Education: Learning by Doing
Ph.D. Programs
For students who aim to make meaningful contributions to public health, the Department of Health Behavior and Policy offers two Ph.D. programs.
Our faculty are dedicated to helping students discover and claim their areas of expertise, and both doctoral programs within the department offer the following:
- A core curriculum in research methods and statistics
- A broad selection of interdisciplinary electives
- Dedicated mentored research experiences
- Professional development seminars
- Access to VCU Health research institutes and centers
- Stipend and tuition defrayment for up to four years
- Opportunities for financial support covering dissertation expenses
- Small class sizes
- Emphasis on applied research
Healthcare Policy and Research Ph.D.
In preparation for research positions in academia, government and the private sector, this program trains students to use economic and statistical frameworks and methods to address important health policy issues.
Social and Behavioral Sciences Ph.D.
This program equips students with an understanding of health as the intersection of structural, cultural, social, behavioral and biological factors, preparing them to become scientists, educators and program administrators across a broad spectrum of health care settings.
M.D./Ph.D. Dual-Degree Program
VCU trains physician-scientists to improve human health through a combined program that blends medicine and science throughout the entire curriculum.
Master of Public Health
Administered by the School of Population Health, VCU’s MPH program provides a framework for the current state of public health. Our faculty provide academic support for students enrolled in this program.
Postdoc Training in Cancer Prevention and Control
Funded by the National Institutes of Health, this two-year program through the Massey Cancer Center is for early-career individuals in the social sciences (psychology, sociology, economics, anthropology), public health, biostatistics and those who have completed clinical training in medicine or nursing.