PhD in Health Behavior Health Promotion
OFFERED ON CAMPUS IN TUCSON Accredited Program
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.
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.
View Information about the MSPH/PhD in Health Behavior & Health Promotion
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
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 618 Introduction to Systematic Review (3)
- HPS 620A Advanced Research Methods in Health Promotion I (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 646 Measurement Issues in Epidemiology (3)
- EPID 671 Social Epidemiology (3)
- EPID 673 Mixed Research Methods- Design, Conduct and Application in Health Research (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)
- HPS 535 Multicultural Health Beliefs (3) or
- HPS 605 Community Based Participatory Action Research to Decrease Health Disparities (3)
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 Courses (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
PhD Minor in Health Behavior Health Promotion
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.