Health Systems and Policy Ph.D.
The Ph.D. program in Health Systems and Policy (HS&P) in the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health provides students with advanced knowledge, analytic skills, and competencies in conducting research and developing teaching and learning skills in health systems and policy. The foundations of the HS&P Ph.D. program include public health, management theory, health services research, and policy analysis.
The program curriculum is delivered by an interdisciplinary faculty from PSU and OHSU with educational backgrounds in public health, health policy, public affairs, management, economics, epidemiology, social work, psychology, systems science, and sociology. Students will generally select one of four primary emphasis areas: 1) health systems organization, financing and delivery, 2) health policy analysis, 3) health services access, quality and cost, or 4) community-based health and social services.
This program provides a unique educational experience for students seeking to apply theory to practice in careers as researchers and teachers. This is achieved by building upon Oregon’s role as a leader in health systems transformation, and the formalized collaborative relationships PSU has with OHSU and with the Oregon Health Authority, as well as strong partnerships with major health systems and health insurance organizations in Oregon.
The HS&P curriculum reflects the vision, mission and competencies of the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. It prepares graduates to address the social determinants of health, and lead in the implementation of new approaches and policies to improve the health of populations. The curriculum is framed around nine competencies that reflect the expectations of doctoral programs in public health. The HS&P program includes core curricular content in health systems and public health, extensive study of policy domains and applications, and intensive training in research methods and research design. The curriculum is designed to help students integrate coursework with applied research and practice, and emphasizes community-engaged learning and scholarship.
Admission requirements
Information about the HS&P Ph.D. program and all application forms may be found at www.pdx.edu/public-health/health-systems-and-policy-phd. For further assistance, contact the program administrator at
hspphd@pdx.edu. Application materials must be submitted electronically through SOPHAS, the centralized application service for public health-related education programs. More information on the SOPHAS online application system can be found at www.ohsu-psu-sph.org under Admissions. Applications are not accepted in hard copy or via email. Applications are accepted for fall admission only; the early application deadline is December 1st and the final deadline is January 31st. Early submission to facilitate processing through SOPHAS is strongly encouraged.
All admitted students must have completed a masters degree from an accredited institution. Admissions standards include a GPA of at least 3.5 at a relevant masters program; combined verbal and quantitative GRE scores above 326 and 4.5 analytic; minimum TOEFL of 213 computer-based or 550 paper-based.