Doctoral Program (Ph.D.) in Health Behavior and Health Education

Focus of the HBHE Doctoral Program

Social and behavioral factors play a significant role in the etiology and course of today's pressing public health problems. The Doctoral Program in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education seeks to improve the health of populations by preparing professionals for research, teaching, service, and leadership positions.

The broad objective of the HBHE doctoral program, administered by the University of Michigan's Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies (Rackham), is to train students to conduct independent research. Research in Health Behavior and Health Education contributes to knowledge that enhances the development of interventions and policies to promote health at the individual, population, societal, or global level.

Graduates of the doctoral program in Health Behavior and Health Education are currently employed as professors, research scientists and investigators, project directors for public health programs, and as liaisons between research and practice settings. They work in health care systems, governmental organizations, academia, and the private sector. Some have established independent research institutes while others work as freelance consultants.

Trajectories to the Doctoral Program

There are two basic trajectories in the doctoral program. Almost all students enter the program with a relevant Master's degree, often the Master's of Public Health (MPH). For students on this Master's to Ph.D. trajectory, course requirements will usually entail between 1.5 and 2.5 years of full-time coursework and study, depending on the student’s background, desired electives, and success on the preliminary examination. In exceptional cases, students can be admitted without a relevant Master's degree or with only baccalaureate level training. Students on this trajectory are required to complete the MPH degree, including the field placement component of the program. Students that qualify for this trajectory should apply for admission to both programs (the MPH and doctoral) simultaneously. Upon successful completion of the MPH requirements, that degree is conferred and the student begins the doctoral program.

Regardless of which trajectory is appropriate, all students are required to complete courses at the doctoral level in three categories: core curriculum, cognate, and electives.

Candidacy Requirements

Students are considered for candidacy by the Department's Doctoral Curriculum Committee when they have successfully completed all required coursework and passed the preliminary examination. Students are required to take the preliminary examination in May of their second year in the doctoral program.

Funding Opportunities

There are a variety of funding opportunities for HBHE doctoral students, including fellowships from the National Institutes on Health, the University of Michigan Institute of Gerontology, the Population Studies Center, the School of Public Health's Center for Ethnicity, Culture, and Health (CRECH), Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies . The department also employs a small number of Graduate Student Instructors, a position that provides funding and teaching experience. In addition to the GSI positions available in the department, HBHE doctoral students have been employed as GSI's by Women's Studies, Biology, Psychology, and Sociology, to name a few.

Although the department works diligently to secure funding for its doctoral students, it is the exception for incoming students to be offered multiple years of funding at the time of admission. However, most doctoral students in the department successfully compete for available funding at the department, School, University, and national levels and complete their programs with a wide array of research and/or teaching experiences.

Current Students

There are approximately 40 doctoral students in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education. Their research interests and undergraduate training varies from health disparities, to chronic illness self-management to health communications and from psychology, to genetic counseling to anthropology. A doctoral student organization provides students a forum in which to meet, share ideas, and generate suggestions for improvements to the program.

Admissions Information

Acceptance of an applicant by the HBHE Doctoral Admissions Committee is based on a review of previous academic performance, GRE scores, letters of reference (at least two references must be from academic sources), and the applicant's statement of purpose. The statement of purpose should reflect academic and practical experiences as well as emphasize research interests and career goals. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must be submitted online by December 1 (Eastern Standard Time). Review of applications begins immediately after this date. Incomplete applications are reviewed as soon as all materials become available.

Admission is competitive and the department is highly selective in its acceptance of applicants. In recent years, incoming cohorts of doctoral students have ranged in size from three to six students. For more information about the application process, contact HBHE Student Administrative Coordinator (734)763-9938.