School of Public Health--Bloomington

Departmental E-mail: sph [at] indiana [dot] edu

Departmental URL: www.publichealth.indiana.edu

(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, The University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in The University Graduate School Bulletin.)

Curriculum

Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

Degrees Offered

Doctor of Philosophy in environmental health, epidemiology, health behavior, leisure behavior, and human performance. There are four emphases under human performance: Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Motor Learning/Control, and Sport Management. In addition, the School of Public Health offers the following graduate degrees: Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Applied Health Science, Master of Science in Kine­siology, and Master of Science in Recreation. Dual degrees include, (1) Master of Public Health and Juris Doctorate, (2) Master of Public Health and Master of Arts in Russian and East European Studies (3) Master of Public Health and Master of Arts in African Studies, and (4) Master of Publice Health and Master of Arts in Caribbean, and Latin American Studies. For dual degrees, students must be admitted by both units. For full information on degrees, see this Bulletin and the School of Public Health Bloomington Bulletin.

Program Information

The Ph.D. is a research degree especially designed to prepare graduates for careers in fields devoted to the study of environmental health, epidemiology, health behavior, human performance and leisure behavior. Specific emphases currently available in human performance include biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor learning/control, and sport management. Other areas of study are also available for graduate degrees offered through the School of Public Health.

Special School Requirements

(See also general Graduate School requirements.)

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the Ph.D. in environmental health, epidemiology, health behavior, human perfor­mance, or leisure behavior must possess an appropriate academic background in the physical, biological, social, and beahvioral sciences. Prescribed deficiency work ordinarily cannot be counted among credits required for the degree. Other admission criteria are grade point averages earned in all undergraduate and gradu­ate work, scores on the Graduate Record Examination General Test, and letters of recommendation from professors or others who are able to evaluate the applicant’s potential for success in advanced graduate study. Admission applications can be completed online at www.gradapp.indiana.edu/.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 90 credits are required beyond the baccalaureate degree, of which at least 30 credits must be in the major area of emphasis. The remaining credits are to be distrib­uted among the research skills requirement (minimum 9 credits), the minor (minimum 9 credits outside the department in which the major area of study is pursued), supportive electives that include a substantial amount of work in statistics and research methodol­ogy, and dissertation (20-30 credits). Nine(9) credits, excluding courses taken to complete the research and languages requirement are required outside of the student’s major department.

Elective or minor course work must clearly support the devel­opment of research competency in the major field. Frequent involvement in research projects (with or without academic credit) is essential to the program. Deficiencies in course work must be removed during the first year of study.

All Ph.D. students must present an introductory course in research (SPH-X 590) and an introductory course in statistics (SPH-Q 501), or their equiva­lents, as prerequisites to the major work. Additionally, all Ph.D. students must complete an introductory course in public health (SPH-X 505) and an introductory course in epidemiology (SPH-E 651).

Grades

All doctoral students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 (B). Grades of C- (1.7) and below will be calculated in the student’s grade point average, but courses in which such grades are earned cannot be counted toward degree require­ments.

Minor(s)

At least one minor in a supporting area outside the major area of study is required. The minor must be in a discipline related to, but distinct from, the major field(s) of study. The minor must include a minimum of 9 credits of coursework taken in a department other than the department in which the major is pursued.

Foreign Language/Research-Skill Requirement

One of two options:

1. approved combination of research skills (9-credit minimum)
2. reading proficiency in one foreign language plus a minimum of 5 credits of approved research skill course work

The option pursued must clearly enhance the student’s ability to pursue research in the specific field of study and must have the approval of the student’s advisory committee and the as­sociate dean of research and graduate studies.

Research skills may be selected from, but are not limited to, areas such as computer science, mathematics, electronics, engineering, chemistry, and statistics.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination may not be taken until the student is within one course of completing all prescribed course work and the foreign language/research-skill requirement has been completed. The exam consists of two portions, a written portion and an oral portion.

Two options exist for the written portion of the qualifying examination.

Three opportunities per year exist for a student to sit for the traditionally formatted written portion of the qualifying examination.  The three regularly scheduled exam dates are in September, February, and June. Alternatively, a doctoral student’s advisory committee may design and administer the written portion of the examination differently in order to assess the student’s fitness for candidacy in a different way. Applications for both options must be filed at least 30 days in advance. 

The oral portion of the qualifying examination should take place within a month following the written portion. 

The proposal meeting will be open to faculty and students in the university community. During the first portion the student will formally present her/his dissertation proposal in an open forum. Committee members and visitors will have the opportu­nity to ask questions. Visitors will leave after the formal presen­tation. The remaining time will be determined by the student’s research committee.

Final Examination

Oral defense of the dissertation.

Ph.D. Minor

Doctoral students in other departments can complete a minor in a specific emphasis by satisfactorily completing a minimum number of credits of graduate-level course work which has been approved by the minor field representative on the doctoral advisory com­mittee. A qualifying examination is required.

Ph.D. Majors

Ph.D in Environmental Health

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 30 credits of courses which the student must complete in the environmental health major. The prescribed course work focuses on influences and effects of environmental factors on human health and disease. The prescribed research skill courses, along with those courses prescribed in the major, minor, and elective portions of each student’s course prescription are selected to provide students with the scientific, technological, policy, and management skills needed to address environmental, toxicological, and occupational health concerns. This program exists to prepare health scientists to conduct lab-based research and share the results in an effort to advance the discipline of environmental health.

Ph.D. in Epidemiology

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 30 credits of courses which the student must complete in the epidemiology major. The prescribed course work focuses on the distribution and patterns of health-events and provides statistical methodology on topics in human health. The prescribed research skill courses, along with those courses prescribed in the major, minor, and elective portions of each student’s course prescription are selected to prepare the student to design and conduct research yielding advancements in the field of epidemiology.

Ph.D. in Health Behavior

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 30 credits of courses which the student must complete in the health behavior major. Research and creative activities include both basic and applied work in program planning and development; evaluation of the program effectiveness; and examination of lifestyle and health behavior in relation to nutrition, exercise, stress, alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse, individual development and family health, communicable disease, human sexuality, and related areas. The prescribed research skill courses, along with those courses prescribed in the major, minor, and elective portions of each student’s course prescription are selected to prepare the student to conduct scholarly inquiry in a broad spectrum of areas emphasizing health promotion and prevention of health problems.

Ph.D. in Leisure Behavior

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 30 credits of courses which the student must complete in the leisure behavior major. For students with an emphasis in leisure behavior, this prescribed course work is focused on the study of recreation and leisure with the goal of improving health and quality of life. The prescribed research skill courses, along with courses in the major, minor, and elective portions of each student’s course prescription are selected to prepare the student to design and conduct research yielding advancements in the field of leaisure behavior.

Ph.D track in Human Performance with an emphasis in biomechanics

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 30 credits of courses which the student must complete in the human performance major. For students with an emphasis in biomechanics, the major coursework involves an application of the laws of mechanics to human structure and function in an effort to maximize athletic performance. The prescribed research skill courses, along with those courses prescribed in the major, minor, and elective portions of each student’s course prescription are selected to prepare the student to design and conduct research yielding achievements in the field of biomechanics.

Ph.D track in Human Performance with an emphasis in exercise physiology

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 30 credits of courses which the student must complete in the human performance major. For students with an emphasis in exercise physiology, the major coursework serves to build the student's understanding of how the various cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems respond to challenges posed by exercise and physical training, with the primary goal of achievement of optimal performance. The prescribed research skill courses, along with those courses prescribed in the major, minor, and elective portions of each student’s course prescription are selected to prepare the student to design and conduct research yielding achievements in the field of exercise physiology.

Ph.D track in Human Performance with an emphasis in motor learning/control

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 30 credits of courses which the student must complete in the human performance major. For students with an emphasis in motor learning/control, this coursework focuses on the neuromuscular aspects related to the control of human movement and learning. A variety of neuroscience courses related to the control of human movement are prescribed. The prescribed research skill courses, along with those courses prescribed in the major, minor, and elective portions of each student’s course prescription are selected to prepare the student to design and conduct research yielding advancements in the field of motor learning and motor control. General research topics include strength acquistion, goal-directed movement control, and the effects of human aging on movement execution with emphasis given to postural control and balance.

Ph.D. track in Human Performance with an emphasis in sport management

For each doctoral student in this academic program, a faculty advisory committee individually prescribes a minimum of 30 credits of courses which the student must complete in the human performance major.  For students with an emphasis in sport management, the prescribed course work provides the student with a thorough foundation in sport, with a focus on a student’s primary interest, such as business, or communication, or history. The prescribed research skill courses, along with courses in the major, minor, and elective portions of each student’s course prescription are selected to prepare the student to design and conduct research yielding advancements in the field of sport management.