PhD in Public Health Sciences

Our PhD program in Public Health Sciences prepares students to think critically as public health scientists, succeed as investigators, and understand and address public health challenges locally, nationally and globally. It provides research experiences and mentoring from day one in the program; a curriculum that builds methodological and analytical skills as well as deep knowledge of the field’s underpinnings and history; and professional acculturation and network building. Graduates transition to leadership roles in academia, policy research, and public health settings.

PhD students develop an individualized research area through coursework and mentored training opportunities. Students have the option to define their own areas of individual research interest with the Generalist concentration, or can choose to concentrate in Dissemination & Implementation Sciences or Systems Science for Health Equity. Students identify faculty mentors with shared research interests in their first year and have extensive opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research in child and maternal health, chronic disease epidemiology and prevention, dissemination and implementation science, global health equity, environmental health, health policy, public mental health, systems and data sciences, and other fields. All students in the Public Health Sciences doctoral program receive full tuition remission, health and dental insurance, and five years of a guaranteed stipend that is adjusted periodically. For questions, please email us at sphadmissions@wustl.edu.   

Curriculum

Doctoral students complete innovative coursework in public health foundations, statistical analysis, research methodologies, and their individualized areas of interest. Our program requires 74 credits earned by taking courses and completing mentored research and teaching experiences. Of those 74 credits, 21 are transferred from an MPH program or a graduate degree in an allied field.

Students’ first year of study includes basic principles in research, statistics and measurement, theoretical study and content to strengthen their social science knowledge base. The second year offers a more individualized program of study expanded to include electives offered throughout the university. A curriculum plan is developed by each student and a mentoring team, focusing on an area of specialization. Following two years of coursework, students typically spend an additional two to three years on work related to the dissertation.

Coursework

The PhD curriculum includes three required research practica and three required teaching practica. These typically occur after the first semester of the program and round out the individualized curriculum plan. Research practica provide opportunities to engage in different aspects of the research process and increase a student’s capacity for completing independent research. Teaching practica ensure students are well-trained in substantive content and pedagogy as they prepare for independent teaching at the graduate level. Additional opportunities for research development are available within specific research fellowship programs, faculty laboratories and research centers.

Timeline of milestones

Students typically complete a PhD in Public Health Sciences within five years. Below you will find key programmatic milestones across years.

Director

Patrick Fowler, PhD

Professor
Patrick J. Fowler’s research aims to prevent homelessness and its deleterious effects on child, family, and community well-being. Trained in child clinical-community psychology, Fowler uses innovative methods that rigorously investigate policies and programs intended to promote housing and family stability. Recent research focuses on cross-system collaborations to prevent child maltreatment associated with family homelessness, as well as youth homelessness in the transition from foster care to adulthood.