PhD in HPE

The PhD degree is meant to serve those select learners with the desire to be at the forefront in the scholarship, leadership, and teaching of health professions learners. The PhD degree is a research-intensive degree meant for those individuals planning to serve as independent researchers, research directors, and/or principal or associate investigators on grant- funded HPE research after graduation. It also provides additional education and training in all HPE competencies. The Dissertation requires more focused and thematic (series of related studies) investigation with demonstration of expertise in research methods in HPE. The leadership and teaching curricula are also more challenging, requiring a higher level of mastery than the MHPE. A master’s degree (e.g., MHPE, MPH, MEd, or MS degree) is a prerequisite for the PhD in HPE. Learners entering the program without an MHPE or USU’s MEd-HPE should expect to complete all masters level coursework before beginning the PhD level coursework. 

The PhD in HPE is targeted toward deans (associate, senior, vice level), department chairs, department vice chairs of research and education, directors of research and teaching programs, and other leaders in HPE to further enhance their knowledge beyond the core areas of the MHPE and MEd-HPE programs. Like these programs, there is an emphasis on the practical application of core principles. Graduates are expected to serve as leaders, scholars, and educators in the DoD’s health professions programs.

PhD in HPE Expected Completion Timeline

The PhD in HPE is sequenced to be completed in four years on a full-time basis.  Part-time learners are expected to complete the degree in five years. Learners should consult the progression chart in the handbook to ensure appropriate advancement of program requirements. The minimum credit load per term required for a full-time learner is 9. For a part-time learner, the expected credit load is 4 credits. 

PhD Requirements*

• Required Courses: 32 credits (including 800-level selectives) 
• Electives: 4 credits (minimum)
• Practicum: 10 credits (including grant submission)
• Dissertation: 20 credits (this includes 4 papers accepted for publication)
• Independent Study: As necessary

• Portfolio Presentation 
  TOTAL 108 Credits

PhD in HPE Course Offerings*

Required Advanced Courses

• HPE 605: Mixed Methods
• HPE 808: Grant Writing

Competency Domain Selectives (Choose 1 per domain, 2 credits each)

Education Domain:

• HPE 801: Advanced Theories in HPE
• HPE 804: Advanced Instruction and Curriculum Development in HPE
• HPE 805: Advanced Measurement, Assessment, and Evaluation in HPE
• HPE 807: Advanced Online Learning and Instruction within HPE 

Leadership Domain:

• HPE 800: Fundamentals of Systems Thinking
• HPE 806: Advanced Principles of Leadership

Research Domain:

• HPE 802: Advanced Qualitative Research Methods in HPE
• HPE 803: Advanced Quantitative Research Methods in HPE

Practicum (10 credits)

• HPE 400: Master's Practicum in HPE (4 credits / 40 hours)
• HPE 911: Doctoral Practicum in HPE (60 hours) (6 credits)

Note: The learner will also be required to submit a grant proposal to an internal or external funding agency

Dissertation (20 credits)

• HPE 905: Master's Thesis in HPE (8 credits)
• HPE 910: Doctoral Dissertation in HPE (12 credits)

Note: Dissertation credits are tied directly to milestones: HPE 905 credits are awarded for the completion of the Dissertation Proposal Form (4 credits) and Paper 1 accepted to a peer-reviewed journal (4 credits). HPE 910 credits are awarded for Paper 2 accepted (4 credits), Paper 3 accepted (4 credits), and Paper 4 accepted/Dissertation submitted (4 credits).

Longitudinal / Independent Study

• HPE 912: Independent Study in HPE (variable credits)

*All program requirements and course offerings are subject to change. Please contact HPE@usuhs.edu for the latest information.