PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The PhD degree is an advanced, research-oriented degree program requiring in-depth study of and research in a specialty area within the broad field of health promotion sciences. A minimum of 60 hours is required post-Master’s. Faculty expertise in health promotion sciences includes community engagement, anthropology, nutrition, gerontology, health education, health promotion, psychology, research methods, sociology, and other related disciplines. The department has identified social determinants of health, social justice and health equity, and minority health/health disparities as a major areas of research and instruction. Faculty members are most likely to accept a doctoral student when the prospect of productive academic and professional advancement is high. Prospective students are encouraged to contact HPS faculty members to determine who could be an optimal mentor.
Click here to view the types of jobs our alumni have.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
CURRENT OU STUDENTS OR ALUMNI APPLICATION PROCESS
Application Instructions for Current OU Students and OU Alumni can be found here.
NON-OU STUDENTS OR ALUMNI APPLICATION PROCESS
STEP 1: SOPHAS APPLICATION
Submit a SOPHAS application and required fee (click here to review information regarding SOPHAS fees and fee waivers). The documentation identified in the ‘Admission Requirements’ section must be submitted in SOPHAS.
STEP 2: SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION
Applicants to the OU Hudson College of Public Health are required to submit a FREE supplemental application. The supplemental application is available via the OU Health Sciences Center website at: apps.ouhsc.edu/admissions/. Applicants must select the same program(s) in the supplemental application as they did in the SOPHAS application. Please note that the PhD in Health Promotion Sciences program will be listed under "Graduate College" in the online application (MS & PhD programs are listed under "Graduate College' but are taught by the Hudson College of Public Health).
CURRICULUM
Curriculum: completion of a minimum of 60 credit hours post-Master’s degree. A Student who previously has not completed the MPH core courses or earned a MPH degree will complete the overview course in the first academic year of enrollment:
- BSE 5960 Overview of Public Health (3 credit hours)
| CORE COURSES (9 credit hours) |
| HPS 6633 |
Health Promotion Theory I: Individuals and Small Groups |
| HPS 6643 |
Health Promotion Theory II: Communities, Organizations, and Government |
| HPS 6943 |
Advanced Program Evaluation |
| METHODS COURSES (15 credit hours, not including any required pre-requisites) |
| Required Specific Courses: |
| HPS 6933 |
Qualitative Resarch Methods in Public Health |
| BSE 5173 or 5663 or 5183 |
Biostatistics Methods II or Analysis of Frequency Data or Intermediate Biostatistical Methods for Health Professionals |
| HPS 6953 |
Advanced Research Methods in Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Two additional courses in either Qualitative or Quantitative Methods Electives, such as the following options:
| Qualitative Methods Electives (Prerequisite: HPS 6933): |
| HPS 6453 |
Focus Group Research |
| HPS 6833 |
Social Marketing |
| SOC 5313 |
Mixed Methods |
| Quantitative Methods Electives (Prerequisite: BSE 5173 or BSE 5663): |
| BSE 5643 |
Regression Analysis |
| BSE 5653 |
Nonparametric Methods |
| BSE 6643 |
Survival Data Analysis |
| BSE 6663 |
Analysis of Multivariate Data |
Substantive Area (Major): 15 credit hours
A minimum of fifteen credit hours in a substantive area of public health / health promotion will comprise the primary area of concentration specific to the student’s interests. Examples of concentration areas relevant to this department include social determinants of health, minority health, health disparities, nutritional health/food security, workforce development, health and aging, and social justice. Students and advisors must identify sufficient courses to satisfy the declared major.
Related Area (Minor): 9 credit hours
A minimum of nine credit hours from relevant areas of public health or an established discipline in the social and behavioral sciences will comprise a secondary area of concentration specific to the student’s interests.
Dissertation: (Minimum of 12 credit hours)
Dissertation work occurs in steps. Close collaboration with the faculty advisor and dissertation committee members is required throughout the process.
- The required coursework noted above (Core, Methods, Major, and Minor) is completed first.
- Written comprehensive exams are then taken that cover three content areas: Theory, Methods, and the student’s substantive and related concentrations. The Theory and Methods content comprises a departmental exam. It will have no fewer than three evaluators and any faculty member in the department can submit questions and serve as an evaluator. The Substantive Area exam will be prepared by the student’s dissertation committee. In the event that a student fails part or all of a comprehensive exam, she/he will be required to retake the exam.
- Dissertation Proposal Oral Defense – Once the student has successfully passed the written comprehensive exams, the student will complete and orally defend a dissertation proposal under the direction of the five-member Dissertation Committee.
- Dissertation Oral Defense – Once the student has successfully completed the dissertation work, the five-member Dissertation Committee will conduct the oral defense of the dissertation.
Other Opportunities and University Requirements (1 credit):
- Doctoral students will have a range of teaching experience opportunities and may be invited to facilitate educational activities. Such opportunities should be discussed by the student and their advisor and/or advisory committee to determine suitability.
- Doctoral students are required, prior to initiation of Doctoral research, to complete a one credit course in RCR approved by the Department, complete CITI training in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and Protection of Human Research Subjects, and attend the OUHSC IRB In-House Education Program.
Course Sequencing
Not all courses are offered on an annual basis and certain courses are important prerequisites for other courses. In order to assure that students are following the proper course sequence, all students must meet with their advisor each semester in order to complete enrollment for the next semester. In addition, all students are requested to enroll for at least six credit hours per semester to facilitate students progressing through the curricula as a cohort.
Courses outside the College of Public Health can support a concentration and are acceptable curricular elements with advisor approval. Students will work with faculty advisors to determine the optimal selection of coursework.
CLICK HERE FOR A PDF PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE CURRICULUM.
This degree program is subject to the policies and procedures printed in Hudson College of Public Health Bulletin.