About the Program
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PhD in Community Health and Health Policy
The PhD in Community Health and Health Policy prepares researchers and other public health professionals to advance scientific understanding of the social determinants of health, health behaviors, the delivery of health services and the development of sound health policies. CHHP graduates will be able to conduct research that informs public health program and policy development and evaluate community health interventions within a social justice framework. Coursework prepares students for careers in research, teaching, and policy analysis and graduates develop a nuanced understanding of how a range of mechanisms—systematically associated with policy—influence population health. The track draws on the methods and theories from multiple disciplines to prepare students to design and implement public health research studies. Graduates will apply theories and methods of multiple disciplines to conduct research that can inform the planning, management, design and evaluation of community health interventions, as well as improve health services and health policies. For more information on financial aid, scholarships, and tuition, please visit our Scholarships and Fellowships page.
Connect with our Admissions Team!
- Text: (646) 664-1366
- Phone: (646) 664-8355
- Email: admissions@sph.cuny.edu
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- Upcoming admissions events: Join us!
Is this degree right for you?
The degree prepares researchers and other public health professionals to advance scientific understanding of the social determinants of health, health behaviors, the delivery of health services and the development of sound health policies.
What will you learn?
This program uses a multidisciplinary approach to prepare students to design and implement public health research studies that can inform the planning, management, design and evaluation of community health interventions, as well as improve health services and health policies.
Where to after graduation?
Graduates work in a variety of organizations across public and nonprofit sectors in New York and beyond, including academia, service, advocacy, and healthcare organizations, as researchers, professors, program managers, policy specialists, communications specialists, and in other facets of public health.
Admissions Information
Admission Requirements
- Completed SOPHAS application
- GRE scores are not required for admission. Students have the option of submitting GRE scores if they would like to; if you choose to submit them, please use the CUNY SPH SOPHAS code 7914 and click here for information.
- Combined undergraduate and graduate minimum of cumulative 3.0 GPA based on a four-point scale.
- Completion of a master’s degree in public health or other relevant subject area.
- Three letters of recommendation (at least one should be an academic reference)
- A resume/CV indicating at least three years of prior teaching, research, or programmatic work experience
- A personal statement (up to 1500 words)
- TOEFL scores, if language of instruction for prior degrees was not English
- Transcript evaluation for all applicants with international transcripts; World Education Services strongly preferred
Deadline to Apply
Fall 2025: December 15, 2024
Curriculum
| Foundational Knowledge (0 credits) | PUBH 601 Foundations of Public Health Knowledge* |
| Core Courses (12 credits) | PUBH 801 (formerly EPID 820) Epidemiological Methods I |
| PUBH 802 (formerly BIOS 820) Applied Biostatistics I | |
| PUBH 803 Public Health Perspectives on Science | |
| PUBH 804 (formerly PUBH 813) Qualitative Research Methods with Applications to Urban Health | |
| Concentration Courses (30 credits) | CHSS 820 Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Health Theory and Methods |
| CHSS 821 Advanced Community Health Interventions | |
| CHSS 810 Cities and Health | |
| HPAM 820 Seminar in Health Policy | |
| HPAM 822 Public Health Economics | |
| Five courses, one of which must emphasis research methods, chosen in consultation with advisor | |
| Teaching Experience (0 credits) | Teaching experience to be determined in consultation with advisor |
| Examinations | Qualifying Exam and Comprehensive Exam (for students who entered prior to 2023) |
| Culminating Seminar and Experience (0 credits) | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision |
| Total Required Credits | 42 |
*Students who have a CEPH-accredited undergraduate or graduate degree in public health can be waived from PUBH 601 by submitting a Course Waiver Request.
Recommended Course Sequence
For full-time students
| Semester | Course | Credits |
| Year 1 Fall | PUBH 601: Foundations of Public Health Knowledge* | 0 |
| PUBH 803 Public Health Perspectives on Science | 3 | |
| PUBH 801 Epidemiological Methods I | 3 | |
| PUBH 802 Applied Biostatistics I | 3 | |
| Year 1 Spring | PUBH 804 Qualitative Research Methods with Application to Urban Health | 3 |
| HPAM 820 Seminar in Health Policy | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 2 Fall | CHSS 820 Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Health Theory and Methods | 3 |
| CHSS 810 Cities and Health | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 2 Spring | CHSS 821 Advanced Community Health Interventions | 3 |
| HPAM 822 Public Health Economics | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 2 Summer | Qualifying Exam | – |
| Year 3 Fall | Teaching Experience | – |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 3 Winter | Comprehensive Exam (for students who entered prior to 2023) | – |
| Year 3 Spring | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Year 4 Fall | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Year 4 Spring | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Year 5 Fall | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
For part-time students
| Semester | Course | Credits |
| Year 1 Fall | PUBH 601: Foundations of Public Health Knowledge* | 0 |
| PUBH 803 Public Health Perspectives on Science | 3 | |
| PUBH 801 Epidemiological Methods I | 3 | |
| Year 1 Spring | PUBH 802 Applied Biostatistics I | 3 |
| PUBH 804 Qualitative Research Methods with Application to Urban Health | 3 | |
| Year 2 Fall | CHSS 820 Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Health Theory and Methods | 3 |
| CHSS 810 Cities and Health | 3 | |
| Year 2 Spring | CHSS 821 Advanced Community Health Interventions | 3 |
| HPAM 820 Seminar in Health Policy | 3 | |
| Year 2 Summer | Qualifying Exam | – |
| Year 3 Fall | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 3 Spring | HPAM 822 Public Health Economics | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 4 Fall | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 4 Winter | Comprehensive Exam (for students who entered prior to 2023) | – |
| Year 4 Spring | Teaching Experience | – |
| PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 | |
| Year 5 Fall | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Year 5 Spring | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Year 6 Fall | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Year 6 Spring | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
*PUBH 601 should be completed during a student’s first semester. Students who have a CEPH-accredited undergraduate or graduate degree in public health can be waived from this requirement by submitting a Course Waiver Request.
Competencies
Core Competencies
- Critically analyze research for appropriateness of study design, sample, measures, data analysis, results, interpretation and dissemination.
- Design a feasible study and apply appropriate research methods to answer public health research questions.
- Develop professional skills in scientific writing, oral communication, and teaching.
- Uphold the highest ethical standards in planning, conducting, and analyzing research, including the involvement of human subjects.
- Apply historical and emerging scientific theories and paradigms to develop research aims and methods.
Concentration Competencies
- Apply quantitative and qualitative, or, when appropriate, mixed methods to community health and health policy research and evaluation.
- Analyze causes and social consequences of health inequalities and propose strategies to reduce and eliminate these inequalities.
- Investigate through multidisciplinary methods the implications and impact of policies and politics in community and population health with a focus on urban populations.
- Assess community needs, assets, cultural values, and capacity to promote health.
- Analyze the role of policy environment for healthcare organizations.
Alumni Outcomes
Alumni outcomes data was collected via surveys of CUNY SPH alumni one year after graduation from 2016 to 2022. See more program outcomes here.