Health Policy - PhD

The PhD in Health Policy is designed to develop scholars who are skilled at critically assessing the political, economic, legal and social aspects of health policy and management and learning to apply innovative research tools to analyze processes and outcomes in the health care delivery and public health settings to inform policy decision-making. Special emphasis is placed on US health policies, systems, and population health.  The PhD in Health Policy is a 48-credit program (with a requirement of a previous Master’s degree) that culminates in a defended dissertation. 

Based in Washington, DC, the PhD in Health Policy will immerse students in a multidisciplinary, scholarly environment working with faculty in the Department of Health Policy and Management and other GW experts who are conducting research and policy analyses in pursuit of improvements in health access, equity, costs and outcomes and shaping the health and public health policy debate at national, state and other levels  From Day One, PhD students will benefit from faculty mentorship and proximity to experts and agencies immersed in the most current topics of health policy and public health in the hub of health policy decision-making and debate.  This program will prepare PhD candidates with the proper training to be an integral part of the future creating solutions to public health challenges and a transformed health care system.

Our research strengths include:

• Health Policy, Law, and Regulation
• Medicaid and Medicare Policy
• Health Reform
• Public Health Policy
• Workforce Policy
• Health Economics and Financing
• Cost-effectiveness of Health Interventions
• Health Disparities
• Health Services Research
• Research Methods
• Payment and Systems Transformation

GWSPH Doctoral programs admit students for the Fall term each academic year.  Applications will be accepted beginning in August and are due no later than December 1st for the next matriculating cohort beginning in the following Fall term.  Find GWSPH graduate admissions information here.

The Health Policy PhD is a 48-credit program designed to be full-time, in-residence for the first two years.  Admitted students will be required to have:

• a Master's degree; preferably in public health, public policy, and similar fields (e.g. economics, sociology, demography).
• Evidence of introductory economics and introductory statistics coursework.
• At least one year of multivariate statistics (e.g. biostatistics, econometrics) is desirable, but not required.
• Prior experience conducting health policy or health services research.  Experience developing peer-reviewed articles or scholarly reports is desirable but not required.
• Professional experience is helpful, but not required.

GWSPH uses the SOPHAS* application system for admissions.  Applications will be reviewed beginning in January and those applicants selected for a personal interview (in-person, telephone or videoconference) can expect to be contacted no later than late-February.  

Comprehensive Exam

The PhD in Health Policy requires successful completion of comprehensive exams which typically occurs following the Spring semester of Year 2.  Students will compile a 3-person comprehensive exam committee which will consist of his/her advisor and two other appropriate faculty members.  Upon successful completion of the comprehensive exam, students move to the candidacy phase of the PhD program and may begin work on the dissertation. 

Dissertation

For the dissertation, students are expected to conduct original research on a contemporary public health problem or issue. They are expected to make a significant scholarly contribution and to gain the expertise and skills that enable them to make a continuing impact on the field. Students are guided by health policy, public health and social science theory in formulating their dissertation questions, which they address using quantitative and/or qualitative methods and through primary data collection and/or secondary analysis of already collected data.

Dissertations may take the form of a traditional dissertation or a “manuscript” dissertation where the student will prepare 3 papers in a related area that are publishable or have been published in peer-reviewed journals.  Additional information will be made available to PhD students well in advance of his/her candidacy.