University General Course Catalog 2017-2018 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2017-2018 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.

Public Health, Ph.D.


I. Contact Information


School of Community Health Sciences
203 Lombardi
(775) 784-1857

Dr. Roy Oman, Graduate Program Director
(775) 682-7094
roman@unr.edu

II. Brief Introduction


The School of Community Health Sciences offers a doctoral program in Public Health with two specializations: 1) Epidemiology, and 2) Social and Behavioral Health. The Ph.D. is designed to prepare students for careers in which advanced analytical and conceptual capabilities are required, such as university teaching, research, consulting, policy development or other high-level positions. The Ph.D. in Public Health with a specialization in Epidemiology emphasizes the expertise necessary for an epidemiology research career. The Ph.D. in Public Health with a specialization in Social and Behavioral Health emphasizes the expertise necessary for a public health research career focusing on social and behavioral determinants of health.

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes


  1. Graduates will demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the major local, national, and global epidemiological, and social and behavioral health issues.
  2. Graduates will display excellence in applying the theoretical and problem solving aspects of epidemiology, and social and behavioral health.
  3. Graduates will have conducted independent research that generates new public health knowledge, and is characterized by by conceptual and methodological rigor.
  4. Graduates will be able to communicate knowledge and research findings to appropriate professional, scientific, policy and lay audiences and demonstrate skills in translating research into public health practice or health policy.
  5. Graduates will prepare to pursue a lifetime of self-directed learning and professional development.

IV. Admission Requirements


Admission Deadline: March 15th*

* Ph.D. applications are accepted once per year for fall admission. Only full-time students (e.g., 10 credits per semester) will be accepted.

Prospective students must meet BOTH University of Nevada, Reno and School of Community Health Sciences requirements for graduate status.

  1. Earned Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree or relevant master’s or doctoral degrees from accredited institutions.
  2. Minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale earned in a M.P.H. or equivalent masters or doctoral program of study.
  3. Graduate record exam (GRE) scores should be above the 50th percentile (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing). GRE scores will be assessed relative to other applicants in the pool. The exam must have been taken within the last five (5) years.
  4. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s motivation, academic capability, scholarship potential, and personal goals for doctoral study.
  5. A current curriculum vitae (CV).
  6. A written statement of personal career, educational and scholarship goals including identification of research interests.
  7. An academic health-related writing sample. (for example, first-author publications)
  8. An interview with the admissions committee (if invited).
  9. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for applicants from non-English speaking nations with a minimum score of 550 for the TOEFL paper exam, 80 for the Internet-based exam, or IELTS score of 6.5.

Prerequisite Coursework


Epidemiology Specialization


Students will enter the Ph.D. in Public Health with a specialization in Epidemiology after having completed a relevant Master’s degree, typically the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in epidemiology or biostatistics. Additionally, students must have documentation that they have completed the following M.P.H. courses (or their equivalent). Students missing any of the required prerequisites may be admitted, contingent on successful completion of specified courses within a period of time (typically the first year). 

Social and Behavioral Health Specialization


Students will enter the Ph.D. in Public Health with a specialization in Social and Behavioral Health after having completed a relevant Master’s degree, typically the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in social and behavioral health, or health education. Additionally, students must have documentation that they have completed the following M.P.H. courses (or their equivalent). Students missing any of the required prerequisites may be admitted, contingent on successful completion of specified courses within a period of time (typically the first year). 

Application Process


There are two separate applications necessary for admission to the Ph.D. program: one application and set of materials is to be filled out and submitted directly to SOPHAS and the other application is to be filled out and submitted to the graduate school of the University of Nevada, Reno.

Application 1:
The following materials are required for consideration for admission to the master of public health program. These materials should be submitted directly to SOPHAS at:

http://sophas.org/

  1. Competitive graduate record exam (GRE) scores on verbal, quantitative and analytic measures. The exam must have been taken within the last five (5) years.
  2. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s motivation, academic capability, scholarship potential, and personal goals for doctoral study.
  3. A current curriculum vitae (cv).
  4. A written statement of personal career, educational and scholarship goals including identification of research interests and name(s) of faculty with whom you want to work.
  5. An academic health-related writing sample. (for example, a first-author publication or a class paper)
  6. test of English as a foreign language (toefl) scores for applicants from non-English speaking nations with a minimum score of 550 for the toefl paper exam, 80 for the internet-based exam, or ielts score of 6.5.

Application 2:
The following materials should be filled out and submitted directly to the graduate school of the University of Nevada, Reno at:
http://www.unr.edu/grad/admissions

  1. Graduate school application online

V. Program Requirements


A. Epidemiology Specialization


Students will complete 39 units in the Epidemiology Ph.D. core, including 9 doctoral seminar units. One of the courses (CHS 708- Epidemiology II) may be applied to the the 39 unit core if taken during an M.P.H. program. In addition to the core courses, students will work closely with their academic advisor to select 9 units of electives beyond units required for the M.P.H. degree. Students will also complete 24 dissertation credits (minimum). 

B. Social and Behavioral Health Specialization


Students will complete 39 units in the Ph.D. core,including 9 doctoral seminar units (minimum). In addition to the core courses, students will work closely with their academic advisor to select 9 units of Social and Behavioral Health electives beyond units required for the M.P.H. degree. Students will also complete 24 dissertation units (minimum). 

VI. Total Units (72 units)