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Ph.D. Degree in Health Studies
TWU Department of Health Studies

The Health Studies Doctoral Program is built upon the Bachelor of Science in Health Studies programs and Master of Science in Health Studies competencies as framed in the entry-level and advanced 1 level competencies of the National Commission for Health Education Credentials, Inc.'s 2006 Competency Update Project Model.

Doctoral Program Goal: To prepare graduates to be effective health education leaders, researchers, and scholars in the profession.

Doctoral Program Objectives: The Doctoral Program curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to:

• Assess the health needs and interests of individuals, groups, and communities in relation to cultural, ethnic, and demgraphic factors.
• Plan and implement health education and health promotion programs in a variety of settings.
• Evaluate health education and health promotion programs in a variety of settings.
• Approach health education and health promotion from a multicultural perspective and sensitivity to diversity.
• Develop appropriate strategies to effect positive health behavior among the groups or populations addressed.
• Coordinate the provision of health education services and serve as a resource person in health education and health promotion.
• Serve as an advocate to both the community and the profession.
• Critically analyze and communicate current and future health education and health promotion needs.
• Apply appropriate research principles and methods in health education and health promotion to make scholarly contributions to the profession.
• Apply ethical principles in the practice of health education and health promotion.

Students are required to choose one of the three focal areas:

• Community/Population Health
• Higher Education
• Health Management/Leadership

**Point of Clarification for All Health Studies Doctoral Students**

The Health Studies Department wants to clarify to all HS doctoral students that the doctoral program is NOT an online program. That means 51% of your doctoral program must be taken as in-house course work.

Delivery Methods

Health Studies doctoral courses are offered as:

• H - Hybrid Classes (2 weekends per semester, typically Friday evening and all day Saturday).
• SH1 - Summer Hybrid Classes (Workshop format); typically 4 days on the Denton campus with the remainder of course being online in Summer 1.
• SH2 - Summer Hybrid Classes (Workshp format); typically 4 days on the Denton campus wtih the remainder of course being online in Summer 2.
• SH3 - Summer Hybrid Classes (Workshop format): typically 4 days on the Denton campus with the remaider of course being online in Summer 3.
• I - Internet Classes (51% online); course orientation session completed online.

Please be aware that it is your responsibility to plan your classes to comply with the mandate of 51% of the course work being classified as in-house courses.

Admission Criteria

Unconditional Admission

Applicants will be evaluated for unconditional admission based on the following criteria:

• A preferred GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale on master's degree coursework, as evidenced by official transcripts.
• A preferred minimum of 475 on the verbal portion, 400 on the quantitative portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and 4.5 on the analytic portion of GRE; and for international students, a preferred minimum score of 575 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
• Appropriate academic background and professional and volunteer experience for doctoral study in health education as evidenced by a professional vita and CHES certification (non CHES applicants see prerequisite or corequistes).
• Two acceptable recommendations (using the departmental recommendation forms) completed within the past 12 months by faculty members, academic advisors, or employers.
• Ability to express concepts and ideas in writing as evidenced in a 600-word essay.

Provisional Admission

For applicants who do not meet the preferred minimum requirements for unconditional admission to the master's degree program, provisional admission will be considered , (dependent upon the relative strength of their undergraduate GPA, GRE or TOEFL test score, academic background and professional and volunteer experience, and written essay). Applicants will not be considered with a bachelor's GPA below 2.0.

Conditions of Provisional Admission : 1) Student must maintain an A or B in all classes during the first year of acceptance to the Department of Health Studies, and 2) must successfully complete other coursework as specified by the Health Studies Graduate Admissions Committee. When the student has met these conditions, her/his admission status will be converted to "unconditional."

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Want to try out a class while you apply? Try enrolling as Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) , which allows you to:

• Admit to the university, with no guarantee of admission to the Health Studies program
• Take up to 12 hours of Health Studies courses to determine if it's the right program for you
• Just select NDS "taking courses in Health Studies" on the application form
• This form of admission to the university is ineligible for financial aid .
• Consult with the Graduate Coordinator to ensure the courses you take as a NDS student are appropriate for the degree plan to which you are applying.

Please note: Effective Fall Semester 2002, the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) will not be accepted by the department as a graduate admissions test.

Admissions Procedures Checklist

Admissions is a dual process. Step One describes documents that need to be provided to the TWU Graduate School. Step Two describes documents that need to be provided to the Health Studies Department. You must complete both steps before the deadline to be considered for admission into the program.

Please submit the following Graduate School materials to:

• A completed Texas Common Application form which is available online at: http://www.applytexas.org

•  Graduate School Application Fee (if applicable)

•  Your GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores

•  Official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) from every college/university attended.

Please submit the following Health Studies materials to:

•  Two recommendations (using the Health Studies recommendation form) completed by recent faculty members, academic advisors, or employers.  

•  Your current professional vita/resume

•  An abstract of your thesis or professional paper

•  A typed essay of 600 words that addresses the following question:

"What are your career goals, and how would you use the education you receive from your Health Studies graduate degree to pursue those goals?"

Download the PhD Admission Checklist

Download the Recommendation Form

Deadlines for Submission:

•  October 1st for Spring semester

•  April 1st for Fall semester

To check your status and confirm receipt of materials , please contact the respective offices:

Student Records Processing : Toll Free (888) 948-9984 or (940) 898-3047 or Fax: (940) 898-3079. Located in the Administrative Clock Tower (ACT) - 7th Floor

Health Studies Department : (940) 898-2860 or Fax: (940) 898-2859. Located in the Classroom Faculty Offices (CFO) Building - 10th Floor  

Thank you for applying to the Health Studies Program!