Public Health: Health Services Ph.D. (PHHS)

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Abstract

The Department of Health Services Administration offers a Ph.D. program in Health Services. The goal of this program is to provide interdisciplinary training in research, practice, and policy analysis relevant to the planning, administration, management, and evaluation of health and public health programs. The degree program prepares students to advance research, policy, and practice to improve access, cost, and quality of health services, with a particular emphasis on federal and state health policy.

In recent years there has been increasing national interest in the field of health services, driven by an aging population, nearly 47 million uninsured Americans, rising health care costs, growing health disparities, and the increase in manmade and natural disasters such as 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina. Amelioration of any of these problems will require professionals with a strong knowledge base and research expertise in health services delivery systems and health care management. The Ph.D. program in Health Services will provide this training, addressing local, state, and national issues in health care services, health care delivery and management, health services policy, disparities in access to care, long term care, chronic disease and disability care, and financing and economics in public health services delivery.

Admissions Information

To apply to the doctoral program in Health Services, applicants must complete the University of Maryland Graduate School application and provide additional information as described below under "Application Requirements". The Graduate School application and instructions can be found online at http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/gss/admission.htm. All applications are considered for Fall enrollment only; this program does not accept applications for Spring semester admission.

Application Deadlines

Type of Applicant	Fall	Spring
Domestic Applicants; US Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials; International Applicants seeking admissions under A, E, G, H, I and L visas and immigrants	Deadline: January 15
International Applicants seeking admission under F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas	Deadline: January 15

Application Requirements

Applications for the doctoral program in Health Services are reviewed with consideration to the following criteria:

1. Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
2. Undergraduate and graduate transcripts (if applicable
3. GRE scores taken within the past 5 years
4. 3 letters of recommendation that address the applicant's academic capabilities and probability of success in graduate school
5. Statement of professional goals and interests and their congruence with those of the program
6. Relevant academic and work experience
7. Admission prerequisites: A Master's degree in Health Administration, Health Services, Health Policy, Health Care Economics, Business Administration, or a related field

Applicants to the Ph.D. program in Health Services should be sure to use the PHHS major code when seleting the program on the Graduate School application.

Degree Requirements

Doctor of Philosophy in Health Services (Ph.D.)

Students entering the Ph.D. program in Health Services must have completed a master's degree in Health Administration, Health Services, Health Policy, Health Care Economics, Business Administration, or a related field. If the student's completed master's degree does not include public health content in the five core areas of health services administration, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health sciences, and social and behavioral sciences, these courses will need to be completed in addition to a minimum of 42 credit hours of advanced course work required in the Ph.D. program.

The 42 credit hours of advanced course work includes a minimum of 21 credit hours in methods for health services research, a minimum of 9 hours of credits in a cognate area (approved by the faculty advisor), and 12 credit hours of dissertation research. Doctoral students advance to candidacy by completing a written comprehensive exam and an oral defense of their dissertation proposal. In addition to the 42 credit hours of coursework, the written comprehensive exam, and the proposal defense, students must successfully complete a doctoral dissertation and an oral dissertation defense.

We are focused primarily on admitting full-time students. We do admit a limited number of outstanding part-time students who are able maintain a high level of commitment and determination to obtain their degree through all phases of their program including the dissertation phase. All students must complete their degree in nine (9) years in accordance with University of Maryland Graduate School policy.

Facilities and Special Resources

The Department of Health Services Administration is home to the Center on Aging, established in 1974. In addition, the department houses the Gliner Center for Humor Communication and Health, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and RSVP International. Current external funding comes from a wide variety of federal, foundation, state, local and private donor sources.

The proximity of the University of Maryland, College Park to the nation's capital offers prospective students unparalleled opportunities for internships and research experiences in public health, including placements at the National Institutes of Health, the CDC Washington Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Childrens National Medical Center, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and many other national, state, and local health agencies. The diversity of cultural and socioeconomic groups, communities, industries, and health organizations provides a rich environment for learning, research, public policy analysis, and service.

Financial Assistance

Contact Information

Lori Simon-Rusinowitz, Ph.D.
Department of Health Services Administration 3310d SPH Building (#255) University of Maryland College Park
MD  20742
Telephone: 301-405-2548
Fax: 301-405-2542
lasr@umd.edu

http://www.sph.umd.edu/hlsa/

Courses: HLSA

Related Programs and Campus Units

Public Health: Master of Public Health--Biostatistics
Public Health: Master of Health Administration
Public Health: Master of Public Health--Behavioral and Community Health
Public Health: Master of Public Health--Environmental Health Sciences
Public Health: Master of Public Health--Epidemiology
Public Health: Maternal and Child Health Ph.D.
Public Health: Epidemiology Ph.D.
Public Health: Behavioral and Community Health Ph.D.