PhD in Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences

Beginning Fall 2021, this degree will be replaced by the PhD in Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences.

The purpose of the PhD program in Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences (GCHB) is to train experts who will advance the field of global community health through research, development and application of theory, and teaching. The PhD is a highly specialized training program, integrating theory and research in a focused substantive area of global importance. Graduates will have in-depth expertise necessary for a research career, and are expected to develop careers in universities, medical schools, and other higher institutions of learning as faculty members or in research organizations globally.

Admission Requirements

The requirements listed below represent the standards set by the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine for doctoral programs.

  1. Prior Degree Requirements: Completion of a master's degree or 30 graduate-level credits in a field related to the doctoral area of study is preferred. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis for outstanding students holding only baccalaureate degrees.
  2. A grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for graduate coursework is preferred.
  3. Official GRE scores are required for doctoral applicants. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores in the upper percentiles are preferred for the verbal and quantitative tests.
  4. For applicants from non-English speaking nations, a minimum Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 89 for the internet-based test (IBT), 230 for the computer-based test (CBT), or 570 for the paper-based test (PBT) is required. Applicants may also submit scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must have a score of 7 or above for doctoral study.

Applicants must meet the school's admission requirements, submit the application through SOPHAS and include in their application three (3) letters of reference from individuals who are familiar with their academic and/or professional performance.

Practical experience in public health is highly preferred.

Complete applications must be received by the priority deadline of December 1 to be considered for fellowships and other student funding. To be considered for admission to GCHB doctoral programs without funding, the completed application must be received by January 15.

A complete application includes all required documentation --career statements, letters of recommendation and verified transcripts and GRE scores. We recommend applications and required documentation be submitted in sufficient time for SOPHAS to receive and verify transcripts and GRE scores to meet the respective deadlines.

For further details regarding admissions requirements to the school, see the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine "Policies and Procedures for Doctoral Programs Guide."

Degree Requirements

Please visit the university course catalog for:

Department Interim Chair: David Hotchkiss, PhD

Admissions Committee Co-Chairs: Alessandra Bazzano, PhD and Mai Do, MD, DrPH (for inquires about application and admissions)

Program Director: David Seal, PhD (for inquires about the program's structure and content)

Program Manager: Anita Jobson

Email: gchb@tulane.edu

Phone: (504) 988-5391

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