Academic Programs Doctor of Public Health
Mission
The doctoral program in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences (BCHS) prepares students for careers in research, leadership in health promotion organizations, and teaching in both academic and practice settings.
Objectives
The doctoral program helps students develop conceptual abilities, values and skills that will serve as a foundation for their careers in the behavioral and community health sciences.
The Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences focuses on research and evaluation that emphasize the conceptualization and study of public health topics according to the different levels of the social ecological model and the interrelationship among those levels. Research in behavioral and community health sciences often requires the participation of several basic disciplines and uses both quantitative and qualitative paradigms and methodologies. This research follows the philosophical orientation of social justice and is anchored in scientific theories that are appropriate for each of the different social ecological levels.
The curriculum is designed specifically to develop:
- Critical thinking and problem solving skills using various models and conceptual frameworks from the social and behavioral sciences;
- An understanding of the social ecological context in which public health programs are designed, implemented and financed;
- Qualitative and quantitative methodologies in order to design and conduct rigorous and scientifically valid research at the various levels of human activity;
- A social justice perspective in the consideration of and sensitivity to ethical issues that influence public health, health policy, and the delivery of health care;
- Data management and analylsis skills, and compentencies in communicating research findings orally and in writing.
Program of Study
The program of study includes BCHS (departmental) core courses, GSPH (schoolwide) core courses, electives, independent study, public presentation, and research experience. All doctoral students will complete a common core of courses, identified below.
You may be waived from taking core couses if you have successfully completed these or equivalent courses during prior study. You must complete an application for a course waiver for each course that you wish to waive. Forms are available in the Program Office, 227 Parran Hall.
You first need to enroll in the classes required to take the preliminary examination. In the list below these classes are marked with an asterisk (*).
BCHS Core Courses (29-30 credits total)
Social and Behavioral Issues in Public Health (11 credits)
- Theories of Health Behavioral and Health Education*
BCHS 2520 (3 credits) - Community Development Approaches*
BCHS 2559 (3 credits) - Sociocultural and Community Factors in Health and Illness*
BCHS 3505 (3 credits) - Integrative Seminar in Behavioral and Community Health Sciences Research
BCHS 3004 (1 credit) needs to be taken twice
Analytical Perspectives in Public Health (18-19 credits)
- Introduction to Applied Research*
BCHS 2523 (3 credits) - Health Survey Methods
BCHS 3002 (3 credits) - Seminar in Advanced Evaluation Techniques
BCHS 3003 (3 credits) - Ethnographic Approaches to Program Evaluation*
BCHS 3007 (3 credits) - Introduction to Statistical Methods II*
BIOST 2042 (2 credits) or PSYED 2019 (3 credits) - Applied Regression Analysis
BIOST 2049 (3 credits) or PSYED 2410 (3 credits)
GSPH Core Courses (17 credits total)
- Overview of Public Health
PUBHLT 2014 (1 credits) - Public Health Biology
PUBHLT 2015 (2 credits) - Introduction to Statistical Methods I*
BIOST 2041 (3 credits) or PSYED 2018 (3 credits) - Principles of Epidemiology*
EPID 2110 (3 credits) - Environmental Health and Disease
EOH 2013 (3 credits) - Introduction to Leadership, Management, and Policy for Public Health
HPM 2001 (3 credits) - Capstone: Problem Solving in Public Health
PUBHLT 2008 (2 credits)
Electives
Through the selection of elective courses, you will develop additional depth in research methodology and a focus on a substantive area under the guidance of your mentor/advisor. You can select courses being offered or developed to enhance your knowledge in social and behavioral issues. You must take a minimum of one elective course.
Sequencing of courses
Full Time Student Sample Schedule – Fall Admission (1st year)
Fall |
Credits |
Spring |
Credits |
BCHS 2520 Theories * |
3 |
BCHS 3505 Sociocultural Factors in Public Health * |
3 |
BCHS 2525 Intro to Applied Research * |
3 |
BCHS 3007 Ethn Qualt Methods * |
3 |
BIOST 2041/PSYED 2018 Intro Stats I* |
3 |
BIOST 2042/PSYED 2019 Intro Stats 2 * |
2/3 |
EPI 2110 Principles of Epi * |
3 |
BCHS 2559 Comm Dev Approaches * |
3 |
PUBHLT 2014 Overview of Public Health |
1 |
BCHS 3004 Integrative Seminar |
1 |
TOTAL |
13 |
TOTAL |
12/13 |
Full Time Student Sample Schedule – Fall Admission (2nd year)
Fall |
Credits |
Spring |
Credits |
PSYED 2410 Applied Regression |
3 |
BCHS 3002 Hlth Survey Methods |
3 |
BCHS 3004 Integrative Seminar |
1 |
HPM 2001 Intro to Leadership, Magmnt & Policy for Pub Hlth |
3 |
PUBHLT 2015 Pub Hlth Biology |
2 |
EOH 2013 Environmental and Health Disease |
3 |
BCHS 3003 Sem Advanced Evaluation |
3 |
PUBHLT 2016 Capstone: Problem Solving in Public Hlth |
2 |
ELECTIVES
|
3 |
Studying for the comprehensive examination |
3 |
TOTAL |
12 |
TOTAL |
14 |
* Courses required to take the Preliminary Examination
Full Time Student Sample Schedule – Spring Admission (1st year)
Spring |
Credits |
Fall |
Credits |
BCHS 2525 Intro to Applied Research * |
3 |
PSYED 2019 Intro Stats 2 * |
3 |
PSYED 2018 Intro Stats I * |
3 |
EPI 2110 Principles of Epi * |
3 |
BCHS 3505 Sociocultural Factors in Public Health * |
3 |
PUBHLT 2014 Overview |
1 |
BCHS 3004 Integrative Seminar |
1 |
BCHS 3007 Ethn Qualt Methods * |
3 |
BCHS 2559 Comm Dev Approaches * |
3 |
BCHS 2520 Theories * |
3 |
TOTAL |
13 |
TOTAL |
13 |
Full Time Student Sample Schedule – Spring Admission (2nd year)
Spring |
Credits |
Fall |
Credits |
HPM 2001 Intro to Ldrshp Mgmnt & Plcy for Pub Hlth |
3 |
PSYED 2410 Applied Regression |
3 |
EOH 2013 Environmental and Health Disease |
3 |
BCHS 3003 Sem Advanced Evaluation |
3 |
PUBHLT 2016 Capstone: Problem Solving in Public Hlth |
2 |
Studying for the comprehensive examination |
3 |
BCHS 3002 Hlth Survey Methods |
3 |
BCHS 3004 Integrative Seminar |
1 |
ELECTIVES |
3 |
PUBHLT 2015 Pub Hlth Biology |
2 |
TOTAL |
14 |
TOTAL |
12 |
* Courses required to take the Preliminary Examination