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Mailman School of Public Health

The Mailman School of Public Health has trained generations of public health leaders, helping to shape and improve health and safety for millions. Through our commitment to education, public health research, and community collaboration, we continue to lead the charge to address today's most pressing public health issues.

Currently ranked No. 4 among public health schools in the nation, and No. 1 in the New York metropolitan region by U.S. News & World Report, the Mailman School is consistently counted as a leading institution for public health education. Our academic programs offer students the opportunity to learn from renowned experts across a wide range of disciplines. By combining an innovative curriculum, hands-on field experience, and unmatched opportunities for collaborative research, we prepare our students to become tomorrow's leaders in industry, research, academia, and shaping public policy.

As the sixth largest recipient of NIH research funds among schools of public health, we conduct groundbreaking research that helps define the direction of the field of public health. Our research programs and labs explore diverse topics like data science, urban health, and aging—helping us understand and address critical public health issues on a local and global scale.

As part of Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the Washington Heights community, the Mailman School works with diverse populations throughout New York City on complex health issues. In an evolving world with new and serious challenges to face, we train our students to seek and create innovative solutions to protect and improve the health of people here in our community, across the country, and around the world.

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Our six academic departments offer students myriad opportunities to learn from experts in specialized fields. Across the School, our faculty consists of world-class authorities who conduct pioneering research and program implementation.

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Global opportunities for clinical practicum and research may be available for MDE and doctoral students at Columbia Nursing.

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of philosophy (phd), ignite your future with a columbia nursing phd.

The Columbia University School of Nursing PhD program is a full-time, research-intensive curriculum that prepares nurses for careers as nurse scientists who will conduct research across a broad range of populations and health conditions. Importantly, much of our research is focused on health disparity populations with the long-term goal of informing health policy and clinical practice across the lifespan.

Columbia Nursing provides three years (eight semesters) of funding for tuition, related fees, health insurance, and a stipend for full-time PhD students.

Program Design

Our PhD program provides students with an understanding of the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of nursing science and a strong foundation in research methods (design, statistics, measurement, quantitative and qualitative methods) for clinical, translational and health services research. All students are mentored by research advisors with active programs of research as they move toward independent research and assume the roles of doctorally prepared nurse scientists.  

As a Columbia Nursing PhD student, you will learn to:

• Design, conduct, and report multidisciplinary research studies that increase knowledge to improve the health and well-being of patients and families across the lifespan
• Advance the state of the science in a substantive area of research through application of innovative and rigorous methods
• Promote health and well-being for individuals and families in the context of their communities
• Provide leadership in improving the health care delivery system at local, national, and international levels
• Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate and develop policies for delivery of health service
• Translate evidence accumulated through research into practice and policy at multiple levels

As part of Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), Columbia Nursing enjoys a unique collaboration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, and the College of Dental Medicine. CUIMC provides myriad opportunities for interprofessional collaboration in research . 

The PhD curriculum builds on the foundation of nursing science by bringing together practice, policy, translational research, and leadership. The core courses provide the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct relevant and well-designed research studies. Electives strengthen an area of clinical interest or intensify understanding of a specific research or analytic method. 

Both post-master's and post-BSN students admitted to the program will complete a minimum of 57 credits. The curriculum plan is designed to make it possible to complete the program in three years for those students with clearly defined plans for their dissertation research.

PhD courses are offered in three major areas:

• Theoretical foundations of nursing science
• Analytical foundations of nursing science
• Electives and application

Students must be registered as full-time for the duration of the program (typically three to four years). The minimum number of semester credits in required coursework is 37 (four semesters) for eligibility to progress to the qualifying exam. Six of the 37 credits required to be completed prior to the qualifying examination are elective courses tailored to the student’s dissertation topic and/or dissertation methods. The PhD program requires nine credits of elective courses. A minimum of 57 total credits is required for program completion. 

Concurrent with Coursework

• Research Experience (participating in faculty research projects and/or a research practicum)
• Research Faculty Training

Request a Sample Academic Program Plan

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination helped me to combine the content I learned in my courses and my research interests so I could further articulate my research question. Performing a scoping review on my topic of interest immersed me in the current literature and was crucial to the development of my dissertation. This experience prepared me to successfully work independently through the rest of my Ph.D.

 Kylie Dougherty, BSN, RN, M.Phil.

In addition to coursework, students must successfully complete a qualifying examination with written and oral components. The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is awarded after successful completion of the qualifying examination and the student enters doctoral candidacy status.

Dissertation

Students are expected to successfully defend a dissertation reporting original research. Four dissertation credits are required each semester during the dissertation phase of study. 

Scholarship Expectations

My advisor and the Columbia Nursing faculty provided me exceptional guidance throughout the PhD program to extend my learning beyond the classroom with the goal of becoming an independent nurse scientist. I learned valuable skills and knowledge to successfully obtain a NIH-funded predoctoral training award, present research findings at local, regional, and national conferences, and publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals with good impact factors.

Joseph Belloir, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC

• Publication: At least one manuscript published in an appropriate peer-reviewed journal.
• Grantsmanship: At least one grant application submitted to an appropriate funding agency or organization.
• Presentation: At least one abstract submitted for presentation as a poster or oral presentation at an appropriate professional meeting.
• Networking: Student will attend at least one regional or national research meeting.

Preparation for Postdoctoral Fellowship: Research Career Next Step 

The coursework and research mentoring at Columbia Nursing helped prepare me for the next steps in my education and career post-PhD. In addition to structured coursework and educational seminars, the school provided beneficial informal support and resources. Feedback sessions with both peers and faculty were very helpful in preparing me to present posters and presentations at research conferences. The school also provided funds for travel to conferences where I presented my research. The grant writing workshop and mock reviews of grant applications provided me with tools and feedback needed to successfully apply for additional funding for my research. Finally, interdisciplinary research collaborations with faculty provided me with opportunities to work with researchers from several disciplines to complete my dissertation.

Melissa Beauchemin, PhD '19, MS '10, RN

PhD Student Handbook

The Columbia Nursing PhD student handbook provides information to aid doctoral students in planning coursework and proceeding through all phases of the program.

Request a PhD Student Handbook

What is it like to be a PhD student at Columbia Nursing?

Required courses (excluding electives).

Building upon the foundations provided in the quantitative and qualitative research method courses, in this course students examine advanced methods and frameworks frequently used in studying health policy, health services research problems and comparative effectiveness research. In addition to a critical review of the methods, the course examines the relationship among science, policy and healthcare delivery, and identifies critical questions shaping the future policy research agenda.

Interdisciplinary research is an approach to advancing scientific knowledge in which researchers from different disciplines work at the borders of those disciplines in order to address complex questions and problems. Successful interdisciplinary efforts require mastery of specific competencies. This seminar will introduce students to competencies in interdisciplinary research through a combination of readings, case studies, and lectures in each necessary aspect, chosen from fields essential to successful interdisciplinary research. It is intended to assist learners to understand why and how different professional disciplines must work together to generate and disseminate knowledge. We will examine: different conceptualizations of interdisciplinary; barriers to and facilitators of interdisciplinary research; approaches, benefits, and limitations of collaboration and team science; methods for measuring interdisciplinary collaboration; the intersection of translational and interdisciplinary scientific strategies; and individual researchers' experiences with and evaluations of their own interdisciplinary scientific projects. Learners will develop a set of skills to be effective members and leaders of interdisciplinary research teams.

The student works with a faculty member or other scientist who is conducting a research project. The specific nature of the experience depends on the nature and stage of the research, but might include search and review of relevant literature, data collection, data analysis and/or grant preparation.

This course is intended for PhD students who are engaged in relevant scholarly activities that are associated with dissertation research.

This foundational course will examine the philosophy of nursing knowledge including foundations of nursing theory, concept development, and its application to research. Students will explore approaches to the analysis and development of concepts and the application of nursing concepts and frameworks to clinical practice and research. Ideas, assumptions, events, people, and writings are examined for their influence, inter-relationships, and significance to nursing. Types of reasoning will be evaluated within the context of nursing and health. Major theories, frameworks, and concepts of nursing and health and their implication for research will be discussed. The focus of the course will be on development of critical thinking skills in analyzing key elements of philosophies, concepts, and conceptual frameworks.

In this foundational course students will study the links between theory and the psychosocial and biophysical measures used in nursing research.  Students will employ the principles of classical test theory and item response theory to evaluate the reliability and validity of measurement.  Application of computational techniques will be covered in the lab portion of the course.  Course topics include types and uses of measures, item/scale development and validation, survey methods, reporting for publication, and the relationships between measurement and research ethics, cultural competency, and health disparities.

This course provides a foundation for quantitative research methods and design. Research process topics examined include: appraisal of the quality of existing evidence; identification of gaps in the literature; formulation of researchable questions and testable hypotheses; types of research variables; sampling designs and power analyses; and the uses, strengths, and weaknesses of various experimental and quasi-experimental research designs.

This course provides an in-depth examination of qualitative study designs and methods through a combination of theoretical discussion and hands-on practical experience. Topics include paradigm distinctions, theoretical perspectives, designs and methods, critique of research reports, and ethical issues in qualitative research.

The course is intended for PhD students who are engaged in relevant scholarly activities that are not associated with the required course sequence. Such activities must accrue more than 20 hours/week.

This course is intended to provide a hands-on introduction to delivering data visualizations to serve as a critical lens through which individual and population level health can be examined. The proposed course will combine concepts and theory in data visualization and exploration and practice to enable the student to gain the necessary knowledge to use graphics and statistics to explore the data, find and construct a narrative, and share findings in ways colleagues and decision-makes can readily understand and act upon.

This course is designed to provide the tools for the doctorally prepared nurse to evaluate, translate and integrate published research results into clinical practice. During the course, students will learn how to conceptualize clinical practice problems and transform them into answerable clinical research questions, how to search for the best clinical evidence, and how to assess clinical evidence using basic epidemiological, biostatistical and scientific principles. The course will culminate in a systematic review or meta-analysis of a body of research relevant to advanced practice nursing.

Total Credits:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Biostatistics
• Environmental Health and Engineering
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• Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
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Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

Online and Onsite | Part-Time | 4 – 9 Years

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About the Doctor of Public Health Program

As the most advanced, professional qualification in public health, the DrPH prepares early- to mid-career domestic and international public health professionals to assume leadership roles in public health policy and practice positions as well as in health services delivery settings.

The Schoolwide DrPH program is a flexible, part-time program delivered online with the option of taking onsite courses.

• The Online Only option is for students who wish to take all of their courses online and not travel to Baltimore for onsite courses.
• The Online Plus option * (minimum onsite requirement of 4 credits) is for students who wish to take some face-to-face onsite courses.

Students are expected to remain in relevant public health employment throughout their studies.

The DrPH program is built around foundational competencies that focus on leadership, analytical skills, communication, policy, management, and program design and evaluation. Instruction is delivered through an integrated sequence of problem-based learning classes that address current public health challenges and provide students with opportunities to apply skills in a close to real-life setting.

*For international students (pending SEVP approval) :

• F-1 I-20 applications are possible for taking four or more credits of instruction during the summer or winter institute in Baltimore;
• F-1 I-20 applications require four or more credits of instruction in two consecutive weeks for each visit;
• F-1 I-20s cannot be issued for instruction during an 8-week term.

The DrPH allows professionals to continue improving health and saving lives while pursuing their studies wherever they are in the world.

Doctor of Public Health Program Highlights

countries represented in the program

faculty advising students

departments offering courses in the program

students in a cohort

What Can You Do With a DrPH?

Visit the  Graduate Employment Outcomes Dashboard to learn about Bloomberg School graduates' employment status, sector, and salaries.

Sample Careers

• Tenure Track Faculty
• Environmental Health Engineer
• Public Health Flight Commander
• Emergency Preparedness Specialist
• Senior Bio-surveillance Specialist
• Senior Policy Advisor & Staff Director
• President & CEO, Medical System
• Federal Data Strategy Analyst
• Chief Data Scientist
• VP Organizational Excellence & Quality
• Nurse Manager
• Chief Impact & Equity Officer
• City Police Chief
• Senior Counsel for Elder Justice
• COO & Deputy Health Commissioner
• Lead, Population Health Informatics
• Director of Patient Safety
• Assistant VP Care Transformation, Medical System
• Director, Epidemiology Intelligence Unit, Ministry of Health
• Humanitarian Director
• Deputy Country Director

Where Can You Work With a DrPH?

Sample organizations.

• Seattle & King County Public Health
• Southern Nevada Health District
• Nebraska Dept. of HHS
• Texas Department of State Health Health Services
• Philadelphia Department of Public Health
• NYC Department of Mental Health & Mental Hygiene
• National Academy of Sciences
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• Children's National Hospital
• St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital
• Brigham & Women's Hospital
• Johns Hopkins Hospital
• MedStar Health
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• Universities: Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Case Western  Reserve, Georgia State, Wisconsin, New Mexico
• Kaiser Permanente
• EPA, CDC, NIH, FDA, HHS
• Indian Health Service
• Cheyenne Regional Health System
• Pew Charitable Trusts
• United Way of Rhode Island
• Durham VA Health Care Center
• Army Research Laboratory
• Dover Air Force Base
• USAID, WHO, World Bank, UN
• Medicins Sans Frontiers
• Ministry of Health: Kuwait, Thailand
• International Planned Parenthood Federation

Curriculum for the Doctor of Public Health

Students in the DrPH Program complete a minimum of 30 credits of foundational course work taken by all DrPH students to meet the CEPH foundational DrPH competencies, which include a minimum of 6 credits of data analysis course work. Students also take an additional 27 credits of course work related to their concentration or track, and a minimum of 7 proposal and thesis credits. Overall, the DrPH requires a minimum total of 64 credits for graduation.

concentrations & tracks

min. credits of course work

min. credits for proposal & thesis

practicum & dissertation

Concentrations & Tracks

Environmental Health Concentration (2 tracks available)

• Environmental Health Track
• Health Security Track

Global Health: Policy & Evaluation Concentration

Health Equity & Social Justice Concentration

Health Policy & Management Concentration (4 tracks available)

• Healthcare Management & Leadership
• Health Policy
• Public Health Informatics
• Quality & Patient Safety

Implementation Science Concentration

Women's & Reproductive Health Concentration

Admissions Requirements

For the general admissions requirements see our How to Apply page. The specific program also requires:

Prior Graduate Degree

MPH or other health-related master's degree; students who have not completed coursework in Biostatistics and Epidemiology may need to take additional coursework concurrent with the 57 didactic credits required for the DrPH.

Prior Work Experience

Minimum 3 years of professional, full-time public health experience in the applicant's area of interest by the Dec. 1st application deadline.

Standardized Test Scores

Standardized test scores are  not required and not reviewed  for this program. If you have taken a standardized test such as the GRE, GMAT, or MCAT and want to submit your scores, please note that they will not be used as a metric during the application review.  Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all required application components.

Student Sponsorship

This program currently  does not  qualify for F-1 or J-1 student sponsorship. Legal Permanent Residents and non-immigrants who are otherwise physically present in the U.S.  and  in a status that allows for full or part-time study, may pursue this program.

Mark J. Bittle, DrPH, MBA

Mark Bittle is the Chair of the schoolwide Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program and a senior scientist in the Department of Health Policy and Management. He currently serves as director for the School's Master of Health Administration and the Master of Applied Science in Population Health Management. His work focuses on the organizational and management factors that influence physician alignment and managing change in complex organizations.

Renee M. Johnson, PhD, MPH

Renee M. Johnson is Deputy Chair of the schoolwide Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program. She is also Associate Professor & Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Mental Health. She co-directs NIH-funded Drug Dependence Epidemiology Training Program and previously served on the MPH Executive Board. Her work addresses substance use, injury and violence, overdose prevention, and adolescent health.

Part-time DrPH students pay by the credit and finance their graduate studies through a variety of funding options ranging from paying out of pocket, to utilizing employer tuition remission benefits, financial aid , external scholarships, and military funding.

Bloomberg American Health Initiative DrPH Fellowships

The Bloomberg American Health Initiative offers 8-10 highly competitive fellowships for incoming DrPH students currently working with U.S. organizations on the front lines of one of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative’s five focus areas: addiction and overdose, environmental challenges, obesity and the food system, risks to adolescent health, and violence. A separate application process is required for consideration. Please note that only about 12% of fellowship applicants receive an award. It is important that applicants consider additional funding means prior to applying for the DrPH Program.

For further details regarding eligibility and the application process, please visit the Bloomberg American Health Initiative website.

Questions about the program? We're happy to help.

Katie Cruit, MS DrPH Program Manager

Madison Nuzzo, BS DrPH Administrative Coordinator 

Sheryl Flythe, BS Program Adviser

Janet Carn, M.Ed. Program Adviser

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Public Health

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Special Concentration in Public Health

Director of Undergraduate Programs:  Dana March Palmer PhD, MPH | 405 Low Memorial Library | 212 854 3835 |  [email protected]

Some of society’s most pressing problems—gun violence, the opioid epidemic, climate change, obesity, mass incarceration, health and healthcare inequalities across the globe—concern public health. These complex problems and the emergence of novel challenges in the future demand a nimble application of public health knowledge and principles, leveraging the foundations of a liberal arts education in order to achieve solutions. Viable solutions will require cross-sector collaborations and systems-level, policy, and environmental action that will affect the social, political, and economic determinants of health. Necessary for leaders to solve these types of societal problems is a broad set of fundamental set of skills. Critical thinking, analytical, problem-solving, and communications skills are necessary to contextualize these problems historically, philosophically, socially, and culturally, and to conceptualize dynamic needs and evidence-based solutions to key parts of these problems.

Public health is integral to a civil society. The many determinants of population health—from the environmental, social, political, and economic factors that shape rates of disease in human populations to the biological factors that ultimately constitute the corporeal mechanisms for disease in individuals—are complex and intertwined.  Moreover, how population health is understood, protected, and promoted, is replete with controversies and tensions that are ripe for intellectual interrogation.  As such, population health and its connection to civil society is an inherently interdisciplinary area of inquiry.  The health and well-being of human populations brings together numerous disciplines, including but not limited to anthropology, architecture, biology, chemistry, demography, ecology, economics, history, international development, mathematics, political science, psychology, sociology, and statistics.

The special concentration in public health is intended to be a secondary emphasis of study that complements the disciplinary specialization of a major or concentration. The goal for the undergraduate special concentration in public health is to foster critical understanding and analysis of the multiple ways in which population health both shapes and is shaped by civil society, complementing the foundation created by the Core curriculum. At the heart of the special concentration in public health are historical and contemporary issues in population health in the context of an increasingly connected, global, urban, aging, and inequitable world. The key themes of inequality, globalization, urbanization, development, the environment, and aging serve as the framework for the constituent courses in the special concentration in public health.

James Colgrove

Linda Fried

Dana March Palmer

Terry McGovern

Rachel Moresky

Ana Navas-Acien

Anne Paxton

Marni Sommer

The special concentration, comprising a minimum of 25 points of coursework, consists of five required courses (16 points) and at least three electives (minimum of 9 points) that provide additional depth and dimension to the underlying themes of the concentration.

Core Public Health Course Requirements

The required courses create a rich intellectual foundation in public health, providing students with a multifaceted view of the social production of health, as well as an integrated exposure to and understanding of the core disciplines of public health. Together, they serve to illuminate and allow students to analyze critically the social production of health and its connections with and implications for civil society. These courses have no prerequisites, and can be taken individually, as the student’s schedule permits.

Required Courses for the Special Concentration in Public Health

Elective Courses

Elective courses (minimum of 9 points) in the Special Concentration in Public Health will allow students to draw upon courses offered in a wide range of departments and centers across the University. Proposed electives must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Examples of departments with relevant elective courses include: African American Studies; Comparative Literature and Society; The Center for Ethnicity and Race; Earth and Environmental Sciences; Economics; Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology; History; Human Rights; History of South East Asia; Political Science; Psychology; Sociology; Statistics; Sustainable Development; Women’s Studies; Urban Studies. Elective courses are designed to allow students to add dimension and depth to their interests in public health, along the main themes of the Special Concentration. Electives may also allow students to amplify the connections to public health in their major area of study. Conversely, students may choose to take electives that allow them to gain more breadth in concepts to which they have been exposed in the set of required public health courses.

Elective Examples (At least 3)

Population health, inequality, and society.

Globalization, Urbanization, Development, and the Environment

Individuals, Bodies, and Population Health

Quantitative Foundations

Public Health Special Concentration Course List

PUBH UN3100 FUNDAMENTALS OF GLOBAL HEALTH. 3.00 points .

Many of the greatest challenges in public health are global. This course uses a multidisciplinary approach to discuss the major underlying determinants of poor health and the relationship between health and political, social and economic development. Drawing upon the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, students will be introduced to the evolution of modern approaches to the setting of global health priorities, the functions and roles of health systems, an overview of current global health practices, and the major institutional players in global health. The first unit of the class will focus on establishing the foundations for a public health approach to understanding the challenges of global health. This will involve exploration of the factors shaping the global distribution of disease and their connection with issues of social, economic, and political development, as reflected in the Millennium Development Goals. The second unit will explore in further detail a number of major health priorities. A significant goal of the class will be to identify common sources of vulnerability and challenge across health risks, and the consequent need for a systemic approach to their being addressed. The third and final unit builds upon this analysis to demonstrate the multi-disciplinary, multi-level approach required to effectively address global health priorities, and the political and organizational cooperation required to achieve this. The class concludes with an analysis of the major challenges and threats to global coordination regarding such threats as pandemic influenza and emerging health threats related to climate change. Offered in the spring

PUBH UN3200 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH. 3.00 points .

An introduction to and overview of public health. Through a series of sessions with leading public health experts, this course views the multifaceted nature of public health through a prismic lens addressing key concepts, approaches, and issues of historical and contemporary import: What is public health and how has public health evolved over time? What are the core methods of public health? What are the approaches to understanding and addressing both infectious and chronic, non-communicable diseases? What role do micro- and macro-level determinants (i.e. biology and social context) play in public health? What are the global trends in population health? How does the individual life course bear on population health? How do systems, policy, and population health mutually shape each other? How are public health programs designed and evaluated? What are the limits of public health?

PUBH UN3400 Data Science and Health Equity in New York City. 3.00 points .

This course, which has no pre-requisites, teaches students about data science and public health. Students will create and answer public health research questions related to health equity in NYC. The course will use publicly available NYC health data to learn the seven steps of data science: 1) writing a research question; 2) obtaining data to address the question; 3) data cleaning; 4) data exploration; (5) analysis; 6) replication and validity evaluation; and (7) presentation and summary. The course will introduce students to R

PUBH GU4100 (Y)OUR LONGER LIFE. 3.00 points .

People are living 30 years longer than we did 100 years ago. We have created a whole new stage of life. How do we prepare to benefit from our longer lives? What can you do in your own life? This course explores the personal, population, community, and societal dimensions of our now-longer lives, of aging itself, and the role of health and societal design in the experience of aging. The course examines the meaning of aging and the attendant expectations, myths, fears, and realities. The course examines an aging society as a public health success, the potential for building health futures, the health plan you want to be healthy in old age, and the potential for longer lives and how we unlock it. It addresses the roles public health currently plays and can play in shaping a society for an aging population. The course explores how a public health system—indeed, a society—optimized for an aging population stands to benefit all. The course also examines the physical, cognitive, and psychological aspects of aging, the exposures across our lives that affect these, the attributes and challenges of aging, keys to successful aging, and aging around the globe. The culminating project will design elements of our society that are needed to support the opportunity of having longer lives. This course comprises lectures, class discussions, individual assignments, in-class case activities, and a group project in which students shall take an active role. You will be responsible for regular preparatory assignments, writing assignments, one group project, and attending course sessions. Please note: GSAS students must receive permission from their department before registering for this course

PUBH GU4200 Environment, Health, and Justice: Concepts and Practice. 3.00 points .

Please note: this class was designed as part of the Special Concentration in Public Health. It is open to undergraduates, as well as students in Public Health, and will be taught on the Morningside campus. This course introduces key concepts on environmental health sciences and environmental justice and their application to address environmental health disparities affecting communities in New York City, across the United States and globally. The course will present theory and methods needed to characterize, understand and intervene on environmental health problems with a focus on methods that are particularly appropriate for environmental justice research and interventions. We will describe environmental health disciplines such as exposure sciences, environmental epidemiology, environmental biosciences and toxicology, as well as methods to assess expected environmental health impacts

HSPB UN2950 Social History of U.S. Public Health. 4.00 points .

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an historical understanding of the role public health has played in American history. The underlying assumptions are that disease, and the ways we define disease, are simultaneously reflections of social and cultural values, as well as important factors in shaping those values. Also, it is maintained that the environments that we build determine the ways we live and die. The dread infectious and acute diseases in the nineteenth century, the chronic, degenerative conditions of the twentieth and the new, vaguely understood conditions rooted in a changing chemical and human-made environment are emblematic of the societies we created. Among the questions that will be addressed are: How does the health status of Americans reflect and shape our history? How do ideas about health reflect broader attitudes and values in American history and culture? How does the American experience with pain, disability, and disease affect our actions and lives? What are the responsibilities of the state and of the individual in preserving health? How have American institutions--from hospitals to unions to insurance companies--been shaped by changing longevity, experience with disability and death?

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Doctoral Programs

Columbia University offers a series of multidisciplinary Ph.D. program options that tap the extensive resources of our science departments and institutes, as well as those of our partners.

Sustainable Development is critically important because many of the most important policy challenges facing the planet require a central focus on sustainability and development. The new interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Sustainable Development is designed to educate researchers, university teachers, and world leaders in the social and natural science disciplines that underpin sustainable development .

Bridge the divide between natural and engineered systems: Earn a Ph.D. through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences or an Eng.Sc.D. through the School of Engineering.

The Ph.D. program aims to train broadly educated Earth scientists for careers in academia, research, government, and industry; along the way, our students move swiftly from receiving knowledge to creating it. Students at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences conduct research at one of three affiliated institutions: the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, or the American Museum of Natural History.

Dr.P.H. students at the School of Public Health focus on understanding and predicting the health effects of environmental and occupational exposure to chemicals and radiation. Students acquire a general background in public health, specialize in an area of interest and undertake an intensive research project. Ph.D. students develop scholarly expertise and focus on laboratory-based investigation.

The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) program is designed to provide the broad education needed to describe, understand and conserve the Earth’s biological diversity in all its forms. Matriculating students will develop the skills to conduct ecological, behavioral, systematic, molecular and other evolutionary biological research, as well as to formulate and implement environmental policy.

Columbia has offered a Ph.D. program in Evolutionary Primatology for over a decade. Many aspects of this program are coordinated with the New York Consortium of Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), which provides a multi-institutional venue for graduate training leading to the Ph.D., emphasizing all aspects of the behavioral, ecological, morphological and evolutionary biology of primates.

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Read the latest news stories about Mailman faculty, research, and events. 

Departments

We integrate an innovative skills-based curriculum, research collaborations, and hands-on field experience to prepare students.

Learn more about our research centers, which focus on critical issues in public health.

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Meet the faculty of the Mailman School of Public Health. 

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Learn how to apply to the Mailman School of Public Health. 

Master of Public Health

Master of public health degree programs.

Since 2012, the Mailman School of Public Health has followed a Master of Public Health (MPH) curriculum that is now the standard for public health education. By undertaking an intensive schoolwide effort and investment involving more than 150 members of the faculty, as well as students, alumni, and employers, the MPH curriculum provides the broad systemic understanding, critical thinking skills, and leadership training needed to tackle today’s complex public health challenges.

For students to receive a thorough and extensive education, the MPH programs include seven components that build upon one another and work coherently:

• Core Curriculum
• Certificates
• Integration of Science and Practice

Additionally, students in the MPH degree program have a graduation requirement for Inter-professional Education as well.

Work Commitments

During the first semester of the Columbia MPH degree program and the Accelerated MPH degree program, while engaging in the integrated core, students are strongly advised against extra-curricular work commitments. In the second, third, and fourth semesters of the MPH program, schedules are more flexible, and students may engage in some part-time work.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)
• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Canadian Immigration Updates

Applicants to master’s and doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

Go to programs search

The School of Population and Public Health offers a research-oriented PhD program that enables students with a masters degree to advance their knowledge and skills in epidemiological and biostatistical methods. Students will further their research training by applying these methods to independent thesis research under the supervision of a faculty member. Students can pursue thesis research in a wide variety of topics related to the health of populations and the delivery of health services.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

Apart from being one of the top universities in Canada, UBC offers a rich research environment which was important to me.

Atul Aravindakshan

Quick Facts

Program Enquiries

Admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 100

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 7.0

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is required by some applicants. Please check the program website.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. Please note that many graduate programs provide funding packages that are substantially greater than $24,000 per year. Please check with your prospective graduate program for specific details of the funding provided to its PhD students.

Average Funding

• 24 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 24 students was $6,707.
• 38 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 38 students was $18,770.
• 17 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 17 students was $5,352.
• 57 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 57 students was $10,782.
• 22 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 22 students was $28,705.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

60 students graduated between 2005 and 2013: 1 is in a non-salaried situation; for 3 we have no data (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016). For the remaining 56 graduates:

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, alumni on success.

Lianping Ti

Job Title Research Scientist

Employer BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion Rates & Times

Upcoming doctoral exams, wednesday, 24 july 2024 - 12:30pm - room 203.

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Anis, Aslam (cost effectiveness of AIDS treatments; drug assessments – pharmacoeconomics; health care economics; health regulations, Health economics, rhematoid arthritis, biologic therapies)
• Bansback, Nick (inform policies and practices in health through the application of)
• Bhatti, Parveen
• Black, Charlyn (Public and population health)
• Brauer, Michael (Environmental and occupational health and safety; Health sciences; Public and population health; air pollution; built environment; Community Health / Public Health; environmental health; environmental epidemiology; healthy cities; remote sensing)
• Brussoni, Mariana (Developmental psychology; Psychosocial, sociocultural and behavioral determinants of health; Population health interventions; injury prevention; Children's outdoor play; Risky play; Parenting; health behaviour change; Implementation Science)
• Bryan, Stirling (Economics of health care, policy, from UK)
• Cox, Susan (Other medical sciences; Sociology and related studies; Arts (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music), architecture and design)
• Davies, Hugh William (Environmental and occupational health and safety; Health sciences; Public and population health; Antineoplastic drug hazards; Community Health / Public Health; environmental health; Exposure Assessment; Noise and Health; Occupational Health; Occupational Safety and Health)
• Deering, Kathleen (Medical, health and life sciences)
• Dummer, Trevor (health geography, cancer prevention, environmental exposures, health inequalities, geographic information science, obesity, risk factors, Environmental epidemiology and environment and health interactions, with specific emphasis on cancer etiology and cancer prevention)
• Elango, Rajavel (Protein Nutrition, Maternal-Fetal Nutrition, Childhood Malnutrition, Amino Acid Metabolism, Human Nutrition )
• Frank, Erica (Health sciences; Public and population health; Other education; Free accredited education; Preventive Medicine; Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Architecture; Holocaust studies; Exile Reintegration)
• Gadermann, Anne (Social determinants of health; Housing and homelessness; Quality of)
• Gilbert, Mark (Public and population health; Development, implementation, evaluation and scale-up of innovative sexual health programs; Gay men’s sexual health, including sexual health literacy; Synergistic and integrated dynamics of infectious diseases, mental illness and other conditions)
• Greyson, Devon (Health-related information practices of youth, parents, and families; Intersection between information practices and health behavior,; Cannabis use decision making in pregnancy and lactation; Vaccine confidence and decision making about vaccination; Disinformation in social media support communities; Online communication among young parents)
• Guhn, Martin (Developmental psychology; Psychosocial, sociocultural and behavioral determinants of health; social context and child development/well-being; Population health; social determinants of health)
• Henderson, Sarah (Environmental and occupational health and safety; wildfire smoke; air pollution; Extreme weather events; environmental health; radon gas; Food safety; Water quality)
• Janssen, Patricia (Health sciences; Public and population health; Gestation / Parturition; health of marginalized women; Lifestyle Determinants and Health; maternal child health; mobile health for pregnancy and parenting; Perinatal Period; social determinants of health)
• Joseph, K.S. (Pregnancy complications, preterm birth, fetal growth, infant mortality, neonatal)
• Kalua, Khumbo (Population health interventions; Infectious diseases; Global health; Epidemiology (except nutritional and veterinary epidemiology); Neglected Tropical Eye Diseases; Global Eye Health; Cluster Randomized Trials; Implementation Science; International Global Health; Community Based Research; Clinical trials)
• Karim, Ehsan (Biostatistical methods; Survey methodology and analysis; Statistical learning; Epidemiology (except nutritional and veterinary epidemiology); Public and population health, n.e.c.; Causal inference; Biostatistics; Statistics; Machine Learning; data science; Survey data analysis; multiple sclerosis)
• Kassam, Rosemin (Medical, health and life sciences; Child Health, Malnutrition, Adult Chronic Disease, Geriatrics)
• Kazanjian, Arminee (Cancer Survivorship, Knowledge Exchange and, Translation, Psychosocial oncology, Palliative care in cross-cultural context, Vulnerable populations, including women)
• Kershaw, Paul (child care, parental leave, work-life balance, social policy, social citizenship, responsibilities and rights, gender and politics, income assistance, child benefit package, social inclusion, neighbourhood effects on child development, Canadian federalism, Citizenship, detrimants of Health, social care)

Doctoral Citations

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Promoting equitable access to digital sexually transmitted and blood borne infection testing interventions in British Columbia, Canada
• Developmental profiles of children assessed for autism spectrum disorder at kindergarten and grade 4
• Evaluating access to medicines interventions in public and private not for profit health facilities in Uganda
• Investigating access to hepatitis C testing and treatment in Rwanda and beyond
• The social and economic impacts of cervical cancer on women and children in Uganda
• Exploring long-term patient satisfaction with total knee arthroplasty : a mixed methods study
• The Cedar Project : an exploration of Indigenous survivance, connection, and vaccine uptake amid concurrent public health emergencies experienced by urban Indigenous People who use drugs in British Columbia
• Examining childhood poverty and future developmental and academic outcomes of children in British Columbia : differences by poverty type and immigration background
• Assessing access to medicines in Canada and beyond before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Air pollution, green space and dementia risk in Canada
• Involvement of nasopharyngeal angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 infection and transmission
• Coronary revascularization and timing of treatment : comparative effectiveness of PCI and CABG in British Columbia
• Muddy molecules for pandemic protection : investigating the use of wetland sediment as a tool for the surveillance of avian influenza virus in wild waterfowl birds
• Methamphetamine use among people who use opioids : longitudinal patterns and the role of opioid agonist therapy
• Incidence of non-affective psychotic disorders and access to psychiatric care among adolescents in South-Western British Columbia

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Master of Public Health and Master of Science in Nursing (MPH/MSN)
• Master of Science in Population and Public Health (MSc)

Same Academic Unit

• Master of Health Administration (MHA)
• Master of Health Science (MHSc)
• Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (MSc)

Further Information

Specialization.

The School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) offers both research-oriented and professional/course-based graduate programs.

Professional programs

• The Master of Public Health focuses on illness prevention and health promotion and integrates learning in epidemiology; biostatistics; the social, biological and environmental determinants of health; population health; global health; disease prevention and health systems management with skill-based learning in a practicum setting.
• The Master of Health Administration is a professional program for clinicians, administrators, researchers and managers who are seeking solutions to today’s complex health delivery issues. Take courses with a multi-disciplinary perspective in health systems, policies and management along with foundational business skills
• The Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (MSc OEH) program provides the skills and knowledge to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control chemical, physical and biological hazards in workplace and community environments.

Research-based Programs

• Master of Health Science (MHSc) applicants must have an MD or equivalent, including dentistry or veterinary medicine, and will learn skills that can be applied to their academic and clinical interests, bolstering their research abilities and opportunities.
• The Master of Science in Population and Public Health program teaches core knowledge and skills in epidemiological and biostatistical methods and allows students to gain research experience by applying methods to a thesis under the supervision of a faculty member. Students can pursue thesis research in a wide variety of topics related to the health of populations and the delivery of health services.
• The PhD program at SPPH is intended for students who wish to obtain advanced research training that will enable them to conduct independent investigative research.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Jorden Hendry

My experience with the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health solidified my decision to choose UBC for my graduate studies, as it offers a unique environment that values Indigenous perspectives and fosters meaningful research and leadership opportunities.

Hebah Hussaina

I completed both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees at UBC, and throughout those experiences, I became embedded within the community here. It was an easy choice to continue studying at UBC because of the love that I have for my community. Through my research, I want to give back to this community...

Zeina Waheed

UBC’s School of Population and Public Health provides excellent training in health economics, healthcare systems analysis, data analysis, statistics, epidemiology, and qualitative methods. Studying at UBC also provides me with the opportunity to work with my supervisor, Dr. Stirling Bryan, who is...

Katherine Hastings

Vancouver is home to one of the leading IYS networks internationally. When I sought out to learn more about IYS and their potential (something that did not exist in the States at the time), it felt like a perfect fit for my interests in youth mental health and health services research. The more...

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Graduate Certificate, Advanced Graduate Certificate in Dental Public Health - District of Columbia (DC)

Degree information, program name.

Advanced Graduate Certificate in Dental Public Health

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College of Nursing

Passion, purpose, and public health: the career of dr. yamnia cortés.

For many, the nursing journey combines personal experiences and academic pursuits. The path Yamnia I. Cortés, PhD, MPH, FNP-BC, FAHA, FAAN took to become a nurse and researcher was no different, shaped by a mix of early interests in public health and social justice and a few key nudges along the way.  

Cortés earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a concentration in L atino/a s tudies from Williams College. After completing her undergraduate degree, Cortés was already leaning towards a career in public health, particularly fascinated by epidemiology and intervention research.  

She then went on to complete her Master of Public Health at Columbia University. During her first year, she also worked as an asthma educator, a job that exposed her to numerous clinical questions from concerned parents. It was during this time, at various asthma conferences, that not one but two separate nurses suggested she consider nursing.   

"I took that as a sign," Cortés laughs. "I realized how much I did like understanding how health impacted families and communities, and I did want to educate families and communities, so I decided to apply to a nursing program."  

Cortés earned her Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing, as well as her PhD, from Columbia University School of Nursing. She later completed postdoctoral training in cardiovascular epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.  

During her training as a family nurse practitioner, Cortés completed rotations at a community clinic in the Bronx, which doubled as an HIV and substance abuse clinic. There, Cortés saw a large amount of cardiovascular disease, particularly in midlife women, and the intersection between the disease, HIV and menopause, became her dissertation and research niche.  

Fast forward to today, and Cortés is deep into research that continues to tackle critical health issues for underserved populations. One of her current studies looks at the stress Latina women experience during menopause and how it's linked to cardiovascular disease. She's not just focusing on the risk factors, though—she's also on the hunt for protective factors like social support, family cohesion, and spirituality that might help mitigate these risks.  

"It's great when we know positive things that people already have in their lives that we can maybe strengthen, and then that can help prevent cardiovascular disease," Cortés says.   

Beyond her research, Cortés loves the variety her role at the College of Nursing offers. She's passionate about community work, building partnerships, and sharing resources with those in need. Mentoring students is another highlight, as she enjoys guiding them through their research and seeing them flourish.  

"I really enjoy mentoring," Cortés laughs. "Teaching students about the research process, seeing them get it and then start to launch into their areas, I love it all."   

In less than a year at the College of Nursing, Cortés has grown to appreciate the supportive and collaborative atmosphere. "The people here are so nice; everyone has been very welcoming," she says. "Everyone is willing to collaborate."  

When she's not immersed in her professional life, Cortés enjoys volunteering, finding new places to eat with her family, playing video games, and watching anime.