Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Health Curriculum - Health Systems and Policy
(72 Credits)
Students seeking the Ph.D. in public health - health systems and policy degree must complete a minimum of 72 credits of academic work with a minimum GPA of at least 3.2 overall and 3.2 in the set of required courses specified by their concentration; earn no more than 9 credits bearing grades less than B; and complete the degree requirements within nine years. Courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.
REQUIRED PREREQUISITE COURSES (9 credits)
Do not count toward the minimum 72-credit Ph.D. curriculum
- PHCO 0501 - Health Systems and Policy (or equivalent)
- PHCO 0502 - Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
- PHCO 0504 - Introduction to Biostatistics (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
If a student holds an M.P.H. from a CEPH-accredited school or program of public health, prerequisite coursework is considered completed. PHCO 0502 and PHCO 0504 must be completed before Year 1, fall semester (e.g., online summer before) if student does not have graduate-level coursework in these two areas.
REQUIRED PHD IN PUBLIC HEALTH CORE COURSES (9 credits)
- PHCO 0512 - Public Health Foundations If a student holds an M.P.H. from a CEPH-accredited school or program of public health, course is waived, but not the credits
- ENOH 0701 - Public Health Research Ethics
- HBSP 0700 - Advances in Public Health Theories
REQUIRED CONCENTRATION AND ELECTIVES COURSES (39 credits)
Note: Students should review the Course Descriptions in the School Catalog for specific information about prerequisites required for required courses and recommended electives.
Required Courses (33 credits):
- HBSP 0621 - Health Care Economics
- HBSP 0624 - Issues in Private and Public Health Insurance
- HBSP 0701 - Grant Writing for Public Health, Behavioral and Biomedical Research
- HBSP 0703 - Evaluation and Research Design for Public Health Interventions
- HBSP 0723 - Health Politics and Policy
- HBSP 0724 - Population Health and Public Policy
- HBSP 0726 - Intermediate Survey Research Methods
- BIST 0535 - Biostatistical Computing
- BIST 0551 - Applied Regression Analysis for Public Health Studies
- BIST 0615 - Categorical Data Analysis
- EPID 0656 - Intermediate Epidemiological Research Methods
Recommended Elective (6 credits): Selected with advisor approval
REQUIRED DOCTORAL RESEARCH AND RELATED COURSES (24 credits)
- RESH 0701 - Doctoral Colloquium I (0 credits) Taken in fall and spring in Year 1 (required)
- RESH 0702 - Doctoral Colloquium II (0 credits) Taken in fall and spring in Year 2 (required)
- RESH 0760 - Doctoral Research (20 credits)
- RESH 0761 - Doctoral Research: Dissertation Proposal Seminar (3 credits) Taken in Year 2, second semester
- 1611-5556 - Ethical Scientific Conduct (1 credit) [Offered through School of Graduate Studies] Taken in spring in Year 1
OTHER DOCTORAL REQUIREMENTS (0 credits)
- RESH 0730 - Ph.D. Seminar (0 credits) Attend Ph.D. seminar once per month for fall and spring semesters, every year (required)
- Earn a Teaching Certificate from Rutgers Teaching Assistant Program (TAP) (0 credits) or complete HBSP 0725 - Effectively Teaching and Training Adults (3 credits)
- Pass Qualifying Exam (written and oral) Typically completed at the end of Year 2
- Complete Ethical Scientific Conduct Refresher (0 credit) Taken in Year 5
Notes: With Advisor approval, may substitute with BIST 0610 - Advanced Regression Methods for Public Health Studies
