Community Health and Prevention PhD
Major: Community Health and Prevention
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 90.0 (post-bachelor's) or 60.0 (post-master's)
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.2212
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 25-1099
About the Program
The Doctor of Philosophy in Community Health and Prevention will prepare doctoral-level public health graduates to have a broad-based understanding of public health scholarship related to the social and behavioral determinants of health, and the ability to conduct original research to advance this understanding to benefit public health. The program emphasizes the application of interdisciplinary, theoretical, and applied research paradigms to the understanding and prevention of public health problems. Graduates will be prepared for leadership roles as public health scientists, researchers, educators, and professionals in a broad range of academic, policy, and service settings both in the United States and globally.
The program consists of both required and elective coursework, building the student’s individual expertise based upon a wide range of scientific disciplines, methodologic frameworks, and public health challenges. The comprehensive exam requires students to synthesize coursework and demonstrate mastery of core public health competencies. Students complete a mentored research experience with faculty before developing their own dissertation proposal and completing their dissertation. Students may choose either the traditional thesis format or the three-manuscript option.
Additional Information
For more information about this program, please contact:
Additional information can be found on the Dornsife School of Public Health website, including admissions criteria and how to apply.
Degree Requirements
Post-Bachelor's Student Requirements
| Required Courses * | ||
| BST 560 | Intermediate Biostatistics I | 3.0 |
| EPI 560 | Intermediate Epidemiology | 3.0 |
| RCRG 600 | An Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research | 0.0 |
| PBHL 501 | Introduction to Public Health ** | 0.0 |
| Community Health and Prevention Courses | ||
| CHP 801 | Theory & Practice of Community Health & Prevention I | 3.0 |
| CHP 802 | Theory & Practice of Community Health and Prevention II | 3.0 |
| CHP 803 | Research Methods for Community Health and Prevention | 3.0 |
| CHP 804 | Qualitative Research in Community Health | 3.0 |
| CHP 805 | Outcomes and Impact Evaluation | 3.0 |
| CHP 806 | Community-Based and Participatory Research | 3.0 |
| CHP 807 | Public Health Ethics | 3.0 |
| CHP 808 | Measuring Health | 3.0 |
| Doctoral Seminar | ||
| CHP 904 | Doctoral Seminar in Community Health and Prevention *** | 3.0 |
| Dissertation | ||
| CHP 901 | Dissertation Seminar I | 3.0 |
| CHP 999 | Dissertation Guidance | 33.0-108.0 |
| Electives † | 21.0 | |
| Total Credits | 90.0-165.0 | |
- *
Students entering without prior training in Biostatistics and Epidemiology will take EPI 570 and BST 571, based on Program Director and Department evaluation. BST 555 may be recommended for students who choose to have formal instruction in SAS.
Students are required to complete the TA Orientation and Preparation Course.
- **
Foundational Public Health Learning Objectives: PBHL 501 is only required for students who do not have a degree from a CEPH accredited school.
- ***
Repeated for credit three times.
- †
In consultation with their faculty mentor, students will choose 9.0 credits of Social Factors/Behavioral Sciences/Communications electives, 6.0 credits of Methodological electives, and 6.0 credits of Public Health or Topical Area electives. Students choose any BST, CCM, CHP, EOH, EPI, HMP, NFS, PBHL, from the 500-999 level. Additional courses may count with faculty mentor approval.
Students may be able to use elective credits to further focus their academic work by completing a graduate minor or by coupling a DSPH graduate certificate. Students must have enough applicable elective credits to complete the certificate program without going beyond the required credits for the program. Students can contact their academic advisor for more information.
Post-Master's Student Requirements
| Required Courses * | ||
| BST 560 | Intermediate Biostatistics I | 3.0 |
| EPI 560 | Intermediate Epidemiology | 3.0 |
| PBHL 501 | Introduction to Public Health ** | 0.0 |
| RCRG 600 | An Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research | 0.0 |
| Community Health and Prevention Courses | ||
| CHP 801 | Theory & Practice of Community Health & Prevention I | 3.0 |
| CHP 802 | Theory & Practice of Community Health and Prevention II | 3.0 |
| CHP 803 | Research Methods for Community Health and Prevention | 3.0 |
| CHP 804 | Qualitative Research in Community Health | 3.0 |
| CHP 805 | Outcomes and Impact Evaluation | 3.0 |
| CHP 806 | Community-Based and Participatory Research | 3.0 |
| CHP 807 | Public Health Ethics | 3.0 |
| CHP 808 | Measuring Health | 3.0 |
| Doctoral Seminar | ||
| CHP 904 | Doctoral Seminar in Community Health and Prevention *** | 3.0 |
| Dissertation | ||
| CHP 901 | Dissertation Seminar I | 3.0 |
| CHP 999 | Dissertation Guidance | 3.0-108.0 |
| Electives † | 21.0 | |
| Total Credits | 60.0-165.0 | |
- *
Students entering without prior training in Biostatistics and Epidemiology will take EPI 570 and BST 571, based on Program Director and Department evaluation.BST 555 may be recommended for students who choose to have formal instruction in SAS.
Students are required to complete the TA Orientation and Preparation Course.
- **
Foundational Public Health Learning Objectives: PBHL 501 is only required for students who do not have a degree from a CEPH accredited school.
- ***
Repeated for credit three times.
- †
In consultation with their faculty mentor, students will choose 9.0 credits of Social Factors/Behavioral Sciences/Communications electives, 6.0 credits of Methodological electives, and 6.0 credits of Public Health or Topical Area electives. Students choose any BST, CCM, CHP, EOH, EPI, HMP, NFS, PBHL, from the 500-999 level. Additional courses may count with faculty mentor approval.
Students may be able to use elective credits to further focus their academic work by completing a graduate minor or by coupling a DSPH graduate certificate. Students must have enough applicable elective credits to complete the certificate program without going beyond the required credits for the program. Students can contact their academic advisor for more information.
Sample Plan of Study
Full Time Post-Master's
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHP 801 | 3.0 | CHP 806 | 3.0 | BST 560 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| CHP 808 | 3.0 | CHP 807 | 3.0 | CHP 804 | 3.0 | ||
| CHP 904 | 1.0 | CHP 904 | 1.0 | CHP 904 | 1.0 | ||
| EPI 560 | 3.0 | RCRG 600 | 0.0 | Electives | 3.0 | ||
| PBHL 501* | 0.0 | Electives | 3.0 | ||||
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHP 803 | 3.0 | CHP 802 | 3.0 | CHP 901 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| Electives | 6.0 | CHP 805 | 3.0 | Electives | 6.0 | ||
| Electives | 3.0 | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CHP 999 | 1.0-9.0 | CHP 999 | 1.0-9.0 | CHP 999 | 1.0-9.0 | ||
| 1-9 | 1-9 | 1-9 | |||||
| Total Credits 60-84 | |||||||
- *
PBHL 501 is only required for students who do not have a degree from a CEPH accredited school.
Part Time Post-Master's
| First Year (Part-Time) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHP 801 | 3.0 | CHP 806 | 3.0 | BST 560 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| CHP 808 | 3.0 | CHP 807 | 3.0 | CHP 804 | 3.0 | ||
| CHP 904 | 1.0 | CHP 904 | 1.0 | CHP 904 | 1.0 | ||
| PBHL 501* | 0.0 | RCRG 600 | 0.0 | ||||
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | ||||
| Second Year (Part-Time) | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHP 803 | 3.0 | CHP 802 | 3.0 | CHP 901 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| EPI 560 | 3.0 | CHP 805 | 3.0 | Electives | 3.0 | ||
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Third Year (Part-Time) | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| Electives | 6.0 | Electives | 6.0 | Electives | 6.0 | VACATION | |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Fourth Year (Part-Time) | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CHP 999 | 1.0-6.0 | CHP 999 | 1.0-6.0 | CHP 999 | 1.0-6.0 | ||
| 1-6 | 1-6 | 1-6 | |||||
| Total Credits 60-75 | |||||||
- *
PBHL 501 is only required for students who do not have a degree from a CEPH accredited school.
Full Time Post-Bachelor's
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHP 801 | 3.0 | CHP 806 | 3.0 | BST 560 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| CHP 808 | 3.0 | CHP 807 | 3.0 | CHP 804 | 3.0 | ||
| CHP 904 | 1.0 | CHP 904 | 1.0 | CHP 904 | 1.0 | ||
| EPI 560 | 3.0 | RCRG 600 | 0.0 | Electives | 3.0 | ||
| PBHL 501* | 0.0 | Electives | 3.0 | ||||
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHP 803 | 3.0 | CHP 802 | 3.0 | CHP 901 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| Electives | 6.0 | CHP 805 | 3.0 | Electives | 6.0 | ||
| Electives | 3.0 | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHP 999 | 3.0-9.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-9.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-9.0 | VACATION | |
| 3-9 | 3-9 | 3-9 | 0 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CHP 999 | 3.0-9.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-9.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-9.0 | ||
| 3-9 | 3-9 | 3-9 | |||||
| Fifth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CHP 999 | 3.0-9.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-9.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-9.0 | ||
| 3-9 | 3-9 | 3-9 | |||||
| Sixth Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | ||||
| CHP 999 | 3.0-9.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-9.0 | ||||
| 3-9 | 3-9 | ||||||
| Total Credits 90-156 | |||||||
- *
PBHL 501 is only required for students who do not have a degree from a CEPH accredited school.
Part Time Post-Bachelor's
| First Year (Part-Time) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHP 801 | 3.0 | CHP 806 | 3.0 | BST 560 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| CHP 808 | 3.0 | CHP 807 | 3.0 | CHP 804 | 3.0 | ||
| CHP 904 | 1.0 | CHP 904 | 1.0 | CHP 904 | 1.0 | ||
| PBHL 501* | 0.0 | RCRG 600 | 0.0 | ||||
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | ||||
| Second Year (Part-Time) | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHP 803 | 3.0 | CHP 802 | 3.0 | CHP 901 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| EPI 560 | 3.0 | CHP 805 | 3.0 | Electives | 3.0 | ||
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Third Year (Part-Time) | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| Electives | 6.0 | Electives | 6.0 | BST 560 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
| Electives | 3.0 | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Fourth Year (Part-Time) | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHP 999 | 3.0-6.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-6.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-6.0 | VACATION | |
| 3-6 | 3-6 | 3-6 | 0 | ||||
| Fifth Year (Part-Time) | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHP 999 | 3.0-6.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-6.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-6.0 | VACATION | |
| 3-6 | 3-6 | 3-6 | 0 | ||||
| Sixth Year (Part-Time) | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHP 999 | 3.0-6.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-6.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-6.0 | VACATION | |
| 3-6 | 3-6 | 3-6 | 0 | ||||
| Seventh Year (Part-Time) | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | ||||
| CHP 999 | 3.0-6.0 | CHP 999 | 3.0-6.0 | ||||
| 3-6 | 3-6 | ||||||
| Total Credits 90-123 | |||||||
- *
PBHL 501 is only required for students who do not have a degree from a CEPH accredited school.
Program Level Outcomes
Major Competencies
- Analyze the social and behavioral determinants of health at the individual, community, and societal levels, and the mechanisms required to design and evaluate interventions at all levels to improve health and address health inequity
- Develop and apply theoretical frameworks to formulate research questions relevant to the above areas of scholarship
- Use a broad range of methodological approaches to design and conduct research addressing these research questions with the highest ethical standards
- Disseminate findings to a wide range of stakeholders and engage in both scientifically rigorous and socially responsible processes to translate findings to improve the health of the public
- Develop a strong professional identity and prepare to contribute meaningfully in a career as a scientist, educator, and/or other type of professional, to ensure the continued impact of the social and behavioral sciences in public health