Program type:

Major
Format:

On Campus
Est. time to complete:

5 years
Credit Hours:

51
Become a leader in the healthcare delivery system with UNT's Ph.D. program.
Healthcare systems are ever-changing and under constant pressure to improve the quality of care and outcomes for their consumers. Aspiring leaders and future educators in the healthcare delivery environment will benefit from a broad-based graduate education that offers the opportunity to assume a leadership or educator role in diverse healthcare delivery settings that serve a broader spectrum of the population. This program provides opportunities for specialized expertise across three concentration areas: Applied Aging and Rehabilitation Science, Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology, and Behavioral Analysis.

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Why Earn a Health Sciences Ph.D.?

This program provides a broad foundation in public health concerns, research and evaluation methods, and health and social policy analysis to meet the demands of a dynamic health services delivery environment. The Ph.D. program in Health Sciences (HS) provides opportunities for specialized expertise across several concentration areas: Applied Aging and Rehabilitation Science, Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology, and Behavioral Analysis.

Pursuing a doctoral degree in Health Sciences at the University of North Texas gives you a broad foundation in public health concerns, research and evaluation methods, and social policy analysis to meet the demands of a dynamic health services delivery environment.

Our faculty has a vast array of experience in a variety of health care delivery environments, and broad expertise in health care and health-related research and policy. The focus is on developing academic research scientists who are interested in contributing to the health services discipline through research, education and policy analysis.

Marketable Skills
  • Health policy solution formulation
  • Primary health/health care data collection
  • Health services research implementation
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Translation of research into policy/practice

Health Sciences Ph.D. Highlights

The mission of the Ph.D. with a concentration in audiology and speech-language pathology (ASLP) is to prepare researchers, educators and leaders in the academic fields of audiology and speech-language pathology.
RHS students are eligible to apply for scholarships offered by the college and the department.
Fully funded lines are available for the first 2 years.
The applied aging and rehabilitation science (AARS) concentration is designed for the health science practitioner who is interested in making contributions to the discipline through research, while maintaining their focus on vulnerable populations, such as older individuals and those with chronic illness or disability.
The mission of the Ph.D. with a major in health sciences research with a concentration in behavior analysis is to train the next generation of behavioral scientists/scientist-practitioners to work across disciplinary boundaries to expand scientific understanding. Within this concentration, students can focus on a variety of research and application areas such as populations with learning differences (Autism and Developmental Disorders), social justice, teaching sciences, animal behavior, behavioral neuroscience, and behavioral health and contingency management.
This program develops competent researchers, educators and leaders to be at the forefront of knowledge for improving the overall quality of life, and uses a science-practitioner model to develop researchers, educators and leaders.

What Can You Do With a Health Sciences Ph.D.?

Graduates of the Ph.D. Program in Health Sciences will be prepared to function as educators, researchers, and leaders. You may find future graduates working as university faculty; health research policy analysts with government and nonprofit agencies; or as health systems administrators in the public or private industry. The degree program graduates will be prepared to address research, education, service delivery and policy challenges requiring an interdisciplinary perspective across various service settings.

Health Sciences Ph.D. Courses You Could Take

Health Disparities and Social Justice (3 hrs)
In-depth examination and discussion of the theories of justice, social determinants of health and disability, and learn about community-based participatory research and narrative methods that may be used to address social injustices and public health inequities in health services research doctoral programs.
Research Methods and Design (3hrs)
Focuses on social science policy and applications research for community and health services. Covers conceptualization and operationalization, research and evaluation design, sampling, survey design, data collection, data analysis, evaluating significance and hypothesis testing, and reporting of findings.
Health Sciences: Statistical Research Methods I (3hrs)
Introductory course in statistics for students interested in doing research in the health sciences. Students develop skills in conducting basic quantitative statistical analyses using statistical software, such as SPSS, interpreting the output and drawing appropriate conclusions, and reporting the results in a narrative format. Students are introduced to epidemiology and the use of statistical methods for determining the distribution and determinants of health-related states in populations.
Health Sciences: Statistical Research Methods II (3 hrs)
Advanced course in statistics for students interested in doing research in the health sciences. Students apply the knowledge gained in previous research design and statistical analysis courses and develop skills in conducting health care research by applying complex research designs and using advanced statistical techniques.
Social Policies for Health and Aging (3hrs)
Examination of the impact of public policies related to an aging society in the U.S. as well as in other nations. Policies related to income security, support services, access to health care, institutional services and housing access are reviewed.
Health Sciences: Theory and Practice (3 hrs)
Focuses on critically evaluating health theories and models, and strategies for improving the health, wellbeing, and resilience of communities. Students explore ethical and legal responsibilities related to healthcare.

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