ADMINISTRATION/HEALTH SERVICES, PHD
Administration Health Services
Prospective students should visit http://www.uab.edu/shp/hsa/doctoral-programs/ph-d to obtain specific admissions requirements on how to apply.
Doctor of Philosophy Program Information
The Ph.D. program in Administration–Health Services is a degree program offered jointly and cooperatively by the Department of Health Services Administration in the School of Health Professions and the Graduate School of Management in the School of Business. Faculty associated with the School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education, and Center on Aging also contribute to student learning.
The Ph.D. program is for those who wish to pursue the conceptual, philosophical, and applied aspects of administrative processes in health services, health policy, and outcomes research in health care. It provides doctoral-level study and research in administration with specific application to health services. The pedagogical focus is on developing a strong research orientation through course work, research seminars, and mentoring relationships with faculty. Students may choose a specialization in either strategic management, health services research, or health informatics. Students who are interested in pursuing academic careers are also afforded the opportunity to develop their teaching skills through course work and teaching opportunities. Job placement occurs in regional, national, and international markets. To date, more than 100 graduates have taken positions in academic institutions as well as health service delivery, governmental, and consulting organizations.
Admission Requirements
An applicant should already possess a master's degree in a relevant discipline or have completed an undergraduate program with an outstanding record. Completed applications of well-qualified candidates received by January 1 may be considered for early admission. The application deadline is March 15. Although applications may be considered after March 15, admission and financial aid priority is given to those applicants whose materials are complete by January 1. Applications submitted after January 1 would be considered on a space-available basis only.
Admission recommendations are made by the Admissions and Policy Committee after examination of the candidate's qualifications, which should include a minimum GRE General Test score of 300 (verbal plus quantitative), if tested prior to August 2011; equivalent combined scores for the revised GRE; or a GMAT test score of 550. All applicants whose first language is not English are also required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A TOEFL score of 80 is required if the TOEFL taken is based on the Internet version; if computer-based, the minimum score required is 213; and if the paper-based test version is taken, the minimum acceptable score is 550 or above. Consideration will also be given to the quality of the applicant's academic record, previous research experience and productivity, and estimated research potential as indicated by references.
Various forms of financial aid are available to students. Departmental research assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis and carry an obligation of 20 hours of work per week. Assistantships are awarded to incoming students for a period of one year, and may be renewable for a second year based on satisfactory work and academic progress, depending on the availability of funds. Some students are able to secure funding for additional years in the program through research assistant positions or other part-time jobs funded by faculty members’ grants and contract activities. Other forms of financial assistance include minority fellowships offered through the UAB Graduate School, paid teaching opportunities in selected undergraduate programs, and federal student loans.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite requirements include one graduate-level statistics course with computer usage, one graduate-level course on the U.S. health care system, and an introductory healthcare finance course. Incoming students who have not met these prerequisites during a master’s program may take courses prior to entering the program or during their first year of study in the program.
Program of Study
The program of study consists of five components
- Courses in administration and health systems,
- Courses in research methodology and statistics,
- Specialization courses,
- Comprehensive examinations,
- The doctoral dissertation.
Specializations are currently available in strategic management, health services research, and health informatics. Students must complete all coursework in the first three areas and pass a comprehensive examination in each area before work can officially begin on the dissertation. The investigation and other special work leading to the dissertation must be performed directly under the guidance and supervision of a five-person committee of the UAB graduate faculty. The normal minimum period in which the doctoral degree can be earned is three to four years of full-time study.
If entering with a baccalaureate degree, a student is required to earn a minimum of 72 credit hours comprised of the following:
1. Completion of 48 credit hours of course work prior to candidacy
- Up to 16 credits of the 48 can be non-dissertation research credits
- Up to 10 credits can be lab rotation, seminar, or directed study credits
2. Completion of 24 credit hours of research-based work which can be designated as either:
- Completion of at least two semesters in candidacy and accumulation of at least 24 semester credit hours in 799 dissertation research OR
- Completion of at least two semesters in candidacy and accumulation of at least 12 semester credit hours in 799 dissertation research AND, either during or before candidacy, 12 semester credit hours in other appropriate research-based coursework which has been approved by the graduate student’s program
If entering with a previously earned master’s degree appropriate to the doctoral degree field, a student is required to earn a minimum of 51 credit hours comprised of the following. These requirements also apply to students with previously earned M.S., D.V.M., D.M.D., D.D.S., etc.:
1. Completion of 27 credit hours of course work prior to candidacy
- Up to 6 credits of the 27 can be non-dissertation research credits
- Up to 6 credits can be lab rotation, seminar, or directed study credits
2. Completion of 24 credit hours of research-based work which can be satisfied by either:
- Completion of at least two semesters in candidacy and accumulation of at least 24 semester credit hours in 799 dissertation research OR
- Completion of at least two semesters as a student in candidacy and accumulation of at least 12 semester credit hours in 799 dissertation research AND, either during or before candidacy, 12 semester credit hours in other appropriate research-based coursework which has been approved by the graduate student’s program.
Typical Program of Study
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| HA 602 | Introduction to Health Care Systems | 3 |
| HA 605 | Health Policy and Politics in the U.S. | 3 |
| HA 632 | Quantitative Methods in Health Services Admin | 3 |
| AH 700 | Health Economics | 3 |
| AH 701 | Administrative Theory | 3 |
| AH 703 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| AH 705 | Health Care Finance | 3 |
| AH 706 | Strategic Management Theory and Research | 3 |
| AH 707 | Research Methods | 3 |
| AH 710 | Comparative Health Systems | 3 |
| AH 712 | Research in Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| AH 714 | Marketing Strategy and Research | 3 |
| AH 715 | Research in Organizational Theory | 3 |
| AH 720 | Continuing Seminar | 2 |
| AH 722 | Regression Analysis | 3 |
| AH 755 | Dissemination and Implementation Science in Health Care | 3 |
| AH 716 | Macroenvironmental Analysis | 3 |
| AH 775 | Strategic Planning and Management Health Care Organizations | 3 |
| AH 780 | Strategic Information Systems | 3 |
| AH 798 | Non-Dissertation Research | 1-6 |
| AH 799 | Dissertation Research | 12 |
| NST 777 | Multivariate Statistical Methods For Clinical Nursing Research | 3 |
| GRD 717 | Principles of Scientific Integrity | 3 |
| Specialization Electives* | 18 | |
*The specialization electives should be 600+ level and chosen from any of the following departments/schools: Public Health, Sociology, Psychology, Engineering, Education, and Business.
Degree Completion
The granting of the Ph.D. degree is based on completion of all required coursework, residency requirements, comprehensive examinations, dissertation requirements, and the recommendation of the Administration–Health Services graduate program director and the dissertation committee.
Mission, Vision, and Values Statements
Because outstanding teaching and research are essential to the future of health care delivery in our nation and abroad, the Ph.D. program in Administration–Health Services provides doctoral-level training to individuals who will be our future health care leaders in academic and nonacademic research organizations.
We seek to recruit a diverse and talented group of national and international students who are attracted to careers in research and teaching. The educational experience in the Ph.D. program is characterized by exposure to the various disciplines relevant to health administration and policy from across the university, as well as one-on-one mentoring relationships with faculty. These experiences are expected to serve as a foundation for future research throughout the graduate careers.
Additional Information
| Deadline for Entry Term(s): | January 1st |
| Deadline for All Application Materials to be in the Graduate School Office: | March 15th |
| Number of Evaluation Forms Required: | Three |
| Entrance Tests: | GRE or GMAT (TOEFL also required for international applicants whose native language is not English.) |
| Comments: | Stipend support available |
Contact Information
For detailed information, contact the Program Office of the Doctoral Programs in Administration–Health
Services, UAB School of Health Professions Building, 1705 University
Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294-1212.
Telephone 205-934-3113
Fax 205-975-6608
E-mail phdha@uab.edu
Web www.hsa.uab.edu
