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 five captivating concentrations, Health Economics, Systems, and Policy, Health Data Science, Applied Epidemiology, Clinical Investigation, or Social and Behavioral Sciences 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, systems, and policy, health data science, applied epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, 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 their 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 five concentrations:
Health Economics, Systems, and Policy
Health Economics, Systems, 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, systems, 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 Science
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 Science 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.
Social and Behavior Sciences
The doctoral program in Social and Behavioral Sciences prepares strong transdisciplinary scholars for high impact careers in population research and public health practice. Students undergo vigorous methods training combined with a mentored internship in either research or practice, assuring their robust skills and career readiness upon graduation.
Students will achieve the following core competencies:
- Demonstrate expertise in foundational public health knowledge and socio-behavioral theory driving public health phenomena.
- Communicate public health research and priorities effectively to diverse audiences with state-of-the-art media and formats.
- Collaborate in transdisciplinary teams to maximize positive impacts of public health research, interventions, and programming.
- Translate recent socio-behavioral scientific discoveries to resolve current public health challenges in real-world settings.
- Design, conduct, and evaluate rigorous programs of public health research and socio-behavioral interventions.