Health, Society, and Behavior

The Ph.D. degree program in Health, Society, and Behavior is designed for graduate students who aspire to address the complex social, structural, and behavioral determinants of health and health inequities. This degree program integrates a comprehensive approach, incorporating basic, applied, and community-engaged public health sciences research.

Students in the program explore the social and structural factors that influence health outcomes and contribute to health disparities. The curriculum emphasizes critical analysis of health-focused inequities, and the evaluation of potential interventions and policies aimed at addressing these disparities.

As a hub for research and education on health inequities, the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior, which manages this degree, seeks to train and prepare students for impactful careers that promote health equity in vulnerable, marginalized, and underserved communities. With a strong focus on structural racism, the program offers a range of elective courses that enable students to deepen their training in innovative social and behavioral science methodologies. Students engage in independent dissertation work, where they design and implement research aimed at advancing health equity. Through this rigorous and transformative program, graduates will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive meaningful changes in public health.

Admission

Applicants are encouraged to start the application process early by consulting with faculty members in the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior whose research activities align with the applicant’s interests and academic background. Applications are reviewed after the posted application deadline. Applicants are admitted for the fall quarter only.

Who Can Apply

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of research on health inequities, undergraduate training in one or more subject areas is the preferred prerequisite for admission to the Ph.D. in Health, Society, and Behavior degree program.

Although a graduate degree is not required, students who have obtained advanced degrees such as an M.A., M.D., M.S., M.P.P., or M.P.H. are prioritized. Students who have taken core courses through their advanced degree, which overlap with our graduate-level courses, will be able to petition to waive core courses.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the Ph.D. degree, an applicant must meet the minimum academic requirements:

• Successful completion or expected completion of a master’s-level degree in a health-related discipline (or foreign equivalent) from a recognized academic institution prior to enrollment at UCI, however, applicants who come with undergraduate degrees from other related majors might be required to take supplementary courses in addition to the preparatory module of the Ph.D. program.
• All applicants must have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0.

Mentorship

Potential applicants are encouraged to evaluate the fit of their academic, research, and career interests with faculty in the Department and the Department as a whole. It is a priority to match potential applicants with mentors that will best support students throughout their doctoral training. For some, that may include more than one faculty mentor and for others perhaps a change in mentor(s) as they progress to the dissertation phase. Applicants are invited to elaborate on how their interests fit with the Department and program faculty in their application.

Application Instructions

Applicants must submit both the UC Irvine Application for Graduate Admission and the School of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) application to be considered for admission. Evaluations of applicant files for admission to the Ph.D. program will consist of an assessment of transcripts of previous academic work, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and other relevant qualifications.

Requirements

Time to Degree

Advancement to Candidacy

A student will advance to candidacy after successfully passing the qualifying examination, which consists of both an oral and written component directly related to the research area and topic proposed for the dissertation. The Qualifying Examination must be administered at or before the end of the third year of study.

Comprehensive Exam

Students cannot apply to the M.S. program. Only students in the Ph.D. program who determine that the Ph.D. track is not fit for them, or due to extenuating circumstances are not able to continue toward the Ph.D. would be able to earn the M.S. degree.

Dissertation

The dissertation is the final requirement for the Ph.D. and must demonstrate the capability to conduct original research suitable for publication in a reputable scientific journal. The format of the dissertation manuscript should be approved by all members of the dissertation committee.