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 uses only those requirements contained in The University Graduate School Bulletin.)

Curriculum

Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

Degrees Offered

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is a research degree especially designed to prepare graduates for careers devoted to the following fields of study: biostatistics, 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, Online Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Applied Health Science, Master of Science in Biostatistics, Master of Science in Environmental and Occupational Health, Master of Science in Kinesiology, Master of Science in Athletic Training, 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 Public 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 

Special School Requirements

(See also general Graduate School requirements.)

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the Ph.D. in biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health behavior, human performance, or leisure behavior must possess an appropriate academic background in the physical, biological, social, and behavioral 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. For application instructions, please visit:  .

Course Requirements

A minimum of 90 graduate-level semester credits are required beyond the baccalaureate degree, including:

• a major area of emphasis (minimum 30 credits).
• research skills courses in statistics and research methodology (minimum 9 credits).
• at least one minor (minimum 9 credits).
• supportive electives.
• dissertation (20-30 credits).

Deficiencies in course work must be removed during the first year of study.

A minimum of 9 credits, excluding courses taken to complete the research and languages requirement, must be taken to fulfill the student’s doctoral minor requirements.

A maximum of 30 credits from another institution may be transferred for application to a doctoral degree. Each student’s faculty advisory committee must approve courses before they may be transferred from another institution for use in the doctoral degree.

Frequent involvement in research projects (with or without academic credit) is essential to the program.

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. A minimum grade of 3.0 (B) is required in each course used to satisfy the research skill requirement. A minimum of grade of 3.0 (B) is required in each course which is transferred from another institution for use in the doctoral degree. Courses from another institution, with grades of S (satisfactory) or P (passing) may not be transferred for use in the 90 credits required for the degree.

Common Prerequisite

All Ph.D. degree students in the School of Public Health-Bloomington must complete a 0-credit Public Health Foundations course no later than the end of their first semester of graduate study. Complete details and registration information for this course can be found at the following Website: : https://iu.instructure.com/enroll/MNG3L6.

Common Requirement for the Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Health, Epidemiology, and Health Behavior

All Ph.D. degree students in Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, and Health Behavior, are required to complete SPH-E 651, Epidemiology (3 cr.), or its equivalent.
Each Ph.D. degree student's advisory committee will determine where the required epidemiology course will count in each student's 90 required credits.

Ph.D. degree course work components

Foreign Language/Research-Skill Requirement

School of Public Health-Bloomington Ph.D. degree students in all majors except for Biostatistics and Epidemiology may complete this requirement in one of the following two ways:

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

Ph.D. degree students in Biostatistics may complete this requirement in the following way: 

The following courses must be taken within the School of Public Health-Bloomington. No substitutions and transfer equivalency will be allowed for the following courses. 

• completion of a minimum total of thirteen credits (13 cr.), including:

The following courses should be taken within the School of Public Health-Bloomington, or transferred from previous graduate work contingent upon approval of advisory committee: 

Ph.D. degree students in Epidemiology may complete this requirement in the following way:

• completion of a minimum total of thirteen credits (13 cr.), including:
  1. Courses providing required skills to conduct research such as E-670 Meta-analysis and Systematic Review, Q-604 Applied Linear Regression, or other advanced biostatistics course. (9 cr.)
  2. SPH-E 794 Doctoral Seminar in Epidemiology (a minimum 4 cr., 1 cr. per semester)

Ph.D. Majors

Ph.D. track in Biostatistics

For each doctoral student in this academic program, 21 of the 30 required major credits are prescribed in this bulletin. The student’s faculty advisory committee individually prescribes the remaining 9 major credits.  The PhD program in Biostatistics is designed train independent researchers who will advance the field of biostatistics, including the development of innovative methodologies and the application of new and existing methods to health-related questions. The students will receive fundamental training in probability and statistical theory, regression models, and statistical computing. They will also gain expertise in modern topics such as statistical learning, statistical genetics and genomics, high-dimensional models, clinical trials, and research rigor and reproducibility. Our program also emphasizes research in interdisciplinary areas, effective collaboration and communication with scientists and practitioners, and ability to teach biostatistics. The training and experience of our students will prepare them to be application savvy and leadership-ready for careers in academia, government and industry.

The requirements for the biostatistics major are as follows:

• SPH-Q 703 Generalized Linear Models (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 752 Advanced Biostatistical Inference (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 651 Applied Probability and Distribution Theory (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 652 Biostatistical Inference (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 604 Applied Linear Regression (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 605 Analysis of Multi-level and Longitudinal Data (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 612 Survival Analysis (3 cr.) 

Ph.D. track 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. track in Epidemiology

For each doctoral student in this academic program, 24 of the 30 required major credits are prescribed in this bulletin. The student’s faculty advisory committee individually prescribes the remaining 6 major credits. When appropriate, the student’s faculty advisory committee may approve the substitution of other course work for required major courses listed below. The prescribed major course work focuses on 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.

The requirements for the epidemiology major are as as follows:

• SPH-E 658 Intermediate Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 659 Intermediate Epidemiological Methods (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 612 Survival Analysis (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 603 Categorical Data Analysis (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 605 Statistical Analysis of Multi-level and Longitudinal Data (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 758 Advanced Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 759 Advanced Epidemiological Methods (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 790 The Logic and Rationale of Epidemiologic Research: Advanced Research Methodology (3 cr.)
• Epidemiology major coursework to be prescribed by the doctoral advisory committee (6 cr.)

Ph.D. track 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, development, evaluation of the program effectiveness; health policy and management; and examination of lifestyle and health behavior in relation to nutrition, exercise, stress, alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse, individual development and family health, health and aging, communicable disease, human sexuality, and related areas. The recommended research skill courses, along with those courses included in the major, minor, and elective portions of each student’s customized course prescription, prepare the student to conduct scholarly inquiry in a topic that is selected from a broad spectrum of issues and problems related to disease prevention, health promotion and quality of life.

Ph.D. track 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, leisure, and tourism 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 leisure behavior.

Ph.D. track in Human Performance with and 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 and 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 and 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 acquisition, 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 and 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.

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. Minor course work must support the development of research competency in the major field. The number of required credits is determined by the unit in which the minor is taken (minimum 9 credits). The requirements for all officially recognized doctoral minors are disclosed in this bulletin. Any desired deviation from official minor requirements, which are disclosed in this bulletin, requires University Graduate School approval of a proposal for an individualized minor.

Electives

Students with a single minor will take supportive electives which support development of research competentency in the field.

Dissertation

20-30 credits.

Milestones

Course Prescription

The courses required for a doctoral degree are individually prescribed for each student following approval of the members of the student's advisory committee. The student and the advisory committee work together to prescribe the required research skill courses, major courses, minor courses, elective courses, and the appropriate number of dissertation credits.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination may not be taken until the student has completed the foreign language/research-skill requirement, and is within one course of completing all prescribed course work.

The exam consists of two portions, a written portion and an oral portion. The oral portion of the qualifying examination must be held within 60 days of the student's submission of the written component to the faculty advisory committee.

Research Proposal

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. Minors Offered by the School of Public Health-Bloomington

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.

Options for an Outside Doctoral Minor in the Department of Applied Health Science

Addictive Behaviors Complete 9 credits as follows:

Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-B 518 The Nature of Addictive Disorders (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 518 Alcohol and Drug Education (3 cr.)

Complete 3 credits from the following elective courses in consultation with the minor advisor to include a selective topic directly related to addictive behaviors:

• SPH-B 701 Advanced Health Behavior Theory for Research (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 702 Advanced Evaluation and Research in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 703 Acquiring External Funds for Research (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 791 Readings in Health Behavior (1-10 cr.)
• SPH-H 792 Research in Health Behavior (1-10 cr.)

Health Behavior Complete 12 health behavior graduate-level credits in consultation with the minor advisor.

Health Promotion Complete 15 credits as follows:

Complete the following course:

• SPH-B 589 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3 cr.)

Complete one of the following courses:

• SPH-H 500 Philosophy and Principles of Health Education (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 635 Health Promotion in the 21st Century (3 cr.)

Complete 9 additional graduate-level credits, selected in consultation with the minor advisor.

Human Development and Family Studies Complete 9 credits as follows:

Complete the following courses:

• SPH-F 654 Conceptual Frameworks in Human Development and Family Studies (3 cr.)
• SPH-F 656 Families and Health (3 cr.)

Complete 3 additional graduate-level SPH-F credits to be selected in consultation with the minor advisor.

Human Sexuality Education Complete 15 credits as follows:

Complete the following courses:

• SPH-B 589 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 515 Human Sexuality Education in Schools (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 540 Practicum in College Sex Education (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 555 Issues in Sexuality and Health (3 cr.)

Complete 3 additional graduate-level credits to be selected in consultation with the minor advisor.

Nutrition Science Complete 12 credits as follows:

Complete the following courses:

• SPH-N 530 Advanced Human Nutrition (3 cr.)
• SPH-N 532 Advanced Human Nutrition II (3 cr.)
• BIOT-T 540 Structure, Function, and Regulation of Biomolecules (3 cr.)

Complete one course selected, in consultation with the minor advisor, from the following:

• SPH-N 520 Food Chemistry (3 cr.)
• SPH-N 531 Medical Nutrition Therapy (3 cr.)
• SPH-N 536 Applied Public Health Nutrition (3 cr.)
• SPH-N 600 Nutrigenomics (3 cr.)
• SPH-N 601 Phytonutrients (3 cr.)
• SPH-N 620 Nutrition in Sports (3 cr.)
• SPH-N 691 Readings in Nutrition Science (1-5 cr.)
• SPH-N 692 Research in Nutrition Science (1-5 cr.)

Public Health Complete 12 credits with a minimum cumulative doctoral minor GPA of 3.0 in the following courses:

• SPH-B 589 Social Determinants of Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 651 Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 541 Environmental Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-X 685 Public Health Policy and Politics (3 cr.)

Public Health and Aging Complete 9 credits including 3 courses from the following list of options to be selected in consultation with the minor advisor:

• SPH-B 535 Contemporary Issues in Aging and Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 589 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3 cr.) -or- SPH-X 660 Population Health Determinants (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 615 Health, Longevity, and Integrative Therapies for the Later Years (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 520 Death Education (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 524 Gerontology: Multidisciplinary Perspective (3 cr.)
• SPH-X 685 Public Health Policy and Politics (3 cr.)

Safety Management Complete 9 credits of graduate-level safety management credits in consultation with the minor advisor.

School and College Health Education Complete 15 credits as follows:

Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-B 589 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 510 Organization of School Health Programs (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 623 School Health Program Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 635 Health Promotion in the 21st Century (3 cr.)

Complete one course from:

• SPH-H 500 Philosophy and Principles of Health Education (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 502 Instructional Strategies for School and College Health (3 cr.)

Sexual and Reproductive Health Complete 12 from the following list of courses:

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required in courses taken to complete this minor.

• SPH-B 630 Sexual and Reproductive Health Surveillance (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 632 Sexual Health: Contemporary Discoveries and Controversies (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 634 Sexual Health Research and Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 526 AIDS and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 555 Issues in Sexuality and Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 633 Advanced Instructional Methods in Sexual and Reproductive Health (3 cr.)

Option for an Outside Minor in the Department of Environmental Health

Environmental Health Complete 9 credits as follows:

Complete the following course:

• SPH-V 541 Environmental Health (3 cr.)

Complete 6 credits from the following courses:

• SPH-V 510 Human Health and the Natural Environment (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 542 Principles of Toxicology (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 545 Exposure, Assessment, and Control (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 546 Risk Assessment Policy and Toxic Regulations (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 548 Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 741 Molecular Toxicology (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 743 Environmental Health Sampling (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 745 Advanced Toxicology (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 747 Carcinogenesis (3 cr.)

Options for an Outside Minor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Biostatistics Complete 9 credits as follows:

Complete the following two required courses:

• SPH-Q 603 Categorical Data Analysis (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 604 Applied Linear Regression (3 cr.)

Complete a third 3-credit course, to be selected in consultation with the minor advisor. Options any any SPH-Q course at the 600-level or above, excluding independent study courses, field experiences, or culminating experiences. Recommended 600-level choices include:

• SPH-Q 601 Experimental Analysis and Design (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 602 Multivariate Statistical Analysis (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 605 Analysis of Multilevel and Longitudinal Data (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 611 Statistical Packages in Research (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 612 Survival Analysis (3 cr.)

Epidemiology Complete 9 credits as follows:

Complete the following courses:

• SPH-E 651 Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 501 Introduction to Statistics in Public Health (3 cr.) or an equivalent course contingent upon approval from the minor advisor.

Complete 3 credits from the following courses, selected in consultation with the minor advisor:

• SPH-E 653 Chronic Disease Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 654 Psychiatric and Drug Use Disorder Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 655 Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 656 Genetic Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 657 Social Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 658 Intermediate Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 659 Intermediate Epidemiological Methods (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 670 Meta-analysis and Systematic Review (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 680 Nutritional Epidemiology (3 cr.)

Option for an Outside Minor in the Department of Kinesiology

Human Performance Complete 12 credits of graduate-level human peformance courses to be selected in consultation with the minor advisor.

Option for an Outside Minor in the Department of Health and Wellness Design

Leisure Behavior Complete 10 credits as follows:

Complete the following courses for a total of 7 credits:

• SPH-R 510 Philosophy of Leisure and Recreation (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 794 Seminar in Leisure Behavior (2 cr.)
• SPH-R 782 Advanced Research Inquiry in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies (2 cr.)

Complete 3 additional graduate-level, credits from the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies courses, to be selected in consultation with the minor advisor.