Curriculum
The curriculum is organized into four modules: The preparatory, methods, and concentration modules stimulate students to generate research hypotheses in the context of risk factors, vulnerable populations, and disease outcomes. Finally, the research module demands the engagement of acquired methodological skills toward discoveries that advance a fundamental understanding of the determinants of health and strategies. The program culminates in the submission and defense of a dissertation on original research.
Our curriculum is designed to prepare students to formulate hypotheses, design and conduct public health research and evaluate research findings in the context of risk factors, vulnerable populations, and health outcomes. Doctoral students in our program will acquire the research skills necessary to make discoveries that advance understanding of the biopsychosocial determinants of health and intervention strategies to improve health and prevent disease.
The degree program requires a total of 72 units: six preparatory core courses, four methods courses, four courses specific to each concentration (Biobehavioral Mechanisms of Health, Disease Prevention, or Global Health), and additional units for dissertation research. More detailed information on our curriculum is available in our PhD Handbook, and links to sample courses can be found below.
Our program maintains a close mentor model and each student is assigned a faculty advisor who will guide the student toward developing a curriculum plan, initiation of research, and selection of the members of the dissertation committee. Our doctoral students typically complete most course requirements during the first two years and advance to doctoral candidacy during the third year. Advancement to candidacy requires mastery of required courses and successful oral defense of an original research proposal. Finally, upon completing their dissertation research students submit and defend a written doctoral dissertation.
Please note that the courses listed in the UCI Course Catalogue may vary. For the most accurate and up-to-date list of classes, please consult with your academic counselor.
Course Requirements
Ph.D. students are required to complete a minimum of 72 quarter units according to the modules below. Students who have completed comparable graduate-level coursework may waive up to three courses, with approval from the Doctoral Directors and UCI Graduate Division.
Preparatory Module
Methods Module
Select four courses from the following:
Concentration Module: Biobehavioral Mechanisms of Health
Select four courses from the following
Concentration Module Requirements – Global Health
Select four courses from the following.
Concentration Module Requirements – Disease Prevention
Select four courses from the following.
If you are a current student and you want to check your degree progress, please visit our Office of Students Affairs to reach out to your program advisor.
Qualifying Exam
The qualifying examination consists of two parts. The first part is submission of a written research proposal to a Candidacy Committee of five faculty members consisting of four members with formal appointments in Public Health, and an external member. The second part is a public presentation and oral defense of the student’s dissertation research proposal before the same committee. Advancement to doctoral candidacy is contingent on passing both parts of the qualifying examination, as judged by the Candidacy Committee. The dissertation proposal must be at a level of quality such that its execution will advance knowledge and have the potential to yield original peer-reviewed publications.
Advancement to doctoral candidacy is contingent on passing the qualifying examination. We expect students to sit for the qualifying examination by the beginning of their third year in the program.
Dissertation
Ph.D. completion requires submission of an acceptable dissertation and oral defense. The normative time to degree is six years, and the maximum time permitted is eight years. Students will enroll in at least three quarters (or minimum of 12 units) of PUBHLTH 296 (Doctoral Dissertation Research and Writing) under the supervision of the Chair of the dissertation committee.
Students enrolled in the Ph.D. in Public Health are required to serve as Teaching Assistants in public health courses for two quarters during their graduate study. If English is not the student’s first language, the student must pass a campus-approved oral English proficiency exam prior to serving as a teaching assistant. Teaching is an important component of graduate training, as it helps graduate students learn how to communicate effectively about their field of knowledge. In addition, teaching experience is valuable to those planning for a career in academia. Graduate students with comparable prior teaching experience (e.g., through postgraduate degrees earned at UC Irvine or other comparable institution) may request a waiver of the teaching requirement. Each quarter a student serves as a Teaching Assistant, they must enroll in PubHlth 399: University Teaching.
