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The PhD in Health Behavior Health Promotion (HBHP) is offered by the Division of Health Promotion Sciences. The doctoral degree program in Health Behavior Health Promotion will have an emphasis on the biological, behavioral, and socio-cultural determinants of health and health behavior, and the interventions and policies aimed at improving community and population health. The PhD program includes instruction in behavioral sciences, public health practice and policy, human services, and research methods. The doctoral program will offer a diverse and challenging curriculum that addresses health behavior health promotion theory, knowledge/skills in working on health issues within the diverse communities of the Southwest US, mixed qualitative/quantitative research methods, statistics, and grant development skills. Students will further specialize in one or more areas by methodology (applicable quantitative and qualitative methods) and/or topic--examples include promoting population health equity in one or more underserved communities of the State or developing/testing theory-based healthy lifestyle promotion interventions.
The requirement for entry into the PhD will be a bachelor’s degree. Outstanding course performance and strong evidence for research interests/aptitude in health behavior health promotion is required for all admitted students. Applicants without a prior related master’s degree will complete a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in route to their PhD in Health Behavior Health Promotion. For students admitted to the PhD program without a prior related master’s degree, the MSPH develops the student’s ability to think critically, develop and execute research, while also providing depth in health behavior health promotion, epidemiology and biostatistics. These skills are essential to the success of a future PhD student and future health promotion health behavior scholar. Students are expected to complete the MSPH as a required component of this program when entering without a prior master’s degree. Except for the thesis credits, all internal MSPH coursework will apply toward the PhD provided the student received an A or B grade.
The MSPH is not a stand-alone degree; students interested in graduate studies in health behavior health promotion who are uncertain of a research career focus are encouraged to discuss applying for the Master of Public Health (MPH) with section faculty and MEZCOPH’s Office of Student Services. The latter professional degree (MPH with a concentration in HBHP) affords sound preparation for the PhD program while foremost being designed as a functional terminal degree for immediate workforce entry.
The doctoral program requires approximately four to five years for completion. The first two years of this time are usually devoted to coursework, the comprehensive doctoral examinations, and development of doctoral research. The program is research oriented and centers on a major research project. The overall course of study is developed by the student and the Faculty Advisor, and is approved by the student’s Graduate committee and the Chair of the Health Behavior Health Promotion Section. Students will be required to defend their dissertation through a public presentation and oral examination with their committee.
Credit Hours: For students entering with a master’s degree, the PhD curriculum will require a minimum of 63 credit hours (units). Of this, 15 units are required from major courses: 3 units are required on US minority/health disparities; 3 units on advanced grant proposal development; 6 units on health promotion research content electives, 9 units of other electives, 9 units (minimum) for the minor; and 18 units for the dissertation. A maximum of 30 units from a prior degree may be applied towards an admitted student, pending review by the student’s advisory committee.
View more about the program and the curriculum at: http://publichealth.arizona.edu/academics/doctoral-programs/health-behavior-health-promotion
View more detailed admissions criteria at: https://publichealth.arizona.edu/graduate-students/phd-hbhp-admissions-criteria
Applications are to be submitted through SOPHAS, the centralized application service for accredited schools and programs of public health, at www.sophas.org.
Required Test
GRE - Send scores to the University of Arizona College of Public Health/SOPHAS, code 4253
International Students - Tests of English Proficiency
International applicants are required by the UA Graduate College to submit a TOEFL score of 90 on the iBT test. For students who take the IELTS examination, an overall score of 7 is required, with a score of no less than 6 on any individual band or module. TOEFL and IELTS test scores must be dated within two years of the year of enrollment. Students may be requested to enter the Center for English as a Second Language to improve their verbal skills.
SOPHAS TOEFL Scores - Code 5688
SOPHAS IELTS Scores - Code SOPHAS
A variety of funding is available in the form of scholarships/fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. More information regarding tuition and financial assistance is available at: http://publichealth.arizona.edu/prospective-students/tuition-financial-assistance
Priority Deadline: December 1
Secondary Deadline: March 1
Note: Students who apply by the priority deadline will be given the highest priority for admissions and consideration for scholarships and assistantships.
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EPID 573A Basic Principle of Epidemiology (3)
BIOS 576B* Biostatistics for Research (3)
HPS 607 Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health (3)
HPS 609 Evaluating the Public Health Literature (1)
HPS 620A Advanced Research Methods in Health Promotion I (3)
HPS 620B Advanced Research Methods in Health Promotion II (3)
HPS 696L Health Behavior Health Promotion Seminar (1 unit; 2 times)
Required US Minority/Health Disparities Course (minimum 3 units)
HPS 535 Multicultural Health Beliefs (3) OR
HPS 605 Community Based Participatory Action Research to Decrease Health Disparities (3)
*Prerequisite Courses for:
BIOS 576B: BIOS 576A or other introductory graduate statistics course.
Required Health Promotion Emphasis Electives (minimum of 3 units)
HPS 531 Contemporary Health Issues & Research (3)
HPS 532A Applied Aspects of Program Planning, Implementation & Evaluation I (4)
HPS 535** Multicultural Health Beliefs (3)
HPS 577 Sociocultural & Behavioral Aspects of Public Health (3)
HPS 605** Community Based Participatory Action Research to Decrease Health Disparities (3)
HPS 622 Applied Research Methods in Diet and Physical Activity (3)
HPS 642 Public Health Communications (3)
EPID 671 Social Epidemiology (3)
EPID 646 Measurement Issues in Epidemiology (3)
**(if not already used to fulfill the US minority health/disparities requirement)
Other Electives (minimum 9 units; Approved by Faculty Advisor/Doctoral Committee)
These electives will often be independent studies with a research focus, public health graduate courses, or other graduate theory, content or methodology-related courses at the University, relevant to the doctoral area of study).
Minor (minimum 12 units)
Each PhD student must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of course work in a minor area. The minor area of study specifies the number of required minor units. This should consist of a coherent set of courses in an area (or in related areas) of health behavior health promotion, in consultation with the PhD students faculty advisor and/or Graduate Committee Chair. These courses may be from more than one program.
Dissertation – HPS 920 - minimum of 18 units required
PhD in Health Behavior Health Promotion - Total Minimum Credit Requirements: 63 units
For students entering without a master’s degree, the PhD curriculum will require a minimum of 72 credit hours (units), with 40 units required toward completing the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)/ PhD. The MSPH component requires 22 required course credits: 3 units are required on US minority/health disparities; 3 units on health promotion research content electives; 6 units of other electives; and 6 units of thesis. Additional required units post completion of the MSPH include 2 additional major units; 3 units on advanced grant proposal development; 9 units (minimum) for the minor, and 18 units for the dissertation. A maximum of 8 units from prior graduate coursework (6 units from a prior awarded degree) may be considered (pending review) to be applied towards the MSPH component.
Requirements for MSPH to PhD in Health Behavior Health Promotion for students entering without a prior master’s degree:
Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) requirements (40 units)
*Note: Prerequisite Courses for:
BIOS 576B: BIOS 576A or other introductory graduate statistics course.
Required US Minority/Health Disparities Course (minimum 3 units)
HPS 535 Multicultural Health Beliefs ) (3) OR
HPS 605 Community Based Participatory Action Research to Decrease Health Disparities (3)
Other Electives (Minimum of 6 units, approved by Faculty Adviser)
Required Master’s Thesis: HPS 910 (minimum 6 units)
Additional core requirements for the PhD post completion of the MSPH (32 units)
Required Courses (minimum of 2 units)
HPS 609 Evaluating the Public Health Literature (1)
HPS 696L HBHP Seminar (1)
HPS Selective Course (minimum of 3 units)
§ Note: Alternative course addresssing content with a minimum of 3 or greater units may be considered (e.g. with a major grant development component; advanced evaluation methods). Such a substitution requires approval of the Program Director and Faculty Advisor.
Approved Minor (minimum 9 units required)
Each PhD student must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of course work in a minor area. The minor area of study specifies the number of required minor units. This should consist of a coherent set of courses in an area (or in related areas) of health behavior health promotion, in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and/or Graduate Committee Chair. These courses may be from more than one program.
Dissertation – HPS 920 – (minimum of 18 units required)
MSPH/PhD in Health Behavior Health Promotion - Total Minimum Credit Requirements: 72 units
| Program-level Information | |
|---|---|
| Application Acceptance Rate | 38% |
| Med. Time-to-degree (years) | n/a |
| Department-level Information | |
| Enrollment Percent Male | 20% |
| Enrollment Percent Female | 80% |
| Enrollment Percent International | 0% |
| Enrollment Percent URM | 40% |