Ph.D. in Public Health Curriculum
The Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences program enrolls one class per year, beginning in late September or Fall Quarter at UC Davis. It is a 56-unit program in which 42 units are comprised of core courses. The remaining 14 units of the program are dedicated to electives chosen by the student and their faculty advisor.
Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences (PHS) Core Courses (42 units)
| Course Number | Name | Units |
| SPH 202 | Public Health Issues in California's Central Valley | 3 |
| SPH 212 | Migration and Health | 3 |
| SPH 213 | Health Disparities in the U.S. | 3 |
| SPH 214 | Scientific Proposal Writing | 3 |
| SPH 246 | Biostatistics for Clinical Research | 4 |
| SPH 276 | Critical Assessment in Health Policy and Economics | 2 |
| SPH 291 | Doctoral Seminar (six quarters total) | 6 |
| SPH 292A | Public Health Translational Science Rotation | 5 |
| SPH 292B | Public Health Translational Science Rotation | 5 |
| EPI 206 | Epidemiological Study Design | 4 |
| MHI 210 | Introduction to Health Informatics | 4 |
Sample Ph.D in Public Health Sciences Schedule
Year 1 |
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| Fall | Winter | Spring |
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SPH 202 (3) Public Health Issues in California's Central Valley *SPH 202 is offered every other year so it may be taken Year 1 or Year 2 depending on when the student begins the program. SPH 291 (1) Doctoral Seminar |
SPH 212 (3) Migration & Health SPH 291 (1) Doctoral Seminar EPI 206 (4) Epidemiologic Study Design |
SPH 291 (1) Doctoral Seminar SPH 246 (4) Biostatistics for Clinical Research
SPH 213 (3) Health Disparities in the U.S. SPH 276 (2) Critical Assessment in Health Policy and Economics |
| 4-8 units of electives; no more than 16 units |
4-8 units of electives; no more than 16 units |
2-6 units of electives; no more than 16 units |
Year 2 |
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| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|
SPH 291 (1) Doctoral Seminar |
SPH 291 (1) Doctoral Seminar |
SPH 291 (1) Doctoral Seminar |
| 6-10 units of electives; no more than 16 units | 6-10 units of electives; no more than 16 units |
7-11 units of electives; no more than 16 units; Qualifying Exam by end of summer, advance to candidacy. |
Years 3+ |
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| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| SPH 299 Dissertation Research | SPH 299 Dissertation Research | SPH 299 Dissertation Research |
| Total units: no more than 16 units | Total units: no more than 16 units | Total units: no more than 16 units |
Elective Courses
Elective units for each Ph.D. student will be selected in consultation with the Major Professor so as to form an individualized Plan of Study that supports the student’s topic area. Electives may include, but are not limited to, selections from the following courses:
| Course Number | Course Name |
| EPI 204 | Quantitative Epidemiology III: Statistical Models |
| EPI 207 | Advanced Concepts in Epidemiologic Study Design |
| EPI 208 | Analysis and Interpretation of Epidemiologic Data |
| SPH 277 | Cost-Effectiveness Analysis |
| SPH 280 | SAS Programming |
| STA 130a | Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course |
| STA 130b | Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course |
| STA 144 | Sampling Theory of Surveys |
| SPH 204 | Globalization and Health |
| SPH 295 | International Health Care |
| SPH 208 | Principles & Applications of Cancer Prevention & Control: A Public Health Perspective |
| NUT 112 | Nutritional Assessment: Dietary, Anthropometric, and Clinical Measures |
| NUT 219 | International Nutrition |
| NUT 258 | Field Research Methods in International Nutrition |
| NRS 201 | Health Status and Care Systems |
| MHI 209 | Clinical Data Acquisition and Analysis |
| EDU 223 | Education and Social Policy |
| CMN 210 | Evaluation of Communication Effects |
| CRD 200 | Planning for Health |
| CRD 240 | Community Development Theory |
| ETX 203 | Environmental Toxicants |
| ETX 240 | Environmental Toxicology |
| PMI 293A | Seminar Infectious Disease |
| LDA 201 | Theory and Philosophy of the Built Environment |
| SOC 248 | Social Movements |
| CHI 241 | Community-based Participatory Research |