Applied Health Research & Evaluation, Ph.D.

• Rising health care costs, limited resources, and the need to make timely, evidence-based decisions about program impact on population health are driving the demand for researchers skilled in making meaningful use of data collected across diverse settings.
• This program responds to a nationally recognized need for researchers skilled in rigorously evaluating clinical and population health data and are capable of working across traditional boundaries.  Professionals with such training are in high demand in state and federal agencies, private research and evaluation firms, academic, and health systems.
• Students, under one or more faculty mentors, are involved in assisting with teaching, research, and evaluation beginning on day one of the program.
• Departmental faculty have expertise and funded research in the following areas: health promotion and behavior, dissemination and implementation, epidemiology and outcomes research, public health informatics, global health, healthcare economics, and evaluation.
• Our learning framework combines theory and application through rigorous instruction in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data and practical experience applying these tools and methods to improve both health systems performance and population health.
• The AHRE PhD program fosters transdisciplinary faculty collaboration and involves research partnerships in communities and healthcare settings in the region.
• We have a 100% employment rate for AHRE PhD programs.  See Graduate Program Alumni for more details.
• Clemson is an internationally respected, Tier One Research Institution, and the Department of Public Health Sciences has trained professionals going into a variety of health settings for over 25 years.

The Ph.D. in applied health research and evaluation is designed for individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, career interests, and employment settings. The program is well suited for:

• Scholars who desire to become leading, independent researchers solving real-world health problems
• Aspiring methodologists who seek advanced skills in research design, mixed-methods, data science, and quantitative methods
• Those who wish to pursue a career in academia, industry, government, and non-profit sectors

Graduates of this program possess skills to assess program/intervention effectiveness, enhance oversight and accountability, improve the efficacy and efficiency of health services, and provide structure for data-informed decision making to empower change in population health and healthcare practice.

• The Ph.D. in applied health research and evaluation requires a total of 64 hours of approved coursework, including a 34-credit core, 12-credit cognate, and 18-credit dissertation. 
• Upon completion of core coursework (between years 2 and 3), Ph.D. students sit for a comprehensive exam.  Successful passage of the comprehensive exam marks the transition into candidacy.
• Ph.D. candidates must successfully present and defend their dissertation proposal before their dissertation committee during the 3rd year of the program.
• Ph.D. candidates must successfully defend the final dissertation, usually during the 4th or 4th year in the program.

Coursework (64 credit hours):

Core Courses (34 credit hours)

• HLTH 8030 – Theory and Determinants of Health
• HLTH 8090 – Epidemiological Research
• HLTH 8110 – Health Care Delivery Systems
• HLTH 8210 – Health Research I: Design and Measurement
• HLTH 8220   Health Research II: Qualitative and Mixed Methods
• HLTH 8290 – Epidemiology II: Study Design & Data Analysis
• HLTH 8310 – Quantitative Analysis in Health Research I
• HLTH 8320 – Quantitative Analysis in Health Research II
• HLTH 8410 – Foundation of Evaluation in Health
• HLTH 8420 – Applied Evaluation Methods in Health
• HLTH 8890 – Doctoral Seminar (1-credit, repeated 4 times)

Cognate Courses (12 credit hours)

Elective courses planned by the student and academic advisor and approved by the department that improve the depth of understanding of the student’s primary research interest area.  A minimum of 12 credit hours is required, one of which must include 3 credits in advanced statistics, analysis, or methodology relevant to the student’s research area.

Dissertation (18 credit hours)

• HLTH 9910 – Doctoral Dissertation Research

Other Requirements:

• Comprehensive Exam
• Dissertation Proposal
• Final Dissertation Defense

Applications must be submitted by April 15^th each year to be considered for the following fall term.  Priority consideration is given to those who submit applications by December 31^st.  Those who wish to be considered for an assistantship must submit all materials by January 15^th.

Click “Apply now” to start your application.  Your application will require:

1. A Statement of Purpose addressing your purpose for undertaking or continuing graduate study, your research interests, your professional plans/experience and career goals, and why you are a good fit for this program. Please, describe your background, including your academic and/or experiential preparation for this field of study, a description of your current research experience, your professional plans and career goals, and identify one to two faculty members with who you be interested in working with and why.  Please, include any special circumstances applicable to your background and interest in pursuing a doctorate in applied health research and evaluation.  If there are any deficiencies in your GPA, please address them here.
   
   
2. A resume that includes the following:
   • Education background
   • Certifications
   • Work Experience
   • Professional Publications
   • Professional Presentations
   • Teaching Experience
   • Academic/Experiential preparation related to: Research, Math, Statistics, and Epidemiology
     
     
3. Transcripts from all prior degrees; coursework in introductory statistics and research methods are preferred.
   
   
4. A Writing Sample (nonreturnable, limited to fewer than 15 pages). This sample should be an example of published or other written work where the applicant is the sole author or primary author. Writing samples are to be uploaded to the Graduate School on-line application site, along with general application materials.  The writing sample can be a research paper, a paper based on previous coursework, or unpublished or published research that best demonstrates the applicant’s areas of professional interest, writing and reasoning skills, familiarity with research methods, and analytical ability.
   
   
5. Three Letters of Recommendation, one of which must be from an academic source
   
   
6. A brief 2-3 minute video of yourself (recorded via applications like Zoom, Teams, YouTube video or mobile phone video) answering the following questions:
   • What is your background experience that prepares you for the PhD in AHRE program?
   • Why are you specifically interested in the PhD in AHRE program at Clemson University?
   • Who are the faculty members that you are interested in working with and why?
     
     
7. International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. English Language Proficiency Scores (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, PTE) must be submitted at the time of application.  Scores are valid for two years from the test date.

Please, note:  The GRE is preferred, but not required.  Applicants who do not submit GRE scores are strongly encouraged to submit evidence of quantitative skills (e.g., examples of involvement in quantitative research, quantitative graduate coursework, etc.).  This can be addressed in the personal statement and demonstrated in transcripts.

Apply Now

For more information about the program, please contact our program coordinator at phsgrad@clemson.edu.