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Doctoral Degrees

The Bloomberg School’s doctoral degree programs target students with specific career goals in public health research, teaching or leadership, and typically require a longer time commitment. We offer three different doctoral degree programs.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree program at the Bloomberg School, students focus on the creation of new and innovative knowledge – it’s primarily a degree for individuals with goals in public health research or teaching. Generally, the program consists of one to two years of full-time coursework, followed by two to five years of full-time, independent research. PhD programs are based within individual departments, so students should explore and contact their department of interest for more information.

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree program at the Bloomberg School is designed for the student who already has an MPH or equivalent degree and who intends to pursue a leadership position as a public health professional.

Through the integration and application of a broad range of knowledge and analytical skills in leadership, policy, program management and professional communication, coupled with preparation in a specific public health field, graduates of the DrPH program are prepared for either domestic or international careers in public agencies or private sector settings that emphasize improving population health.  

Welcome to the  Harvard University PhD in Population Health Sciences  (PHS). Our full-time doctoral degree is a joint collaboration between the  Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS)  and the  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health   and offer s a  Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)  in  P opulation Health Sciences .   Our research program is designed to allow students to benefit from connections between public health disciplines and a broader range of academic disciplines represented across the Harvard Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).  

A  PHS   PhD   offers advanced doctoral-level research and training that builds on multiple disciplinary perspectives to understand the origins and determinants of health and disease across populations. Our students are based at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and belong to one of the following department-based   Fields of Study :  

• Environmental Health (EH)
• Epidemiology (EPI)
• Global Health & Population (GHP)
• Nutrition (NUT)
• Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS)

This  PhD in Population Health Sciences (PHS)  is intended for students who are looking to pursue careers in academia in one of five   Fields of Study   as well as in organizations related to population health or research-related positions beyond academia. In addition to nurturing the development of the next generation of population health researchers and scientists , PHS provides tremendous opportunities for students to build scientific communication and mentoring, and teaching skills – while all along, building lasting connection s ac ross students, alumni, and faculty at our world- r enown ed Harvard University .  

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The Department of Population Health Sciences develops critically-thinking, creative, and collaborative research scientists that are passionate about improving healthcare for all. The doctoral program equips students with the knowledge and tools they will need to research and work alongside health systems, government agencies, non-profits, industry, and others pursuing improved health of populations.

Admission Deadlines

Application Deadline : The application for 2023-2024 admissions  to the Population Health Sciences PhD program has opened, and will close on November 30, 2023.

Successful applicants will find a close fit with a departmental  faculty  advisor who shares their research interests. The DPHS Education leadership team identifies potential matches early in the admissions process, so those offered admission to the program can be assured of a strong match with a faculty advisor. 

Also, please note that the  online degree application requires you to identify potential mentors from our department. You will have an opportunity to contact these potential mentors after you hear whether you have been accepted to the doctoral degree program.  

Some guidance on how to identify those faculty members. 

• What excites you in your research field? 
• What is a productive area that fits your values and your career plans? 
• Who is engaged in research that is complementary to your interests?

About the PhD in Population Health Sciences

The Duke PopHealth PhD program prepares researchers to formulate important research questions, design studies to answer them, organize resources to carry out relevant studies, and analyze the results to contribute scientific and policy insights. Our coursework, experiential learning, and professional development help prepare PhD students to be leaders in the population health field.

Our faculty are world-renowned for their expertise and strengths in the following areas:

• Health Measurement. Learn more
• Implementation Science. Learn more
• Health Policy
• Health Services Research
• Health Economics

Why Choose Duke for a PhD in Population Health Sciences?

The department, which is part of the Duke University School of Medicine, offers Ph.D. candidates a unique and rich setting in which to acquire that foundation and then use it to complete their studies and dissertation research. Ph.D. students can:

Access Duke's  PopHealth DataShare , which provides access and consultation to large data sets from federal and state government sources as well as a private insurer

Tap into Duke PopHealth’s partnerships with world-class institutions like  Duke Cancer Institute ,  Duke Clinical Research Institute ,  Duke Global Health Institute , and  Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy

Connect with Duke PopHealth’s  Center for Health Measurement , the  BASE Lab ,  QualCore , and  INTERACT  (Implementation Science Research Collaborative) – which each offer specialized research support.

Enjoy proximity to Duke Health, which provides most of the health care in Durham County. Students can also connect with the Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center and  ADAPT Center .