phd population health sciences

The Department of Population Health Sciences develops critically-thinking, creative, and collaborative research scientists that are passionate about improving healthcare for all. The doctoral program equips students with the knowledge and tools they will need to research and work alongside health systems, government agencies, non-profits, industry, and others pursuing improved health of populations.

Admission Deadlines

Application Deadline : The application for 2024-2025 admissions  to the Population Health Sciences PhD program has opened, and will close on December 2, 2024.

Prospective students are NOT expected NOR encouraged to identify a primary mentor prior to submitting their application. The DPHS Education leadership team handles this process. They will identify potential faculty matches based on your research interests early in the admissions process, ensuring a strong fit with a faculty advisor if you are offered admission.

The online degree application asks you to identify potential mentors from our department; this is only for informational purposes, to give the DPHS Admissions committee a sense of which DPHS faculty members’ research you feel particularly aligned with. You do not need to get approval or permission from faculty members to make these identifications in your application. Those admitted will have the opportunity to reach out to potential mentors after receiving a decision on your application.

Guidance on identifying faculty members who align with your interests:

• Reflect on your research passions: What excites you in your field?
• Consider areas that align with your values and career goals.
• Look for faculty engaged in research that complements your own interests.

But remember, the admissions committee will take the lead in matching you with a faculty advisor.

About the PhD in Population Health Sciences

The Duke PopHealth PhD program prepares researchers to formulate important research questions, design studies to answer them, organize resources to carry out relevant studies, and analyze the results to contribute scientific and policy insights. Our coursework, experiential learning, and professional development help prepare PhD students to be leaders in the population health field.

Our faculty are world-renowned for their expertise and strengths in the following areas:

• Health Measurement. Learn more
• Implementation Science. Learn more
• Health Policy
• Health Services Research
• Health Economics

Why Choose Duke for a PhD in Population Health Sciences?

The department, which is part of the Duke University School of Medicine, offers Ph.D. candidates a unique and rich setting in which to acquire that foundation and then use it to complete their studies and dissertation research. Ph.D. students can:

Access Duke's  PopHealth DataShare , which provides access and consultation to large data sets from federal and state government sources as well as a private insurer

Tap into Duke PopHealth’s partnerships with world-class institutions like  Duke Cancer Institute ,  Duke Clinical Research Institute ,  Duke Global Health Institute , and  Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy

Connect with Duke PopHealth’s  Center for Health Measurement , the  BASE Lab ,  QualCore , and  INTERACT  (Implementation Science Research Collaborative) – which each offer specialized research support.

Enjoy proximity to Duke Health, which provides most of the health care in Durham County. Students can also connect with the Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center and  ADAPT Center .

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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]

• Weill Cornell Medicine

PhD in 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 across diverse populations. 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 Sciences Research Program of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), our students have the opportunity to work with internationally renowned and federally funded faculty in multiple areas including biostatistics & data science, epidemiology, health informatics, health policy & economics, outcomes research, and behavioral sciences; addressing multiple determinants of health and health disparities across populations and improving healthcare delivery are cross-cutting themes within these disciplines.

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 actively recruited by industry, including pharmaceutical, technology and consulting firms, as well as by governmental agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Applicants to the program are expected to have a minimum of 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
• 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 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 is now open. The application deadline is December 1, 2023.

Program Requirements

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 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.

Students in the program take core and elective courses in their first two years of program. The core coursework includes:

• Biostatistics I with R Lab
• Biostatistics II - Regression Analysis
• Data Science I
• Data Science II
• Principles of Population Health Sciences
• Advanced Epidemiological Methods
• Introduction to Health Services Research
• Introduction to Health Informatics
• Responsible Conduct of Research
• PHS Colloquium series

Students are also required to take 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.

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.

Program Leadership

Bruce Schackman, PhD, MBA - Program Co-Chair Jonine Bernstein, PhD, MS - Program Co-Chair Samprit Banerjee, PhD, MS - Faculty Director Elisabeth Brodbeck, PhD, MPH - Executive Director

Program Faculty

To learn more about the program, please contact us at [email protected] .

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Population Health Sciences 402 E. 67th St. New York, NY 10065 Phone: (646) 962-8001

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]

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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:

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• 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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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

• 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

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Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Population health, phd.

This program seeks to train students to become public health researchers and 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, and health services—together with individual-specific and specialized training in topics related to student research. Importantly, our students are mentored by Northeastern’s distinguished faculty, who individually and together conduct innovative, solution-focused research in critical population health topics.

Our population health doctoral students have an opportunity to learn to conduct research that addresses five key health determinants:

1.      Social and community contexts

2.      Environment and neighborhoods

3.      Health and healthcare delivery

4.      Education

5.      Economic stability

Our diverse faculty has expertise in numerous population health disciplines, including health services research, health disparities, environmental and social epidemiology, biostatistics, exercise science, medical sociology, public policy, personal health technologies, and mental health. Students have the opportunity to work side by side with faculty in conducting cutting-edge, transdisciplinary research in these fields.

Course Requirements

All population health PhD candidates must earn at least 33 semester hours by completing core research courses, selecting a concentration and taking courses for that 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. Eight core courses (22–23 semester hours) must be taken by all students, in addition to a mandatory, non-credit-bearing seminar speaker series. All students must fulfill the requirements of their specific population health option: social and environmental determinants of health or health services and policy.  There may be some flexibility in course selection based on a student’s relevant experience and dissertation topic. Students must consult with their advisor before selecting elective courses (9–10 semester hours). Electives should be used to either help the student develop skills needed for research or to help the student develop new research ideas.

Advanced Entry

This program is strictly for students who already have a master’s degree in public health or a closely related area and have full-time employment at a company or agency who has entered into an agreement with Northeastern to be the student’s sponsor. Completion of the PhD program requires 21–23 semester hours, including a yearlong research methods seminar and other advanced research courses. All students must fulfill the course requirements of their specific population health option: social and environmental determinants of health (9 semester hours) or health services and policy (7 semester hours). There may be some flexibility in course selection based on a student’s relevant experience and dissertation topic. Students must consult with their advisor before selecting elective courses. Electives can be used to either help the student develop skills needed for research or to help the student develop new research ideas but are not required. 

Please visit  Bouvé College Learning Outcomes  for the specific student learning outcomes for this program.

Students who do not qualify for the doctoral degree, but who have completed required coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or better, may be eligible to receive a terminal MS Population Health degree. Note that no students will be admitted directly into the Population Health program to pursue a master’s degree.

• Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality.  
• Certain options within the program may be  required  at certain campuses or for certain program modalities.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality. 

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Qualifying examination Annual review Dissertation committee Dissertation proposal Oral defense of dissertation proposal Candidacy status Dissertation defense

Core Requirements

Complete one of the following options:

Social and Environmental Determinants of Health Option

Health Services and Policy Option 

Dissertation 

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

33 total semester hours required Minimum 3.000 GPA required

Qualifying examination Annual review Dissertation committee Dissertation proposal Oral defense of dissertation proposal Candidacy Status Dissertation defense

A grade of B or higher is required in all coursework. Students must complete all core requirements unless otherwise indicated:

Students may elect to take additional course credits to support their dissertation work.

Minimum 21 total semester hours required Minimum 3.000 GPA required

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Population Health Sciences

• Population Health PhD Program

The Population Health Sciences PhD Program currently offers three emphases:

• Biostatistics
• Clinical and Translational Epidemiology (CTE)
• Health Systems Research (HSR)

Additionally, there are dual degree programs available. 

BIOSTATISTICS

The Biostatistics emphasis in this interdisciplinary program is distinguished by its rigorous training and practical collaboration. In this training program, students will develop essential expertise in theory and methods in biostatistics. Students will have opportunities to not only work with Biostatistics faculty in development of statistical theory and methods, but also collaborate with health systems researchers, translational epidemiologists, and clinical and basic science investigators across the University of Utah and around the globe. We aim to train the next generation of biostatisticians with skills needed to analyze complex biomedical data in the Big Data era, and academic leaders who are committed to improving patient and population-oriented care.

The curriculum of each student will be tailored to his or her background and objectives. In addition to core statistical training in probability, statistical inference, epidemiology, statistical programming, regression modeling, survival analysis, and categorical data analysis, the PhD program particularly emphasizes the development of expertise in study design, machine learning, analysis of big data, modern causal inference, and methods for analysis of multi-level data. Students are encouraged to pursue elective courses in related areas of application including bioinformatics, health economics, public health, and computer science.

Within the required coursework, students have the opportunity to develop a highly individualized plan of study with their faculty advisor. Students may orient their thesis to either novel applications of statistical methods or to the development of new methods, while publishing their research in academic journals.

• 2024 - 2025
• 2022-2023 / 2023-2024

CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGY

The PHS Clinical and Translational Epidemiology (CTE) emphasis in the PhD Program is distinguished by its rigorous training in epidemiologic methods and focus on collaboration with clinicians. Students work closely with PHS faculty including epidemiologists, health systems researchers, and biostatisticians, and have opportunities to work alongside basic science and clinical investigators across campus. As part of the program, the students complete a rotation with relevant clinicians to gain a better perspective on the clinical and translational implications of their research. Within the CTE emphasis, we aim to train the next generation of researchers with the skills needed to work in multidisciplinary teams to analyze and solve complex issues to improve patient and population health.

• 2022-2023 / 2023-2024

HEALTH SYSTEMS RESEARCH

The PHS Health Systems Research (HSR) emphasis is distinguished by its rigorous training and focus on collaboration with clinicians. Not only will students work closely with HSR faculty, they will also have the opportunity to work alongside epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and basic and clinical science investigators across campus. Within the HSR emphasis, we aim to train the next generation of health systems researcher with the skills needed to analyze complex issues.  Students leave as academic leaders who are committed to improving patient and population- oriented care.

Phone : 801-587-1606 Email :  [email protected]

Williams Building, Room 1N490 295 Chipeta Way Salt Lake City, UT 84108

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Welcome to our PhD Program in Political Science!

For students interested in graduate study in political science, we provide excellent opportunities for you to succeed at Ohio State. Our location in Columbus offers exciting extra-departmental opportunities as a major research university in one of the thirty largest metropolitan areas in the country. In 2021, U.S. News and World Report ranked the department 17th overall in the country, 12th in International Relations, 11th in American Politics, 20th in Comparative Politics, and 13th in Political Methodology.

Our distinguished and diverse faculty are strongly committed to working closely with graduate students. We combine traditional disciplinary major fields and innovative departmental specializations along with providing students with the most up-to-date training in theory and methods. 

You will have the opportunity to join a highly competitive, supportive community of students, who typically receive full financial support to pursue their degrees. Most students receive a five-year funding package that pays a stipend, tuition and fees, and health care. 

Fields of Study and Departmental Specialization

For most students, arriving at a course of study will involve the selection of two focus fields and a course-out minor from either one of the focus fields, a graduate interdisciplinary specialization, or a graduate minor. 

Focus Fields of Study

American Politics ( Ranked 11th in the nation in 2021) Comparative Politics  ( Ranked 20th in the nation in 2021) International Relations ( Ranked 12th in the nation in 2021) Political Methodology ( Ranked 13th in the nation in 2021) Political Theory

In addition, students may choose one or more departmental specializations. More individualized programs emphasizing either breadth or depth may be developed in consultation with an academic advisor.

Departmental Specializations

Political Psychology Formal Theory Political Economy Race, Ethnicity, and Gender

"I was attracted by Ohio State’s graduate program in political science because of its commitment to supporting graduate student research. The department’s outstanding faculty have guided me throughout the challenging process of selecting a dissertation topic, gathering preliminary evidence, spending months abroad collecting data, and finally writing my Ph.D. thesis. I am particularly grateful for exceptional financial support that allowed me to travel across Africa in search of the best available evidence for answering my research questions. " - Vladimir Chlouba, Ph.D. Candidate

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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