Program Overview
Ph.D. in Public Health Genetics
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Health Genetics provides students with interdisciplinary training for careers in academic institutions, health care delivery systems, public health departments, government agencies, and the private sector.
Curriculum
The Ph.D. curriculum includes:
- Courses
- Sample Schedule
- Notes
- Benchmark Exams
- Degree Competencies
- Doctoral Dissertation
Courses
The sample schedule is based on a two-year, full-time course of study. Only required courses are listed in the sample schedule.
Sample Schedule
Year 1 Autumn (12 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EPI 511 or EPI 512 | Introduction to Epidemiology/Epidemiologic Methods I | 4/4 |
| BIOST 511 or BIOST 517 | Medical Biometry I/Applied Biostatistics I | 4/4 |
| PHG 512 | Legal, Ethical, and Social Issues in Public Health Genetics | 3 |
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar | 1 |
Year 1 Winter (9 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHG 513 | Basic Concepts in Pharmacogenetics and Toxicogenomics | 3 |
| PHG 523 | Genetics and the Law | 3 |
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar | 1 |
Year 1 Spring (10 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHG 511 | Genetic Epidemiology | 3 |
| PHG 527 | Social Science Research Methods | 3 |
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar | 1 |
Year 2 Autumn (12-15 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHI 500* | Public Health Practice, Science and Knowledge | 1 |
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar | 1 |
*PHI 500 can be taken in any quarter
Year 2 Winter (4-10 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GENOME 565 | Advanced Human Genetics | 4 |
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar | 1 |
Year 2 Spring (4-10 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar | 1 |
Additional Requirements Not Tied to a Specific Quarter
| Course | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Health and/or Health Systems and Population Health – selected with the approval of student’s academic advisor | 6 | |
| Electives (not listed above) | 20 | |
| PHG 800 - Dissertation Credits | 27 | |
| Preliminary Exam – typically completed at the end of year 2 | ||
| General Exam, aka proposal defense – typically completed in years three or four | ||
| Final Exam, aka dissertation defense – typically complete in years four or five |
Notes
- Courses and timing are subject to change.
- Sample schedule is provided as a guide. Individual students’ schedules will vary.
- Ph.D. students must complete a minimum 90 credits.
- Ph.D. students must complete a minimum of 27 credits of Doctoral Dissertation credits.
Benchmark Exams
In addition to coursework, students must pass three benchmark exams:
- Preliminary Exam: The preliminary exam is typically taken at the end of the second year of study. The exam evaluates the student's ability to synthesize and integrate information from the core disciplines that comprise the Ph.D. in PHG program.
- General Exam: The general exam, or dissertation proposal defense, is typically taken in year three or four of study. After identifying a dissertation supervisory committee, a student prepares a detailed proposal, which is defended in the general exam.
- Final Exam: The final exam, or dissertation defense, is taken once the dissertation research and writing has been completed. The defense must be passed within 10 years from when a student first matriculated as a Ph.D. student.
Degree Competencies
Upon satisfactory completion of a Ph.D. in Public Health Genetics, graduates will be able to:
- Meet the generic SPH learning objectives for the MS degree
- Meet the generic SPH learning objectives for the Ph.D. degree
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge in one of the core knowledge areas through coursework and dissertation project research
- Demonstrate effective integration of the two core knowledge areas while conducting independent, interdisciplinary research in public health genetics
- Demonstrate the ability to identify resources needed to stay current with the rapid advances in genomics, public health genetics, and clinical genetics, and their application in public health settings
- Communicate effectively about public health genetics to audiences from diverse backgrounds, including writing at a professional level and giving oral presentations
Doctoral Dissertation
Ph.D. students complete a research-based dissertation under the direction of a faculty dissertation chair and supervisory committee. A student's dissertation falls broadly within one of the core knowledge areas, and the student is expected to develop additional expertise in that area through electives and dissertation work.