PhD in Public Health – Home

Preparing Leaders for a Healthier and Equitable Tomorrow 

 

Commitment to Excellence  

Our program rigorously trains students to meet the health challenges of the 21st century. We are committed to providing students the required breadth and depth of knowledge, skills, and competencies to become highly competitive applicants in a variety of professional settings. Our alumni hold leadership positions at research universities, colleges, pharmaceutical companies, research consulting firms, clinical research at large hospitals, and public health agencies.  

 

Opportunities for Focused Work are many, Examples … 

  • Social and Behavioral Health  
  • Occupational and Environmental Health  
  • Health Systems & Services 
  • Chronic Diseases 
  • Developmental Disabilities  

 

Curriculum  

Course Credits (60): Coursework (45 cr) and Dissertation Research (15 cr) 

Core Courses and Distribution Selectives: See PhD Handbook 

Milestones  

  • General Examination and Oral Defense  
  • Dissertation Research Proposal, External Review, and Oral Defense  
  • Dissertation Research and Oral Defense  

 

Our Most Competitive Applicants  

  • MPH, or related MA/MS degree, with evidence of successful performance in three or more foundational areas of public health (Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Behavioral Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Health, Health Services Administration). Exceptional applicants without an academic record in foundational courses will be expected to enroll for non-Ph.D. credit  
  • Strong academic performance in graduate courses (B or better)  
  • Evidence of research experience in Public Health or related areas: master’s thesis, peer-reviewed publications, conference abstracts  
  • Personal essay describing career goals, research experiences, examples of commitment to Public Health, research interests, potential Major Advisors  
  • Strong recommendation letters describing academic and intellectual strengths, research experiences with applicant or observed, potential for independence as a research investigator, and, circumstances and length of contact with applicant  
  • Graduate Assistantships available for the first year 

 

 

How to Apply  

  • Rolling admissions 
  • Minimum TOEFL score: 600 (paper) or 250 (computer) 
  • Application fee: $75

 

Links for Current and Prospective Students 

PhD Program Handbook  

UConn Graduate School: https://grad.uconn.edu/ 

UConn Graduate Catalog: https://gradcatalog.uconn.edu/  

Forms for PhD Students: https://grad.uconn.edu/forms/ 

 

Contact: Helen Swede, Ph.D. | swede@uchc.edu