Doctor of Philosophy in the Field of Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health

Program Director: J. B. Bingenheimer

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) creates a cadre of professionals who are uniquely equipped to provide public health expertise and conduct research in the field of SBS. Upon completion of the PhD, these accomplished researchers will be prepared to apply their research and analytic skills to a range of research questions as well as implementation, evaluation, and advocacy needs of various cultural and socioeconomic groups and communities.

The PhD degree program prepares professionals to make significant scholarly contributions to the scientific and evidence base of public health. The PhD program trains strong theoretical, methodological, and practical scholars whose contributions could be as practitioners or academicians. Students are well-trained in a substantive health area with a strong background in social and behavior change theory, study design and evaluation, and statistical methods.

Visit the program website for additional information.

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 8 credits in foundational and research methods courses, 16 credits in program-specific courses, at least 15 credits in elective courses, and 9 credits in dissertation preparation and dissertation research. In addition, students must successfully complete a comprehensive examination.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required
Foundational and research methods courses (8 credits)
PUBH 6080	Pathways to Public Health
PUBH 6421	Responsible Conduct of Research
PUBH 8416	Study Design and Evaluation Methods
PUBH 8418	Applied Statistical Analysis
or PUBH 6862	Applied Linear Regression Analysis for Public Health Research
PUBH 8099	Doctoral Topics
Program-specific courses (16 credits)
PUBH 8417	Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis
PUBH 8419	Measurement in Public Health and Health Services
PUBH 8525	Advanced Topics in Social and Behavioral Sciences
PUBH 8526	Application of Structural Equation Modeling to Public Health Research
PUBH 8528	Advanced Topics in Critical Review of Social-Behavioral Theory and its Application in Public Health
PUBH 8534	Multi-Level Interventions for Health Promotion
Electives
At least 15 credits in elective courses selected in consultation with the advisor.
Dissertation preparation and dissertation
(9 credits)
PUBH 8435	PhD Dissertation Proposal Development
PUBH 8999	Dissertation Research (taken for 7 credits)
Comprehensive examination
Successful completion of a comprehensive examination is required.