Health Research and Policy, Ph.D.
Department Chair: Jim Henderson
Program Directors: Scott Cunningham and Michael Richards
Associate Dean for Graduate Programs: Patsy Norman
Program Description
The purpose of Baylor University’s Ph.D. program in Health Services Research & Policy is to train the next generation of scholars to integrate the disciplines of economics, statistics, and epidemiology to study and move forward health care delivery and health policy. Graduates will be prepared to collaborate with other contributors to improve the health and health care of individuals and populations around the world. The growing role of data analytics in all facets of health and health care has increased the need for professionals who can provided rigorous, methodologically-sound solutions to the many challenges facing business and industry leaders as well as policymakers.
Our faculty have expertise and established publication records in these areas and are capable of training new researchers who are committed to improving health care through making its delivery more efficient and more equitable. The program prepares scholars for research-driven careers in academia, health care delivery systems, provider entities, insurance and other health care companies, policy think tanks and organizations, and government positions.
The curriculum is highly quantitative, and successful candidates will be awarded the MS in Economics (thesis track) after the requirements for that degree are satisfied. Students will engage in research projects with Baylor University faculty throughout their PhD experience.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must have a degree from an accredited university or college and must meet all general admission requirements of Baylor’s Graduate School for admission to Ph.D. level studies. Successful applicants will provide strong evidence of the ability to conduct quantitative research and to communicate research findings effectively. Prerequisites for admission include two semesters of calculus (three preferred) and one semester of statistics (more than one preferred). The admission decision is based on a holistic review of an applicant’s previous academic record, GRE scores, research experience, two letters of recommendation that speak to the applicant’s existing research experience and potential for future research work, and applicant essays.
Curriculum
The PhD in Health Services Research & Policy is a 60-hour degree program designed to be completed in four years. The program is also designed for students to meet the requirements for the Master of Science in Economics by the end of the second year.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Health Services Research Required Courses | ||
| HSR 6315 | Health Economics & Policy: Demand | 3 |
| HSR 6320 | Health Economics & Policy: Supply | 3 |
| HSR 6325 | (HSR 6325:: Advanced Casual Inference) | 3 |
| Economics Required Courses | ||
| ECO 5315 | Microeconomic Theory and Business Decisions | 3 |
| ECO 5310 | Macroeconomic Analysis in the Global Economy | 3 |
| ECO 5347 | Econometric Theory and Methods | 3 |
| ECO 5349 | Causal Inference and Research Design | 3 |
| ECO 5001 | Research Seminar | 0 |
| ECO 5002 | Research Seminar | 0 |
| Economics Electives | ||
| Selected courses are to be agreed upon by the student and the program Directors. Qualifying electives must be at the 5000 level or above. Recommended electives include: | 12 | |
| Data Science I | ||
| Data Science II | ||
| Contemporary Government and Business Relations | ||
| The Economics of Government | ||
| Seminar in Behavioral and Experimental Economics | ||
| MS Thesis | ||
| ECO 5V99 | Thesis | 6 |
| Additional Elective Courses | ||
| Any 5000-6000 level courses with program Directors’ approval. Recommended subjects include: Health Policy and Administration (HPA), Public Health (PUBH), Sociology (SOC), and Statistics (STA) | 9 | |
| Dissertation | ||
| Dissertation Proposal (1-3 hours) | 3 | |
| Dissertation (9-11 hours) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Program Completion Requirement
A student will be recognized as a candidate for the doctoral degree only after having completed the required and elective Economics coursework as well as the thesis to earn the MS in Economics, completed all residence and departmental requirements except for the dissertation, and received approval by the Dean of the Graduate School for their formal application for admission to candidacy for the degree. Candidates will then undergo the dissertation proposal process. As is customary, after having completed the dissertation research, the candidate must successfully make an oral defense of the dissertation.