Public Health Studies, Ph.D.

Saint Louis University's Ph.D. in public health studies provides expertise in research design, methods and dissemination in an interdisciplinary setting. Students gain a solid understanding of public health science, including the distribution and determinants of health and disease across populations.

SLU's Ph.D. program prepares students to become researchers both independently and within a team. We use an apprenticeship model that links students with mentors as they enter the program to leverage their training opportunities immediately.   

Doctoral students work with their mentors to forge their research pathways while collaborating with other students and faculty. 

Our students learn to work collaboratively with clinic, community, government and industry partners by developing, implementing and disseminating research in domestic and international settings. Students become productive researchers, presenting at local, national and international conferences; publishing their research findings in esteemed journals; and competing for research grants.

Curriculum Overview

SLU's public health Ph.D. program requires 71 credits. Students take 23 credits of core doctoral courses, 36 credits of coursework to train in their research concentration area and 12 credits of dissertation research. Students may apply up to 24 credits of their master's degree coursework toward advanced standing. The faculty mentor and doctoral director review prior coursework to ensure competencies in both doctoral and concentration core areas.

Behavioral Science and Health Equity

The behavioral science and health equity concentration focuses on behavioral science and how it interacts at individual, organizational, community or societal levels. This type of research occurs in community and clinic-based environments, as well as domestically and internationally. Current areas of research for faculty include:

• Health disparities
• Health promotion, communication and disease prevention interventions for chronic diseases
• Injury prevention
• Maternal and child health
• Food security and nutrition
• Physical activity
• Sexual and reproductive health
• Global health

Biostatistics

The biostatistics concentration focuses on research for developing and testing statistical methods and responses to public health challenges using innovative computational and statistical programming. Current areas of research for faculty include:

• Methodology and application of causal inference
• Geospatial analyses to study associations between the built environment and chronic diseases
• Optimal experimental design
• Statistical modeling of genetic and environmental effects on co-morbidity

Epidemiology

The epidemiology concentration focuses on research about the distribution and determinants of health and disease in human populations. Current areas of research for faculty include:

• Cancer and chronic diseases
• Exposure assessment
• Global health
• Implementation research in public health settings
• Maternal child health
• Vector-borne diseases

Health Management and Policy

The health management and policy concentration focuses on research about policy, health economics, health care access, delivery and quality of health services and their impact on population and public health. Current areas of research for faculty include:

• Aging and long-term care policy
• Health insurance policy and its impact on health outcomes 
• Health care provider well-being and patient experience
• Quality of and access to care
• Organizational behavior, theory, management and leadership
• Policy-change implications

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Examples of current student research interests include: 

• Youth physical activity, sport injury and service accessibility 
• Opioid treatment centers
• Comparative effectiveness of diabetes treatments
• Geospatial technology to measure climate, migration and green space 
• Sexual and reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes
• Cancer prevention
• Adolescent mental health
• Substance abuse
• Minority mental health
• Trauma survivor support

Careers

In a recent alumni survey, 96% of graduates in public health studies stated they found a job in their field before graduation or within six months of graduation. Graduates work as academics in universities and researchers at medical centers, government, non-governmental health agencies or community-based organizations.

Admission Requirements

This program is designed for individuals who already hold a master's degree in public health or a related field. The following criteria guide admission decisions.

• Evidence of exceptional intellectual ability, analytical and writing skills necessary to complete the doctoral program requirements
• Evidence of interest in an area of research and commitment to pursue it through the completion of a dissertation research project
• Presence of a willing and suitable faculty mentor in one of the concentration research areas
• A minimum 3.50 GPA in graduate work

Application Requirements

• Application form and fee
• Transcript(s)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Résumé or CV
• Professional goal statement

Requirements for International Students

All Saint Louis University admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students applying to SLU must also meet the following additional requirements:

• Demonstrate English language proficiency
• Academic records must include an English translation. Unofficial copies may be accepted in some cases for initial admission review, however official copies must be received prior to enrollment. Course-by-course transcript evaluations are accepted. 

Students must submit financial documents to be issued an I-20 for their F-1 visa application. Proof of financial support must include:

• A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
• A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University

Application and Assistantship Deadlines

All students are required to submit an application, even students currently enrolled in other programs at Saint Louis University. The Ph.D. program only accepts applications for the fall semester.

The application deadline is Jan. 15. Assistantships will be considered for all candidates. 

Review Process

All admission decisions will be finalized by the end of March.

Assistantships

The doctoral program in public health has a limited number of graduate research assistantships, which are designed to allow students to work closely with a mentor on a research project. Assistantships are typically awarded for two years and provide a stipend, student health insurance and tuition waiver (up to 21 credits annually). Students will learn about the terms and length of awards at the time of acceptance to the program. Additional funding is provided through undergraduate teaching assistantships or faculty-research-funded projects.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The College for Public Health and Social Justice offers several ways to help finance graduate education.  Opportunities include a limited number of merit-based scholarships and graduate research assistantships.  Awards are made to applicants with the highest combinations of GPAs and test scores who complete their applications by the priority deadlines.

For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

Accreditation 

Saint Louis University's College for Public Health and Social Justice is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). To see our most recent accreditation documentation, please visit the College for Public Health and Social Justice website.

Saint Louis University's Ph.D. program in public health studies continues to improve its curriculum to match the skills and competencies graduates should have. The overall Ph.D. competencies are listed below; additional competencies are described in the concentration areas.

Domain 1: Critical Thinking

Critically evaluate, integrate and challenge existing scientific knowledge. 

Domain 2: Analytical Skills

Conduct research studies and interpret the results using inferential statistical methods and methods of qualitative data analysis.

Domain 3: Communication

Demonstrates mastery of written and oral presentations and publications to enhance the effectiveness of dissemination of research to diverse audiences.

Domain 4: Collaboration

Work collaboratively to conduct research and provide peer review to colleagues.

Domain 5: Ethics and Professionalism

Apply ethical principles for public health research and decisions on social justice and equity in the global environment. 

Domain 6: Community/Cultural Orientation

Devise research studies that integrate knowledge, awareness and respect for the impact of cultural, structural, legal, political, and public health and social justice on health outcomes.

Domain 7: Translation and Dissemination

Use innovative methods to communicate scientific findings and implications to diverse audiences, ensuring appropriate strategies.

Concentration Competencies

Behavioral Science and Health Equity

• Analyze and articulate complex behavioral and social science research findings that advance understanding of multilevel determinants and health equity.

• Identify, measure, and influence the key mechanisms for successful behavior change.

• Demonstrate practice of community-engaged research that includes strength-based approaches focused on understanding the community context, stakeholders, cultural humility, and co-learning.

• Conduct theory-based research using appropriate strategies and methods to address research questions at multiple levels of the ecological framework.

Biostatistics

• Design research studies to achieve valid biostatistical results based on properties such as precision, sample representativeness, or between-group comparability.

• Apply advanced biostatistical and computational methodologies to complex data structures.

• Choose, critique and apply new and advanced biostatistical methods to solve novel problems in public health and biomedical sciences.

​Epidemiology

• Design and conduct an appropriate study to test epidemiologic hypotheses and minimize bias.

• Use statistical software to perform appropriate higher-level analyses that include examining data for the presence of confounding and/or interaction.

• Communicate advanced epidemiologic results succinctly and persuasively in both oral and written communication to both scientists and nonscientists.

• Analyze the scientific literature to address gaps in knowledge that can be used to inform original hypotheses and research questions leading to scientific discovery, presentations, and papers.

​Health Management and Policy

• Critical Thinking:  Formulate evidence-based policy alternatives for the improvement of healthcare delivery and outcomes.
• Science and Analysis:  Effectively use data and appropriate analytical methods to analyze, interpret, and evaluate evidence to address health problems within the context of health management and policy.
• Leadership:  Generate appropriate study questions and aims to address problems in health management and policy.

†

No more than 24 hours of advanced standing from previous master’s work (except from SLU) can be substituted for requirements. Students will work with their mentor, program coordinator and doctoral director to review and petition for advanced standing.  Students may not petition for advanced standing until second year.

‡

May be taken after passing the written comprehensive exam.

*

Electives for students in behavioral science and health equity concentration should contain at least three quantitative methods courses taken in consultation with mentor.

§

PUBH 5010 Mission and Practice of Global Public Health (2,3 cr) is offered in asynchronous online format every semester and students may take it at any time. Students with an MPH or MSPH degree from a CEPH-accredited school or program of public health may replace PUBH 5010 Mission and Practice of Global Public Health (2,3 cr) or PUBH 5030 Methodological Approaches to Understanding Population Health (3 cr) with additional credits of elective courses without using Advanced Standing credits.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Students must earn a B- or better in all required courses. Elective courses may be passed with a C or better.

Behavioral Science and Health Equity Concentration

Biostatistics Concentration

Epidemiology Concentration

Health Management and Policy Concentration

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Behavioral Science and Health Equity Concentration

*

All 27 elective credits must be taken at a graduate level and be pre-approved by the mentor. Electives must include 9 credits of quantitative methods courses. Examples include courses in: Biostatistics, Outcomes Research, Health Data Science, and Epidemiology.

Biostatistics Concentration

* All 15 elective credits must be taken at a graduate level and be pre-approved by the mentor.

Epidemiology Concentration

* All 15 elective credits must be taken at a graduate level and be pre-approved by the mentor.

Health Management & Policy Concentration  

* All 12 elective credits must be taken at a graduate level and be pre-approved by the mentor.  

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions, please contact:
Bernie Backer
Director of graduate recruitment and admissions 
bernard.backer@slu.edu 
314-977-8144