COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTION, PHD
Community Health
Community Health Promotion
For detailed information regarding admission requirements for the School of Education graduate programs, please visit the Admissions Requirements website at https://www.uab.edu/education/studentservices/admission-requirements.
Community Health Promotion (PhD)
Graduate Program Director: Dr. Retta Evans, rrevans@uab.edu
Ph.D. Community Health Promotion
The PhD program in Community Health Promotion offers a broad-based curriculum emphasizing biological, behavioral, and socio-cultural determinants of health, as well as interventions and policies aimed at improving community health. The curriculum provides students with the coursework, background, and practical experiences to become leading researchers and practitioners in the broad and rapidly growing field of health education and health promotion. Students learn the skills needed to work with individuals and communities to assess health needs, and then effectively plan, implement and evaluate culturally appropriate and theoretically based interventions to improve and promote health and to lessen unhealthy behaviors by addressing knowledge, attitudes, skills, and beliefs in various settings. By the conclusion of the program, students are able to conceptualize the theoretical and philosophical basis of health promotion clearly and conduct their own independent research projects. The curriculum prepares students for careers in academia, clinical research, and leadership roles in community and public health promotion in private industry, as well as non-profit and governmental health organizations.
Ph.D. Admission Process
Consideration for admission to graduate study in health education will occur each Fall for acceptance to start the following Fall term. The completed application packet must be received by the Community Health and Human Services Program from the Graduate School by the dates shown:
| Entry Term | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | April 30 |
Candidates for admission must have completed a master’s degree from an accredited institution in health education or a health-related field. Admission to doctoral study is initiated through the Graduate School. Applicants will: (a) request official transcripts of all college coursework to send to UAB Graduate School; (b) submit (3) letters of recommendation from professors or others who are qualified to judge your ability to complete doctoral coursework; and (c) submit writing sample(s), such as an essay describing your academic training, professional experiences and career goals. Admission to the program is competitive.The GRE is being waived for the Fall 2022 term.
Ph.D. applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 3.00/4.00 or greater for prior college coursework.
Ph.D. in Community Health Promotion Program of Study
Students may enter the program with a master's degree in health education, or closely related health field. Students with no prior academic background in health education will be required to take these co-requisites: CHHS 610, CHHS 631, & CHHS 697 during years one and two. This will be determined through a review of transcripts by the Graduate Program Director upon admission to the program. A required review of student credentials prior to admission will identify strengths and needs. This review will provide students with a blueprint for their course of study and will be conducted by the program director and faculty advisor. The PhD degree program will require students to complete a minimum of 72 credit hours. Students will meet regularly with a faculty advisor to plan course enrollment.
Research and Statistics Prerequisites: Students are required to have completed the following courses (or equivalents) BEFORE enrolling in the Advanced Research and Statistical Methods Core.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| EPR 594 | Introduction to Educational Research Design | 3 |
| EPR 596 | Introduction to Qualitative Methods in Educational Research | 3 |
| EPR 608 & EPR 607 |
Introduction to Statistical Methods in Educational Research and Computer Applications to Statistical Analysis |
4 |
| EPR 609 | Statistical Methods and Research in Education: Intermediate | 3 |
| Total Hours | 13 | |
The specific components of the PhD program in Health Education and Health Promotion are outlined below.
Ph.D. through the School of Education
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Health Promotion CORE Courses | 15 | |
| Advanced Theoretic/Scientific Basis of Health Education/Promotion | ||
| Advanced Planning and Implementation of Health Education/Promotion Programs | ||
| Evaluation and Research Methods in Health Education/Promotion Programs | ||
| Health Disparities in Diverse Populations | ||
| Health Education Seminar I | ||
| Health Education Seminar II | ||
| Health Education Seminar III | ||
| Research and Statistical Methods CORE Courses | 12 | |
| Advanced Issues of Disease Prevention in Health Education/Promotion | ||
| Qualitative Research: Inquiry and Analysis | ||
| Computer Applications and Advanced Statistical Methods | ||
|
Graduate Research Design 1 |
||
| Survey Methods in Educational Research | ||
| Mixed Methods Approaches to Educational Research | ||
| Health Sciences Concentration 2 | 15 | |
| Supervised Research (Pre-requisite GRD 717) | 12 | |
| Dissertation Hours | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 72 | |
| 1 |
Choose one course that fits the needs of your dissertation, with the approval of an advisor. Two examples are listed, but other courses could apply. |
| 2 |
Selection of courses pre-approved by doctoral program advisor to build knowledge and skills in a cognate area, e.g. Health Disparities, Research, Global Health, Public Health Policy, Aging and Health, Disabilities and Health. |
Comprehensive Examination
A written comprehensive examination is required of all candidates for the Ph.D. degree. To be eligible to sit for comprehensive exams, students must have successfully completed CHHS 731, CHHS 732, CHHS 740 and CHHS 742. Students must register for a minimum of 3 hours of graduate work during the semester in which the comprehensive exam is taken. The exam must be passed unconditionally before the student can defend his/her proposal and be advanced to candidacy.
To prepare, students should review all materials from listed coursework as well as other related courses and supplementary material. This exam is designed to test the student’s ability to take a given population and design an appropriate, theory-based health intervention to the situation. Each student must synthesize and apply what has been learned throughout the program. On the day of the exam, students will be given questions that require them to write a paper, describing an appropriate, theory based program to address the chosen health issue/population. This must involve thorough planning, implementation, and evaluation. The PRECEDE/PROCEED model should be used as a framework for the paper.
Comprehensive exams will be offered twice each year and is written and graded by the graduate faculty in the doctoral program. Grading of the comprehensive exam is done blinded, and by consensus. Students who fail to achieve passing scores will have one attempt to remediate within a calendar year. If a student fails a section for the second time, they will be dismissed from the program.
