The PhD program in Management and Policy Studies, Health Economics/Health Services Research is a minimum 48 semester credit hours and emphasizes the study of cost, access, outcomes, and quality within health care systems. Students focus on understanding decision-making processes among consumers, providers, institutions, and policy makers, and pursue advanced study that leads to original research.
Special Entrance Requirements
Applicants to the PhD program must have an appropriate post-bachelor’s degree in the social sciences, economics, policy, law, management, clinical sciences or public health. Also, applicants must have an advanced knowledge of quantitative methods; preferred applicants have strong math and/or statistics backgrounds. For more information, see the Admissions section.
Course of Study
The following courses are required for a PhD in Management and Policy Studies, Health Economics/Health Services Research Track:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required for all School of Public Health Students | ||
| PH 101 | Foundations of Public Health 1 | 0 |
| Leveling and Other Required Courses 2 | ||
ECON 6485 | Microeconomic Analysis 3 | |
POLC 6312 | Public Finance 3 | |
ECON 6465 | Econometrics 4 | |
ECON 7351 | Development Economics: Microeconomic Issues | |
ECON 515 | Labor Economics | |
| Before Preliminary Exam | ||
| PHD 3910 | Health Economics | 3 |
| PH 3915 | Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Programs | 3 |
| PH 3920 | Health Service Delivery and Performance | 3 |
| PHD 3926L | Health Survey Research Design | 3 |
| PHD 3930 | Econometrics in Public Health | 3 |
| PH 3940 | Health Care Outcomes and Quality Research | 3 |
| Epidemiology Course Requirement 5 | ||
| PHM 2612L | Epidemiology I | 3 |
| Select one of the following Track Areas: | 6 | |
| Health Economics Track | ||
| Advanced Health Economics | ||
| Health Services Research Track | ||
| Adv Hlth Services Research Methods | ||
| Select 3 credits of the following: | ||
| Healthcare Payment Systems and Policy | ||
| Health Policy in The United States | ||
| Comparative Health Systems | ||
| Health Policy Analysis | ||
| Texas Health Policy: Emerging Issues and New Approaches | ||
| Economic and Social Determinants of Health | ||
| Advanced Econometrics | ||
| Advanced Health Economics | ||
| Claims Data in Healthcare Research | ||
| Adv Hlth Services Research Methods | ||
| Minor 6 | 9 | |
| Breadth or second minor 6 | 9 | |
| Dissertation | ||
| PHD 9999 | Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
- 1
Online, not-for-credit course
- 2
Academic credits from leveling courses do not count towards the total required credits for the degree program.
- 3
Offered by the University of Houston. Students are eligible to enroll through the Gulf Coast Consortium Agreement.
- 4
Offered by Rice University. Students are eligible to enroll through the Gulf Coast Consortium Agreement.
- 5
All students are required to complete an Epidemiology course during their course of study. If students choose to complete PHM 2612L Epidemiology I, the credit hours will not count toward the total credit hours required for this doctoral degree. The epidemiology requirement can be fulfilled if the student takes an epidemiology course through the minor and/or breadth requirements. Students are required to complete the minimum 48 credit hour requirement for their degree.
- 6
Students are encouraged to select methodology courses appropriate for their dissertation topic.
- Students who elect to complete two minors must complete at least one minor outside of the department of MPCH.
- Students who elect to complete one minor and one breadth:
Students who elect a primary minor within the MPCH department must complete at least two courses of the breadth outside of the department
Students who elect a primary minor outside of the MPCH department may complete breadth coursework in any department.
For a sample course of study, see the PhD in Management and Policy Studies, Health Economics/Health Services Research Track degree planner.