Offered On Campus in Tucson
The PhD in Health Behavior Health Promotion (HBHP) is offered by the Department of Health Promotion Sciences. The doctoral degree program in Health Behavior Health Promotion has an emphasis on the biological, behavioral, and socio-cultural determinants of health and health behavior, as well as the interventions and policies aimed at improving community and population health. The doctoral program offers a diverse and challenging curriculum addressing health behavior health promotion theory, knowledge and skills for working on health issues within the diverse communities of the Southwestern United States.
Outstanding course performance and strong evidence for research interest and aptitude in health behavior health promotion is required for all admitted students. A bachelor's degree is required for entry into the PhD program. However, applicants without a prior related master’s degree will complete a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in route to their PhD in Health Behavior Health Promotion. The MSPH develops the student's ability to think critically, develop and execute research, while also providing depth in health behavior health promotion, epidemiology and biostatistics, essential skills of a future PhD student and health promotion health behavior scholar.
The MSPH is not a stand-alone degree; students interested in graduate studies in HBHP who are uncertain of a research career focus are encouraged to discuss applying for the Master of Public Health (MPH) with department faculty and MEZCOPH’s Office of Student Services and Alumni Affairs. The MPH with a concentration in HBHP affords sound preparation for the PhD program while foremost being designed as a functional terminal degree for immediate workforce entry.
The doctoral program requires approximately four to five years for completion. The first two years of this time are usually devoted to coursework, the comprehensive doctoral examinations, and development of doctoral research. The program is research oriented and centers on a major research project.
Admission Criteria Application Deadlines How to Apply
For Students Entering with a Master’s Degree – 63 Units
The PhD curriculum requires a minimum of 63 credit hours (units). Of this, 18 units are required from major courses; 3 units are required on US minority/health disparities; 3 units on health promotion research content electives; 12 units of other electives; 9 units (minimum) for the minor; and 18 units for the dissertation. A maximum of 30 units from a prior degree may be applied towards an admitted student, pending review by the student’s advisory committee. The 63 unit curriculum is detailed below.
Curriculum
PhD in Health Behavior Health Promotion Competencies
Required Major Courses (18 units)
- BIOS 576B Biostatistics for Research (3) *
- HPS 585 Public Health Fundamentals for Researchers (3) +
- HPS 607 Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health (3)
- HPS 609 Evaluating Public Health Literature (1)
- HPS 620A Advanced Research Methods in Health Promotion I (3) §
- HPS 618 Introduction to Systematic Review (3)
- HPS 696L Health Behavior Health Promotion Seminar (1 unit; 2 times) §
*Note: BIOS 576A or other introductory graduate statistics course is a prerequisite for BIOS 576B. Another graduate statistics course beyond an introductory graduate statistics course and with a minimum coverage of multiple linear/GLM or logistic regression may be considered with approval of the student's Faculty Advisor and the Program Director.
+ For students who have met the core competencies in HPS 585 through prior courses, for example, as would be expected in a prior degree, minor or certificate in public health, an elective may be taken in lieu of this course.
§ Permanent courses addressing this content as assessed by the Program Director are acceptable substitutions.
Required Health Promotion Emphasis Electives (minimum 3 units) ***
- HPS 531 Contemporary Health Issues & Research (3)
- HPS 532A Applied Aspects of Program Planning, Implementation & Evaluation I (4)
- HPS 535 Multicultural Health Beliefs (3) **
- HPS 577 Sociocultural & Behavioral Aspects of Public Health (3)
- HPS 605 Community Based Participatory Action Research to Decrease Health Disparities (3) **
- HPS 622 Applied Research Methods in Diet and Physical Activity (3)
- HPS 642 Public Health Communications (3)
- EPID 671 Social Epidemiology (3)
- EPID 646 Measurement Issues in Epidemiology (3)
** If not already used to fulfill the prior described requirements
***Another health promotion related graduate course may be substituted with approval of the student's Faculty Advisor.
Required US Minority/Health Disparities Course (minimum 3 units)
Other Electives (minimum 12 units; approved by faculty advisor)
These electives may include independent studies with a research focus, public health graduate courses, or other graduate theory, content or methodology-related courses at the University, relevant to the doctoral area of study).
Minor (minimum 9 units)
Each PhD student must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of course work in a minor area. The minor area of study specifies the number of required minor units. This should consist of a coherent set of courses in an area (or in related areas) of health behavior health promotion, in consultation with the PhD students faculty advisor and/or Graduate Committee Chair. These courses may be from more than one program.
Dissertation: HPS 920 (minimum 18 units)
Total Minimum Credit Requirements: 63 units
Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) / PhD in Health Behavior Health Promotion
For students entering without a Master’s degree – 73 Units
The PhD curriculum will require a minimum of 73 credit hours (units), with 40 units required toward completing the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH). The MSPH component requires 25 required major course credits; 3 units are required on US minority/health disparities; 6 units of other electives; and 6 units of thesis. Additional required units post completion of the MSPH include 2 additional major units, 4 additional selective units, 9 units (minimum) for the minor, and 18 units for the dissertation, allowing for a maximum of 30 units to be shared between the MSPH and PhD. Additionally, a maximum of 8 units from prior graduate coursework (6 units from a prior awarded degree) may be considered (pending review) to be applied towards the MSPH component.
Curriculum
MSPH in Health Behavior Health Promotion Competencies
Required Major Courses (25 units)
- HPS 531 Contemporary Health Issues & Research (3)
- BIOS 576A Biostatistics in Public Health (3)
- BIOS 576B Biostatistics for Research (3) *
- HPS 585 Public Health Fundamentals for Researchers (3)
- HPS 607 Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health (3)
- HPS 620A Advanced Research Methods in Health Promotion I (3) §
- HPS 620B Advanced Research Methods in Public Health II (3) §
- HPS 696L Health Behavior Health Promotion Seminar (1) §
- HPS Selective Course (minimum of 3 units)
(may be met with any HPS offered 3+ unit, 500+ level course (e.g. HPS 532A; 535; 577; 605; 619; 622; 642) or another health promotion related course (e.g. EPID 573A; EPID 646; EPID 671; COMM 669) approved by Faculty Advisor
Required US Minority/Health Disparities Course (minimum 3 units)
- HPS 535 Multicultural Health Beliefs (3) ** or
- HPS 605 Community Based Participatory Action Research to Decrease Health Disparities (3) **
Other Electives (minimum 6 units; approved by faculty advisor)
Required Master’s Thesis - HPS 910 (minimum 6 units)
Additional core requirements for the PhD post completion of the MSPH (33 units)
Required Courses (6 units)
- HPS 609 Evaluating the Public Health Literature (1)
- HPS 696L HBHP Seminar (1) §
- HPS Selective Course (minimum 4 units)
*Note: BIOS 576A or other introductory graduate statistics course is a prerequisite for BIOS 576B. Another graduate statistics course beyond an introductory graduate statistics course and with a minimum coverage of multiple linear/GLM or logistic regression may be considered with approval of the student's Faculty Advisor and the Program Director.
**If not already used to fulfill the prior described requirements
§ Permanent courses addressing this content as assessed by the Program Director are acceptable substitutions.
Approved Minor (minimum 9 units)
Each PhD student must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of course work in a minor area. The minor area of study specifies the number of required minor units. This should consist of a coherent set of courses in an area (or in related areas) of health behavior health promotion, in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and/or Graduate Committee Chair. These courses may be from more than one program.
Dissertation: HPS 920 (minimum 18 units)
MSPH/PhD in Health Behavior Health Promotion – Total Minimum Credit Requirements: 73 units
PhD Minor in Health Behavior Health Promotion
Minimum 12 units
The PhD minor in Health Behavior Health Promotion (HBHP) is designed for individuals from other University of Arizona doctoral degree programs who wish to obtain graduate training in Health Behavior Health Promotion and is administered by the Department of Health Promotion Sciences in the Zuckerman College of Public Health. A total of 12 course units are required, as well as successful completion of written and oral questions during the PhD Comprehensive exam reflective to the home departments processes, and successful defense of the dissertation. Consult the UA schedule of classes for further details and specific course requirements.
