Doctoral Program (PhD) in Sociology of Population and Health 60 months PHD Program By University of Utah |Top Universities

Doctoral Program (PhD) in Sociology of Population and Health

Program Duration

60 monthsProgram duration

Main Subject Area

SociologyMain Subject Area

Program overview

Main Subject

Sociology

Study Level

PHD

Program Learning Outcomes: Students will gain working knowledge of the main theories and debates within sociology, the principles of social science, research design and data analysis. Students will gain the ability to synthesize state-of-the-art theory and research in their chosen areas of interest. Students will gain the ability to conduct independent, original, and scientifically meritorious work. This ability is built upon the knowledge of social theory, research design, and quantitative and qualitative analytical approaches developed in required coursework, preliminary exam preparation, and through faculty mentorship. Students will become competent teachers. Students will receive training in pedagogical techniques, and/or have opportunities to be a teaching assistant or an independent instructor teaching their own courses. Students will develop skills in communicating research study design and results to diverse audiences. The program encourages students to attend academic conferences to present their research. Students will gain skills in grant writing and / or other modes of seeking relevant research support. Students are encouraged to apply for relevant internal and external support for their graduate studies and research program. Students will receive mentoring from faculty and be introduced to grant writing support resources across campus. Sociology of Population and Health (P and H) program area is focused on describing characteristics of human populations and how population dynamics affect human health and well-being. This unique area blends training in medical sociology, social epidemiology, gerontology, and demography. Faculty mentors in this area are conducting research examining the demographic (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, immigrant and legal status, marital status, and living arrangements) behavioral (e.g., physical activity, smoking), socio-environmental (e.g., neighborhood and family contexts), and genetic determinants of health, mortality, and well-being across the life course. Other faculty projects are exploring population-related issues through the study of family, gender, race/ethnicity, and migration. This research has covered settings in the United States, Asia, and Europe. International comparative studies of population health outcomes (e.g., healthcare and mortality) are also conducted, providing a natural bridge between the PH and GCS core areas of emphasis in the department. A central goal of the PH program area is to provide students with both the theoretical background and methodological competency necessary to conduct high quality, evidence-based research in academic and policy related careers. To that end, the doctoral program provides extensive training for students in research methodology and statistical analysis, as well as courses in social theory. Students choosing to specialize in PH enroll in a sequence of courses taught by Sociology faculty that are specifically related to the study of populations and health, including an introductory seminar on population measures and dynamics, a discussion-based seminar on contemporary population health issues, and a seminar on medical sociology which focuses heavily on the social determinants of health.

Program overview

Main Subject

Sociology

Study Level

PHD

Program Learning Outcomes: Students will gain working knowledge of the main theories and debates within sociology, the principles of social science, research design and data analysis. Students will gain the ability to synthesize state-of-the-art theory and research in their chosen areas of interest. Students will gain the ability to conduct independent, original, and scientifically meritorious work. This ability is built upon the knowledge of social theory, research design, and quantitative and qualitative analytical approaches developed in required coursework, preliminary exam preparation, and through faculty mentorship. Students will become competent teachers. Students will receive training in pedagogical techniques, and/or have opportunities to be a teaching assistant or an independent instructor teaching their own courses. Students will develop skills in communicating research study design and results to diverse audiences. The program encourages students to attend academic conferences to present their research. Students will gain skills in grant writing and / or other modes of seeking relevant research support. Students are encouraged to apply for relevant internal and external support for their graduate studies and research program. Students will receive mentoring from faculty and be introduced to grant writing support resources across campus. Sociology of Population and Health (P and H) program area is focused on describing characteristics of human populations and how population dynamics affect human health and well-being. This unique area blends training in medical sociology, social epidemiology, gerontology, and demography. Faculty mentors in this area are conducting research examining the demographic (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, immigrant and legal status, marital status, and living arrangements) behavioral (e.g., physical activity, smoking), socio-environmental (e.g., neighborhood and family contexts), and genetic determinants of health, mortality, and well-being across the life course. Other faculty projects are exploring population-related issues through the study of family, gender, race/ethnicity, and migration. This research has covered settings in the United States, Asia, and Europe. International comparative studies of population health outcomes (e.g., healthcare and mortality) are also conducted, providing a natural bridge between the PH and GCS core areas of emphasis in the department. A central goal of the PH program area is to provide students with both the theoretical background and methodological competency necessary to conduct high quality, evidence-based research in academic and policy related careers. To that end, the doctoral program provides extensive training for students in research methodology and statistical analysis, as well as courses in social theory. Students choosing to specialize in PH enroll in a sequence of courses taught by Sociology faculty that are specifically related to the study of populations and health, including an introductory seminar on population measures and dynamics, a discussion-based seminar on contemporary population health issues, and a seminar on medical sociology which focuses heavily on the social determinants of health.

Admission Requirements

6.5+
All international graduate applicants to the University of Utah must meet the following minimum Graduate School requirements: A bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university or from an institution recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education in their home country. The Office of International Admissions will determine if applicants with international degrees meet the Graduate School's requirement of a recognized bachelor's degree. At least a 3.0 or higher undergraduate weighted mean GPA on a 4.0 scale. If the undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, a GPA will be calculated for the last two years attended if schooling was done at a foreign institution, and based upon the last 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) if the student attended a U.S. institution. Other English Language Requirements: 550 on the TOEFL PBT (paper-based).

60 Months
Jan-2000

Tuition fees

Domestic
0 USD
International
0 USD

Scholarships

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