Program Overview

Program Overview

The Ph.D. in Public Health with a concentration in Health Services and Policy Research is a doctoral program that prepares students to conduct independent research in academia, governmental public health, health care organizations, and the private sector.

Program Details

• The program requires 62 credit hours of coursework plus the completion of a dissertation, which can be completed in approximately four years for full-time students.
• Classes are held on the Atlanta Campus, with some classes being online or hybrid.
• The program focuses on the distribution of and access to health care services, the finance and reimbursement of health care services, and the quality and outcomes of health care services and programs.

Admission Requirements

• Admission preference is given to students who have already earned a Master of Public Health or equivalent degree.
• All other students are considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Applicants must submit their materials through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) website by the December 1 deadline.
• Application materials include:
  • SOPHAS application and fee
  • A resume or curriculum vitae
  • Official transcripts from each college and/or university attended
  • Three professional references
  • A statement of purpose and objectives
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for international applicants
• The GRE is not a requirement for admission to the Ph.D. program.

Curriculum

• The curriculum prepares students to contribute new public health knowledge and develop interventions to promote health, reduce health disparities, and ameliorate critical health problems at the population, societal, and global level.
• For complete degree requirements, visit the catalog.

Tuition and Funding

• Check out the graduate cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.
• Funding options include graduate assistantships, fellowships, and other funding opportunities.

Research Areas

• Faculty research expertise includes:
  • Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiologic Methodology
  • Cancer, Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Social Determinants
  • Environmental Health Science
  • Health Policy, Economics, and Implementation Science
  • Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
  • Maternal and Child Health, and Aging
  • Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Substance Use
  • Urban and Global Health
  • Violence Prevention, Mental Health, and Well-Being

Career Outlook

• Career paths for holders of the Ph.D. in Public Health with a concentration in Health Services and Policy Research include:
  • Behavioral Scientist
  • Director of Clinical Research
  • Health Scientist
  • Professor
  • Research Scientist
  • Senior Epidemiologist

About the School of Public Health

• Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia State's School of Public Health combines instruction from expert faculty with immersive, hands-on learning in a thriving global city.
• The school comprises two departments—Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences and Population Health Sciences—and houses several cross-disciplinary centers and initiatives.
• Health equity is an overriding theme of the school's research activity.