Program requirements
| Summary of Course Requirements | Units |
|---|---|
| Total: | 30.0 |
| Fundamental of Health Research (SDH 600a; 600b) | 3.0 |
| Methodology | 3.0 |
| Colloquium (SDH 601a; 601b) | 3.0 |
| Electives | 3.0 |
| Candidacy | 3.0 |
| Dissertation | 15.0 |
Student Handbook
Fundamentals of Health Research (SDH 600a and b)
Doctoral students are required to complete two 1.5-unit Fundamentals of Health Research courses. These courses will cover topics including basics in epidemiology, ethics, policy, health and wellness, grant and proposal writing, academic presentations, critical review for publication, knowledge transfer and developing community partnerships. Topics are central to health research scholarship and provide core competencies preparatory to the independent research component of the program. Doctoral students who have completed these courses at the master's level may petition to be exempted from taking them again.
SDH Colloquium (SDH 601a and b)
Doctoral students are required to attend and participate in an SDH colloquium exposing them to a wide range of conceptual and substantive issues that reflect the breadth and depth of health research generally. Students will receive 3.0 units of pass/fail credit during their first year for attending the colloquium; however, attendance and participation in the colloquium throughout their time in the SDH program is mandatory. In subsequent years, doctoral students will be asked to make presentations on a regular basis as determined by their supervisory committee and SDH Program Director. Presentation of their dissertation research to the colloquium is required in the final year.
Methodology
Two additional required courses (1.5 units each) focus on methods and will typically be chosen from a list of approved courses offered in the program's collaborating faculties. This list can be obtained here.
The departments/schools offering these courses will consider requests from SDH students on an individual, student-by-student basis provided they have permission of the instructor and/or the chair or director of the unit offering the course, that there is space in the course and the student has the particular prior background and skills to succeed in the course. Students without an appropriate background may be asked to take additional courses preparatory to taking the courses.
Other courses, such as directed reading, special topic courses or upper-level undergraduate courses that address health-related topics may be used to fulfill the methodology requirements if approved by the SDH Program Director.
Ideally, methodology courses are completed during Year 1 (fall, spring or summer session) depending on course availability.
Electives
Two 1.5-unit elective courses, which allow students to tailor their coursework to their specific research interests, will be chosen in consultation with the student's supervisory committee from an approved list of graduate courses. This list can be obtained here.
The departments/schools offering these courses will consider requests for SDH students on an individual, student-by-student basis provided they have permission of the instructor and/or the chair or director of the unit offering the course, that there is space in the course and the student has the particular prior background and skills to succeed in the course. Students without an appropriate background may be asked to take additional courses preparatory to taking these courses.
Other courses, such as directed reading, special topic courses or upper-level undergraduate courses that address health-related topics may be used to fulfill the elective requirements if approved by the SDH Program Director.
Ideally, elective courses are completed during Year 1 (fall, spring or summer session) depending on course availability.
Candidacy (SDH 693)
In Year 2 of the program, doctoral students must register in SDH 693 Candidacy Examination (3.0 units). This course helps students prepare for a comprehensive written examination on material considered essential to the completion of a PhD, as well as for an oral defense of their dissertation proposal.
Dissertation (SDH 699)
Students will advance to candidacy and are approved to begin dissertation research after successfully completing the comprehensive written examination and oral dissertation proposal defense. Independent research and a dissertation form major parts of the SDH doctoral program. The dissertation is assigned a value of 15.0 units. The dissertation defense will normally take place by the end of the fourth year.