public health phd california

UC Davis Graduate Studies

Public health sciences (phd), about the program, learn more about the program.

The PhD program in Public Health Sciences trains students to become experts in generating, through scholarly research, new knowledge about health and disease prevention and effective programs in public health. Graduates will be equipped with the means to communicate and disseminate this new knowledge. The program educates students in research design, implementation, analysis and public health practice, and teaches effective ways to disseminate scholarly findings and implement evidence-based, effective public health programs.

School of Medicine

Admissions and Fellowship Information

UC Davis General Admission Requirements Program Admissions Requirements

Admissions Actions

Program contact information, primary program contacts.

Program Coordinator Jaime Allen [email protected]

Additional Contacts

Advisor: General Deborah Bennett Public Health Sciences (530) 754-8282 | [email protected]

Advisor: Admissions and General Marcella Gonsalves Public Health Sciences (530) 752-0849 | [email protected]

Advisor: Admissions and Primary Contact Brad Pollock Public Health Sciences [email protected]

Advisor: General David Rocke Public Health Sciences (530) 752-6999 | [email protected]

Senior Academic Advisor Sarah Hamid (530) 752-0650 | [email protected]

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2023-24 edition, public health, ph.d..

David Timberlake, Ph.D. Doctoral Director, Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention Annie Ro, Ph.D. Doctoral Director, Department of Health, Society, and Behavior The distinctive mission of the Ph.D. in Public Health is to train graduate students to conduct original research on the determinants of health status of populations, and the translation of such knowledge to improve strategies for preventing disease and disability. Graduates of the Ph.D. program will be prepared for independent and collaborative research careers, and to teach at advanced levels of instruction. Students enrolled in the Ph.D. in Public Health must concentrate in either Global Health or Disease Prevention.

Students enroll in the Ph.D. in Public Health in the fall quarter of each year. Applicants are encouraged to start the application process early by consulting with faculty members whose research activities align with the applicant’s interests and academic background. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is December 1. Applicants must choose one of the two available concentrations at the time of application: Disease Prevention, or Global Health.

Master’s level degrees in health-related disciplines are the preferred preparation for admission to the Ph.D. in Public Health. Applicants to the Ph.D. in Public Health who come with undergraduate degrees from other related majors might be required to take supplementary courses in addition to the preparatory module of the Ph.D. program.

Updated information about the GRE requirement can be found on our website. Applicants must meet the general admission requirements of the UCI Graduate Division and submit both the Application for Graduate Admission and the School of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) application in order to be considered for admission.

Each Ph.D. student must serve as a teaching assistant for at least two quarters during the graduate program. If English is not the student’s first language, the student must pass a campus-approved oral English proficiency exam prior to serving as a teaching assistant.

For more information on admissions, visit the  Public Health website  or contact  [email protected].

Concentration in Global Health

The focus of the Ph.D. research concentration in Global Health is to train excellence in research through engagement in hypothesis-driven projects to investigate the global context of disease burden and the improvement of population health status. The program will attract candidates who seek to analyze problems at the intersection of risk, vulnerability, and disease. Activities may include investigation of strategies to make research results that have already produced benefits in one country or region effective in underprivileged regions. The program trains students in integrative expertise essential for global health research with hypotheses in the nexus of content (risk analysis), context (vulnerability assessments), and process (translation of knowledge to reduce the burden of disease).

The specific learning objectives of the Concentration in Global Health are for graduates of the degree to: 

• Demonstrate knowledge of the major theoretical underpinnings of advances in global health research.  

Explain the relationship between theory and research methods focused on understanding the association of risk, vulnerability, and outcome in global health.

Compare and contrast the health status of different populations with respect to their burden of disease. 

Formulate research hypotheses in the intersection of risk factors, vulnerable populations, and burden of disease. 

Compose research proposals and conduct original research resulting in discoveries that contribute to improved understanding of risk factors and variations in disease burden in a population, and strategies to alleviate the burden at the global level. 

Concentration in Disease Prevention 

The focus of the Ph.D. concentration in Disease Prevention is to train excellence in research to discover insights into how human behavior, social constraints, and other contextual factors influence strategies to prevent disease in populations that are vulnerable to risk factors. The program emphasizes the ecological model of disease prevention, with research hypotheses emerging through multi-layered analysis of determinants of health status, including individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and overarching policy. Students generate the hypotheses for their research in the nexus of risk factors, health behavior, and vulnerable populations. 

The specific learning objectives of the Concentration in Disease Prevention are: 

Demonstrate knowledge of the major theoretical underpinnings of strategies for disease prevention. 

Explain the relationship between theory and research methods focused on understanding the association of risk, behavior, and vulnerability with respect to disease pathways. 

Analyze interrelationships among the determinants of illness and maladaptive health behaviors using theories of health behavior.

Formulate research hypotheses in the intersection of health risk factors, health behavior, and health promotion and policies toward disease prevention. 

Compose research proposals and conduct original research resulting in discoveries that contribute to improved understanding of the role of behavior and health promotion strategies in mitigating the vulnerability to health risk factors in specific populations, with the goals of applying the knowledge to disease prevention.

Career Information

The Ph.D. in Public Health prepares graduates to initiate independent and collaborative research careers in academic institutions, to teach at advanced levels of instruction, and to lead research efforts at agencies dedicated to public health at all levels of organization. Graduates of the Ph.D. in Public Health will gain employment at research universities, government agencies, or private sector organizations including research institutes, hospitals, and public health foundations. 

General Admission Requirements

Students enroll in the Ph.D. in Public Health in the fall quarter of each year. Applicants are encouraged to start the application process early by consulting with faculty members whose research activities align with the applicant’s interests and academic background. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is December 1. Applicants must choose one of the two available concentrations at the time of application. Master’s level degrees in health-related disciplines are the preferred preparation for admission to the Ph.D. in Public Health. Applicants to the Ph.D. in Public Health who come with undergraduate degrees from other related majors might be required to take supplementary courses in addition to the preparatory module of the Ph.D. program. 

All applicants must have an overall grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better and take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test. Applicants must meet the general admission requirements of the UCI Graduate Division and submit both the Application for Graduate Admission and the School of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) application in order to be considered for admission. 

For more information on admissions, visit the Public Health website or contact [email protected] .

Program Requirements

A main feature of the Ph.D. in Public Health is the situation of dissertation research in an ecological framework that considers multi-level analysis of public health questions. We integrate this feature in the two concentrations, each with knowledge modules and creative activity that must be satisfied in partial fulfillment of the degree requirements. All Ph.D. students are required to complete a minimum of 84 quarter-units according to the following modules: 

Counts as a cluster course for Disease Prevention students only.

Counts as a cluster course for Global Health students only.

The qualifying examination consists of two parts. The first part is submission of a written research proposal to a Candidacy Committee of five faculty members consisting of four members with formal appointments in Public Health, and an external member. The second part is a public presentation and oral defense of the student's dissertation research proposal before the same committee. Advancement to doctoral candidacy is contingent on passing both parts of the qualifying examination, as judged by the Candidacy Committee. The dissertation proposal must be at a level of quality such that its execution will advance knowledge and have the potential to yield original peer-reviewed publications.

Advancement to doctoral candidacy is contingent on passing the qualifying examination. We expect students to sit for the qualifying examination by the beginning of their third year in the program. Ph.D. completion requires submission of an acceptable dissertation and oral defense. The normative time to degree is six years, and the maximum time permitted is eight years. 

Teaching Requirement 

Students enrolled in the Ph.D. in Public Health are required to serve as Teaching Assistants in public health courses for two quarters during their graduate study. Teaching is an important component of graduate training, as it helps graduate students learn how to communicate effectively about their field of knowledge. In addition, teaching experience is valuable to those planning for a career in academia. Graduate students with comparable prior teaching experience (e.g., through postgraduate degrees earned at UC Irvine or other comparable institution) may request a waiver of the teaching requirement.

Program in Law and Graduate Studies (J.D./Ph.D./M.P.H.)

Highly qualified students interested in combining the study of law with graduate qualifications in Public Health are invited to undertake concurrent degree study under the auspices of UC Irvine's Program in Law and Graduate Studies (PLGS). Students in this program pursue a coordinated curriculum leading to a J.D. from the School of Law in conjunction with a Master's or Ph.D. in Public Health.

Additional information is available from the PLGS Program Director's Office at 949-824-9217, or by email at [email protected] . A full description of the program, with links to all relevant application information, can be found in the Law School section of the Catalogue .

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2023-2024 Catalogue

A PDF of the entire 2023-2024 catalogue.

Public Health DrPh

The School of Public Health offers two professional degrees, the Master of Public Health (MPH) and the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH). The School of Public Health also offers academic degrees in Biostatistics (MA, PhD), Environmental Health Sciences (MS, PhD), Epidemiology (MS, PhD), Health and Medical Sciences (MS), Health Policy (PhD), and Infectious Diseases & Immunity (PhD).

Master of Public Health (MPH)

The program of study leading to the professional MPH degree is based on a series of foundation courses. In addition, MPH students concentrate in one of the following areas: Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology (11-month), Epidemiology/Biostatistics, Health and Social Behavior, Health Policy and Management, Global Health and Environment, Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Interdisciplinary, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, and Public Health Nutrition.

The MPH degree is available in a residential program on campus or through an On-Campus/Online MPH program. The hybrid program requires two accelerated on-campus sessions, while all remaining coursework is completed online.

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) curriculum is based on a comprehensive body of knowledge in the field of public health and its related disciplines, and the investigation of significant problems in public health practice.

Contact Info

[email protected]

2121 Berkeley Way

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

Public Health

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 1, 2023

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

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UCLA Graduate Programs

Graduate Program: Public Health

UCLA's Graduate Program in Public Health offers the following degree(s):

Doctor of Public Health (Dr.Ph.)

Masters available on Doctoral track

With questions not answered here or on the program’s site (above), please contact the program directly.

Public Health Graduate Program at UCLA A1-269 CHS Box 951772 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772

Visit the Public Health’s faculty roster

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Visit the registrar's site for the Public Health’s course descriptions

• Admission Requirements
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(310) 825-5524

[email protected]

MAJOR CODE: PUBLIC HEALTH

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University of California Schools of Public Health

Want to drive public health solutions for some of the world’s toughest problems? We’re ready for you.

Through their expertise, research and government advisory roles, UC public health faculty and alumni are among the leading voices in the field. Many of our faculty, centers and institutes regularly conduct policy-shaping research.

Whether you want to focus on community health, environmental health, epidemiology, biostatistics or health policy and management, UC public health programs will equip you to lead responses to critical public health issues.

Critical Need for Public Health Expertise

Public health creates the conditions that enable individuals and communities to remain healthy and free of disease. Public health careers can involve scientific research, community engagement, raising awareness of health risks and advocating for improved safety conditions or healthy food.  

Identifying and responding to health inequities driven by socioeconomic, geographic, occupational and educational factors is central to public health research and impact. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for greater reinvestment in public health workers. Additionally, climate change, social inequality, chronic diseases — all require public health to be an integral part of creating and driving solutions for our world.  

UC prepares our public health students to meet today’s most pressing needs — and to shape our global responses to them in the future.  

Leading California — and the Nation

Our public health schools and programs are among the top in the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report .

UC Berkeley

#8 Graduate School of Public Health

#19 Department of Public Health Sciences (tie)

#31 Program in Public Health (tie)

#10 Graduate School of Public Health

*UC Davis and UCI offer degrees in departmental public health programs vs. a School of Public Health; UCI is currently seeking accreditation as a School of Public Health.

Degree Programs Offered Across the UC System for Public Health

*UC Davis and UCI offer degrees in departmental public health programs rather than a School of Public Health; UCI is currently seeking accreditation as a School of Public Health. 

Our Schools of Public Health

Our Schools of Public Health offer a variety of public health degree tracks, including in biostatistics and environmental health sciences.

UC Berkeley Public Health

For more than 75 years, Berkeley Public Health has been changing the world through groundbreaking research, world-class education and community-engaged action — working with networks across the state and worldwide, including partnerships with UCSF. In the coming decade, Berkeley Public Health is going all in to tackle four of the most pressing public health problems of our time: climate change, pandemic outbreaks, chronic diseases and social inequality. Berkeley Public Health offers online degree programs.

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UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science (HWSPH)

The UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science was established in 2019 and built upon a robust, decades old program in public health. The school has vibrant diversity among the students and faculty and has particular focuses in behavioral medicine, biostatistics and bioinformatics, epidemiology, global health, health policy, health equity, public mental health, and climate and environmental health — as well as several degree programs with incredible research training opportunities.

UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

The UCLA Fielding School of Public Health is home to one of the brightest and most diverse public health student bodies in the United States, with students hailing from 25 countries. Our students also have access to a wide range of local and global hands-on training opportunities that provide the skills needed to move public health evidence to action.

Systemwide Expertise Across California

As a system with six highly respected academic health centers , our public health graduates have many opportunities to collaborate with their UC peers. Our graduates collaborate across numerous fields, including data science, environmental science, health education, patient care and more. UC public health graduates can also draw from a rich alumni network—spread across the world—throughout their careers.

See how we’re joining forces to improve patient care within our six academic health centers

Using Research to Inform Patient Care

Our public health programs seek to make the greatest population health impact possible. To achieve this mission, UC public health faculty and students conduct research across bench science, applied research, policy analysis and community-based local projects here and internationally. Our public health institutes regularly publish comprehensive research that shapes today’s — and tomorrow’s — public health policy.

See how University of California Health is using innovative research to challenge the status quo

Building a Healthier Future Together

UCLA Fielding ranked #1 in California by peers in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Public Health Schools

Student Perspectives: Epidemiology

Throughout the school’s history, thousands of individuals — FSPH students, faculty, staff, graduates, and collaborators — have educated, researched, and applied their public health knowledge and skills in partnerships with communities, policymakers, and leaders across a wide range of professions and organizations. They have done so in service to the betterment of the public’s health and well-being, at home in Los Angeles and around the world.

Fighting a Rigged System

When UCLA’s public health school opened in 1961, the U.S. civil rights movement was gaining momentum.

Electric vehicles improve air quality for everyone but have less impact in more polluted areas

Although electric vehicle ownership is higher in wealthier neighborhoods than in disadvantaged ones, EVs improve air quality in all communities, a UCLA study found.

UCLA Fielding School of Public Health graduates lead transformative work — building a healthier future for all — here in Los Angeles, in all 50 U.S. states, and in 71 countries around the globe.

• 11K UCLA Fielding's alumni network is comprised of more than eleven thousand public health changemakers

Community Impact

Amid substantial gaps in who has access to healthy, affordable meals, UCLA Fielding engages in community partnerships that promote change.

FSPH Magazine 60th Anniversary Issue

Why UCLA Fielding

Exceptional students and world renowned faculty in a unique setting to address public health challenges confronting our global community.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

The pursuit of equity, diversity, and inclusion is a cornerstone of public health and at the core of UCLA Fielding's identity.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Key searches, doctoral programs.

The Department of Population and Public Health Sciences offers three doctoral degrees that prepare students for work in academia or industry.

PhD in Biostatistics

Students who enter our PhD program in Biostatistics will learn to creatively apply their knowledge of statistical theory and methodology to statistical problems in the biological and health sciences. Graduates of this program are equipped with the research, teaching, and consulting skills needed for biostatistics careers in industry or academia.

PhD in Epidemiology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology is designed to produce an epidemiologist with in-depth knowledge of methodology and analytic skills. The program provides preparation in methodologic and applied epidemiology, emphasizing the use of advanced design and analytic techniques to problems of etiology, human biology, public health and evidence-based medicine.

PhD in Health Behavior Research

The Doctor of Philosophy in Health Behavior Research provides academic and research training for students interested in pursuing career opportunities in the field of health promotion and disease prevention research. Students receive well-rounded training encompassing theory and methods from allied fields such as communications, psychology, preventive medicine, biostatistics, public health and epidemiology. The program prepares students for research positions in the areas of preventive medicine, public health, population health science, health psychology, and health policy research.

Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health

Ucsd/sdsu joint ph.d. in public health.

A Ph.D. in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology , Health Behavior , or Global Health is offered by the joint faculties of the Graduate School of Public Health at SDSU and the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science with assistance from other Departments in the UC San Diego School of Medicine.

The School began with strong divisions in epidemiology (focused on cardiovascular and diabetes research), quality of life measurement and a clinical division of family medicine. Health Behavior and International Health became a departmental focus around 1990. Although global health issues arise in epidemiology and health behavior, as well as other areas of medicine and public health, global health has emerged as a discipline in its own right and is a rapid growth area.

Our Faculty

UC San Diego faculty members have been awarded three Nobel prizes and numerous departments are ranked in the top ten in the nation in their field. The HWSPH has had a rapid rise both in international reputation and in the amount of externally sponsored research. In 2007, SOM faculty members were awarded $389 million in externally funded grant research, an amount that has consistently increased each year: over the previous 5 years, there was a 35% increase in research funding.

The School of Public Health

The SPH has been recently re-accredited by the Council on Education in Public Health and is one of the most productive research units at San Diego State University, a Carnegie-designated high-research university. It provides both undergraduate and graduates education in population-based health disciplines to prepare students for professional health and public health careers. Opportunities for education extend beyond the formal classroom through interactions with faculty on research projects and opportunities internationally and in the local San Diego and Border communities. It is home to three joint Ph.D. programs (Epidemiology, Health Behavior, and Global Health) with UC San Diego.

Faculty in the SPH are widely known for their research in HIV/AIDS through the US PEPFAR program, and also for extensive externally-funded research locally, regionally, and globally on obesity, diabetes, physical activity, tobacco control, environmental toxicity, and health diplomacy. Partnerships and funding sources include the San Diego County Health Department, the California Department of Health, the US Navy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Paul Newman Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. The SPH provides educational across core public health areas, including epidemiology, biostatistics, health behavior, environmental health, and global health.

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Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

Online program.

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• Community Translational Research Institute

Advanced practical training for transformative health leaders.

The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program produces leaders in public health to take on emergent and increasing threats to local, national, and global health. Guided by our experienced faculty and utilizing our unique resources, partnerships, and opportunities, you will receive rigorous practical training, preparing you to take on vital leadership roles in government, nonprofit, and private sectors. Graduates of this program will be equipped to implement population- and evidenced-based public health strategies that are responsive to the dynamic, interdependent nature of human systems and the environment.

Program Benefits

The DrPH program equips students with competencies in data analysis, leadership, management, governance, policy development, program implementation, education, and workforce development. You will learn to synthesize, translate, and generate evidence-based practice, all aimed at advancing programs, policies, services, and systems that address population health. Crucially, you will gain knowledge and skills that will enable you to guide the public health field in various contexts toward the successful realization of overarching strategy and transformative change.

Program Highlights

• Flexible Format: Experience a professional doctoral program designed to accommodate your busy schedule. Online courses utilize the latest technology to enrich the learning experience and enhance your presentation skills. This includes multimedia lectures and interactive demonstrations.
• Real-World: The DrPH program provides opportunities to gain experience in real-world practice through the Applied Practice Experience. The program then culminates with the Integrative Learning Experience, where you will develop and execute a dissertation project to produce transformative change in programs, policies, or systems.
• Location: Proximity to local health departments in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties provides many employment and educational opportunities for students.
• Network: The SCGH Student Association provides opportunities for leadership and impact through intellectual, social, and cultural contributions that meet the needs of public health students through community service, dialogue, and special events.

Program at a Glance

UNITS 49 units (students can transfer up to 13 units)

*Program completion times may vary depending on course registration, units transferred, and time to complete other degree requirements.

PROGRAM MODALITY Online curriculum with Applied Practice Experience and Integrative Learning Experience in the field

COURSES BEGIN Fall | Spring | Summer

DEGREE AWARDED Doctor of Public Health

Please see the State Authorization page for availability of our online programs in the US.

• Demonstrate knowledge of the Public Health core areas of epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health systems management, and the biological, social, and cultural aspects of health and disease in addressing and solving problems
• Design, conduct, and analyze data from well-designed formative research for the purpose of developing and evaluating appropriate public health interventions in diverse contexts
• Develop and apply professional leadership and management skills to coordinate global health interventions in diverse settings
• Engage in evidence-based policy development, analysis, and translation processes
• Design well-developed funding proposals
• Engage in advanced field experience that allows students to develop competencies in advanced practice skills, including leadership and pedagogy
• Generate a field-based product consistent with advanced practice designed to influence program, policies, or systems addressing population health

The curricular criterion for the DrPH degree is framed in terms of five related components: foundational and concentration-specific skills and content, professional disposition, application and practice, and integrative experience. The DrPH degree has distinct and defined learning objectives and a delineation of associated competencies for coursework, the practice experience, and the integrative learning experience.

Core Courses (35 units)

• Foundations of Global Health: A Transdisciplinary Approach (4 units)
• Seminar in Grant Writing & Proposal Development (4 units)
• Foundations of Program Planning (4 units)
• Designing and Evaluating Health Behavior Interventions (4 units)
• US Health Policy (3 units)
• Advanced Theoretical Foundations in Health Education & Promotion (4 units)
• Advanced Statistical Methods I (4 units)
• Advanced Research Methods (4 units)
• Qualitative Research Methods (4 units)

Concentration Courses (10 units)

• Advanced Topics in Public Health Management (3 units)
• Health Equity in Research and Practice (3 units)
• Positive Organizational Psychology (4 units)

Transdisciplinary Course (4 units)

• Transdisciplinary Changemakers. Justice-Centered Frameworks for Education (4 units)

Advanced Practicum (0 units)

Students can choose:

1) Community Lab Course Series (0 units)

• Community Based Translational Research to Promote Population Health (0 units)
• Health Systems Engineering and Integration (0 units)
• Advanced Practicum in Public Health (0 units)

2) Advanced Practicum in Public Health (0 units)

Who Should Apply

As an ideal candidate for the DrPH program, you hold a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) and have a strong desire to emerge as a leader in the public health sector. You embody a range of attributes, such as the capacity to contribute to and engage with diverse communities, the ability to collaborate across different disciplines, and personal qualities like integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness. You’re not only responsible, dedicated, and persistent, but you also demonstrate a lifelong commitment to personal and professional growth. As the ideal candidate, you have the potential to make significant contributions to the field of public health, the SCGH, and the DrPH program itself. Your educational and professional goals align seamlessly with the DrPH program’s mission, which is to prepare professionals to assume leadership roles in enhancing global public health through improved research, practice, policy-making, and system response.

Applicants that show exceptional potential for success in the DrPH program may be admitted without an MPH if they can clearly demonstrate their ability to contribute to the field and excel in the program. However, they will be required to satisfactorily complete the prerequisite courses (as outlined in the core course requirements for the MPH degree). Completing the five core courses, totaling 20 units, entitles students to a formal certificate in the Foundations of Public Health.

Program Features

Networking Opportunities With more than 80 chapters throughout the world, the Delta Epsilon chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health at Claremont Graduate University opens up numerous academic and professional opportunities, including:

• Electing students, faculty, alumni, and honorary members based on high academic standards and outstanding performance in scholarship, teaching, research, and community service.
• Connecting students to a vast networking pool of 15,000 members from the top echelons of graduate schools, programs of public health, and the public health community.
• Opening doors for faculty and students to network and positively impact public health initiatives in the Southern California region.
• Boosting students’ transition from academic life to professional life.

Featured Courses

Focuses on the core concepts, values, and methods of public health program planning and evaluation and skills for assessing community needs for health promotion.

Offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding key public health challenges that transcend local and national boundaries and require collaborative solutions.

Examines theoretical models and day-to-day responsibilities of public health management, including principles of program management and design thinking. Equips public health managers to lead, plan effectively, anticipate challenges, and marshal resources to address current organizational issues.

Covers the principles of systems engineering and integration for application in complex population health settings that include two or more separate and prior-existing systems including public health, community clinic (ambulatory care), hospital, and traditionally non-health organizations such as schools, NGOS, community centers, and churches to bring each into concert with the other(s) for a common population health objective.

Faculty & Research

Clinical Full Professor Dean, School of Community & Global Health

Jamie Felicitas-Perkins

Assistant Professor of Practice of Community and Global Health, Director of the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program

Research Interests

Determinants of health among racially/ethnically diverse, underserved, and underrepresented populations; health disparities among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; cancer disparities and contributing factors; cancer prevention; tobacco control and prevention; tobacco-related disparities; and community-based participatory research

Darleen V. Peterson

Professor of Practice, Community and Global Health Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Director of the Certificate and Master of Public Health (MPH) programs

Evaluation of Health Communication Campaigns, Effects of Pro- and Anti-Tobacco and Alcohol Marketing; Public Health Education Accreditation

Jessica Clague DeHart

Associate Professor of Community and Global Health

Epidemiology, chronic disease, cancer etiology, cancer survivorship, molecular and genetic epidemiology, lifestyle intervention trials, exercise, nutrition, quality of life, community-based interventions

Stewart I. Donaldson

Distinguished University Professor Executive Director, Claremont Evaluation Center Executive Director, The Evaluators' Institute (TEI)

Positive Organizational Psychology, Health/Well-Being & Positive Functioning Across Cultures, Program Design & Re-Design, Culturally Responsive Theory-Driven Measurement & Evaluation

Affiliated with

Claremont Evaluation Center

The Evaluators’ Institute

C. Anderson Johnson

Professor Founding Dean, School of Community & Global Health

Transnational prevention of tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse, HIV-AIDS, and obesity; Community-based substance abuse prevention; Social and environmental influences on health; Community and mass media approaches to health

Paula Healani Palmer

Associate Professor of Community and Global Health Director of the PhD in Health Promotion Sciences program

Determinants of health among ethnically diverse populations; Community-based participatory research among under-served, underrepresented populations; Health of Pacific Islanders and South Asians; Technology applications for health behavior interventions; Tobacco control, mental health, disaster management, health of migrants and indigenous peoples; Maternal and child health

Kim D. Reynolds

Nutrition and physical activity, Health promotion and disease prevention, Diabetes and obesity

Professor Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

Application of theories and methods of human memory; Cognitive neuroscience and social cognition to health behavior: etiology, prevention, and media effects; Translation of basic research to field research, high-risk populations, and prevention; Validation issues in assessment

Professor of Community and Global Health Director of the Applied Biostatistics (MS) program

Obesity prevention; Tobacco control; Diet, physical activity, body image in adolescents; Psychological adjustment to obesity; Diabetes and cancer; Application of statistical analysis in prevention research

Javad Salehi Fadardi

Research Full Professor of Community and Global Health

Application of theories and methods of human goal-seeking and motivated behavior; cognitive neuroscience and goal-related cognitive processes related to health behavior; translation of basic research to field research, high-risk populations, and e-Health technologies

Bree Hemingway

Assistant Clinical Professor of Community and Global Health, Associate Director of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, Co-director of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)/MPH dual program

Program evaluation, health disparities, and public health workforce development

Eric Houston

Research Assistant professor

Application of theories and methods of goal-seeking and motivated behavior; cognitive neuroscience and goal-related cognitive processes related to health behavior; translation of basic research to field research, high-risk populations, e-Health technologies, and prevention

Rachaline Napier

Clinical Associate Professor of Community and Global Health

Global Health, Epidemiology

Gary Selnow

Research Professor

Health promotion and disease prevention, translation of basic research to field research, high-risk populations, e-Health technologies

Yusuke Shono

Assistant Professor of Community and Global Health

Application of theories and models of cognitive processes; Implicit cognition and health behavior; Cognitive screening in clinical settings; Application of latent variable modeling in applied research; Measurement and validation in cognitive, behavioral, and health outcome assessment

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Regina Wang Lee

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Public Health (Ph.D.)

Public Health graduate students at UC Merced advance their careers by pursuing a research-based Ph.D. Our diverse faculty training students to conduct transdisciplinary, community-based research to address health issues that areimportant to vulnerable populations in rural areas. 

Some examples of current research areas include chronic disease prevention, reducing health disparities, environmental health, Latino health, cancer, and health promotion and behavior change. These areas of study are part of our emphasis in Prevention Sciences, a transdisciplinary course of study that gives students the skills and training they need to address pressing public health problems.

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Public Health graduate training is designed to promote and protect health in the San Joaquín Valley and the world through research and action, including preparing the next generation of public health professionals and leaders. Public Health at UC Merced is a vibrant and collegial intellectual community, marked by outstanding scholarship and participation in interdisciplinary communities of inquiry.

UC Merced and the Public Health Ph.D. program are committed to the success and support of our graduate students . All admitted doctoral students receive generous funding packages , and with the lowest cost of living across the UC system, funding stretches further at UC Merced — allowing our students to focus on research and a timely completion of degree. We welcome applications from students from non-traditional backgrounds, including first-generation students and those from minoritized racial/ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We have provided in-depth resources to help prospective students understand and navigate the process of selecting and applying to graduate school.

To apply, visit the UC Merced Graduate Division website .

For other inquiries please contact our Graduate Group Chair, Professor Sidra Goldman-Mellor, at [email protected] .

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Reappointment of Program in Public Health Director and Founding Dean Bernadette Boden‐Albala

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Apr 22, 2024

Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that Bernadette Boden‐Albala has been reappointed to an additional five-year term as Director and Founding Dean of the Program in Public Health, beginning July 1.

This decision follows a thorough review, which included materials submitted by Dr. Boden‐Albala and feedback from faculty, staff, campus administrators and community colleagues. We are grateful to the review committee and its chair, Dean Frank LaFerla, for their efforts throughout the process.

Dr. Boden-Albala played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic, for both UCI and the Orange County community. Under her leadership, the Program in Public Health became the key academic partner for government agencies and community organizations in addressing COVID-19 in the region.

Under Dr. Boden‐Albala's leadership since 2019, the Program has grown from a single department to four distinct departments and the proposal to move from program to school is currently under review at the UC Office of the President. The Program now has nearly 1,300 undergraduate students, 200 graduate students, 20 post docs, 90 staff members, 47 Senate faculty, 10 clinical faculty and 45 research specialists. Enrollment in the Master of Public Health program has increased from 25 to 100 students and six endowed graduate scholarships have been added. The Program has generated significant external support, including a $14 million grant from the Irvine Health Foundation, as well as a strong research portfolio that has nearly tripled in the last five years.

Among the many contributions during her first term, Dr. Boden-Albala is lauded for her ability to articulate a clear and effective strategic vision and her development of health equity as a focus for the Program. She also received praise for her contributions to inclusive excellence in student and faculty recruiting. Dr. Boden-Albala's own community-centered research is focused on cardiovascular disease and stroke risk reduction, particularly among Latino and African American communities.

In addition to her service at UCI, Dr. Boden-Albala serves as a board member-at-large for the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health and co-director of the UCLA-UCI Center for Eliminating Cardiometabolic Disparities in Multi-Ethnic Populations.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Boden‐Albala on this reappointment.

Hal Stern Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Chancellor's Professor, Department of Statistics

Steve A.N. Goldstein, M.A., M.D., Ph.D., FAAP Vice Chancellor, Health Affairs Distinguished Professor, Pediatrics, Physiology & Biophysics, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences

Rethinking healthcare

Program in Public Health’s new Center for Health Ethics will explore issues, inform debates and propose policy solutions

• Publication date April 25, 2024

Originally posted on UCI News .

On April 15, UC Irvine launched the  Center for Health Ethics , a critical effort to mobilize public health researchers and scholars across campus in addressing a range of challenging, health-related ethical issues and informing contemporary societal debates. Established as a school-based center supported by the campus’s Program in Public Health, it’s directed by Leigh Turner , professor of health, society and behavior.

The 40-plus founding faculty members are from all schools within the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences along with the School of Biological Sciences, the School of Humanities, the School of Social Ecology and the School of Social Sciences – with about half of them based in the Program in Public Health.

“In the past few decades, health ethics has become an important, highly debated health policy and public health issue. Our Center for Health Ethics members will take on many of the toughest questions going on in the healthcare space right now and, ultimately, propose solutions that will improve health outcomes for all populations,” says Bernadette Boden-Albala , director of the Program in Public Health and founding dean of the proposed School of Population and Public Health.

Turner expects the center to address the moral and policy aspects of health, healthcare, medicine, public health and health-related technologies, including such topics as health equity and health disparities, structural injustices and their relationship to the health of communities, responsible health communication, and the ethics of health research.

“I want the UCI Center for Health Ethics to play an integral role in bringing critical and informed perspectives to a broad range of ethical issues. In particular, I hope to support its members in contributing to scholarship and developing new health ethics research initiatives while informing public conversations and policy debates,” he says. Including diverse perspectives and welcoming input from a variety of academic disciplines, theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches and personal experiences are crucial to these goals, Turner adds.

I want the UCI Center for Health Ethics to play an integral role in bringing critical and informed perspectives to a broad range of ethical issues. In particular, I hope to support its members in contributing to scholarship and developing new health ethics research initiatives while informing public conversations and policy debates.” – Leigh Turner, PhD

In reference to developments in stem cell research, gene editing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and other fields, he emphasizes the need for thoughtful ethical analyses that include consideration of the broader societal, legal and policy implications of such technologies: “I envision the UCI Center for Health Ethics as a place where my colleagues and I will work to explore ethical, legal and social dimensions of emerging technologies in a nuanced and informed manner, avoiding both hyperbole and fear-mongering.”

According to Turner, the center will also promote collaborations among researchers across multiple disciplines studying and addressing health-related misinformation and disinformation and identifying practical strategies to foster responsible health communication. “We have numerous researchers here at UCI who are doing important work examining various facets of health-related misinformation and disinformation – and considering what we mean when we use such terms. This work has significant ethical implications,” he says.

A central necessity when it comes to mitigating the public’s frustration with the current healthcare system, Turner notes, is reforming both it and the pharmaceutical industry. He describes healthcare as being increasingly oriented around cutting costs, increasing profits and monetizing all facets of medical care. “Institutions such as palliative care facilities are bought out by private equity [firms] and then squeezed for profits,” Turner elaborates. “Clinicians are put under pressure to see more and more patients with less and less time to provide meaningful care. And patients receive outrageous medical bills and have to turn to GoFundMe and other crowdfunding platforms to avoid medical debt and possible health-related bankruptcy.”

Meanwhile, hospitals – including some academic medical centers – operate in highly competitive healthcare markets and use debt collection agencies to go after patients with unpaid and unaffordable medical bills. Transforming this system is among the larger policy challenges confronting the U.S., but Turner believes UC Irvine has the publicly engaged scholars needed to inform societal discourse and promote change.

“One way in which I would like the Center for Health Ethics to address these issues is to make sure it’s contributing to fundamental conversations about who we want to be, what kind of society we want to build for one another, and what it means for humans to live in particular communities,” he says.

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