FAQs
Quickly find answers to frequently asked questions
What are the fees or tuition for the PhD Program in Public and Community Health?
Does the application process for the PhD Program differ from that of the regular Graduate School application and are GRE scores required?
How many students will be admitted to the Program each year?
When will I learn more in-depth about the research centers and programs that are available to me?
What are some of my options after graduating from the PhD Program?
What options do I have if I don’t pass the Qualifying Examination to continue the PhD Program?
What employment possibilities would this leave me?
What are the fees or tuition for the PhD Program in Public and Community Health?
Students receive a complete tuition scholarship, a stpend for living expenses, and health insurance. Students are responsible for purchasing their texts.
Does the application process for the PhD Program differ from that of the regular Graduate School application?
No, you apply the same way, and you can apply online at the Graduate School admissions web page. GRE scores are required of all applicants.
GRE Requirement
All applicants to the PhD Program in Public and Community Health will be required to take and submit GRE scores. This policy applies to all applicants with or without a terminal degree. A terminal degree would cover such degrees as MD, MBBS, PhD, JD etc.
Each Program within the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences has the flexibility to require or waive suggested application requirements. The PhD Program has decided to require all applicants to submit GRE scores, because those scores are the one common equalizer among all applicants. GRE scores are one small part of the application package. Personal statements, transcripts and letters of recommendation also carry a lot of weight in the review of an application, but the GRE is the one part that is the same for every applicant. Therefore:
GRE scores are a required part of all applications.
How many students will be admitted to the Program each year?
Students are admitted in the fall. Each year we will select up to four highly qualified students interested in furthering knowledge and research skills relevant to public and community health.
When will I learn more in-depth about the research centers and programs that are available to me?
During the doctoral seminars, students will have the opportunity to learn about the research being conducted and meet the faculty. They will also be able to select from a set of research programs and observe the projects to determine their interests.
What are some of my options after graduating from the PhD Program?
Following post-doctoral training that may be pursued by many students, graduates of the Program will be competitive for a variety of research and teaching positions in:
- Schools of public health;
- Schools of medicine and other universities;
- Federal and international agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization;
- State and local health agencies;
- Publicly and privately sponsored research institutes (e.g. RAND); and,
- Non-profit organizations involved in public and community health research.
Also, look under the Prospective Students tab for a link to the Association of Schools of Public Health.
What options do I have if I don’t pass the Qualifying Examination to continue the PhD Program?
If a student does not pass the qualifying exam, he or she has the opportunity to take it once more. If the student is unsuccesful after the second attempt, he or she will have the opportunity to complete a thesis in order to receive a Master’s Degree in Public Health Sciences.
What employment possibilities would this leave me?
Graduates could find employment as researchers; epidemiologists; analysts; public health department administrators and program managers; program directors in managed care; health insurance company analysts; contract research organization analysts; city, county, state and federal governmental employees; employees of CDC, NIH, AHRQ; directors of voluntary health agencies; and other public health and health system positions.