PhD in Public Health Sciences with specialization in Health Management and Policy

About the Program

The Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Sciences Specialization in Health Management and Policy is designed to prepare graduates for careers as researchers and teachers involved in the efforts to protect and promote the health and well-being of communities and populations. It provides graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to attain academic positions involving scholarly research and instruction in the disciplines of public health management and key policy and management positions in governmental as well as private and voluntary organizations. In addition to an in-depth understanding of the infrastructure and context of public health management, graduates of this specialization are expected to be able to identify issues and questions of importance with regard to the management of the resources of public health and to design and carry out a program of research designed to address these issues and questions. Graduates should be able to demonstrate abilities as an independent investigator as well as a team collaborator.

The PhD in Public Health Sciences Specialization in Health Management and Policy is a 51-credit-hour program designed to be completed in two years, plus the dissertation.

We typically offer classes Monday through Thursday after 4 p.m. to accommodate students who work full-time.

Who we are

The Department of Health Management and Systems Sciences, part of the School of Public Health and Information Sciences, was created to improve the health of the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond by developing innovative healthcare leaders and partnering with the community. Our primary aims are to develop, disseminate, and apply evidence-based knowledge about health policymaking, systems design, and quality healthcare delivery.

Program Requirements

51 total credit hours:

• 33 credit hours of required coursework,
• 3 credit hours of public health management seminars, and
• 15 credit hours within an emphasis area.

Some required or emphasis area courses may require additional credit hours in prerequisite courses not already taken by the student. The specific coursework for a student is established with the student’s individualized program of study.

The emphasis in doctoral training goes beyond accumulating course credit. Completion of the coursework is the prelude to sitting for the qualifying examination. Successful passage of the qualifying examination allows the student to enter doctoral candidacy. A doctoral candidate must then successfully develop and present to the HMSS PhD Committee a preliminary dissertation proposal (PDP) that describes the dissertation committee, what the student wishes to accomplish with the dissertation, and an original and independent research project in the prescribed format. Once the PDP is approved by the HMSS PhD Committee, the student may schedule the proposal defense. Upon successful defense of the proposal, a student may then proceed to dissertation research.

Upon successful completion of the research, defense of the dissertation, and demonstration of the required competencies listed below, a student is awarded the PhD degree.

Competencies

To graduate, a student in the Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences Specialization in Health Management and Policy program must demonstrate the following competencies:

• In-depth knowledge of the history of public health, health management, and health services research.

• Mastery of experimental research study designs, including qualitative as well as quantitative, and the ability to identify optimal designs for specific hypotheses.

• Ability to critically evaluate published research related to health management and health services research.

• Expertise in one or more health services research specialties such as health policy, organization theory, long-term care policy, health economics, etc.

• Practical knowledge of issues in research management including:
  • Formation and leadership of multidisciplinary teams.
  • Staffing, budgeting, tracking.
  • Data quality control and data safety management.
  • Funding mechanisms and grantsmanship.
  • Research ethics and regulations.

• Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences with Specialization in Health Management and Policy Professional quality peer-review, oral and poster presentation, report, grant, and manuscript writing.

An applicant who has satisfactorily completed a Master of Public Health degree, or another relevant master degree or a health professional degree is considered for admission to the Public Health Management and Policy specialization. Applicants already holding an advanced degree are evaluated on the basis of appropriateness of previous coursework, training and experience. The graduate work by such applicants is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and the applicant, if admitted, may be required to take additional course work prior to completing the minimum 51 credit hours required for post-master’s doctoral work.

Career Opportunities

According to the most recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare occupations and industries are expected to have the fastest employment growth and to add the most jobs between 2016 and 2026. Our Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences Specialization in Health Management and Policy is designed to prepare graduates for careers as researchers and teachers involved in the efforts to protect and promote the health and well‐being of communities and populations.

Opportunities include:

• Health Information Manager

• Clinical Manager

• Generalist

• Hospital Administrator

• Nursing Home Manager

• Research Director

• Professor