Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences (BCHS)
The Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences (BCHS) prepares individuals to apply knowledge about how social, cultural, political, and behavioral factors impact upon the health of populations and on health care programs designed to serve these populations.
Contact Information
- Robert Goodman, PhD, Chair
- 208 Parran Hall
- 412-624-3100
- E-mail: rmg16@pitt.edu
- www.bchs.pitt.edu
For additional information concerning specific degrees, contact
the following: MPH—Martha Terry, 222 Parran Hall, 412-624-5887
or materry@pitt.edu; MPH/PhD
in Social Work—Eileen Tuccillo, 209 Parran Hall, 412-624-3102
or phsw@pitt.edu; DrPH—Patricia
Documet, 223 Parran Hall, 412-624-1601 or pdocumet@pitt.edu;
Admissions and Registration—Daniel Bach, 227 Parran Hall, 412-624-3107
or paudbs@pitt.edu.
Financial Assistance
There are occasional Graduate Student Assistant (GSA) or Graduate Student Research (GSR) positions available for students enrolled in the Department's educational programs. There are also some opportunities for paid field practicum positions. In the social work training program (MPH or MPH/PhD), at least one student is funded full time through the PHSW Project annually. Students in the MPH/PhD program generally will receive financial support from the MCH training grant only during their initial three terms of study. The School of Social Work provides financial support during the second three terms of study and also attempts to assist students during their dissertation research phase.
Graduate Programs
Educational programs of the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences build upon a common body of public health knowledge and social/behavioral science concepts, theories and applied research methods. The Master of Public Health (MPH) Program prepares students to assess the health status and needs of populations and public health interventions and to evaluate these interventions as well as develop recommendations for improvement. Students learn and practice assessment and research skills in the context of social and behavioral change at the individual, organizational, and community levels. A program with the School of Social Work, the MPH/PhD in Public Health Social Work, trains social workers for leadership positions in public health systems with a focus on maternal and child health and prepares them for research and teaching posts. Students also have the option to receive the MPH and the Master of Public Administration (MPA) or the Master of Public and International Affairs (MPIA) through a joint program with the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, or an MPH and a PhD in anthropology in cooperation with the School of Arts and Sciences.
Students in the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Program address advanced problems in public health and the health care system and develop a strong background in research methods, allowing them to pursue a career such as teaching in schools of public health or other professional schools or conducting health services research or health policy analysis in a variety of settings. Focus areas in the program are health services organization, policy, law and economics, maternal and child health, and public health gerontology and long-term care.
Students in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences may pursue one or more of the following certification programs to complement their area of study.
Certification in Public Health and Aging
The educational program is designed for students pursuing careers in public health, long-term care, or aging services. The program emphasizes theory, research, and practice with a focus on the multidisciplinary nature of gerontological public health and the potential contribution of public health to gerontology. Students enrolling in the program must be degree-seeking and must meet the entry requirements of their respective department/programs.
Management of Nonprofit Organization Certification Program
The nonprofit sector is composed of a vast collection of private,
tax-exempt institutions providing a wide range of human services,
educational and research programs, health care, cultural and artistic
programs, and many other public services. This educational program
emphasizes practical as well as theoretical approaches to nonprofit
organizational management and is designed for students pursuing
careers in management and policy analysis in the nonprofit sector.
Students may enroll in this program either as degree-seeking or
as nondegree students.
Certificate in Women's Studies
Graduate students in any area at the University of Pittsburgh or special students who have already completed an advanced degree at Pitt or elsewhere may apply to pursue a certificate in Women's Studies, awarded at both the master's and doctoral level by the School of Arts and Sciences.
Certificate in Latin American Studies
MPH students interested in Latin America may obtain a certificate in Latin American Studies upon completion of their master's program. To apply to the program, students should register with the Center of Latin American Studies (CLAS) early in their graduate programs in order to take advantage of lectures, seminars, films, and other events on Latin America. Candidates for Latin American Studies certificates may be eligible for travel and research awards.
Certificate in Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response
Students may earn this certificate, which offers an interdisciplinary
specialization in emergency planning, communications, and response,
with the MPH degree or DrPH degree.
Certificate in Global Health
Students may earn this interdisciplinary certificate, which educates
them about current health patterns and transitions occurring globally
as well as about the role of dynamic global environmental, political,
economic, healthcare, and social changes to these patterns and transitions.
Research Focus
Behavioral and community health sciences faculty, through their research programs, are improving the public health knowledge base in such areas as:
1) Social and behavioral factors in the utilization of health services emphasizing the interplay of cultural, political, demographic, economic, and individual factors as these facilitate or impede the access to public health services.
2) Political, legal, cultural, and behavioral aspects of the development of public health policy and programs.
3) The impact of fundamental structural changes such as managed care, both behavioral and physical, upon the utilization, quality, outcomes, and costs of health services.
The department has a state-of-the-art computer-assisted telephone interviewing system housed within the department's Office of Survey Research, which is affiliated with the University Center for Social and Urban Research. The Center for Research on Health Care, operated jointly by the Department and the Division of General Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, conducts cost and outcomes studies of a wide range of medical and public health services.
Requirements for Master's Degrees
The MPH Program is a 45-credit program requiring students to complete the GSPH core courses (12 credits), the departmental core courses (18 credits), and elective courses (15 credits). The departmental core includes courses covering subject areas in the following categories: social/behavioral theory and concepts; applied social/behavioral research methods; and experience in applying social/behavioral theories and methods.
Electives are selected from a range of courses that focus on particular issues, policies, or programs that have a social/behavioral emphasis. Students are required to complete a practicum in a public health setting and prepare an essay or thesis that demonstrates the ability to synthesize and analyze applications of social/behavioral health science concepts and methods in a public health setting through a particular policy and programmatic directive and/or intervention.
Students in the MPH/PhD Public Health Social Work Program must complete 45 credit hours of academic course work that includes a field practicum and an MPH essay. Required courses include the GSPH core, the BCHS department core, and electives, which must include maternal and child health courses. For details on the requirements for the PhD component of this joint degree, in the School of Social Work's section of this bulletin.
MPH students enrolled in the MD/PhD program in anthropology may fulfill the course work requirements for both BCHS and anthropology and earn both degrees for a total of 87 credits. The PhD dissertation can be used to meet the MPH essay/thesis requirements. The practicum requirement is met through fieldwork.
MPH/MPA and MPH/MID Requirements
The MPH/MPA or MPH/MID Program requirements are such that students must meet minimum requirements for both the GSPH and the GSPIA. These include taking the required core for each of the schools and additional required courses for a total of 63 credits. See general MPH requirement above and the MPA and MID requirement in the GSPIA section of this bulletin.
The minimum credit requirement for the DrPH Program is 72 credits of completed course work and independent research. Twenty-four credits may be awarded for a previously earned master's degree. Twelve (transfer or advance standing) credits may be allowed for graduate work taken after earning the master's degree. All students must complete a common core of courses in the following categories:
- History and philosophy of health services (8 credits)
- Analytical perspectives on health services (17–19 credits)
- Courses in a selected focus area (19–21 credits). Focus areas include health services organization, maternal and child health, policy, law, and economics, and public health gerontology and long-term care.
- A minimum of two dissertation credits also must be earned.
Students take a preliminary (qualifying) examination at the end of the first year of full-time course work and a comprehensive examination when the student has completed all of the required course work. Following successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the student is admitted into candidacy and begins dissertation study under the direction of a dissertation committee. The dissertation and oral defense of the dissertation much be completed within five years of the comprehensive examination. See General Requirements for Doctoral Degrees for further information.
Requirements for Certificate and Certification Programs
The following section details the requirements for the certification and certificates available to Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences students.
Certification in Public Health and Aging
Requirements for certification in Public Health and Aging include completion of the required core curricula in the student's respective degree program. In addition, the program requires a minimum of 15 credits which include completion of two required courses—BCHS 2532, Dimensions of Aging: Culture and Health (two credits) and BCHS 2533, Issues in Long-Term Care Services (3 credits)—and 10 credits of elective courses selected from the designated listing of approved courses in GSPH and the School of Social Work.
Management of Nonprofit Organizations Certification Program
A minimum of 15 credits is required. Courses include one required course—PIA 2170, Management of Nonprofit Organizations—and electives from the designated listing of courses offered by GSPH and GSPIA.
Certificate in Women's Studies
See Women's Studies Program under the School of Arts and Sciences for certificate requirements.
Certificate in Latin American Studies
See Latin American Studies under the University Center for International Studies for certificate requirements.
Certificate in Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response
(joint program with Department of EOH)
Students must complete 15 credits, of which 10 are required. Of
the 5 elective credits, at least 2 must be taken at GSPH. Students
must complete course work within five years of beginning the program.
Certificate in Global Health (joint program with Department of
EOH)
Students must complete 15 credits, including 12 required credits
and 3 elective credits. The required credits include a 2-credit
directed study under a faculty preceptor.
Graduate School of Public Health—Department of Biostatistics
Biostatistics is a significant tool for the study of variation
in living organisms and an essential tool for the quantitative study
of human growth, reproduction, morbidity, and mortality. The proper
application of biostatistics requires a clear understanding of the
concepts underlying statistical analysis. Training focuses on the
theory and techniques for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting
quantitative data related to the fields of public health and medicine.
Students are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a
consulting practicum and in both departmental and interdisciplinary
research projects. Primary areas of application include clinical
trials, breast and colorectal cancer, occupational and environmental
health, diagnostic radiology, psychiatric research, infectious diseases
in children, and organ transplantation. Primary areas of focus for
methodological research include survival analysis, stochastic models
of tumor growth, statistical methods in epidemiology, longitudinal
data analysis, statistical computing, outcomes research, and ROC
curve analysis. The majority of students gain experience by participating
with faculty as a graduate student researcher (GSR). In addition
to the mainframe computer and student microcomputer laboratories
provided by the University, the department maintains a microcomputer
laboratory for student usage and provides microcomputers in GSR
offices.
Contact Information
- Chair: Howard E. Rockette, PhD
- Department Office: 318C Parran Hall
- 412-624-3022
- Fax: 412-624-2183
- E-mail: biostat@pitt.edu
- www.biostat.pitt.edu
In addition to University and general GSPH requirements, admission to all Biostatistics degree programs requires two semesters of calculus, a course in biology, a basic computing course, and the Graduate Record Examination. In some cases, course deficiencies can be satisfied the first term. The MPH and DrPH degrees also require 6 credits in biology, 6 credits in social science and a professional degree and/or background in health.
The department awards approximately 25 graduate student research assistantships and three teaching assistantships each year. These awards involve an average of 20 hours of work per week and include a monthly stipend; a scholarship covering tuition and medical insurance is included in the award based on merit. First year students and foreign students are eligible.
Degree Requirements
The minimal requirements established by the Graduate Faculty of the University, as described under General Academic Regulations, and any additional requirements of GSPH Graduate Studies described under GSPH Degree Requirements, should be read in conjunction with program-specific degree requirements described in the following sections.
Requirements for Master's Degrees
The department awards both an MS and MPH degree. Students must complete 36 credit requirements for the master's degree plus a thesis and a comprehensive examination. The course requirements for the MS include more courses in statistical theory while course requirements for the MPH permit a wider range of public health courses.
Requirements for the Doctoral Degrees
Students must complete 72 credits of course work that includes both department and school requirements. Students must pass a qualifying examination to be admitted to candidacy. The remainder of the requirements entail a comprehensive examination, successful completion of a research dissertation, and a final oral examination.
PhD students must demonstrate their ability to:
- Develop new statistical methods and/or adapt existing methods to new problems; and
- Contribute to the body of knowledge and/or the methodologic rigor in their professional field.
DrPH students must demonstrate ability to:
- Plan and execute an innovative study of an important problem in their area of professional expertise; and
- contribute to the body of knowledge and/or the methodologic rigor in their professional field.
The mission of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) is to study and elucidate the health effects of exposure to chemical, physical, and biological agents encountered in the workplace or general environments.
Contact Information
- Departmental Chair
Bruce R. Pitt, PhD
- FORBL 201
- 3343 Forbes Avenue
- 412-383-2072
- Fax: 412-383-2123
- www.eoh.pitt.edu
For information on admission or registration, contact Penny Weiss at 412-383-2218 or pweiss@eoh.pitt.edu. For information on the occupational medicine program, contact Joseph Schwerha, MD, at 412-624-3155 or schwer@pitt.edu.
Course work in mathematics and the physical, chemical, and biological sciences must be documented in the undergraduate transcript. Acceptable undergraduate training includes a bachelor’s degree in the physical, chemical, or biological sciences with a minimum of two courses each in organic chemistry, biology, physics, and calculus.
Applicants for admission must also take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) unless the candidate already has a graduate or professional degree. Consistent with GSPH requirements, students are ordinarily required to have at least a 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) overall undergraduate QPA, and a 3.00 QPA in the basic science courses (chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics).
Applicants for the MPH in occupational medicine must hold an MD or equivalent degree from an acceptable institution.
Financial Assistance
Financial support is available for tuition and stipend for PhD students through a graduate research assistance program from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. Stipends are made available from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, and from individual research laboratories. MPH students in occupational medicine are eligible for support via a training grant in occupational medicine from the Centers for Disease Control. Additional support for students (e.g., residents) in this program is made available via the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Although master's students in general environmental health and/or environmental health risk assessment are eligible for support, in general it is expected that tuition and stipends for these students will be derived from extra-University of Pittsburgh sources.
Degrees Offered: MS, MPH, PhD; MPH/Occupational Medicine Residency
Certificates Offered: Environmental Health Risk Assessment,
Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response, and Global Health
- Master of Public Health
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Environmental Health Risk Assessment
- Occupational Medicine
- Master of Science
- Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental and Occupational Health with a concentration in computational toxicology or specializations in
- Molecular Toxicology or
- Cellular and Molecular Toxicology*.
*Students may enter this program through the Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences in the School of Medicine.
The computational toxicology area of concentration is designed to provide knowledge of state-of-the-art computational approaches and techniques for exploring the molecular mechanisms of toxicology.
The molecular toxicology specialization combines the classical subdisciplines of toxicology with the rapidly emerging areas of cellular and molecular biology. This program is designed to provide students with a contemporary education in the molecular mechanisms underlying toxicological processes. The training, set in a public health context, includes biostatistics and epidemiology, in order to provide an understanding of how laboratory-based disciplines can be extended and applied to the study of exposed human populations. The program requires completion of 72 credits and defense of a dissertation.
An environmental health and risk assessment certificate is offered for currently employed environmental and occupational health practitioners. The risk assessment certificate program provides a concentrated means for providing the didactic information relevant to human health risk evaluation and, thus, is an efficient means for achieving proficiency in risk assessment.
A certificate in public health preparedness and disaster response,
given jointly with the Department of Behavioral and Community Health
Sciences, offers an interdisciplinary specialization in emergency
planning, communications, and response, with or without the MPH,
MS, or PhD.
A certificate in global health, offered jointly with the Department
of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, educates students about
current health patterns and transitions occurring globally, as well
as about the role of dynamic global environmental, political, economic,
healthcare, and social changes to these patterns and transitions.
Physicians are also eligible for our occupational medicine residency,
whose clinical activities emphasize preventive approaches to lowering
occupational health risks. Departmental faculty and students address
both regional and international occupational health issues through
consulting and service activities. www.ceoh.pitt.edu/academics/occmed/description.html.
Students are required to take departmental core courses in master's-level
degree programs in addition to GSPH school core course requirements. Required courses vary for different degrees.
Please contact the department's student affairs administrator for
more information on individual tracks.
Students in the MS and MPH degree programs must complete the prescribed course work plus an independent study under the supervision of a faculty member and a comprehensive examination (39 credits total). Most full-time students complete degree requirements in one year. Attendance and participation in departmental seminars and journal clubs are required. Electives are suggested for both the general and the risk assessment tracks. All students must complete a thesis or essay.
PhD students must complete a block of courses comprising school requirements and department requirements for a total of 72 credits. Attendance and participation in departmental seminars and journal clubs are required. During the first year of study, students have an opportunity to work in three different research laboratories. Following the preliminary examination at the completion of the course work, an independent research project is chosen. A passing performance in a set of qualifying examinations completes the admission to candidacy for the PhD. Students spend the remainder of the graduate program completing the research project and taking selected elective courses. Dissertation preparation and defense complete the PhD requirements. See General Requirements for Doctoral Degrees and Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Degrees for more information.
Physicians in the Master of Public Health in Occupational Medicine program complete a minimum of 38 credit hours of required and elective courses and prepare a thesis, usually a research project or comprehensive review of the literature for a selected topic. Attendance and participation in departmental seminars and journal clubs are required. The degree may be undertaken by physicians either independently or as part of the occupational and environmental medicine residency. The residency program includes a first Postgraduate Year—(PGY)(2)—composed of course work and clinical practice and a second Postgraduate Year—(PGY)(3)—that provides practicum experience rich in exposure to the wide-ranging aspects of occupational health. At the end of the two years, the physician is eligible to take the board examination in occupational and environmental medicine.
Certificate Programs
The Certificate in Environmental Health and Risk Assessment requires 12 credits of required courses (EOH 2104, EOH 2175, EOH 2180, EOH 2181, and EOH 2504) and 3 elective credits. Students must have a graduate degree or be pursuing one concurrently.
Program requirements for the Certificate in Global Health and the Certificate in Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response may be found in the Behavior and Community Health Services section of this bulletin.
Epidemiology is the application of the scientific method to the study of disease in populations for the purpose of prevention or control. It is a key basic science of public health and preventive medicine. Epidemiologists (detectives) play a fundamental role in public health and preventive medicine by identifying variabilities in human situations that may have a critical influence on the occurrence of disease within populations.
The epidemiological method for studying a problem involves three approaches:
- Description of the frequency and determinants of a disease in a defined population;
- Evaluation of factors that may cause a disease; and
- Experimental studies of the effects of modifying risk factors on the subsequent frequency of a disease.
Delivery and evaluation of identified preventive or control measures encompass demonstration projects and program evaluations.
Contact Information
- Departmental Chair
- Roberta J. Ness, MD, MPH
- Department Office: A527 Crabtree Hall
- 412-624-3054
- Fax: 412-624-7397
- E-mail: repro@pitt.edu
- www.epidemiology.pitt.edu
For information on admission and registration, please contact Pamela Wilson at 412-624-3060 or wilsonp@edc.pitt.edu.
The department accepts students with a variety of prior health-related professional degree backgrounds, prior graduate degrees, and superior students who have completed a bachelor’s degree. Students may matriculate for the MPH, MS, DrPH, or PhD degree. Major areas of focus within the department are aging, alcohol, cancer, chronic (cardiovascular, diabetes), clinical trials, environmental, infectious, molecular, physical activity, psychiatric, telecommunications, and women’s health.
Financial Assistance
- Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) Appointment Information: www.epidemiology.pitt.edu/form.html
- Financial Assistance: www.epidemiology.pitt.edu/finance.html
- Minority Student Support Information: www.cmh.pitt.edu/support.htm
Research
The faculty within the Department of Epidemiology received approximately $45 million in research funds in 2004. These projects, mostly federally funded, included activity in the major areas of focus within the department. For additional information on research projects, see www.epidemiology.pitt.edu/research.html or www.epidemiology.pitt.edu/projects.html.
The student’s course of study includes GSPH core courses, department core courses, electives drawn from our frequently used courses, and other appropriate selections throughout the University. The sequencing of courses is developed in conjunction with the major advisor, taking into account background, area of focus, degree program, and GSPH requirements. The minimum credit requirement is 30 for the master’s programs for health professionals and 72 for the doctoral programs. A 45-credit MPH or MS is available for students who are not health professionals. This is an 18-month program; in summer, students will be involved in a hands-on internship. Master’s students must complete a thesis or essay and doctoral students must complete a one-semester TA experience and a dissertation.
The following are the required departmental courses for students pursuing degrees in the Department of Epidemiology.
Master's Program Course Requirements
These courses are required for the 45-credit MPH in addition to GSPH core courses. The MS degree does not require the GSPH core courses with the exception of EPIDEM 2110 and BIOST 2041.
| EPIDEM |
2150 |
Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases |
| or |
|
|
| EPIDEM |
2310 |
Psychiatric Epidemiology 1 |
| or |
|
|
| EPIDEM |
2720 |
Environmental Causes of Reproductive Failure |
| or |
|
|
| EPIDEM |
2900 |
Epidemiology of Aging |
| Plus the following: |
| EPIDEM |
2110 |
Principles of Epidemiology |
| EPIDEM |
2160 |
Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases |
| EPIDEM | 2170* | Chronic Epidemiology, NIH Grant Writing | | EPIDEM |
2180* | Epidemiological Methods 1 | | EPIDEM |
2181* | Design of Clinical Trials |
| or |
|
|
| EPIDEM |
2183 |
Reading, Analyzing, and Interpreting the Public Health and Medical Literature |
| EPIDEM | 2210 | Special Studies (minimum of 2 credits) | | EPIDEM | 2230* | Epidemiological Methods 2 | | EPIDEM |
2250* | Seminar in Epidemiology | | EPIDEM | 2600 | Introduction to Molecular Epidemiology |
| EPIDEM |
2711 |
Physiology (in Women) |
| BIOST |
2041 |
Introduction to Statistical Methods 1 |
| BIOST |
2042* | Introduction to Statistical Methods 2 |
| BIOST |
2092 |
Introduction to Computing |
| BIOST |
2093* | Data Management and Analysis |
| or | | | | PSYED | 2422 |
Data Analysis Using Computer Packages |
| Electives strongly recommended for MS: |
| BIOST |
2045 |
Case Control Studies |
| or |
|
|
| BIOST |
2046 |
Cohort Studies |
| or | | | | EPIDEM |
2650 |
Forensic Pathophysiology/Epidemiology |
*Required course for both master's and doctoral candidates
Doctoral Program Requirements
The DrPH degree requires GSPH core courses; the PhD does not. In addition to the courses above indicated with an asterisk, doctoral candidates take additional courses required by their area of concentration plus the following:
| EPIDEM |
2213 |
Special Studies Directed—TAE Requirement Credits |
| EPIDEM |
2260 |
Epidemiological Basis of Disease Control |
| EPIDEM |
2650** |
Forensic Pathophysiology/Epidemiology |
| or |
|
|
| HRS |
1027** |
Pathophysiology (or equivalent) |
| or |
|
|
| NUR |
2004** |
Pathophysiology (or equivalent) |
| EPIDEM | 3100 | Research and Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree (minimum of 3 credits)
| | or | | | | FTDR | 0000 | Full-time Dissertation Study (where applicable) |
**If no health background (must be completed in first year)
The Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM) was created in January 2002 by the division of the former Department of Health Services Administration into separate academic units. The Department of HPM prepares individuals for managing the health of populations by assuming roles of leadership, policy development, and management within the healthcare system and public health. Its educational programs are grounded in the faculty’s contributions in advancing the state of knowledge and professional practice in institutional and system healthcare management and the development, advocacy, and implementation of health policy. The HPM faculty are engaged in interdisciplinary research addressing a range of problems relevant to public policy, organization, and management as applied to healthcare organizations and systems and in various professional and community service activities.
Contact Information
In order to obtain further information about the Department of Health Policy and Management and its programs, you may contact:
- Judith R. Lave, PhD
- Chair
- Department of Health Policy and Management
- A614 Crabtree Hall
- 412-624-0898
- E-mail: lave@pitt.edu
- www.edc.gsph.pitt.edu/hpm
For information on admission or registration, contact Donna Schultz (412-624-3123 or dschultz@pitt.edu) or Wesley Rohrer, PhD (412-624-3125 or wmrun@pitt.edu). For information on the JD/MPH program, contact Nathan Hershey, LLB (412-624-3117 or hershey@pitt.edu).
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Health Policy and Management offers two distinct degree programs: Master of Health Administration (MHA) and the Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health (JD/MPH).
The MHA program offers a graduate education relevant to the aspiring or already practicing healthcare management/policy professional; a curriculum that anchors the program in its public health tradition while also providing the students with necessary tools, technologies, and knowledge in organizational and system management and policy analysis, an MHA internship, an Executive in Residence program, a Lecture Series in Health Policy and Management, and participation in the ACHE Student Chapter.
The department also offers a joint degree program with the School of Law, the JD/MPH program in law and health policy. This joint degree program was developed in recognition of the increasing area of intersection between the practice of law, health policy, and healthcare delivery in the United States. Graduates of this program are provided the academic foundation for professional roles in public policy analysis and development, the practice of law for private clients with specialization in health law, and as in-house counsel for healthcare organizations and systems and regulatory agencies.
The Graduate School of Public Health application forms are required to apply for the MHA and JD/MPH degrees. Requirements for admission include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for the MHA and acceptable scores on the LSAT for the JD/MPH; successful completion of: 3 post-secondary (college/university)-level semester credits in biology; 3 post-secondary (college or university)-level semester credits in mathematics (algebra or higher) or statistics; and 6 post-secondary (college/university)-level semester credits in the social and behavioral sciences, preferably including one course in economics. In addition, the Admissions Committee cites the following as important factors in the admissions decision: undergraduate performance, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, relevant work (or volunteer) experience, good interpersonal and communication skills. Full-time students enroll in August of each year and part-time students in August or January. Although a rolling admissions process is in place, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and prior to the end of May International students should apply by May 1.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is limited and admitted students will be contacted regarding the process for completing the financial aid information form.
Academic Requirements
Requirements for the MHA Degree: In order to be eligible for graduation, students must complete 60 credit hours with a B average or better including a supervised MHA internship, which is typically scheduled during the summer term, prepare a scholarly master’s essay, and participate in a series of Management Seminars. The curriculum includes the GSPH core courses, the required health management core, and elective credits offered within and outside the schools of the health sciences.
Requirements for the JD/PhD Degree: For the JD/MPH degree, students enrolled in the joint-degree program receive integrated training in law and public health over a three-and-one-half-year period. The combined credit-hour requirements for the JD and MPH degrees obtained separately is 118 credits (88 for the JD, usually completed in six full-time semesters, and 30 for the MPH, usually completed in two full-time semesters). In the joint-degree program, the two degrees are awarded for a combined total of 100 credits. The students completes the first year of law school before registering for the courses in public health. Neither degree may be granted prior to the fulfillment of all requirements for the joint-degree program. For additional information, visit www.law.pitt.edu/students/gsph.htm or www.edc.gsph.pitt.edu/hpm/mph.html.
The Department of Human Genetics provides graduate training in the fields of human genetics and genetic counseling. The mission of the department is to discover new knowledge about the genetic determinants of human health and disease through basic and applied research; to educate students, trainees, and other interested persons in that knowledge; and to apply that knowledge to improve the health of populations, families, and patients.
The human genetics curriculum provides an understanding of basic genetic mechanisms affecting human genes, chromosomes, cells, individuals, and populations in both normal and disease states. Public health applications are achieved through the detection and quantification of the effects of intrinsic factors such as age, sex, exposure to extrinsic agents such as chemical pollutants or therapeutic agents, and by understanding gene-environmental interactions in determining the distribution of health and disease in the human population. The underlying focus is on the theory and techniques for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative data.
Contact Information
- Chair: Robert E. Ferrell, PhD
Department Office: A300 Crabtree Hall
- 412-624-3018
- Fax: 412-624-3020
- E-mail: jnorbut@hgen.pitt.edu
- www.hgen.pitt.edu
In addition to meeting the Graduate School of Public Health's general admission requirements, applicants to the department should have completed courses in calculus, biology, biochemistry, and behavioral or social science. In some cases deficiencies can be made up after admission.
For information on admission and registration contact Ms. Jeanette Norbut at 412-624-3018 or jnorbut@pitt.edu.
Financial Assistance
All accepted students are eligible for financial aid, which may include scholarships, graduate student assistantships, and teaching fellowships.
Courses offered by the department address the areas of human population and quantitative genetics, genetic toxicology, biochemical and molecular genetics, cytogenetics, and genetic counseling.
The principal objective of the courses in human genetics is to train students to critically examine the role of genes and genetic variation in determining the distribution of health and disease in the general population. To achieve this objective, training is provided in both experimental and statistical approaches to the direct detection or estimation of the impact of genes on the health of individuals, families and populations. Such approaches include the evaluation of the relative roles of genetic and environmental factors and their interaction in determining the distribution of disease in the population, so-called "ecogenetics." The department provides for concentrations in three areas: human genetics (MS, PhD) genetic counseling (MS), and Public Health Genetics (MPH) although students in the Human Genetics track may concentrate in one of five areas: molecular and biochemical genetics and genomics research; population genetics and genetic epidemiology; cytogenetics; gene therapy; or clinical genetics. In addition, courses in human genetics aimed at genetic counseling students provide training in clinical genetics, risk communication, counseling, and ethics.
Human Genetics
This area is concerned with the study of the mechanisms of genetic variability and its impact on health at the population level. An important component is the study of the fraction of genetic variability that leads directly to disease or determines an individual's susceptibility to diseases caused by pathogens or adverse environments.
A PhD degree in human genetics with an emphasis on genetic counseling is available to applicants with three to five years of work experience as a genetic counselor and who are certified in genetic counseling by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) or the American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG).
Genetic Counseling
The objectives of the program are:
- To provide a balanced program of study integrating courses in molecular genetics, medical genetics, and psychosocial and multicultural counseling including biomedical ethics.
- To provide extensive direct patient contact experience in a variety of clinical placements so that the student gains an appreciation of how the practicing genetic counselor functions in different work settings.
- To prepare students at the Master of Science level for entering the profession of genetic counseling and assuming the role of a professional in medical and academic settings.
This is a full-time, two-year program. Course work occurs in the first year and is followed by a ten-month clinical rotation at nearby hospitals. The clinical internship involves laboratory experience and direct patient contact.
Public Health Genetics
The MPH program integrates genetics and the public health science disciplines and epidemiology, pathobiology, biostatistics, environmental health and health services research, with ethics, social sciences, public affairs, economics and law, focusing on phenotypic disease prevention in populations.
Research
Research in the Department of Human Genetics includes studies of basic genetic mechanisms of segregation and recombination; family and population studies of normal and disease phenotypes; chromosome structure and chromosomal mechanisms in disease; physical and genetic mapping of genes to public health; interaction of genes with the environment; assessment of genetic risk; and the detection of genetic disease. Application of the knowledge is explored with research in ethics, genetic counseling and screening, as well as in therapy by gene transfer. The focus of faculty research is on human genetics but includes experimental studies in appropriate non-human animals and studies on evolution.
Students are required to take all courses included in their subspecialty, pass a comprehensive examination, define and complete a research project, and write a thesis. In addition to meeting the University's requirements for the MS or PhD degrees, all human genetics MS and PhD students are required to take the following courses:
| HUGEN | 2022 | Human Population Genetics | | HUGEN |
2027 |
Human Genetics Journal Club |
| HUGEN | 2031 | Chromosomes and Human Disease | | HUGEN | 2034 | Introduction to Human Biochemical and Molecular Genetics | | HUGEN | 2025 | Human Genetics Seminar | | HUGEN | 2040 | Molecular Basis of Human Inherited Disease | | BIOST | 2041 | Introduction to Statistical Methods 1 | | EPIDEM | 2110 | Principles of Epidemiology | MS in Human Genetics Requirements
In addition to the requirements for all human genetics MS and PhD students, the following courses are required of non-counseling master's students:
| HPM | 2000 | Introduction to Health Services Administration | | BCHS | 2502 | Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health Practice | MS in Genetic Counseling Requirements
In addition to the requirements for all MS and PhD human genetics students, the following additional courses are required of counseling students:
| HUGEN | 2032 | Genetics Techniques | | HUGEN | 2035 | Principles of Genetic Counseling | | HUGEN | 2036 | Genetic Counseling Internship (3 terms) | | HUGEN | 2038 | Intervention Skills for Genetic Counselors |
| HUGEN |
2039 |
Risk Calculation in Genetic Counseling |
| HUGEN |
2047 |
Clinical Genetics Case Conference |
A comprehensive written examination is administered in fall term of the second year of training and an oral exam for counseling skills is administered in spring term of the second year. The 10-month clinical internship begins after the first year. The program balances studies in genetics, molecular biology, epidemiology, biostatistics, and counseling intervention. The curriculum exceeds the minimum degree requirements of the Graduate School of Public Health and the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC). All graduates are eligible for ABGC certification.
MPH in Public Health Genetics
A minimum of 48 credits is required for the MPH. The total consists of GSPH core courses, a core of required human genetics courses, and a concentration in an area of public health outside of human genetics.
Required Human Genetics Courses:
| HUGEN | 2025 | Human Genetics Seminar | | HUGEN | 2022 | Human Population Genetics | | HUGEN | 2034 |
Introduction to Human Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics |
| HUGEN | 2040 | Molecular Basis of Human Inherited Disease | | HUGEN | 2043 | Special Topics in Bioethics |
| HUGEN |
2047 |
Clinical Genetics Case Conference |
| HUGEN |
2049 |
Introduction to Public Health Genetics |
In addition, students must pass a written comprehensive examination covering the material in the GSPH core courses and the content of their human genetics course work. All students are required to complete a practicum, which provides an opportunity to learn how genetics is applied in a public health setting. Students must write a master’s essay, which will usually be based on the practicum experience.
PhD in Human Genetics Requirements
All PhD students in Human Genetics must take the following courses:
| BIOST | 2041 | Introduction to Statistical Methods 1 | | EPIDEM | 2110 | Principles of Epidemiology | | HUGEN | 2022 | Human Population Genetics | | HUGEN | 2025 | Human Genetics Seminar | | HUGEN | 2031 | Chromosomes and Human Disease | | HUGEN | 2034 | Introduction to Human Biochemical and Molecular Genetics | | HUGEN | 2040 | Molecular Basis of Human Inherited Disease | | HUGEN | 2021 | Special Studies | | HUGEN | 3010 | Research and Dissertation for Doctoral Degree | | And one of the following: | | HUGEN | 2033 | Quantitative Genetics | | HUGEN | 2048 | Linkage and Analysis in Human Genetics | In addition, a list of suggested elective courses is available from the department.
PhD students must write out and defend a dissertation which provides evidence of original scholarly research of sufficient quality to be published in a peer reviewed scientific journal.
Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (IDM)
The mission of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology is to conduct research, teaching, and service that will enhance the control of infectious diseases in the human population. Our goals to accomplish this mission include:
- Research programs that focus on understanding the mechanisms of pathogenesis of microbial infections at the cellular and molecular level as they relate directly to developing methods for disease prevention and treatment.
- Integrated teaching programs that are devoted to the education and training of graduate students in various molecular, immunologic and biologic aspects of microbial pathogenesis, as well as disease control and prevention.
- Programs that focus on population-based education and prevention for control of infectious diseases.
Features of the program include:
- Flexible curriculum in basic, medical and prevention aspects of infectious diseases and microbiology.
- Opportunities for involvement in top-rated research in molecular, immunologic, and biologic aspects of microbial infections.
- Strong interaction with the microbiology and virology program at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Medicine.
IDM offers the following degrees: Master of Science (MS), Master of Public Health (MPH), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Contact Information
- Phalguni Gupta, Professor
- 426 Parran Hall
- Graduate School of Public Health
- 412-624-7998
- E-mail: pgupta1@pitt.edu
- www.idm.pitt.edu
For more information on admissions and registration contact the department at 412-624-3331.
All admissions are for the fall term only. The application deadline is January 15. Applicants must submit all college-level transcripts, graduate record examination test scores, TOEFL scores. If English is not the applicant's first language, letters of recommendation and a personal statement are also required.
For MS and PhD degrees: Applicants should have a bachelor's or higher degree in biological sciences or a related area.
For MPH and DrPH degrees: Applicants should have a health professional degree such as medicine, medical technology, nursing, public health, etc.
The Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology admits students applying for the MS and PhD degrees under either early or standard admission. The criteria for each admission status is detailed on our Web site.
Early admission into the PhD and MS programs
Outstanding applicants who are enrolled in an undergraduate program at the University or Pittsburgh may apply for early admission if they meet the following requirements as defined on our Web site.
Financial support consisting of a personal living stipend and tuition waiver is awarded to all PhD students. All PhD students must maintain full-time status, meet the course and research requirements, and maintain a minimum QPA of 3.00 to remain in the program.
Applicants for the MS program will not be awarded financial support during the first year. They may receive financial support after the first year. However they may have to pay full tuition during the entire program.
Program Requirements
This section details the requirements for the MS, MPH, PhD, and DrPH degrees.
Requirements for Master's and Doctoral Degrees
See general requirements for master's and doctoral degrees of the GSPH section for details not referenced below. In addition, successful completion of the written comprehensive examination in the fields of microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, biostatistics, epidemiology, and infectious diseases is required of all students seeking a master's degree.
General Requirements for PhD and DrPH Degrees
Credit Requirement
- Usually takes four to six years to complete
- Total number of credits required: 72
Examinations:
- Qualifying (Preliminary) Examination: At the end of the first two terms
- Comprehensive Examination: At the end of the second year
Dissertation Overview:
- A dissertation committee is formed usually within 9 to 12 months after completion of the comprehensive examination to approve the proposed topic for the student’s research.
Dissertation Defense:
- Final oral examination in defense of the doctoral dissertation by the dissertation committee.
Requirements for PhD
From the GSPH Core Course list, PhD students in IDM must take BIOST 2011, along with the other core course requirements. Students are exempt from IDM 2011.
All PhD students in IDM must take the following nine courses:
| IDM | 2001 | Molecular Biology of Microbial Pathogens | | IDM | 2002 | Molecular Virology | | IDM | 2003 | Host Response to Microbial Infection | | IDM | 2004 | Viral Pathogenesis | | IDM | 2021 | Special Studies in Microbiology | | IDM | 2023 | Microbiology Laboratory | | IDM | 2025 | Microbiology Seminar/Journal Club | | IDM | 3010 |
Research and Dissertation (For doctoral students—after passing comprehensive examination) |
| EPIDEM | 2160 | Epidemiology of Infectious Disease | In addition, PhD students in IDM are required to take four elective courses from the list below:
| IDM | 2022 | Special Topics, 3 credits, fall and spring | | IDM | 2030 | Advanced Topics: (Retrovirology, Herpes, Gene Therapy), 2 credits, fall or spring | | IDM | 2032 | Human Diversity and Public Health, 2 credits, summer | | IDM | 2034 | Control and Prevention of HIV/AIDS, 2 credits, fall | | IDM | 2161 | Methods in Infectious Disease Epidemiology, 2 credits, spring | | BIOST | 2047 | Introduction to Biological Assay, 2 credits, spring | | BIOST | 2093 | Data Management and Analysis, 1 credit, fall | | EPIDEM | 2260 | Epidemiological Basis for Disease Control (not offered every fall; check with instructor) | | EPIDEM | 2180 | Epidemiological Methods 1, 2 credits, spring | | EPIDEM | 2600 | Introduction to Molecular Epidemiology, 3 credits, fall | | MSBMG | 2510 | Biochemistry of Macromolecules, 2 credits, spring or fall | | MSBMG | 2520 | Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics, 2 credits, spring or fall | | MSIMM | 2210 | Comprehensive Immunology, 2 credits, fall | | MSMVM | 2460 | Molecular Microbiology, 2 credits, spring | | MSMVM | 3410 | Microbial Pathogenesis, 2 credits, spring or fall | | MSMVM | 3440 | Vaccinology, 2 credits, spring or fall | Requirements for DrPh
Students studying for the DrPH degree must take a series of courses in the department, another series in the school, and four elective courses. The required courses are as follows:
| Departmental Courses | | IDM | 2003 | Host Response to Microbial Infection
| | IDM | 2021 | Special Studies in Microbiology | | IDM | 2025 | Microbiology Seminar | | IDM | 2032 | Human Diversity and Public Health, 2 credits, summer | | IDM | 3010 | Research and Dissertation (for doctoral students after passing Comprehensive Examination) | | EPIDEM | 2161 | Methods Infectious Disease Epidem | | GSPH Courses | | BIOST | 2041 | Introduction to Statistical Methods 1 | | BIOST | 2042 | Introduction to Statistical Methods 2 | | BIOST | 2092 | Introduction to Computing | | BIOST | 2093 | Data Management and Analysis | | EOH | 2012 | Health, Disease, and Environment 2 | | EPIDEM | 2110 | Principles of Epidemiology | | EPIDEM | 2160 | Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases | | EPIDEM | 2180 | Epidemiological Methods 1 | | HPM | 2000 | Introduction to Health Services Administration | | BCHS | 2502 | Social
and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health Practice | | IDM | 2011 | Health, Disease, and Environment 1 | | Electives | | At least four from the recommended list. | MS Program Requirements
Course requirements are the same as the PhD program, except that students are required to take two elective courses.
MPH Program Requirements
Course requirements are the same as the DrPH program, except that students are required to take two elective courses.
Requirements for the Master's (MS and MPH) Programs
Credit Requirement:
- Usually take one and a half to two years to complete
- Total number of credits required: 32
Examination (for MS students only):
- Comprehensive Examination: At the end of the first two terms
Thesis Overview (MS students only):
- Usually within six to nine months after completion of the comprehensive examination
Thesis/Essay Defense:
- Final oral examination in defense of the thesis (for MS students) or essay (for MPH students) by the thesis/essay committee
The Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) now offers considerable
academic flexibility for those eligible for the Multidisciplinary
Master of Public Health Program. This new program provides doctoral-level
clinically trained health professionals with the knowledge and skills
to serve as public health experts or in public health leadership
positions. Other GSPH master's degree programs prepare public health
specialists, e.g., epidemiologists, biostatisticians, health administrators,
geneticists, infectious disease experts, and toxicologists, to name
a few. Academic advisors for the MMPH program and for the essay/thesis
are selected by the students themselves from a list of faculty representing
each of the seven GSPH departments.
The program is open to the following candidates:
- Physicians, dentists, and veterinarians
- Holders of doctoral degrees in the health sciences
- Advanced medical, dental, and veterinary students, considered on an individual basis
To be eligible for consideration, graduates of foreign medical and dental schools should:
- Hold a valid medical or dental license in the United States or be eligible for medical or dental licensure in the United States having passed all necessary examinations and having served required time in an approved residency program, or
- Currently be participating in a U.S. residency or fellowship program, or
- Be an outstanding candidate with appropriate clinical training and skills to justify consideration for admission, e.g., a visiting clinician who will return to his or her native country.
The Multidisciplinary MPH Program provides students with an opportunity to meet the needs of a growing number of health science professionals desirous of practicing in a public health or community-based setting where data-based concepts, preventive medicine, health promotion, public health, and evidence-based practice will be of benefit.
Contact Information
- Diane Klein, Program Assistant
- Multidisciplinary MPH Program Office/Office of Student Affairs
- 130 DeSoto Street, 114 Parran Hall
- 412-624-5200
- Fax: 412-624-3755
- E-mail: dkline@gsphdean.gsph.pitt.edu
For questions on the curriculum, contact the program codirectors: Joanne McVay, DrPH (412-624-5200 or phadm@pitt.edu) or Gordon MacLeod, MD (412-624-5200).
Program Requirements
This program is intended for those who hold a professional degree in medicine, nursing, or public health or have prior experience in a field of public health.
The MPH program has two tracks:
- Track A: Infectious Disease
- Track B: Communicable Diseases and Behavioral Health Sciences
Required Courses:
| IDM | 2003 | Host Response to Microbial Infection | | IDM | 2025 | Microbiology Seminar | | IDM | 2021 | Special Study in Microbiology | | IDM | 2032 | Impact of Human Diversity on Public Health Policy, Research, and Practice | | IDM | 2034 | Control and Prevention of HIV/AIDS, STDs | | IDM | 0000* | Community Practicum 1 | | IDM | 0000* | Community Practicum 2 | | IDM | 0000* | Global Issues in Infectious Health | | PUBHL | 2009 | Critical Issues in Global Health | | BIOST | 2041 | Intro to Statistical Methods 1 | | BIOST | 2042 | Intro to Statistical Methods 2 | | BIOST | 2092 | Intro to Computing | | BIOST | 2093 | Data Management and Analysis | | EPIDEM | 2110 | Principles of Epidemiology | | EPIDEM | 2160 | Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases | | EPIDEM | 2180 | Epidemiological Methods 1 | | IDM | 2011 | Health, Disease, and Environment 1 | | EOH | 2012 | Health, Disease, and Environment 2 | | HPM | 2000 | Intro to Health Services Administration First Session | | BCHS | 2502 | Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health Second Session | | HPM | 2135 | Health Policy | | BCHS | 2558 | Program Design and Evaluation | | EPIDEM | 2160 | Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases | | *To be determined |
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