Visit the Milken Institute School of Public Health website for additional information about academic programs and information about GWSPH. Graduate admissions information, including application requirements and deadlines, can be found on the GWSPH Graduate Admissions website.
The following requirements must be fulfilled: 48 credits, including 10 credits in PhD core courses, 19 credits in program-specific courses, at least 11 credits in elective courses; 8 credits in dissertation research; and successful completion of a comprehensive examination.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| PhD core courses (10 credits) | ||
| PUBH 6080 | Pathways to Public Health | |
| PUBH 8001 | Doctor of Philosophy Seminar on Cross-Cutting Concepts in Public Health | |
| PUBH 8416 | Study Design and Evaluation Methods | |
| PUBH 8418 | Applied Statistical Analysis | |
| PUBH 8435 | PhD Dissertation Proposal Development | |
| PUBH 8475 | Research Ethics and Integrity in Domestic and International Research | |
| Program-specific courses (19 credits) | ||
| PUBH 6340 | Health Economics and Finance | |
| PUBH 8405 | Advanced Topics: Health Economics Research | |
| PUBH 8417 | Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis | |
| PUBH 8620 | Seminar: Foundations of U.S. Health Policy | |
| PUBH 8622 | Healthcare Payments, Systems, and Delivery Models | |
| PUBH 8722 | Public Health Policy Analysis | |
| PPPA 8022 | Econometrics for Policy Research (at least 2 credits) | |
| Electives | ||
| At least 11 credits in elective courses. A recommended list of electives can be found in the program guide available from the School of Public Health.. | ||
| Dissertation | ||
| PUBH 8999 | Dissertation Research (taken for 8 credits) | |
Comprehensive examination
After completion of the course requirements, students take a comprehensive examination based on core courses. Upon successful completion of the examination, students officially enter the doctoral candidacy phase of the program.
Dissertation
Doctoral candidates prepare a written dissertation research proposal with guidance from their dissertation advisor and committee. Each doctoral candidate gives an oral presentation and defense to the committee who determines the student's readiness to commence the dissertation.
Doctoral candidates are required to conduct original research on a contemporary problem or issue. The dissertation includes at least one written manuscript and an oral presentation and defense.
Additional requirements for degree completion:
- Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) training requirement: All students must complete training regarding human subject protection regulation and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). To fulfill this requirement, students must complete the CITI course in The Protection of Human Research Subjects.
- Integrity quiz and plagiarism requirement: Students must review the George Washington University Code of Academic Integrity, take the quiz within their first semester of study, and ensure documentation is submitted to the SPH Office of Student Records.
- Professional enhancement requirement: Students must attend/participate in eight hours of epidemiology conferences. To be cleared for graduation, students must submit required documentation of applicable professional enhancement activities to the SPH Office of Student Records.
- Completion of a graduate teaching assistantship program certificate. See the GTAP website for additional information.
- Grade-point average: A minimum program grade-point average of 3.0.
- Time limit: The degree must be completed within seven years of matriculation.
Additional information regarding School of Public Health doctoral programs is available on the SPH website.