Community Health and Health Behavior PhD

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A degree in community health and health behavior provides a foundational understanding of the factors that influence individuals’ health choices. You will also determine the role of the community in the onset of-and solutions to-public health problems. With this education and through applied field and/or research opportunities, you’ll be prepared to address health challenges in your local, regional, and broader communities. As a graduate, you’ll be well prepared for a career in public health agencies, academia, health care delivery systems, voluntary health agencies or private research.

Curriculum

Throughout your coursework, you will study key principles of public health, community health and health behavior, and statistical and research methodology. You will also design an individualized course plan for gaining advanced knowledge in a focal area of study related to community health and health behavior.

Beyond formal coursework, the program is based on a mentor-mentee, apprenticeship model. This means that you will be involved with a faculty member’s research throughout your time in the program.

Upon completion of your coursework, you’ll complete a comprehensive exam. The exam has two parts: a written exam focused on your knowledge of key principles, theories and research in community health and health behavior, and a writing component focused on your knowledge and research design skill in your focal area of study.

Required Courses

Community Health and Health Behavior (CHHB) Core Courses (15 Credit Hours)

CHB 601LEC - Principles of Community Health and Health Behavior Credits: 3
CHB 602LEC - Community Health and Health Behavior Interventions Credits: 3
CHB 605LEC - Res Meth-Com Health & HB Credits: 3
CHB 610SEM - Community Health and Health Behavior Prosem Credits: 1 (1 credit per semester; 6 semesters = 6 credits)

Public Health Core Courses (9 or 10 Credit Hours)

EEH 501LEC - Principles of Epidemiology Credits: 4
or
EEH 500LEC - Introduction to Epidemiology Credits: 3
CHB 550LR - Public Health and Population Wellbng Credits: 3
Select one additional public health course from CHB 500 and 600 level courses. The course selected cannot also be used to meet other program requirements

Statistics and Research Methods Core Courses (13-15 credit hours)

Four graduate-level statistics/research methods courses. (At least one course must be a qualitative methods course and at least one course must be a quantitative methods course.)

Individualized Program of Studies

Beyond the required courses, you will design an individualized program of studies in consultation with an advisor and supervisory committee and will complete at least three additional graduate-level courses.

Directed and Community-Based Research

In our mentor-mentee program, a great deal of training takes place in the course of working on a research team with your mentor. Through this process, you will gain expertise in conducting research, statistical analysis, writing and research ethics.

While working on mentored research projects, you will register for either:

Directed research credits (CHB 695TUT - Independent Research , 1-6 Credits/semester); or
Community-based experience credits (CHB 696TUT - Field Exper Comm Health Re , 1-6 credits/semester)

To satisfy the research experience requirements, you must complete a minimum of 10 credits from directed research and/or community-based experience credits.

Dissertation Supervision Credits

After passing the comprehensive exam and while working on your dissertation, you will register for dissertation supervision credits (CHB 698TUT - Dissertation Guidance , 1-6 credits/semester) and typically earn 12 dissertation credits during the process.

Total Credit Hours: 72

3.0 Degree GPA required

Instruction Method

In Person (100 percent of courses offered in person)

Full/Part Time Options

Full Time

Credits Required

72 Hours

Time-To-Degree

4 to 5 Years

Application Fee

$50

Program Contact

Department of Community Health and Health Behavior
335 Kimball Tower
Buffalo, NY 14214
Email: sphhp-chhb-mph@buffalo.edu
Fax: 716-829-6040

SED Statement

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

Online programs/courses may require students to come to campus on occasion. Time-to-degree and number of credit hours may vary based on full/part time status, degree, track and/or certification option chosen. Time-to-degree is based on calendar year(s). Contact the department for details.