Program Overview

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Population Health, PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy program in population health brings together multiple disciplines, illustrating the complex underlying factors that affect the health and well-being of populations. The program addresses the interaction between public health and health care systems and other sectors of society --- including the private sector, government, nonprofit and academia --- to affect the health outcomes of entire populations.

Program Description

Students personalize their program of study by completing courses from one of five 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 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 program offers applied experience through a practicum as well as opportunities to engage in novel research on population health through a dissertation.

At a Glance

• College/school: College of Health Solutions
• Location: Downtown Phoenix
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree Requirements

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

• 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

• EXW 700 Research Methods (3)
• EXW 701 Scientific Grant Writing (3)

Other Requirement

• POP 591 Seminar: Evaluating the Population Health Literature (3)
• POP 780 Practicum (3)

Culminating Experience

• 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.

Admission Requirements

General university admission requirements: All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.

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 a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

1. graduate admission application and application fee
2. official transcripts
3. personal statement
4. resume or curriculum vitae
5. three references (academic or professional)
6. writing sample (six to ten pages)
7. oral interview (via videoconference)
8. 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 additional courses 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 from within the program. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact one or more possible mentors to discuss their research interests prior to submitting their application.

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

Fall

• Session | Modality | Deadline | Type
• Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Priority

Career Opportunities

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
• professor
• public health consultant or policy advisor
• research scientist