PH:PHD - Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health
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Simple Requirements
Doctoral Requirements
A student may enroll for dissertation credits after completing all coursework, passing the candidacy examination, and being advanced to candidacy. Dissertation credits cannot be taken before advancement to candidacy.
The candidacy examination will be prepared and graded by a committee consisting of a minimum of three faculty members. Admission to candidacy requires that a majority of the committee members agree that the student passed the examination. A candidacy examination may not be passed conditionally. A “Pass” on the examination cannot be made contingent upon other factors such as the completion of additional coursework or the preparation of extra research projects. Students will be allowed only two attempts to pass the candidacy examination.
After a doctoral student is admitted to candidacy, continuous registration for at least 3 dissertation credit hours each semester (including the summer term) is required until the dissertation requirement is fulfilled.
Applicants for the Ph.D. in public health must submit an application and supporting documents through SOPHAS: https://sophas.org/.
Applicants must meet the University's general graduate admission requirements:
(1) A four-year bachelor's degree or equivalent from a nationally accredited institution or, in the case of foreign students, from a well-established institution of higher learning that is authorized to grant degrees by appropriate authorities in that country.
(2) A minimum of a 3.0 GPA, “B” average, in the last 60 upper-division undergraduate coursework, or a graduate degree from a nationally accredited institution.
(3) Official GRE scores (scores must be no more than five years old) only for the major in Biostatistics and Data Analytics.
(4) International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a standardized proficiency of English test score which meet FIU requirements.
The College also requires:
(1) A current resume.
(2) Three letters of recommendation.
(3) A writing sample (master's thesis or project, published manuscript, or other).
(4) A personal statement of interest.
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact individual faculty to discuss common research interests since admission decisions may require identification of a potential faculty mentor.
Biostatistics and Data Analytics
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Health is available with a major in Biostatistics and Data Analytics. Students will be expected to demonstrate significant research capacity beyond the Master’s degree and through the writing of an original dissertation.
A minimum of 48 credit hours which include 12 hours in Biostatistics Core Courses, 36 hours in Biostatistics Elective Courses or appropriate other electives as determined by the doctoral mentor, and 0 credits of doctoral seminar (Department reserves the right to offer seminar for credit).
Additional Admission Requirements
In addition to the admission information stated above the Department of Biostatistics requires:
(1) The calculus course sequence
(2) Linear or matrix algebra
The Department of Biostatistics prefers:
(1) Competency in a computing language
(2) Upper division statistics course
(3) Upper division mathematical logic course
Additional Doctoral Requirements
The candidacy/qualifying examination requires both a written and an oral examination. The examination should be completed after a minimum of 33 credits in residence and no later than the sixth term of study (including the summer term). The student must meet the University’s registration requirements at the time they take the exam. The student should register in the term in which they plan to take the qualifying examination.
36 credit hours from the list of elective courses OR other advisor-approved electives are allowed.
Students will be required to participate in the doctoral seminar every fall and spring semester from the start of the program. Seminar attendance carries 0 credits unless offered for credit by the department.
Major in Brain, Behavior, and the Environment
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Health is available with a major in Brain, Behavior and the Environment (BBE). Students will be expected to demonstrate significant research capacity by completing 60 credits beyond the Master’s degree and through the writing of an original dissertation.
This major requires 9 hours of EHS Core Courses; 12 hours of major courses; 9 hours each of content and secondary field courses, and 9 hours pre-doctoral research. Overall, this must include a minimum of 9 hours at the 7000 level.
Additional Doctoral Requirements
Students will be allowed only two attempts to pass the candidacy examination.
At least 9 credit hours of approved content courses which best fit the major of Brain, Behavior and the Environment. Content courses may be selected from the list of EHS courses identified below OR other advisor-approved content courses are allowed.
At least 9 credit hours of approved secondary field courses. Secondary field courses may be selected from approved graduate school courses in consultation with the student’s academic advisor.
Major in Environmental Toxicology
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Health is available with a major in Environmental Toxicology (ET). Students will be expected to demonstrate significant research capacity by completing 60 credits beyond the Master’s degree and through the writing of an original dissertation.
This major requires 9 hours of EHS Core Courses; 12 hours of major courses; 9 hours each of content and secondary field courses, and 9 hours pre-doctoral research. Overall, this must include a minimum of 9 hours at the 7000 level.
Additional Doctoral Requirements
Students will be allowed only two attempts to pass the candidacy examination.
At least 9 credit hours of approved content courses which best fit the major of Environmental Toxicology. Content courses may be selected from the list of EHS courses identified below OR other advisor-approved content courses are allowed.
At least 9 credit hours of approved secondary field courses. Secondary field courses may be selected from approved graduate school courses in consultation with the student’s academic advisor.
Major in Epidemiology
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Health is available with a major in Epidemiology. Students will be expected to demonstrate significant research capacity by completing 60 credits beyond the Master’s degree and through the writing of an original dissertation.
A minimum of 27 hours which include a minimum of 15 hours in methods courses and 12 hours (with a minimum of 9 at the 7000 level) in content courses.
12 credit hours from the list of content courses OR other advisor-approved content courses are allowed.
At least 12 credit hours of approved secondary field courses. Secondary field courses are selected from approved graduate school courses in consultation with academic advisor.
Major in Health Disparities
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Health is available with a major in Health Disparities. Students will be expected to demonstrate significant research capacity by completing 60 credits beyond the Master's degree and through the writing of an original dissertation.
A minimum of 30 hours which include a minimum of 12 hours in Methods Courses and 18 hours (with minimum of 9 at the 7000 level) in Content Courses.
Major advisor and the program committee for the student will identify 12 credits of appropriate methods courses, which may include the following:
18 credit hours from the list of content courses OR other advisor-approved content courses are allowed.
To meet this requirement, students may take course or other electives.
Major in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Health is available with a major in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Students will be expected to demonstrate significant research capacity by completing 60 credits beyond the Master’s degree and through the writing of an original dissertation.
A minimum of 30 hours which include a minimum of 12 hours in Methods Courses and 18 hours (with minimum of 9 at the 7000 level) in Content Courses.
Major advisor and the program committee for the student will identify 12 credits of appropriate methods courses, which may include the following:
18 credit hours from the list of content courses OR other advisor-approved content courses are allowed.
Courses to be selected in consultation with advisor from University offerings in a focused area appropriate to public health.
To meet this requirement, students may take course or other electives.
There are no tracks, specializations, concentrations, areas of emphasis, or other curricular offerings associated with the PhD in Public Health, beyond the majors listed above.