Health Services Research and Policy

The Doctor of Philosophy in Health Services Research and Policy equips students with the skills to identify and answer important questions regarding health services, systems, and policies in the United States and to disseminate and translate findings into actions that improve health. Students will benefit from engagement with the Department of Health Management and Policy's interdisciplinary faculty, the Dornsife School of Public Health's emphasis on urban health and social justice, and the School's location in Philadelphia–the 6th largest city in the United States where dynamic networks of academic, government, non-profit, and community-based organizations share a commitment to addressing health problems.

The program prepares researchers and scholars for careers in universities and other organizations, such as governmental agencies and private health-related industries (insurers, pharmaceuticals, philanthropic foundations, etc.), where health services research is conducted. Graduates will serve to improve the US health care system and individual and population health outcomes through research and advocacy.

The program's four core areas of study are based on principles articulated in the Institute of Medicine report on Health Services Research: Training and Workforce Issues:

• Social and Political Determinants of Health and Health Systems: The multi-level factors that affect the health of individuals and populations and that undergird US health systems.
• Research Methods: The methods for investigating health services research and policy questions that involve collecting, analyzing, and interpreting health and health services data.
• Health Economics: The supply and demand of health care resources and the impact of allocation and scarcity of these resources on populations.
• Implementation Science: Approaches to designing and implementing health services interventions at multiple levels using community engagement strategies.
• Research Specialization: Four Drexel University courses outside of program requirements selected at the student's discretion, with advisor approval, that focus on topics applicable to the student's research interests. 

Students will take a comprehensive exam that requires them to synthesize coursework and demonstrate mastery of public health competencies. Students will then develop and defend a dissertation proposal and complete a dissertation of publishable quality and final defense.

Major Competencies

• Weigh the social, political, behavioral, and economic contexts of health and health services
• Develop and use theoretical frameworks to formulate testable research questions in health services research
• Apply quantitative and mixed methods to answer health services research questions
• Translate and disseminate research findings to inform health services practice and policy
• Ensure the ethical and responsible conduct of health services and policy research

Transcripts

Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all of the colleges and universities that you have attended. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have attended.

Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and degree conferrals. If your school does not notate degree conferrals on the official transcripts, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates.

If your school issues only one transcript for life, you are required to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation agency.

Precise, word-for-word English translations of all non-English language documents are required along with official documents in the original language. All translations must be completed by the issuing institution or an ATA-certified translator. Visit the American Translators Association website to search for an ATA-certified translator.

International students: If you have already graduated from your previous institution at the time of your application, please email your graduation certificate(s) attached as PDF or Microsoft Word documents to [email protected]. Note: Any international applicant, regardless of program, may be required to provide a transcript evaluation should the Admissions Committee determine it is needed for the application to be reviewed. If your transcripts are selected for a course-by-course evaluation by an external agency, you will be responsible for supplying all necessary documentation and paying all necessary fees to have your transcripts evaluated.

If you have questions regarding what documents you must submit to fulfill the transcript requirements, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Standardized Test Scores

GRE test scores are not required.

Test of English as a Foreign Language

International applicants are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL minimum scores: 80/550/213), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English (PTE minimum score: 53) unless they meet the criteria for a waiver.

Essay

Please write an essay describing your career goals, including specific research and scholarly interests. Please be sure to indicate how your interests coincide with those of particular School of Education Faculty members.

Submit your essay with your application or through the Discover Drexel portal after you submit your application.

Résumé

Upload your résumé as part of your admission application or through the Discover Drexel Portal after you submit your application.

Letters of Recommendation

Recommenders should be able to speak to your academic performance.

Interview

Virtual, in-person, or telephone interview required for qualified applicants.

Academic Experience

Admission to this program requires a minimum 3.25 GPA (a 3.5 is preferred).

Writing Sample

Please submit a sample of scholarly writing, including but not limited to published articles, theses, or term papers, by mail or email as an attachment to [email protected].

Mailing Addresses