Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

Doctor of Philosophy - Public Health


Plan Description


The Schools of Community Health Sciences (SCHS) at UNLV and UNR are pleased to offer a collaborative doctoral program (Ph.D.) in Public Health. The collaboration between the two schools represents a unique, statewide approach to public health training and research, drawing on complementary expertise and opportunities at both universities to create a high-quality academic program that maximizes resources and flexibility.

Students with an MPH must complete 54 credits beyond the Master of Public Health (MPH). Students with a master’s degree in a related field must complete 54 credits beyond the master’s degree and up to an additional 15 credits of deficiency.

Educational Objectives
The Ph.D. – Public Health is designed to prepare students for careers in which advanced analytical and conceptual capabilities are required, such as university teaching, research, consulting, policy development or other high-level positions.

The curriculum was developed jointly by faculty from the Schools of Community Health Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with input from representatives of academia and the public health community. The curriculum provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of topics and experiences necessary to produce graduates who are ready to secure employment in the public health arena.

Students in the program are admitted to either UNLV or UNR and follow the course requirements from their home institution. Courses may be taken at either institution. A Chair from the admitting institution supervises and the dissertation but the doctoral committee may include members from either or both institutions.

This program is competitive and space is limited. More students will apply than will be admitted. The most competitive students will have a strong academic record and a clear plan for their proposed research.

Completion of the Ph.D. demonstrates that the graduate has the advanced research skills and competencies necessary to succeed in high level research careers.

Upon admission each student will be assigned an academic (not dissertation) advisor who will help the student begin planning a program of study. Students are expected to identify a dissertation committee before the end of their second semester in the program.

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements


 

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

Admission into the Public Health PhD Program at UNLV will require applicants to meet the standard criteria of the UNLV Graduate College, applicable to all graduate students, both domestic and international, and contingent upon the qualifications of the applicant and the availability of openings for new students. Doctoral students are admitted as a cohort, once a year, for the fall semester. Applicants must have submitted all required materials by the April 1 deadline for admission in the following fall semester. Students will be admitted directly into the doctoral program and all admissions will require the final approval of the Dean of the UNLV Graduate College. In addition to the generic requirements of the UNLV Graduate College applicants will be expected to meet the following criteria:

  1. Earned a bachelor’s and Master’s of Public Health (MPH) or a master’s degree in an appropriate field from an accredited university. Applicants educated outside of the United States will need to demonstrate proof of equivalent education and advanced degrees.
  2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (4.0=A) earned in a masters’ program of study. The most competitive students will have a master’s level GPA of 3.5 or higher.
  3. Applicants must present competitive Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores on verbal, quantitative and analytical measures. GRE scores will be assessed relative to other applicants in the pool, as well as relative to other graduate programs at UNLV. The exam must have been taken with the institutions’ graduate school/college requirements. The most competitive students will have a combined verbal/quantitative GRE score of 1200 (old test) /300 (new test) or higher. The GRE is required for all applicants.
  4. All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
  5. Letters of Recommendation- Three (3) letters of recommendation are required from faculty and other individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s motivation, academic capability, scholarship potential, and personal goals for doctoral study.
  6. Written Self-Presentation- Applicants must submit for review a written statement of personal career, educational and scholarship goals including identification of research interests. The most competitive students will clearly identify their plan for dissertation research and its contribution to the field of public health.
  7. Interview-Applicants may be asked to participate in an interview with member(s) of the Admissions Committee, either in person or by telephone. Applicants may also be asked to submit a writing sample.
  8. Applicants must identify an Area of Emphasis (subplan) at the time of application.
  9. All students are required to take or have taken at the Master’s level the following 15 credit hours or their approved equivalent:

UNLV Courses

EOH 740 - Fundamentals of Environmental Health  or HED 705 - Theoretical Foundations in Health Promotion  

EAB 703 - Biostatistical Methods for the Health Sciences  

EAB 705 - Epidemiology and Public Health  

HCA 701 - U.S. Health Care System: Programs and Policies  

HED 720 - Program Planning and Grant Writing in Health Promotion   
 

UNR Courses

PUBH 725 – Health and the Environment

PUBH 780 – Biostatistics in Public Health

PUBH 701 – Social and Behavioral Health

PUBH 620 – Biological Basis of Health & Disease

PUBH 712 – Epidemiology in Public Health

PUBH 755 – Policy and Health Administration

PUBH 785 – Public Health Ethics

 

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Subplan 1 Requirements: Global and Environmental Health Track


Total Credits Required: 54

Course Requirements 

Doctoral Seminar Course – Credits: 3

EOH 790 - Doctoral Seminar  

Research Methods and Design Courses – Credits: 6

Complete at least two of the following courses:

EAB 700 - Research Methods for Public Health  

EAB 756 - Epidemiology and Research   

EOH 702 - Community Based Participatory Research Methods  

EOH 715 - Qualitative & Field Methods for Public Health  

EOH 744 - Mixed Methods Research for Public Health  

EOH 796 - Independent Study in Environmental Health   

HCA 715 - Health Services Research Methods  

EPY 730 - Advanced Research Methods  

EAB 743 - Experimental Design for the Health Sciences  

HSC 702 - Translational Research Design  

HSC 705 - Clinical Trial Design And Analysis   

NURS 729R - Translational Evidence for Healthcare Systems   

EOH 795 - Special Topics in Public Health  

EOH 796 - Independent Study in Environmental Health  

Analysis Course – Credits: 3

Complete at least one of the following courses:

EAB 733 - Survey Sampling for the Health Sciences  

EAB 753 - Nonparametric Statistics for Public Health  

EAB 763 - Linear Statistical Models  

EAB 773 - Survival Analysis for Public Health  

EAB 783 - Multivariate Methods for the Health Sciences  

EOH 795 - Special Topics in Public Health  

EOH 796 - Independent Study in Environmental Health  

Proposal Writing Course – Credits: 3

Complete at least one of the following courses:

EAB 720 - Grant Writing for Epidemiology and Public Health Research   

HED 720 - Program Planning and Grant Writing in Health Promotion   

HSC 703 - Interdisciplinary Grant Writing for Health Sciences  

NURS 779 - Writing a Research Grant Application   

Elective Courses – Credits: 15

Complete 15 credits of advisor-approved coursework. A list of potential courses is below, however, additional relevant courses offered through the university may be approved by your advisor.

 UNLV Courses:

EOH 704 - Research Integrity & Ethics  

EOH 709 - Scientific/Technical Writing for the Health and Life Sciences  

EOH 717 - Food Safety and Public Health  

EOH 747 - Transmission of Infectious Disease   

EOH 757 - Parasitology and Public Health  

EOH 765 - Seminar in Environmental Justice and Public Health  

EOH 767 - Airborne Pathogens and Human Health  

EOH 769 - Pollution and Health  

EOH 777 - Emerging Infectious Disease  

HPS 680 - Industrial Hygiene  

EAB 715 - Chronic Disease Epidemiology   

ENV 711 - Risk Assessment and Risk Management  

ENV 712 - Environmental Risk Decision Making  

EOH 704 - Research Integrity & Ethics  

EOH 705 - Social Epidemiology  

EOH 711 - Diseases that Changed the World  

EOH 713 - Public Health Law  

EOH 732 - Children, Development, Health, and the Environment  

EOH 747 - Transmission of Infectious Disease  

EOH 760 - Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health  

EOH 765 - Seminar in Environmental Justice and Public Health  

EOH 777 - Emerging Infectious Disease   

HCA 718 - Health Care Economics  

HED 730 - Program Evaluation in Health Promotion   
 

UNR Courses:

ATMS 612 – Introduction to Air Pollution

CEE 617 – Intro to Env Quality and Analysis

CEE 653 – Environmental Microbiology

CEE 658 – Fundamentals of Env Chemistry

HE 695 – Toxic Communities and Public Health

NRES 612 – Environmental Law

NRES 633 – Env Chemicals: Exp, Trans & Fate

NRES 672 – Environmental Health and Safety

NUTR 723 – Food and Nutritional Toxicology

PCS 603D – Global Environmental Policy

PUBH 695 – Biochemical and Molec Mech of Toxicity

PUBH 730 – Biomarkers of Human Disease

PUBH 735 – Intro to Exposure Assessment and Control

PUBH 753 – Health Informatics

PUBH 776 – Essentials of Occupational Health

PUBH 777 – Fundamental of Industrial Hygiene

PUBH 781 – Env-Occup Health Risk Assessment

Dissertation – Credits: 24

Complete 3 credits of prospectus and 21 credits of dissertation.

EOH 797 - Dissertation Prospectus  

EOH 799 - Dissertation  

Degree Requirements 

See Plan Degree Requirements below.

Graduation Requirements 

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Subplan 2 Requirements: Social Behavioral Health Track


Total Credits Required: 54

Course Requirements 

Doctoral Seminar – Credits: 3

EOH 790 - Doctoral Seminar  

Required Courses – Credits: 6

EOH 705 - Social Epidemiology  

EOH 760 - Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health  

Elective Courses – Credits: 12

Complete 12 credits of additional advisor-approved elective courses.

Methods Courses – Credits: 3

Complete one of the following courses:

EAB 700 - Research Methods for Public Health  

EOH 715 - Qualitative & Field Methods for Public Health  

Research Courses – Credits 6

Complete two of the following courses:

EAB 733 - Survey Sampling for the Health Sciences  

EAB 743 - Experimental Design for the Health Sciences  

EAB 753 - Nonparametric Statistics for Public Health  

EAB 763 - Linear Statistical Models  

EAB 773 - Survival Analysis for Public Health  

EAB 783 - Multivariate Methods for the Health Sciences  

Dissertation – Credits: 24

Complete 3 credits of prospectus and 21 credits of dissertation.

EOH 797 - Dissertation Prospectus  

EOH 799 - Dissertation  

Degree Requirements 

See Plan Degree Requirements below.

Graduation Requirements 

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Subplan 3 Requirements: Epidemiology and Biostatistics Track


Total Credits Required: 54

Course Requirements 

Required Courses – Credits: 6

EAB 756 - Epidemiology and Research  

EAB 715 - Chronic Disease Epidemiology  

Doctoral Seminar – Credits: 3

EOH 790 - Doctoral Seminar  

Epidemiology Courses – Credits 6

Complete two of the following courses:

EAB 755 - Cancer Epidemiology  

EAB 716 - The Epidemiology of Obesity  

EOH 705 - Social Epidemiology  

Methods Course – Credits: 3

Complete one of the following courses:

EAB 700 - Research Methods for Public Health  

EOH 715 - Qualitative & Field Methods for Public Health  

Research Courses – Credits: 6

Complete two of the following courses:

EAB 733 - Survey Sampling for the Health Sciences  

EAB 743 - Experimental Design for the Health Sciences  

EAB 753 - Nonparametric Statistics for Public Health  

EAB 763 - Linear Statistical Models  

EAB 773 - Survival Analysis for Public Health  

EAB 783 - Multivariate Methods for the Health Sciences  

Elective Courses – Credits: 6

Complete 6 credits of advisor-approved coursework.

Dissertation – Credits: 24

Complete 3 credits of prospectus and 21 credits of dissertation.

EOH 797 - Dissertation Prospectus  

EOH 799 - Dissertation  

Degree Requirements 

See Plan Degree Requirements below.

Graduation Requirements 

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Subplan 4 Requirements: Health Service Management and Policy Track


Total Credits Required: 54

Course Requirements 

Required Courses – Credits: 12

Complete four of the following courses:

HCA 703 - Management of Health Service Organizations and Systems  

HCA 652 - Health Politics and Policy  

HCA 718 - Health Care Economics  

HCA 716 - Health Care Accounting and Finance  

HCA 730 - Strategic Management of Health Services  

HCA 719 - Operations and Quality Management of Health Services  

HCA 720 - Information Systems in Health Services Management  

HCA 717 - Human Resources Management of Health Care Organizations  

HCA 721 - Advanced Health Care Finance  

Doctoral Seminar – Credits: 3

EOH 790 - Doctoral Seminar  

Methods Courses – Credits: 6

HCA 715 - Health Services Research Methods  

EOH 715 - Qualitative & Field Methods for Public Health  

Research Courses – Credits: 6

Complete two of the following courses:

EAB 733 - Survey Sampling for the Health Sciences  

EAB 753 - Nonparametric Statistics for Public Health  

EAB 763 - Linear Statistical Models  

EAB 773 - Survival Analysis for Public Health  

EAB 783 - Multivariate Methods for the Health Sciences  

ECO 772 - Econometrics II  

MBA 767 - Market Opportunity Analysis  

Elective Courses – Credits: 3

Complete 3 credits of advisor-approved coursework.

Dissertation – Credits: 24

Complete 3 credits of prospectus and 21 credits of dissertation.

EOH 797 - Dissertation Prospectus  

EOH 799 - Dissertation  

Degree Requirements 

See Plan Degree Requirements below.

Graduation Requirements 

See Plan Graduation Requirements below.

Plan Degree Requirements


  1. A grade point average of at least a 3.0 must be maintained in all courses required for the degree; no grade less than a B in any course is acceptable for curricular completion of the program.
  2. All students are required to complete a written Comprehensive Examination upon completion of the core courses of the program. The examination is designed to assess the student’s ability to synthesize knowledge, as demonstrated by the selection and integration of information from several doctoral courses and is evaluated by written discussion in response to examination questions. The Comprehensive Examination may only be repeated once and must be repeated within one semester of the initial attempt. Students unable to pass the Comprehensive Examination after a second attempt will be separated from the program.
  3. After successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam the student must establish a Dissertation committee. The committee will include at minimum, a Chairperson with expertise in the student’s Area of Emphasis; two additional committee members from the School of Community Health Sciences; and, a Graduate College Representative. Students may also elect to add approved, external committee member with expertise in the student’s selected area of emphasis.
  4. Upon completion of all required course work other than dissertation, each student must take oral Qualifying Examination that will focus on those areas of knowledge most relevant to the student’s dissertation topic. Qualifying examinations may only be repeated once and must be repeated within one semester of the initial attempt. If a student fails a second attempt, the student will be separated from the program.
  5. Upon successful completion of the Qualifying examination, the student will present a dissertation prospectus to his/her committee and an oral presentation to peers and faculty. The prospectus is a written and oral presentation of the students dissertation research plan. The written prospectus should be the equivalent of the first three chapters of the dissertation. The oral presentation is a public presentation of the research plan. The prospectus becomes the agreement for the student’s dissertation research. Upon approval of the prospectus, the student advances to candidacy, can register for dissertation credits, and begin their independent research.
  6. Upon completion of the dissertation, the student must pass a final oral examination that involves the public presentation and successful defense of their dissertation study. All advisory committee members must be present for the final defense and may question the student following presentation of the study. The defense will be scheduled and conducted in accordance with the Graduate College/ School’s policies for dissertation completion. It is the student’s responsibility to file all required forms and written materials with the Graduate College in a timely manner.

Plan Graduation Requirements


  1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
  2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
  3. Student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted dissertation to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.