate Professor [email protected] 608-265-5282 760a WARF Building 610 Walnut St., Madison, WI 53726

Graduate Program Handbook View Here

Graduate School grad.wisc.edu

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Ph.D. in Population Health Sciences

General info.

• Faculty working with students: 41
• Students: 12
• Students receiving Financial Aid: 100% of Ph.D. students
• Part time study available: No
• Test required: GRE recommended but not required.
• Application Terms Available: Fall
• Application Deadlines: December 2

Asheley Skinner Director of Graduate Studies Department of Population Health Sciences Duke University Box 104023 Durham, NC

Phone: (919) 668-6360

Email: p [email protected]

Website:  https://populationhealth.duke.edu/

Program Description

The Department of Population Health Sciences offers a Ph.D. in Population Health Sciences that provides a solid methodological and analytical foundation across broad population health sciences concepts, including basic study design, determinants of health, health disparities, implementation and evaluation, and policies and systems.

Our faculty research spans the areas of:

• Health Measurement Bioethics
• Implementation Science
• Clinical Decision Sciences
• Epidemiology
• Health Behavior
• Health Economics
• Health Policy
• Health Services Research

The program consists of coursework, a comprehensive examination spanning the core coursework, and a dissertation. Students take advanced classes in quantitative analytic methods, qualitative methods, theories related to population health sciences, and study design along with five electives. Broadly, we expect that students entering the Ph.D. in Population Health Sciences should have a background or strong interest in the health services research, health policy, ensuring health equity, and population health sciences.  The doctoral program will equip students with the knowledge and tools they will need to drive science through their research and to work alongside health systems, government agencies, non-profits, industry, and others pursuing improved health of populations.

While prior education and other academic indicators are important, above all, we are seeking well-rounded students who are committed to improving population health, have a clear research interest, and have identified a potential fit with mentor(s) within the department. While not required, we anticipate that most applicants will already have masters-level training. We welcome students of any age and background. Because we value diversity, each applicant is considered on the merit of their entire application. No single factor (e.g., GRE scores) will automatically eliminate a candidate from consideration and we most carefully consider each applicant’s research interests and alignment with population health sciences.

The Ph.D. in Population Health Sciences is a quantitatively and methodologically rigorous program, and students will take courses that rely on strong knowledge of statistics and mathematics.

• Population Health Sciences: PhD Admissions and Enrollment Statistics

Application Information

Application Terms Available:  Fall

Application Deadlines: December 2

Graduate School Application Requirements See the Application Instructions page for important details about each Graduate School requirement.

• Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts required with application submission; official transcripts required upon admission
• Letters of Recommendation: 3 Required
• Statement of Purpose: Required (See department guidance below)
• Résumé: Required
• GRE Scores: GRE General (Optional)
• English Language Exam: TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test required* for applicants whose first language is not English *test waiver may apply for some applicants
• GPA: Undergraduate GPA calculated on 4.0 scale required

Department Specific Application Requirements (submitted through online application)

Ph.D. candidates may interview with faculty members.

Writing Sample None required

We strongly encourage you to review additional department-specific application guidance from the program to which you are applying:  Departmental Application Guidance (PhD)

List of Graduate School Programs and Degrees

• Weill Cornell Medicine

Executive MBA/MS Program

The Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership dual degree program in New York City prepares professionals from across the healthcare industry to facilitate change and drive innovation.

MS and Certificate Programs

From top-class training in biostatistics to the latest information technologies in healthcare, students have an array of choices in master's and certificate programs.

PhD Program

The PhD in Population Health Sciences trains students to become leading health equity researchers that improve population health and healthcare delivery.

Residencies & Fellowships

Learn about our Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program and the Public Health and General Preventive Medicine residency program.

Training Grants

Explore grant opportunities to advance your career in research.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Find Weill Cornell Medicine Health Care Policy & Research tuition details and financial assistance contact information.

Upcoming Webinars & Events

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Resources include admission information, tuition and financial aid, the academic calendar and course catalog.

Student Spotlights

Within the last 15 years, Matthew Maughan completed his undergraduate degree and MBA, three years of service in the United States Marine Corps, and several years of analytical and consulting work. Among the many passions and interests he gained during that time, economics and health care became the most prominent. As a Weill Cornell Medicine  MS in Health Policy and Economics  graduate, he continues to work toward his goal of positively affecting the health care system.   

Xiangning Dong discovered the MS in Biostatistics and Data Science program at Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) in 2022 after completing her bachelor’s in bioinformatics. She had been passionate about pursuing a career in biology since high school but developed an interest in data analysis and machine learning during her undergraduate studies. The program at WCM was a perfect fit for merging those skills. 

In 2020, Taylor Dang began medical school with plans to become a naturopathic physician. She was passionate about healthcare and was actively involved in political advocacy centered around health justice. However, as one of few students of color in her cohort, Taylor felt isolated at medical school. She made the call to withdraw and identify another path in healthcare. Taylor is now a graduate of the  MS in Health Informatics   program  at Weill Co rnell Medicine (WC M ) , where she has found a way to pursue advocacy through the lens of healthcare systems and information.     

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wei -Hsuan Tseng w orked as a pharmacist at a hospital in Taiwan. Wh ile grateful for her role in help ing patients navigate the health system , she witnessed firsthand the impact socioeconomic status can have on access to care . S he was motivated to learn about barriers to care , such as rising cost s of medication and treatment and p olicy decisions affecting patient care. S he pursued an MS in Health Policy and Economics at Wei ll Cornell Medicine (WCM ) and is  now a healthcare policy data analyst at Acumen, LLC.  

View all Student Spotlights

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What are you looking for?

Ph.d. population, health and place, a public health degree that combines geography/gis and sociology.

In our innovative interdisciplinary doctoral program, you have the unique opportunity to train with world-class faculty from the USC Dornsife Department of Sociology , the Department of  Population and Public Health Sciences of the Keck School of Medicine of USC , and the USC Dornsife Spatial Sciences Institute, and others across the university.

Prepare for careers in research, teaching and applied work in sociology and demography (population), preventive medicine (health), and the spatial sciences (place).

This Ph.D. program is ideal for scholars interested in the intersections of public health, urban and global health, social and cultural geography, remote sensing, epidemiology and demography.

Applications are open

Apply now to start the Ph.D. Population, Health and Place program in Fall 2025.

If you are interested in a doctoral program that melds public health, sociology and spatial sciences, we want to connect with you.

Register for our info session on September 25, 2024. You can also watch the 2023 Info Session.

Click the yellow box to meet our Population, Health and Place Ph.D. alumni

“The Ph.D. Program shaped me as an interdisciplinary researcher, allowing me to hone my skills and develop expertise in spatial sciences, demography, sociology and population health, and introducing me to mentors and colleagues in multiple departments and schools at USC. This unique training has led me to awesome positions at Princeton University and the American Journal of Public Health.”

Meet our doctoral candidates and students

These front-line scholars are tackling issues of global health significance.

Brandon Garcia

Lia Soorenian

Iskar Waluyo

Jacob Gizamba

Laura Messier

Camila Cortes-Rodriguez

Jiahao Wang

Junhong Duan

Andy Kampfschulte

McKailey Walters

Jeffrey Rozelle

Aviva Wolf-Jacobs

Shengjie Liu

Angela Zhang

Those interested in:

• conducting research and creating policies and programs needed to promote human well-being and sustainability in the academic, public, private, and not-for-profit sectors;
• developing versatility with large data sets and varied modeling and computation approaches and applying them to population and health problems in meaningful and predictive contexts;
• becoming faculty in research universities; or
• working as researchers and policy officials in social- and health-related government agencies and NGOs.
• Official Transcripts:  Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, sealed by the institution. Mail transcripts to:  USC Graduate Office of Admission University Park Campus Los Angeles, CA 90089-0915. If sending via a private carrier (e.g., UPS, FedEx, or DHL), send transcripts to:  University of Southern California Office of Admission & Financial Aid 3601 South Flower Street Tyler 1 Los Angeles, CA 90089-0915 . For more information regarding transcripts visit  USC Graduate Admissions Office – Transcript Requirements .
• Official GRE Test Scores : required for admission, but there are no minimum score requirements.
• Writing Sample: should be academic and should demonstrate your ability to clearly articulate research you’ve completed in other programs. Documents prepared for previous courses are ideal.
• Statement of Intent:  should explain your reasons for applying and what you hope to accomplish while enrolled. It should also demonstrate an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of this program and incorporate that in an explanation of your research goals.
• Published Work:  is not required for admission but you may use the other section to upload publications if you would like them to be considered.
• Letters of Recommendation: letters of recommendation from sources who can confirm your ability to work effectively at the graduate level. Former professors, teachers, employers, and/or research leads are preferred. Please submit at least 3 letters.

Application Materials for International Applicants:

English Language Proficiency: 

• International students applying to graduate programs at USC are expected to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to be considered for admission.  Check out this page on  how to satisfy this requirement .
• We also recommend you review our video tutorial titled, “ English Proficiency Requirements for International Students ” for more details.

This program at the University of Southern California offers the students of doctoral programs a highly competitive five-year support package that provides an annual stipend, tuition, health and dental insurance, and various university fees.

The first and fifth year are funded by fellowships, with the second, third, and fourth years funded by research assistantships and/or teaching assistantships.

The benefit of this approach is that you are relieved of research and/or teaching responsibilities in your first year to concentrate on your coursework and on developing your dissertation topic, and in your fifth and final year to concentrate on completing your dissertation for our doctoral programs.

Each student must take at least 44 substantive units in sociology (population), population and public health sciences (health), and the spatial sciences (place) at USC during the first three years. During the first and second year, students work on either a refereed journal article, book chapter or a research report of comparable scope and quality.

After students complete the two core courses, SSCI 600: The Geography of Life and Death and SSCI 601ab: Population, Health and Place Research Practicum, students have a wide choice of courses from which they can satisfy the remainder of their course work.

Choices include courses in preventive medicine, sociology, and spatial sciences, as well as other schools and departments throughout USC which offer graduate courses.

Students complete two research rotations as well as courses in biostatistics, demography, epidemiology, and spatial sciences, with additional course work required according to specialty area and/or dissertation topic.

The screening takes place in the second year and is based on an evaluation of the student’s performance in courses and on an evaluation of the student’s research competence as reflected in the first- and second-year research project, from which either a referred journal article, a book chapter or a research report of comparable scope and quality is expected to emerge.

The screening committee is comprised of the student’s co-advisers and two other members of the faculty.

In preparation for the qualifying examination, each student assembles a five-person guidance committee to direct the student’s program of studies and evaluate research competence at least one semester before the student takes the qualifying examination.  The committee must include at least one member from the list of eligible faculty in Demography, Health and Spatial Sciences.

The qualifying examination evaluates the student’s ability to conduct independent scholarship and research.

The student is evaluated based on an oral and written presentation of (1) a written review paper or written exam, and (2) the dissertation proposal.

The qualifying examination is planned, administered and evaluated by the student’s guidance committee.

It should be taken no later than during the spring semester in the second year of the program.

Students need to present their dissertation proposal at their qualifying examination.

It is recommended that students decide their dissertation topics by no later than the end of fall semester in the second year of the program.

The best dissertation topics for this program will draw on and use concepts and methodologies from all three of these contributing disciplines and look to advance our knowledge of some aspect of human health and well-being.

Many of the faculty with the Population, Health and Place doctoral programs have active funded research projects with opportunities for students working at the intersection of population science, public health and the spatial sciences.

One of the first goals for students admitted to the program will be to gather information so they can assess whether or not there are opportunities that align with their goals and aspirations.

We also anticipate that some students will propose their own topics and come with the goal that they will build support among one or more faculty to join them in their work while they pursue their doctoral programs, and we support such an approach.

Applicants are encouraged to specify as a part of their application one or more faculty with whom they would want to work during this doctoral program, as this information may help us clarify the faculty’s availability at the beginning of a student’s doctoral studies.

Applicants do not need to contact PHP faculty prior to admission.

Students admitted to the program will work with the director of the program and the director of graduate studies to identify a list of possible advisors early in their first year of study. Students will have two co-advisors, with the goal that these advisors are identified by the start of the fall semester in the second year of the program.

Learning objectives

• Construct and apply qualitative and quantitative approaches for mapping and modeling how genetics, the environment, and human behaviors influence human well-being.
• Construct and evaluate integrated applications that combine geospatial data and applications for processing that data.
• Apply appropriate and relevant spatial analysis techniques to address spatial health problems.
• Critically evaluate the types of models that will be required in the future to effectively manage land, water, air and biotic resources, assess environmental risks, and promote human health and well-being.
• Execute research, communicate and analyze research findings in social demography and the value of demographic perspectives for the analysis of population change and human well-being.
• Select, apply and evaluate statistical methods in clinical, public health, epidemiological, and experimental research.
• Produce a publishable-quality manuscript(s) on research findings that includes stating a problem and research question, identifying relevant literature, detailing a methodology, reporting results and reaching conclusions.

Meaning and significance of place and role of social, natural, and built environments in disease occurrence in different places and populations.

Utilizes one or more projects to examine the connections between population, health and place and how geospatial approaches to analyzing and visualizing spatial data may advance our understanding of disease systems. Prerequisite: SSCI 600. Graded CR/NC

The role of spatial computing in understanding the world, in knowing and communicating our relationships to specific places, and for navigating through those places.

Fundamentals of temporal and spatiotemporal data analysis; modern methods forevaluating, managing, and visualizing spatiotemporal data; hands-on use cases.

The theoretical foundations and techniques of spatial analysis and the ways in which they have been used to identify spatial processes and patterns.

An introduction to spatial models identifying the key issues influencing the success of these models in simulating key social and environmental processes and health exposures. Prerequisite: SSCI 680.

Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation. Graded IP/CR/NC.

Concepts of biostatistics; appropriate uses and common misuses of health statistics; practice in the application of statistical procedures; introduction to statistical software including EXCEL, SPSS, nQuery. Laboratory.

Terminology/uses of epidemiology and demography; sources/ uses of population data; types of epidemiological studies; risk assessment; common sources of bias in population studies; principles of screening. Recommended preparation: algebra.

An overview of environmental health, identifying issues in assessing effects of exposure on health and potential interventions for reducing adverse health risks. Prerequisites: PM 510L, PM 512.

Procedures and techniques for the collection, evaluation, and analysis of demographic data; census and vital registration systems; basic measures of demographic components, and the construction of life tables and population projections. Prerequisite: SOCI 521.

Theoretical perspectives of population, historical and contemporary accounts of population trends and statistics, and the latest research on the causes and consequences of demographic processes.

Paul S. Adler ,  Harold Quinton Chair of Business Policy and Professor of Management and Organization, Sociology and Environmental Studies : sociology of complex organizations; comparative political-economy; environmental sociology Jennifer A. Ailshire ,  Associate Professor of Gerontology and Spatial Sciences : social stratification; urban sociology; health & aging; neighborhood environment & health Timothy  Biblarz , Associate Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies:  family sociology; stratification & social mobility; gender & sexuality; demography; statistics Lynne Casper , Professor of Sociology: family sociology; family demography; work, family & health; gender, work, & family; family change & variation; social demography; quantitative methods Juan De Lara , Associate Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity: environmental justice and political ecology; race, power and data; Latinx geographies; social movements; urban political economy Brian Finch , Professor (Research) of Sociology and Spatial Sciences: social demography; social epidemiology; social stratification & inequality; social statistics Daniel A. Hackman , Assistant Professor of Social Work and Spatial Sciences: child and adolescent development; neighborhoods; socioeconomic disparities in health and mental health; neuroscience; stress and adversity Jennifer Hook , Florence Everline Professor of Sociology and Professor of Sociology: gender inequality; family demography; work-family; social policy; comparative sociology Lihua Liu , Associate Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences: demography; medical sociology; cancer surveillance; spatial distribution Brian Palmer-Rubin , Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations: representation, accountability institutions, political economy, centrally in Latin America Manuel Pastor , Distinguished Professor of Sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity: economic, environmental & social conditions facing low-income urban communities; social movements; regional equity; social justice Emily Smith-Greenaway , Professor of Sociology and Spatial Sciences: infant and child mortality; demography; African studies; health services

Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati ,   Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and Associate Dean for Community Initiatives : cultural and lifestyle risk factors for cancer and tobacco control at the community level; gender and ethnic minority health; health promotion and disease prevention; community engagement Tracy (Theresa) Bastain , Assistant Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences:  air pollution exposures and respiratory outcomes; environmental health; prenatal exposures and outcomes; obesity John Blosnich , Assistant Professor of Social Work and Director of the Center for LGBTQ + Health Equity: health services research; survey methods; health disparities and health equity; electronic medical records; suicide prevention; sexual and gender minorities (LGBT) Ricky N. Bluthenthal , Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and Associate Dean for Social Justice: drug use epidemiology; health inequities; harm reduction; health promotion and disease prevention; community-based participatory research Carrie Breton , Assistant Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences: epidemiologic methods; environmental health & epigenetics Myles G. Cockburn , Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and Spatial Sciences: health GIS; cancer epidemiology; environmental epidemiology; melanoma; prostate cancer Kayla de la Haye , Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences: promoting public health and addressing health disparities; social networks and systems science; healthy eating; food systems and food security; early chronic disease prevention; group problem solving; team science Genevieve Dunton , Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences: health behaviors; physical activity; stress; obesity; built environment; GPS; real-time data capture; cultural and lifestyle risk factors for cancer and tobacco control at the community level; gender and ethnic minority health; health promotion and disease prevention; community engagement Laura Ferguson , Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences: health system and health services; human rights and health outcomes; sub-Saharan Africa issues including HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, and child health W. James Gauderman , Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences: biostatistics; cancer epidemiology; environmental & genetic epidemiology Frank D. Gilliland , Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences: respiratory health & cancer epidemiology; adverse respiratory effects of air pollution & tobacco smoke exposures; determinants of environmental & occupational lung disease & cancer Sofia Gruskin , Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences,  Law, and Spatial Sciences: global health; health and human rights; HIV/AIDS; sexual and reproductive health; child and adolescent health; gender-based violence and health systems Rima Habre , Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and Spatial Sciences: air pollution exposures and respiratory outcomes; use of mHealth technologies Jill Johnston , Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and Spatial Sciences: environmental health and justice in disadvantaged urban and rural neighborhoods; community engagement with exposure and epidemiology; industrial activities and assessing exposure pathways to pollutants Jeffrey Klausner , Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences: prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, HIV prevention and sexual health, novel treatments for syphilis, the prevention of preterm birth, and syphilis immunology Rob S. McConnell , Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences: health effects of environmental exposures, including cardiorespiratory, metabolic & neurological outcomes in children; air pollution Kimberly Miller , Associate Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences: pediatric, adolescent and young adult cancer survivorship; models of cancer care; area-based cancer health disparities Joshua Millstein , Associate Professor of Research Population and Public Health Sciences:  statistical methods for causal inference; permutation-based false discovery rates; methods for identifying genes involved in epistatic interactions Maryann Pentz , Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences: community & policy approaches to tobacco, alcohol, & drug abuse prevention in youth; health promotion; disease prevention; cancer control Dima M. Qato , Hygeia Centennial Chair and Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy: pharmacy access; medication adherence; health equity; pharmaceutical policy; polypharmacy; drug safety; pharmacoepidemiology Stephen G. Sanko , Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Spatial Sciences: emergency medicine; cardiovascular disease; emergency medicine services and dispatch Jonathan M. Tan ,  Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine: pediatric health systems, electronic health records, spatial analysis, health disparities, environmental exposures, clinical informatics, health economics Jennifer Unger , Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences: health disparities; psychosocial and cultural predictors of adolescent health-risk and health-protective behaviors Thomas W. Valente , Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences: social network analysis; diffusion of innovations; health communication; program evaluation Mellissa Withers , Associate Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences: qualitative research; community-based participatory research; gender-based violence; global sexual and reproductive health Lu Zhang , Assistant Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences: statistical modeling and analysis for geographically referenced data, Bayesian statistics, statistical computing, and related software development

Guoping Huang , Associate Professor (Teaching) of Spatial Sciences: geodesign; landscape and urban planning; digital visualization Katherine (Kate) Lester , Lecturer: geospatial methods; mental and behavioral health; suicide; homelessness; addiction; severe mental illness Laura C. Loyola , Assistant Professor (Teaching) of Spatial Sciences: GIS; human and evolutionary biology; anthropology; remote sensing Yi Qi , Associate Professor (Teaching) of Spatial Sciences: remote sensing; environment; sustainability; spatial data science Darren M. Ruddell , Associate Professor (Teaching) of Spatial Sciences: geospatial technologies; climate and society; human-environment Interactions; geodesign; urban sustainability Elisabeth Sedano , Assistant Professor (Teaching) of Spatial Sciences: urban geography; legal geography; web GIS; spatial analysis; geographies of water; volunteered geographic information; critical GIS Jennifer Swift , Associate Professor (Teaching) of Spatial Sciences: web and mobile GIS; data modeling; geodesign Diana Ter-Ghazaryan , Associate Professor (Teaching) of Spatial Sciences: geospatial technologies; data visualization; digital humanities; cultural geography Robert O. Vos , Associate Professor (Teaching) of Spatial Sciences: environmental justice; industrial ecology; environmental policy; spatially-explicit life cycle assessment Siqin (Sisi) Wang , Associate Professor (Teaching) of Spatial Sciences: GIS and big data analytics (e.g., AI, machine learning, data mining and natural language processing) to solve urban challenges, digital health geography, human mobility and migration, built environment, and human-environment interactions John P. Wilson , Professor of Sociology and Spatial Sciences: GIS; spatial analysis; environmental modeling; exposure assessment; geodesign An-Min Wu , Assistant Professor (Teaching) of Spatial Sciences: spatial analysis; soil science; remote sensing; environmental GIS

Scholarships, fellowships and grants

Ph.D. in Population, Public Health and Place doctoral students are encouraged to apply for external funding and receive support to prepare competitive applications.

American Association of Geographers American Association of University Women International Fellowship Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Haynes Lindley Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans Society of Women Geographers The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellowships

Talk with Dr. Darren M. Ruddell, Spatial Sciences Institute Director of Graduate Studies, about what makes the USC Ph.D. program in Population, Health and Place distinctive.

Email him at [email protected] .

Spatial Sciences Institute

University of Southern California 3616 Trousdale Parkway, AHF B55 Los Angeles, CA 90089-0374 213.740.5910 [email protected] Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Undergraduate Programs

Dr. Diana Ter-Ghazaryan 213.821.1190 | [email protected]

Graduate Programs

Dr. Darren M. Ruddell 213.740.0521 | [email protected]

Quick Links

Undergraduate Masters Doctoral Give to SSI

Graduate Programs

The University of Wisconsin School of Population Health Sciences (PHS) offers Masters and PhD programs in Epidemiology and Population Health.  The Population Health MS/PhD program prepares students to investigate multiple determinants of health and the functioning of the health care system. The Epidemiology MS/PhD prepares students to Investigate what factors are related to good and bad health in different populations, and the outcomes of people with given health conditions.

Learn more about our programs and UW below.

Epidemiology Population Health Why UW?

Admissions and aid

Academic guide

FAQ for future students

Epidemiology and Population Health MS and PhD Programs

MS and PhD in Epidemiology

The Graduate Program in Epidemiology prepares students to investigate what factors are related to good and bad health in different populations, and the outcomes of people with given health conditions. This involves learning how specific health conditions and diseases develop, spread, can be prevented, and are treated, as well as how to assess health and its relationships to risk factors.

The research uses existing big data, as well as data collected by researchers themselves. Epidemiologic methods build on biology, social sciences, genetics, and statistics.

UW–Madison Epidemiology faculty work on general health assessment, obesity, exercise, nutrition, genetics, heart disease, respiratory problems, cancer, diabetes, infectious disease, aging, disability, sleep disorders, maternal and child health, and environmental health.

Epidemiology MS/PhD faculty

MS and PhD in Population Health

The Graduate Program in Population Health prepares students to investigate multiple determinants of health and the functioning of the health care system. It draws on medical and social sciences, including health economics, econometrics, psychometrics, epidemiology and biostatistics in an interdisciplinary manner to build strong methodological skills in study design and data analysis.

The research typically uses large data sets such as electronic health and Medicare records, or population surveys conducted by the researchers.

UW–Madison Population Health faculty are based in many departments, and evaluate comparative effectiveness of therapies, patient reported outcomes, quality of health care, health disparities and access to care, and economic and health impacts of insurance. Clinical settings and social sciences play important roles in this research.

Population Health MS/PhD faculty

Student Experience: Rachel Pomazal

"The PHS community of students and faculty are highly committed to student success. I have been grateful to build a robust network of mentorship and peer mentorship that has helped me achieve my academic goals, and prepare me for the career ahead."

Student Experience: Zoe Walts

"The supportive and welcoming community of PHS, including the faculty, staff, and my fellow students, has greatly contributed to my growth as a scientist and I can’t wait to see where the skills I’ve developed here will take me."

Why Wisconsin?

Check out this video to learn more about graduate school at University of Wisconsin.

And read more below on the beauty of Madison’s four seasons.

Why we love Madison year round

Quinn Fullenkamp MS/PhD Population Health Graduate Program Coordinator Room 744 WARF Office Building 610 Walnut Street Madison, WI 53726 (608) 265-8108 Fax: (608) 263-2820 Email:  [email protected]

Population Health Sciences

Department of population health sciences, now accepting applications for division chief, health system innovation & research.

View all our open positions

About the Department of Population Health Sciences

The University of Utah Intermountain Health Department of Population Health Sciences at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine drives health care transformation to improve the well-being of the population. Through our research, education, and community engagement activities, we are deeply committed to promoting patient-centered health care and the delivery of evidence-based health innovations that improve population health and reduce health disparities within our community. Our talented, multidisciplinary faculty pursue collaborative research in clinical trials, health service delivery, cost effectiveness, epidemiology, statistical methods, and behavioral sciences. Our PhD program is training the next generation of population health scholars who can apply robust research methods to optimize population health outcomes.

HEALTH SYSTEM INNOVATION & RESEARCH DIVISION

Biostatistics division, cancer population science division.

Department Chair

Angie fagerlin, phd, fostering success & well-being in the department of population health sciences.

The Department of Population Health Sciences is dedicated to creating an environment that nurtures the success and well-being of each member of our team. We actively facilitate connections and support among faculty, staff and trainees. Through collaboration and mentorship, we aim to empower every member of our community to reach their fullest potential. Our departmental culture emphasizes mutual respect, open communication, and a shared dedication to academic and personal growth. Learn about our efforts to strengthen our departmental community through the Workforce Engagement Committee .

Indigenous Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that this land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes. The University of Utah recognizes and respects the enduring relationship that exists between many Indigenous peoples and their traditional homelands. We respect the sovereign relationship between tribes, states, and the federal government, and we affirm the University of Utah’s commitment to a partnership with Native Nations and Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.

Contact us by phone or email:

Phone: 801-587-2100

Email: [email protected]

COLLABORATION REQUEST

Do you have questions, suggestions, or ideas for collaboration reach out to us, help progress, give today, you can help us continue to progress with even a small contribution., upcoming events, latest news.

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The program requirements include:

• completion of courses that are common across the program and that are required within the student’s Field of Study and Area of Specialization;
• participation in research assistantships and teaching fellowships;
• successful completion of program-wide and field of study assessments (e.g. qualifying exam), dissertation prospectus, and dissertation and oral defense.

For a more detailed overview of all our degree requirements, you can refer to our Student Handbook .

Program-wide training.

Program-wide training is delivered by courses, seminars, and workshops. Themes include:

• conceptual foundations of population health;
• research methods;
• ethics of scientific research;
• scientific communication and pedagogy (in writing, speaking, visual presentation, and teaching)

Field of Study Training

Training specific to a student’s Field of Study (and Area of Specialization) is delivered through a variety of methods. The distribution of required methods courses, research assistantships, assessments, and seminars, etc. varies according the Field of Study.

Dissertation

Each student will be expected to complete a body of original research of publishable quality. This may take one of two forms: (a) a minimum of three individual publishable papers, or (b) a traditional thesis-style submission with at least three original and innovative chapters, including an introduction and a conclusion that cogently ties it all together. Papers do not have to be published as single-author papers in order to fulfill dissertation requirements. The dissertation must be successfully defended before three examiners.

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