We appreciate your interest in the School of Community Health Science’s PhD in Public Health! The degree is being offered in conjunction with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Community Health Sciences, and affords unique opportunities for collaborative research at UNR’s sister institution. On this page you will find answers to commonly asked questions and to give you an overview of the application process.
| What areas of specialization are available? | |
| Once admitted to the program, will I need to spend time at both UNR and UNLV? | |
| When should I apply? | |
| What prerequisites do I need in order to apply? | |
| What are the components of the application? | |
| For more information, and a link to the online graduate application site, please refer to our PhD in Public Health program description or call (775) 682-7084. | |
What areas of specialization are available?
There is currently one area of emphasis being offered for the Public Health PhD: Environmental / Occupational Health (EOH). Concentrations in Social / Behavioral Health (SBH), Epidemiology / Biostatistics, and Health Services Management and Policy will be available in the near future. We encourage you to contact individual faculty members in the School of Community Health Sciences in order to gain a better understanding of specific research and mentorship opportunities associated with each area of emphasis.
Once admitted to the program, will I need to spend time at both UNR and UNLV?
Students will be admitted to the Public Health PhD at either UNR or UNLV. While students will be able to take courses at either UNLV or UNR (via videoconference or online venues), the choice of institution should be made by the student on the basis of specific research opportunities available at either institution. The collaborative Public Health PhD is designed to accommodate students and facilitate research projects that would benefit from a presence at both institutions; that said, there is no requirement that students conduct any portion of their research or coursework outside the institution to which they are admitted.
All application materials should be received no later than April 1 for admission in the Fall semester. Review of applications will begin on April 15. Students will be admitted once per year, for Fall Semester only.
What prerequisites do I need in order to apply?
Applicants must meet all requirements of the UNR Graduate School. See http://www.unr.edu/grad/prospective/apply.asp for more information. The following information assumes that these University-wide requirements have been met.
You’ll need to have earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in related field(s) from accredited institution(s) by the time you begin the PhD in Public Health. The minimum earned GPA for the prerequisite master’s degree must be 3.0 (4.0=A). Occasionally, outstanding candidates without masters' degrees may be provisionally admitted at the discretion of the selection committee with the understanding that they will complete the masters' degree prior to advancement to the PhD in Public Health.
What are the components of the application?
1. Graduate Record Examination. Applicants must present competitive Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores on verbal, quantitative and analytical measures. GRE scores will be assessed relative to other applicants in the pool, as well as relative to other graduate programs at UNR. The exam must have been taken with the institutions' graduate school/college requirements.
2. Demonstration of English Competency. Applicants from countries where English is not the native language, or who do not receive a degree from an institution where English is the language of instruction must show competency in English, meeting the Graduate College or Graduate School requirements: "a minimum score of 500 on the written or 173 on the computerized Test of English as a Foreign Language” (TOEFL; UNR Graduate Catalog, 2007)
3. Provide Letters of Recommendation. Three (3) letters of recommendation are required from individuals who can evaluate the applicant's motivation, academic capability, scholarship potential, and personal goals for doctoral study. Letters from academic faculty are strongly encouraged.
4. Submit a Written Self-Presentation. Applicants must submit for review a written statement of personal career, educational and scholarship goals including identification of research interests.
5. Participate in an Interview. Applicants will participate in an interview with member(s) of the Admissions Committee, either in person or by telephone.
For additional information regarding the application process click here.