The Ph.D. program in Public Health – Health Services Research (HSR) concentration prepares individuals to enter academia as professors, help inform government officials, corporate leaders, clinicians, health plan managers and others making choices about complex health-related problems and issues.
Admission Overview
Students in the Ph.D. program learn to apply research methods and scientific knowledge to the study of health services organizations and systems. Throughout the program, students acquire the skills of analytic and critical thinking essential to conducting health services research.
Program competencies
- Apply alternative theoretical and conceptual models from various disciplines to health services research.
- Demonstrate in-depth disciplinary knowledge and skills relevant to HSR.
- Use understanding of health care structures, performance, quality, policy, and context to develop policy solutions.
- Formulate innovative and significant research questions informed by systematic literature reviews, stakeholder input, and relevant models.
- Select appropriate experimental, quasi-experimental, or observational study designs to address HSR questions.
- Collect primary health data via surveys, qualitative, or mixed methods.
- Assemble and analyze secondary data from public and private sources.
- Use conceptual models to define study constructs and develop reliable, valid measures.
- Implement standardized research protocols to ensure reproducibility.
- Conduct research ethically and responsibly, from design through dissemination.
- Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams.
- Apply appropriate analytical methods to clarify variable associations and make causal inferences.
- Communicate research findings and implications clearly to both technical and general audiences.
- Engage with policymakers, organizations, and communities to translate research into policy and practice.
Admissions
The program admits students with a range of education, work, and life experiences who have demonstrated a capacity to pursue a rigorous course of doctoral study. Admission is limited, competitive, and open to students with clear career goals in health services research. Applicants should review the admission requirements and application materials.
Alumni Career Paths
- Academic faculty
- Associate director, US Government
- Associate health economist
- Consultant
- Health insurance specialist
- Information technology instructor
- Postdoctoral fellow
- Research faculty
- RORC Investigator/Associate Director
Meet our program faculty
Learn more about health services research faculty and their research interests by clicking the links below or visit the Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy.
Program FAQs
Do I need to apply using SOPHAS?
No! To keep application costs low, we have removed the SOPHAS application requirement.
Is the GRE required?
No, but it is strongly encouraged to demonstrate your readiness for the rigors of the program.
How many students are admitted per year?
We typically admit 1-3 students. The number of admitted students can vary based on funding and faculty advisor availability.
Is there financial assistance available?
Within the department we do offer graduate assistantships (GA) however, not all students admitted will receive an assistantship offer. GAs will receive tuition coverage (9 credits fall/spring and 6 summer) in addition to a yearly stipend. The student is also expected to complete 20 hours per week as a teaching or research assistant.
Do I need to reach out to faculty to secure an advisor prior to applying?
You do not need to reach out to faculty prior to applying. You will identify potential faculty advisors within your application and be assigned a faculty advisor after admission. A faculty advisor is assigned to each student based on mutual research interests.
How long does it take the average student to graduate?
Our PhD program is 90 total credit hours. Most students complete the degree within four years however, if they have prior graduate coursework that is comparable to our courses, we can explore transfer credit options.
What does employment look like for program graduates?
Our graduates tend to receive multiple offers when searching for employment. Approximately half of our students have gone into academia as professors (e.g., UNF, Belmont University) while the other half have gone into the private sector (e.g., Hinge Health), public sector, or think tanks/consulting. There are also opportunities for further training as postdoctoral fellows.