Community Health Studies Doctoral Degree Requirements

Program | Faculty | Master's | Doctoral | Courses

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

Graduates should be well prepared for teaching and research in academic institutions and for positions of professional leadership in health-related agencies where research is important, in addition to administrative and service functions.

Each candidate selects an academic major in either community health education or health policy and management. In addition, candidates select one minor concentration which may be in Public Health or in another Ph.D. degree program, such as anthropology, economics, industrial engineering, management, psychology, or sociology. Minimal expectations are 24 credit hours of study in the major concentration, 12 hours in the minor concentration, and participation in a research seminar. Most candidates will be involved in addition-al elective courses and/or individual studies. Students also complete 18 hours of dissertation credits. Of total credits, at least six must be in research methodology, as determined by the Academic Policy and Curriculum committee in consultation with the student and the major faculty adviser. These are in addition to the required seminar in public health research, Com Hl 891.

Each candidate is assigned a faculty adviser in the major area of interest. Prior to or soon after matriculation, the candidate and adviser outline a course of study in both major and minor areas. This specifies any deficiencies in background that must be made up without credit toward the degree. The proposal is reviewed and approved by the Academic Policy and Curriculum Committee. This, in essence, becomes the candidate's individual contract with the faculty.

Each candidate takes a comprehensive examination, after completing coursework, usually during the fourth semester of full-time study. It must be completed before beginning the sixth semester. The exam is coordinated by the Graduate Program Director and consists of three parts. Two parts are written, one for the major and one for the minor. The third is an oral exam, to be taken after completion of the written parts.

The dissertation is conducted under the guidance of a Dissertation Committee comprising at least three members of the Graduate Faculty. At least one member must be from outside the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. The candidate negotiates the topic and substance of dissertation research with the Dissertation Committee.

A candidate who enters the program with a satisfactory background may expect to complete the program in three to four years.

Admission

Applicants should have sufficient preparation in the natural sciences and mathematics and in the social and behavioral sciences to provide a sound foundation for doctoral study. Preparation should include completion of a two-year health-related master's program in which mastery of basic research skills has been demonstrated through either a thesis or its equivalent. Candidates who enter with deficiencies must make them up without credit toward the degree.

Each applicant should make a careful statement of interests, as well as background, including the proposed areas of major and minor concentration. A statement of possible research interests is helpful, as is any other information that reflects particular interests or competence.

The Graduate School requires each applicant to submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores taken within five years of application. Each application must be complete, with GRE scores, transcripts, and references before it can be acted upon.

For further information on graduate programs, contact: Department of Community Health Studies, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, 310 Arnold House, 715 North Pleasant Street, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9304; tel. (413) 545-1312.