Requirements for this degree are prescribed by each individual student's faculty advisory committee. Requirements include: a minimum of 90 credits beyond the bachelor's degree; a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA for graduation; and a minimum grade of C in each course used for the degree.

Prerequisites and/or Required Courses

• SPH-E 651 Epidemiology (3 cr.) This course may be counted toward the 90 credits for the degree as a course in the major, minor, or electives, upon approval of the committee.
• SPH-Q 501 Introduction to Statistics in Public Health (3 cr.) This course or its equivalent may not be counted toward the 90 required credits for the degree.
• SPH-X 505 Principles and Foundations of Public Health (3 cr.) This course may be counted toward the 90 credits for the degree as a course in the major, minor, or electives, upon approval of the committee. Students who have previously completed an MPH degree from an accredited school of public health or accredited public health program are exempt from this requirement. Students who are concurrently completing requirements for an MPH degree and a doctoral degree are also exempt.
• SPH-X 590 Introduction to Research in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation (3 cr.) This course may be counted toward the 90 credits for the degree as a course in the major, minor, or electives, upon approval of the committee.

Degree Requirements (90 credits minimum)

• Research Skills (9 - 13 credits) For all School of Public Health-Bloomington Ph.D. degree programs except Epidemiology, a minimum of 9 credits are required of coursework providing skills necessary to conduct research. Advanced courses in biostatistics are commonly prescribed. The Ph.D. degree in Epidemiology requires a minimum of 13 credits of research skill courses. Research skill credits count toward the 90 credits for the degree. Courses counted in this area require a minimum grade of B.
• Major Area of Study (30 credits minimum) A minimum of 30 credits in the major area of study. These courses must be taken within the School of Public Health. Courses transferred from previous graduate work outside the School of Public Health, if within the major area of study, can be used to fulfill the major areas of study requirement, contingent upon the advisory committee’s approval.
• Minor Area of Study (9 credits minimum) A minimum of 9 credits of coursework in a designated area outside the department in which the major is being pursued.
• Electives (0 to 28 credits) Elective credits may range between 0 and 28. An optional second minor may be included in the elective credit hours.
• Dissertation (20 – 30 credits)