Doctor of Philosophy

The PhD degree requires a significant program of study and research that qualifies the recipient to work independently and contribute to the advancement of the field of knowledge. Here the emphasis is on mastering the field and particularly on acquiring research skills as a basis for original work.

The PhD in Public Health can be pursued in five specialty tracks within the College of Public Health: biostatistics; environmental health sciences; health behavior and health promotion; epidemiology; and health services management and policy. In addition, veterinary public health is available as a minor field in the PhD program.

The college has recently increased the funding available for PhD students. This funding include fellowships, graduate research associates and new funding to applicants whose work relates to the Center for Health Outcomes Policy and Evaluation Studies.

For consideration for all sources of support, including fellowships, the deadline is Jan. 1.

 

Course Requirements

All PhD students are required to show that they have at least some coverage of the knowledge areas basic to public health. Students who have received an MS or MPH from Ohio State meet this requirement automatically. Others may need to take selected courses from the master's level offerings for this purpose. Beyond this distribution requirement, the specific courses required for the PhD are determined by the student's Advisory Committee.

The Graduate School establishes the minimum course credit requirement within which the specific requirements exist. The PhD degree calls for a minimum of 135 credit hours of approved course work beyond the baccalaureate degree. A maximum of 45 credit hours may be given toward this total if the student has earned a relevant master's degree. Thus, a minimum of 90 graduate credit hours beyond the master's degree is required. In either case, a maximum of 45 credit hours may be given for dissertation research. That is, a student who already holds a master's degree would have a minimum of 45 credit hours of course work exclusive of dissertation credit.

The distribution of courses in the student's curriculum is expected to approximate the weights of the portions of the Candidacy Examination (see below). This percentage allocation means that the 90 hours of required course work (other than thesis research credit), including any transferred from a master's degree, must include at least 36 credit hours in the major area, 36 in research methods, and 18 in the minor area.

 

Specializations

Each PhD student will work with his or her own Advisory Committee to create a specialization (major) that is drawn primarily from one of the five specialty tracks listed above. This approach offers the student the maximum flexibility in designing a program to meet individual interests and objectives.

PhD specialization in Biostatistics
PhD specialization in Health Services Management and Policy
PhD specialization in Epidemiology
PhD specialization in Environmental Health Sciences
PhD specialization in Health Behavior and Health Promotion

The major field must be one of the five specialties identified earlier, but considerable latitude is given for specific definition. For example, within epidemiology, emphases might range from the study of injuries and violence to genetic linkages and cancer. It is in the dissertation subject and methods that the student most clearly pursues the specialization intended.

While the definition of the major field may reflect individual interests, the Advisory Committee is responsible for ensuring that the student has an adequate grounding in the representative content of the field. In addition, the student is required to show expertise in the research methods appropriate for the major field chosen and to select a supporting minor field.

 

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee is composed of a minimum of four eligible graduate faculty members, including the student's adviser. Two represent the student's major area, one represents the minor area, and one represents the research methods area.

The adviser, who chairs both the Advisory and the Candidacy Examination committees, also coordinates the preparation and conduct of the written and oral portions of the Candidacy Examination.

The Advisory Committee continues these activities until the student selects a Dissertation Committee, subsequent to the successful completion of the Candidacy Examination.

The complege Advisory Committees must be formed and the student's complete curriculum plan must be approved within eight quaraters of enrollment as a PhD student or within four quarters for students who have received a master's degree in the College of Public Health.

 

Candidacy Examination

The Candidacy Examination is different by division. Please consult the Student Handbook for more information.

 

Research Facilities and Opportunities

TheCollege of Public Health is affiliated with several centers and program initiatives that offer excellent opportunities for student involvement in continuing research and other activities. These include the Center for Biostatistics, the Center for Health Outcomes, Policy, and Evaluation Studies (HOPES) and the Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The Columbus metropolitan area is home to many agencies and organizations that can provide access to research sites. These include state and local government and associated activities, health professional and trade organizations, health care providers and related businesses, and private research firms.

In addition, individual faculty members frequently have projects underway in which doctoral students may participate, depending upon interest and the specific skills required.