Curriculum
The Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health offers a transformative Ph.D. program in public health. Students at OSPH have the privilege of working alongside world-renowned experts, honing skills, and emerging as innovative thought leaders in the field. Immerse yourself in one of four captivating concentrations, Health Economics and Policy, Health Data Sciences, Applied Epidemiology or Clinical Investigation and embark on a journey marked by excellence, innovation, and collaboration. Embrace this unparalleled opportunity to shape the future of public health and become an agent of change.
Students begin by developing expertise in foundational public health knowledge, health economics and policy, health data science, applied epidemiology, and clinical investigation. Students develop expertise in applied empirical analysis, economic valuation, analysis of public health data, and statistical inference from this foundation. Students demonstrate this learning in coursework and two qualifying exams. They continuously examine and refine their research interests and ideas as they develop knowledge and expertise in both concentrations. Students in the second year are prepared to produce research results that can be incorporated into posters and papers for presentation at professional meetings, often co-authored with faculty. By the third year, students are prepared to defend their dissertation proposal and prepare grant applications for dissertation funding.
Concentrations
Students in all concentrations receive substantial training in research methods and data analysis. With a Ph.D. in public health from the O’Donnell School of Public Health, students impact the health of underserved populations, provide evidence for decision-making, lead in the development of new research, and become independent and thoughtful leaders in the community.
Students choose from one of the four concentrations:
Health Economics and Policy
Health economics and policy is a multidisciplinary field of scientific investigation that examines the multiple facets of policies and programs that impact individual and community health and well-being. This includes the use, cost, quality, accessibility, and delivery of health care services and the complex interactions of social, environmental, and programmatic factors that affect health outcomes directly or indirectly. The research domains of health economics and policy include groups, organizations, institutions, communities, and populations.
Students:
- Develop expertise in economic theory including consumer and firm decision-making and economic valuation.
- Learn theoretical and empirical approaches to policy research in a dynamic interdisciplinary environment and develop rigorous research design and analysis skills.
Health Data Sciences
Health data science focuses on the applications of data science methods to facilitate and improve health science, biomedical research, and patient care. Students in the Health Data Sciences Ph.D. program develop expertise in mathematical modeling, statistical inference and methods, computer sciences, information sciences, machine learning, and artificial intelligence with application in health science and biomedical research.
Students:
- Learn practical skills to extract meaningful knowledge from noisy structured and unstructured biomedical data.
- Learn the theory and methods of health data science in a dynamic interdisciplinary environment and develop rigorous methodology research and analytical skills.
Applied Epidemiology
Applied Epidemiology equips trainees with the skills and knowledge to tackle pressing health challenges worldwide and to take leadership positions in important global public health settings.
Students will:
- Gain expertise in identifying disease etiologies, developing and evaluating effective biomedical interventions, and leading change in diverse settings both domestically and internationally.
- Develop expertise in epidemiology to lead disease outbreak investigations and field-based interventions to address public health issues of importance.
Clinical Investigation
Clinical Investigation equips future researchers with the essential tools and knowledge to conduct high-quality clinical and translational research.
Students will:
- Master study design methodologies, advanced statistical analysis techniques, and practical applications relevant to both population-based and patient-oriented studies.
- Gain the skills and knowledge to critically assess and adhere to the fundamental ethical principles governing clinical and translational research.