PHD PHS - Population Health Science (PhD)

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John D. Bower School of Population Health (School) ACADEMIC_LEVEL_GRADUATE

Program Title

Population Health Science (PhD)

Default Credentials

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy

Program Description

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Population Health Science program will educate students to examine health outcomes and patterns of health determinants, to develop policies and interventions to reduce health disparities and improve population health outcomes, and to effectively communicate scientific studies to a range of stakeholders. Graduates will develop advanced research, analytic, and communication skills necessary for generating and disseminating new knowledge in the science of population health improvement. Enrolled students will be able to complete the program in approximately 5 years, completing a minimum of 73 credit hours. The program will culminate in an original dissertation designed to have real-world application. All PhD students major in the interdisciplinary field of Population Health Science, with an emphasis on knowledge translation. Following completion of similar coursework to acquire core competencies in Population Health Science, students take a written qualifying examination. Students who pass their written qualifying examination will identify faculty to serve on their doctoral dissertation committee. Each student prepares a proposal for an original dissertation research project under the supervision of their committee. A dissertation proposal defense is required after which the dissertation committee decides whether to approve the proposal. Once the research proposal is approved by the dissertation committee and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the student can start working on their dissertation research. At the completion of their dissertation, in addition to the formal written work, all students must defend their project in an oral presentation to the wider university community.

Learning Outcomes

Apply the fundamentals of the field population health science and the contribution to improving health and health care

Apply evidence-based approaches for knowledge acquisition in population health science, including the ability to:

Critique the literature, summarize evidence, and synthesize knowledge

Collect primary and secondary population-level data to reach valid conclusions about the health of populations, including quantitative and qualitative data, and data clustered in space and time

Manage primary and secondary population-level data to reach valid conclusions about the health of populations, including quantitative and qualitative data, and data clustered in space and time

Analyze primary and secondary population-level data to reach valid conclusions about the health of populations, including quantitative and qualitative data, and data clustered in space and time

Interpret primary and secondary population-level data to reach valid conclusions about the health of populations, including quantitative and qualitative data, and data clustered in space and time

Design appropriate research studies to identify clinical and non-clinical determinants of health, distribution of health outcomes, and health disparities

Execute appropriate research studies to identify clinical and non-clinical determinants of health, distribution of health outcomes, and health disparities.

Conduct community health needs assessment, including information about health status, multiple determinants of health, and community assets and resources.

Conduct health impact assessment for a public policy or program outside of the health sector.

Develop a program evaluation proposal for a population health intervention.

Practice applied skills in science communication, knowledge translation and exchange.

Practice effective collaboration skills while working in interdisciplinary teams.

Apply knowledge of the organization, financing, delivery, and value of health care to the design of interventions to improve health outcomes for clinical, organizational, and geographical populations.

Apply systems thinking to addressing complex health challenges.

Admission Requirements

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The program accepts students for fall enrollment. To be considered for fall admission, all applications must be submitted and completed by June 1.

PhD in Population Health Science applicants will be evaluated based on the following:

A Master's degree in a relevant discipline is encouraged but not required.
Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (preferred)
Three letters of recommendation
- One letter from an academic referee
Current resume or curriculum vitae
A personal statement describing the applicant's professional background and aspirations pertinent to the degree program.
(Optional) GRE; A GRE score >300 on the combined verbal and quantitative scores is preferred. If an applicant believes that the GRE score would help their application, this may be submitted with the application materials.

In addition, applicants show previous coursework at the undergraduate or graduate level, showing at least one course in statistics, research methods, and biology, respectively, with a grade of B or better in each course.

Degree Requirements

Program Completion Requirements

The PhD degree is a research degree and is not conferred solely as a result of formal course work, no matter how superior and extensive. The program leading to the PhD degree represents more than the sum of time in residence, and the plans of study listed below are only a minimum. To receive the doctoral degree, the candidate must demonstrate evidence of proficiency and distinctive attainment in a special field, and a recognized ability for independent investigation as presented in a dissertation based upon original research.

QUALIFYING EXAMINATION AND ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY – The qualifying examination is given to graduate students in good academic standing upon completion of coursework and must be successfully completed for admission to candidacy for the doctor of philosophy degree.
DISSERTATION – The dissertation must show the originality of thought and demonstrate the results of independent investigation. It should contribute to the advancement of knowledge, exhibit mastery of the subject literature, and be written with an acceptable degree of literary skill. The dissertation, written according to the prescribed form, is prepared under the direction of the candidate's advisor and must be approved by the candidate's dissertation advisory committee and the dean of the SOPH. This approval must be obtained, and all other requirements must be completed by the date given in the official academic calendar. Guidelines outlining the prescribed form for a student's written dissertation can be found on the SOPH Dissertation and Thesis website.
DISSERTATION PROPOSAL AND DISSERTATION DEFENSE – The dissertation proposal and public oral dissertation defense are mandatory for the successful completion of the dissertation. The candidate's advisory committee will oversee the dissertation process. See the SOPH Capstone and Dissertation policy for details.
PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT - A student enrolled in a Bower School of Population Health Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program must have the results of their research accepted for publication before awarding the degree, as outlined in the SOPH Student Publication Requirement policy.

PLAN OF STUDY

Year 1 – Fall	Course	Credit Hours
PHS 700	Essentials of Population Health Science	3
PHS 702	Statistical Methods in Research	3
PHS 703	Epidemiology I	3
PHS 731	Social Determinants of Health	3
		12
Year 1 – Spring
PHS 704	Epidemiology II	3
PHS 742	Multivariate Regression*	3
PHS 712	Science Communication and Dissemination	3
PHS 750	Population Health Research Methods	3
		12
Year 2 – Summer
PHS 718	Proseminar	3
PHS 747	Survey Development Qualitative Methods and Analysis	3
		6
Year 2 – Fall
PHS 714	US Health Care Organizations and Delivery*	3
PHS 717	Health Behavior Theory	3
PHS 713	Implementation Science	3
PHS 701	Applied Demography	3
		12
Year 2 – Spring
PHS 753	Systems Science and Population Health	3
PHS 743	Program Evaluation for Pop-level Intervention	3
PHS 749	Advanced Statistics in Population Health	3
PHS 744	Bioethics and Society	2
		11
Year 3 – Summer
PHS 740	Grant Writing	3
Q-Exam	Qualifying Exam	0
		3
Year 3 – Fall
PHS 799	Doctoral Proposal Development	6
		6
Year 3 – Spring
PHS 799	Doctoral Proposal Development	6
		6
Year 4 – Summer
PHS 798	Doctoral Dissertation Research	1
		1
Year 4 – Fall
PHS 798	Doctoral Dissertation Research	1
		1
Year 4 – Spring+
PHS 798	Doctoral Dissertation Research	1
		1

**Electives: In certain cases, the advisor and program director may recommend that students take additional credits from the following elective courses:

PHS 791 Independent Study (1-9 credit hours)
PHS 746 Systemic Review, Meta-analysis, and Evidence Synthesis (3 credit hours)
PHS 745 Community Engagement and Community-based Participatory Research (3 credit hours)
PHS 722 Health Information Visualization (3 credit hours)
PHS 748 Spatial Analysis and Geographic Information Systems for Population Health (3 credit hours)
PHS 760 Health Economics (3 credit hours)
PHS 761 Health care Finance (3 credit hours)
PHS 762 Methods for Economic Evaluations of Health Programs (3 credit hours)
Other departmental/school and university-wide electives may be suggested and taken with the approval of the faculty advisor and program director.

For more information about this program, contact:

Bernadette Grayson, MCR, PhD
Phone: (601) 984-1020
Email: bgrayson@umc.edu