Ph.D. in Public Health Genetics
Overview
(Updated December, 2008)The Ph.D. program in Public Health Genetics is offered by the interdisciplinary UW Institute for Public Health Genetics (IPHG), and was implemented in 2003.
The overall goals of the interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Public Health Genetics are:
- To train highly-qualified individuals for careers and leadership roles in academic institutions, health care delivery systems, public health departments, government agencies and the private sector; and
- To provide interdisciplinary education in the core knowledge areas of public health genetics (genetic & molecular epidemiology; ecogenetics & Pharmacogenomics; clinical aspects of genomics; ethics & social science; law & policy; health economics & outcomes research) so that graduates can address scientific and policy questions from a variety of perspectives.
The program is organized around two "Fundamental Areas of Study" human genetics and public health – and the two "Core Knowledge Areas" shown below. Core faculty members contribute their expertise in one of more of these areas in training the doctoral students.
Public Health Genetics Core Knowledge Areas
| A. Genomics in Public Health | B. Implications of Genetics for Society |
|---|---|
| Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology | Ethics & Social Science |
| Ecogenetics & Pharmacogenetics | Law & Policy |
| Clinical Aspects of Genomics | Health Economics and Outcomes Research |
Learning Objectives for the Ph.D. Program in Public Health Genetics
There are two sets of learning objectives for the Ph.D. Program in Public Health Genetics.
Set I.
General set of objectives for all Ph.D. programs in the School of Public health and Community Medicine at the University of Washington:
- Describe major research study designs and their advantages and limitations;
- Critically review the scientific literature, synthesize the findings across studies, and make appropriate recommendations based on current knowledge;
- Organize data and information, prepare technical reports, and give oral presentations appropriate to the scientific community and/or the general public;
- Function as a professional within a management structure (academic, governmental, or other), including working with professionals from other disciplines;
- Collect, analyze, interpret, and use data for solving problems in an area of research interest;
- Formulate a hypothesis, design an experiment to test that hypothesis, conduct a study, and complete a research-based thesis.
- Display comprehensive understanding and in-depth knowledge of a methodology or subject area;
- Display knowledge of the discipline within the context of the field of public health; and
- Conceive and conduct independent research.
Set II.
Learning objectives specific for the Ph.D. program in Public Health Genetics were first developed based on competencies recommended by the Public Health Genetics Training Collaboration. This collaboration consists of five universities that provide training related to Public Health Genetics, the Washington State Department of Health, and liaisons to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Genetics Services Branch of the Health Resources and Human Services Administration in 2001 (Austin MA, Arnett D, Beaty T, Durfy S, Fineman R, Gettig E, Lochner Doyle D, Peyser P, Sorenson J, Thompson JD, Watts C. Opportunities for public health genetics trainees: Results from an employer/workplace survey. Community Genetics 4:143-147, 2001.)
Following an interactive internal review of the Ph.D. program by students active in the program during the 2007-2008 academic year, alumni of the program, and faculty, the following, updated objectives were developed:
- Display competency in "Genomics in Public Health" (Core Knowledge Area
A):
- Apply knowledge of inheritance and genomic advances, including cellular and molecular mechanisms and technical developments, to understanding the etiology of a variety of rare and common, complex diseases and health conditions.
- Apply epidemiological and statistical approaches to the study of risk factors and diseases with a genetic component.
- Identify interactions among genes, environmental factors, and behaviors, and their roles in health and disease.
- Understand how genetic principles and genomic technologies apply to diagnosis, screening, and interventions for disease prevention and health promotion programs.
- Display competency in "Implications of Genetics for Society" (Core Knowledge Area B):
- Identify the impact of genomics on the public health activities of assessment, policy development and assurance.
- Apply methods to address ethical implications of the use of genetic information and technologies in public health;
- Understand legal concepts and the role of the law in the development of policies relating to genetics and genomics; and identify legal implications of the application of genetics and genomic technologies in public health.
- Apply knowledge of key social science concepts in analysis of the political, social and cultural forces that influence the research and clinical application of genetics and genomic technology in public health.
- Analyze the interaction and impact of market forces and public policy on the development and delivery of genetic services.
- Acquire advanced knowledge in one of these core knowledge areas through coursework and dissertation project research.
- Demonstrate effective integration of the two core knowledge areas while conducting independent, interdisciplinary research in public health genetics.
- Acquire skills needed to stay current with the rapid advances in genomics, public health genetics, and clinical genetics, and their application in public health settings.
- Communicate effectively about public health genetics to audiences from diverse backgrounds, including writing at a professional level and giving oral presentations.
As of summer, 2008, there have been a total of 8 students who have earned the Ph.D. degree in Public Health Genetics. Each graduate of the program completed an interdisciplinary dissertation project that included research in both of the IPHG core knowledge areas with an interdisciplinary dissertation supervisory committee. All of the Ph.D. graduates have obtained excellent positions, several as post-doctoral fellows, one as a faculty member, and others with national and state agencies.
Curriculum
Students must complete at least 90 credits. Of those, at least 60 must be earned at the University of Washington. These include a minimum of 17 units of courses from the Fundamental Areas of Study, 28 units from the two Core Knowledge Areas, 9 units of selective courses, and 27 dissertation units.
Specifically, students are expected to:
- Complete, during their first two years, courses in the fundamental areas of study (Human Genetics and Public Health) and the two core knowledge areas (Genomics in Public Health and Implications of Genetics for Society)
- Pass a written Preliminary Exam, usually at the completion of the second year
- Complete a third year of study focused on one of the two Core areas, including appropriate selective courses
- Pass the General Examination for advancement to Ph.D. candidacy
- Prepare a doctoral dissertation, and pass the Final Examination and oral defense of the dissertation.
For complete information about the Ph.D. requirements, see Ph.D. Program Guidelines (PDF).
Schedule of Coursework for Ph.D. Students
The course of study (PDF) leading to the Ph.D. in Public Health Genetics is designed to take four to five years. Actual student progress can vary, however, depending on a number of personal and academic factors. All work for the doctoral degree must be completed within ten years, including quarters spent on leave.
Program Application Materials
The following materials are available for you to download:
Other Program Forms