Ph.D. in Public Health
with a concentration in
Social and Behavioral Health Sciences

Course Descriptions

For admission to the doctoral programs in public health, students must have successfully demonstrated competency in the five core areas in public health (Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Occupational/Environmental Health, Behavioral Sciences, and Health Services Administration). Students who do not have competency in all five areas must do so by taking the necessary course(s) either before admission or upon entering into the doctoral program.  These competencies can be satisfied from courses in the MPH program or from appropriate course in other departments in consultation and approval from the student’s advisor.  Credits from these core courses may not be counted towards completion of the 45 required credits.

Public Health Core Seminar (4 credits taken over four semesters):

PUBH 490     Public Health Seminar (1)
Instructor: Ann Ferris

The seminar is common to all students in the doctoral programs in public health. This student-centered seminar series will meet weekly in both the Fall and Spring semesters of the student’s first 2 years and will introduce the students to a broad range of faculty and outside speakers in public health. During their fourth semester, students will present an overview of the literature supporting their proposed research project. An overall theme for each semester will be developed for the seminar in coordination with the MPH program’s Public Health Practicum. The seminar will also be integrated with existing topical seminar programs on campus such as seminars sponsored by the Center for Health and HIV Prevention, the program in Health Services Management, and the Child, Health, and Culture Center.

Research Methods (9 credits):

Students must complete a minimum of nine credits of graduate level research methods. Courses must be pre-approved by the student’s advisory committee. The following are the core research courses for the Social and Behavioral Health Sciences concentration.

At least one course (3-credits) each from those listed for Advanced Research Design and Methods, and Advanced Statistical Methods. Students whose dissertation will involve a qualitative component should choose their remaining 3-credits from those courses listed under Qualitative Research Methods.

Advanced Research Design and Methods

EPSY 441       Methods and Techniques of Educational Research (3)
Instructor: McCoach 

A survey of the principal methods employed in the investigation of educational problems, including problem formulation, stating hypotheses, sampling, instrument design, types of research methods and design principles.

EPSY 406       Sampling Designs and Survey Research Methods in Education (3) 
Instructor: To be determined                                                          

Probability and non-probability sampling, single- and multi-stage sampling, sampling errors, design effects, unit-of-analysis concerns, confidentiality/anonymity issues, questionnaire design, interview procedures, item development, question format, ethics.

Advanced Statistical Methods

EPSY 311       Applied Regression Analysis for the Education Sciences (3) 
Instructor: To be determined                              

Multiple regression and related techniques: inference; regression diagnostics and remedial measures; polynomial regression; categorical predictors; logistic and non-linear regression; introduction to time-series; missing data and selection bias.

EPSY 346       Multivariate Analysis in Educational Research (3)
Instructor: Swaminathan

Practical emphasis on multiple regression, canonical correlation, multivariate analysis of variance and covariance, discriminant function analysis, and factor analysis.

STAT 379       Quantitative Methods in the Behavioral Sciences (3)
Instructor: Cillessen

A course designed to acquaint the student with the application of statistical methods in the behavioral sciences. Correlational methods include multiple regression and related multivariate techniques.

Qualitative Research Methods

SOCI 324        Qualitative Methodology (3)
Instructor: Naples

Methods of conducting field research, with focus on techniques of negotiating entry into natural settings, participant observation, interviewing, and coding and analysis of qualitative data. Seminar.

HDFS 304       Qualitative Research Methods in HDFS (3) 
Instructor: Descartes

Philosophical bases of qualitative research in the social sciences; developing qualitative strategies; including: existential-phenomenological, intensive interviews, participant observation, and textual analysis. Seminar.

Additional Courses that can fulfill the Research Methods requirements:

PSYC 321       Research Design and Test Construction (3)
Instructor: Milan

Theoretical issues and practical problems in developing valid measures of personality variables and in designing experimental and quasi-experimental research.

EPSY 405       Program Evaluation (3)
Instructor: Kelleher

An overview of quantitative and qualitative procedures used in the evaluation of educational programs. Involves service-learning component. Current trends and practical applications are stressed. 3 credits, Lecture.

SOCI 322        Social Research II (3)
Instructor: Weakliem

Fundamental techniques of applied data analysis and statistical computing. Emphasis on applications of statistical methods and their interpretation. Seminar.

EPSY 346       Multivariate Analysis in Education (3)
Instructor: Swaminathan

An extension of EPSY 313. Practical emphasis on multiple regression, canonical correlation, multivariate analysis of variance and covariance, discriminant function analysis.

Social and Behavioral Health Sciences Core Courses (7 credits)

The following are common courses taken by students in the Social and Behavioral Health Sciences concentration.

PUBH 405   Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health (3)
Instructor: Affleck

An introductory survey emphasizing basic social science concepts in the analysis of public health including orientations toward health, disease and health care, the origins and distribution of health care resources, and the role of social movements and research in improving public health.

PUBH 491  Advanced Topics in Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health (1)
Instructor: Reisine                                                                                    

To be taken concurrently with PUBH 405. Advanced course of theory, research and practice fundamental to social and behavioral health sciences.

GPAH 324 Critical Issues in Health Promotion, Disease and Disability Prevention (3)
Instructor: Faghri

An in-depth study of health promotion, disease and disability prevention policies, programs and strategies.
Must be accompanied by a one-credit doctoral seminar course.

EKIN 425 Special Topics in Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan (3)
Instructor: Pescatello 

An in-depth examination of health issues across the lifespan. The health issues addressed will involve perspectives from social and behavioral health science, occupational and enviromental health science, and/or public policy.

Additional Courses to Complete Plan of Study (Electives: 9 – 12 credits)

The student and committee will develop a plan of study that includes 9 – 12 credits of graduate level course work that supports the research program. No more than 6 credits of recent graduate course work that has not been transferred towards the completion of a degree may be used on the plan of study.

Due to the diverse nature of public health, a broad range of graduate courses will be available to Public Health doctoral students.  Students will work with their academic advisors to determine the best combination of courses to fulfill their individual plan of study.  The following are examples of advanced courses from departments with a public health mission that may fulfill requirements for the Ph.D. Program:

GPAH 331 and NUSC 314    Nutrition for Healthy Communities (3)
Instructors: Ferris and Duffy

Development of knowledge and skills in public nutrition including community assessment, development of program policies, and program planning, implementation, and evaluation.

HDFS 331       Prevention, Intervention and Public Policy (Seminar) (3)
Instructor: O’Neil

Survey course of the theory, practice and science of primary prevention of human problems. Prevention concepts and case studies are presented. Students give analysis and critique of course content and develop personal and professional perspectives on prevention practice and possible social policy initiatives.

HDFS 340       Aging: Personality and Social Interaction (3)
 Instructor: Sheehan

Patterns of adjustment to aging; continuity versus change in personality, role changes, and family relations of the elderly.

NURS 354      Needs Assessment and Planning (3)
Instructor: Mull

An interdisciplinary survey course that prepares students to conduct a needs assessment on a selected population. Includes elements of epidemiology, identification of populations at risk and the development of plans to market, implement and evaluate programs to enhance the health and well-being of selected populations.

PSYC 401       Work Organization and Health Psychology, Proseminar (3)
Instructors: Henning, Magley, Warren

A seminar discussing the interconnected factors associated with work organization and health.

SOCI 345 4      Deviant Behavior (3)
Instructor: Sanders

Review of theory and research, with emphasis on their implications for a general theory of deviant behavior.

Dissertation Research Credits (15 credits):

Each student will complete 15 credits of dissertation research.

GRAD 495      Doctoral Dissertation Research

This course is associated with the research efforts of students pursuing a doctoral degree, and may be used to meet the 15-credit doctoral research requirement.

GRAD 496      Full-Time Doctoral Research

This course is to be used by those students who have completed all courses on the plan of study and who are performing doctoral level research on a full-time basis. It may contribute to meeting the 15-credit doctoral research requirement. No other courses may be taken concurrently. In the summer, this is a 12-week course. Since this course denotes a full time commitment, students may not hold graduate assistantships while taking this course.

GRAD 497      Full-Time Directed Studies (Doctoral Level)

This course denotes that the student is participating in a full-time internship, fieldwork experience, or other course of off-campus study required as part of the student’s doctoral program. No other courses may be taken concurrently.                               

Students will be evaluated according to the following benchmarks as they progress through the program:

1. Satisfactory completion of course work
2. Filing a plan of study
3. Formation of a doctoral committee
4. Completion of qualifying examinations in a timely manner
5. Defense of dissertation prospectus and external review of prospectus
6. Publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Advisory Committee

Each student, upon acceptance into the program, will be assigned an advisor who will assist the student in orientation to the program, identifying electives throughout the university, and the availability of funding through teaching or research assistantships or fellowships. By the end of the first year, students must select a major advisor to remain in the program. Each student’s advisory committee is formed after consultation between the student and the major advisor. The committee includes at least two associate advisors. The major advisor and at least one associate advisor are members of the graduate faculty appointed to advise Ph.D. students in the student’s field of study and area of concentration. The Graduate School reviews such appointments every seven years. An associate advisor may be chosen from outside the field of study or the University in accordance with Graduate School procedures.

Plan of Study

By the beginning of the third semester in the program, the student must prepare a plan of study containing the courses he or she will take to gain mastery of the body of knowledge of the field, including required courses. The advisory committee and the Executive Committee of the Graduate School must approve the plan of study. The student may not take the general examination before the plan of study has been approved.

General Examination

The general examination is taken at the end of the student’s sequence of courses, as contained on the plan of study. Both a written and oral examination will be required. No fewer than five faculty members, including all members of the student’s advisory committee, participate in the examination. No fewer than five faculty members will be invited to submit questions and to evaluate the student’s responses. The general examination will usually consist of three questions developed by the examination committee. The student is typically given one week to answer each question.

Dissertation Research Proposal

As the student continues on to the major work included in the dissertation research, a substantial proposal will be submitted, which will include the background, context of the proposed topic, a description of the work to be done, and the methodology through which it will be accomplished and evaluated. Two independent readers chosen by the program director will review the proposal. The review will provide the student a critique of all areas. Students may submit a proposal at any point after identification of the Dissertation Committee. Once the proposal is accepted, the student is expected to engage in independent research to complete the dissertation. Any substantive modifications in the original proposal must receive prior approval of the student’s advisory committee. Five credits are assigned for each of three (or more) semesters for the dissertation.

Candidacy

Upon successful completion of the general examination, courses contained in the plan of study, a formal defense of the dissertation proposal, satisfactory replies to both the examination committee and external reviewers, and final approval of the proposal by the Graduate Executive Committee the student becomes a candidate for the doctoral degree.

Dissertation

The dissertation will represent a significant contribution to ongoing research in the candidate’s field, and will represent the final 15 credits needed for completion of the doctoral programs. The advisory committee gives final approval of the dissertation following the final examination. Students are expected to meet with their advisory committee at least once each semester.

Dissertation Defense

The final examination is both oral and public and is under the jurisdiction of the advisory committee. It will be announced publicly via the University’s on-line events calendar. It deals mainly with the subject matter of the dissertation. Invitation to participate in the examination will be issued by the advisory committee, although all members of the faculty may attend.

Last page update: July 31, 2007, CC Cantor