The Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences program enrolls one class per year, beginning in late September or Fall Quarter at UC Davis. It is a 56-unit program in which 42 units are comprised of core courses. The remaining 14 units of the program are dedicated to electives chosen by the student and their faculty advisor.

Click here to print our curriculum handout

Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences (PHS) Core Courses (42 units)

Course Number Name Units
SPH 202 Public Health Issues in California's Central Valley 3
SPH 212 Migration and Health 3
SPH 213 Health Disparities 3
SPH 214 Scientific Proposal Writing 3
SPH 246 Biostatistics for Clinical and Population Research 4
SPH 276 Critical Assessment in Health Policy and Economics 2
SPH 291 Doctoral Seminar (six quarters total) 6
SPH 292A Public Health Translational Science Rotation 5
SPH 292B Public Health Translational Science Rotation 5
EPI 206 Epidemiological Study Design 4
MHI 210 Introduction to Health Informatics 4

Sample Ph.D in Public Health Sciences Schedule

Year 1

   
Fall Winter Spring

SPH 202 (3) Public Health Issues in California's Central Valley

SPH 291 (1) Doctoral Seminar

MHI 210 (4) Introduction to Health Informatics

SPH 212 (3) Migration & Health

SPH 291 (1) Doctoral Seminar

EPI 206 (4) Epidemiologic Study Design

SPH 291 (1) Doctoral Seminar

SPH 246 (4) Biostatistics for Clinical and Population Research

 

SPH 213 (3) Health Disparities

SPH 276 (2) Critical Assessment in Health Policy and Economics

4-8 units of electives; no more than 16 units

4-8 units of electives; no more than 16 units

2-6 units of electives; no more than 16 units

Year 2

   
Fall Winter Spring

SPH 291 (1) Doctoral Seminar

SPH 292A (5) Public Health Translational Science Rotation

SPH 291 (1) Doctoral Seminar

SPH 292B (5) Public Health Translational Science Rotation

SPH 291 (1) Doctoral Seminar

SPH 214 (4) Scientific Proposal Writing
6-10 units of electives; no more than 16 units 6-10 units of electives; no more than 16 units

7-11 units of electives; no more than 16 units; Qualifying Exam by end of summer, advance to candidacy.

Years 3+

   
Fall Winter Spring
SPH 299 Dissertation Research SPH 299 Dissertation Research SPH 299 Dissertation Research
Total units: no more than 16 units Total units: no more than 16 units Total units: no more than 16 units

Elective Courses

Elective units for each Ph.D. student will be selected in consultation with the Major Professor so as to form an individualized Plan of Study that supports the student’s topic area. Electives may include, but are not limited to, selections from the following courses:

Course Number Course Name
EPI 204A Epidemiological Models, Methods, and Data Analysis for Scientists
EPI 204B Statistical Models, Methods, and Analysis
EPI 207 Advanced Concepts in Epidemiologic Study Design
EPI 208 Analysis and Interpretation of Epidemiologic Data
EPI 222 Epidemiological Modeling
SPH 277 Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
SPH 280 SAS Programming
STA 130a Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course
STA 130b Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course
STA 144 Sampling Theory of Surveys
SPH 204 Globalization and Health
SPH 295 International Health Care
SPH 208 Principles & Applications of Cancer Prevention & Control: A Public Health Perspective
NUT 112 Nutritional Assessment: Dietary, Anthropometric, and Clinical Measures
NUT 218 Community Nutrition
NUT 219 International Nutrition
NUT 258 Field Research Methods in International Nutrition
NRS 201 Health Status and Care Systems
MHI 209 Clinical Data Acquisition and Analysis
EDU 216 School-based Prevention Programs
EDU 223 Education and Social Policy
CMN 210 Evaluation of Communication Effects
CRD 200 Planning for Health
CRD 240 Community Development Theory
VME 201 Emerging Issues One Health
ETX 203 Environmental Toxicants
ETX 240 Environmental Toxicology
PHR 210 Waterborne Zoonoses
PHR 212 Epidemiology of Zoonoses
PMI 293A Seminar Infectious Disease
LDA 201 Theory and Philosophy of the Built Environment
SOC 248 Social Movements
CHI 298 Community-based Participatory Research

 

See list of suggested electives for additional suggestions