MPH then PhD

[PHHPM]

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Hi:

I have just started my MPH program in Health Policy. After thinking for a while, I really like to study health policy more and I was thinking about pursuing a PhD in Health Policy and Management, possibly from UNC-Chapel Hill or Johns Hopkins University. But I know I do not want to go into academia. I figure a PhD will help open a lot more doors for me in the health care field, especially with the exciting changes that are happening in the U.S..

Since I am pursuing a MPH at a different university, and if I decide to get a PhD, how long on average do you think will I get a PhD if I want a PhD at a different university? Will it be shorter because I have taken master level courses in health policy at my current university? I am willing to go for an additional 2 years, 3 years max, but not ideal. 4 years is a no.

Also, are PhD in Health policy and management programs in the school of public health usually completely funded (I do not want to take pay anything additional)?

I really appreciate the responses!

 

[PointEstimate]

Hi:

I have just started my MPH program in Health Policy. After thinking for a while, I really like to study health policy more and I was thinking about pursuing a PhD in Health Policy and Management, possibly from UNC-Chapel Hill or Johns Hopkins University. But I know I do not want to go into academia. I figure a PhD will help open a lot more doors for me in the health care field, especially with the exciting changes that are happening in the U.S..

Since I am pursuing a MPH at a different university, and if I decide to get a PhD, how long on average do you think will I get a PhD if I want a PhD at a different university? Will it be shorter because I have taken master level courses in health policy at my current university? I am willing to go for an additional 2 years, 3 years max, but not ideal. 4 years is a no.

Also, are PhD in Health policy and management programs in the school of public health usually completely funded (I do not want to take pay anything additional)?

I really appreciate the responses!

I'm not sure about the bolded above. The PhD, in my opinion, is largely an academic program that trains a new wave of researchers. Furthermore, PhD funding is often based on research and/or pre-doctoral training grants. If research is not in the cards for you, then maybe the PhD isn't for you. Before jumping into a PhD program, make sure there is a clearly defined reason for working towards one that has more substance than "the PhD is just the natural course of things" or "I think the PhD will open more doors" (think: how will it open the doors for me and will those doors be open for me if I don't sink more time in school getting one). I'm not in management and policy, but my impression from students here in that program is that for most jobs outside of academia, a doctorate is not necessary.

Addressing the second paragraph, I think you would be hard pressed to put a number on how long it will take. It all depends on you. If you move to another university, you probably won't have to take intro classes all over again as you should be able to qual out of those; however, it would behoove you to take more advance courses in the subject of your choice and these classes are supposed to help support your research. The length of the PhD program depends on how smoothly your research is going - based on my experience, research always comes with unexpected hitches.

Lastly, can't speak for all universities, but at the one I am at, PhD students fund themselves on some combination of grants (both internal and external funders) and teaching. Hope this helps, Stories might have a better grasp on it so hopefully he chimes in to throw in his two cents.

 

[364462]

Hi:

I have just started my MPH program in Health Policy. After thinking for a while, I really like to study health policy more and I was thinking about pursuing a PhD in Health Policy and Management, possibly from UNC-Chapel Hill or Johns Hopkins University. But I know I do not want to go into academia. I figure a PhD will help open a lot more doors for me in the health care field, especially with the exciting changes that are happening in the U.S..

Since I am pursuing a MPH at a different university, and if I decide to get a PhD, how long on average do you think will I get a PhD if I want a PhD at a different university? Will it be shorter because I have taken master level courses in health policy at my current university? I am willing to go for an additional 2 years, 3 years max, but not ideal. 4 years is a no.

Also, are PhD in Health policy and management programs in the school of public health usually completely funded (I do not want to take pay anything additional)?

I really appreciate the responses!

What is the end result of doing a PhD if not academia? This is not to say that you cannot do other things outside of academia - of course, you can. But why the PhD route? There are other pursuits to get more health policy related training - law school (JD), doctor of public health (DrPH). JD/MPH is increasingly common, for instance. Going to law school does not necessarily mean you will be an attorney, but it may give you an edge with regards to analytically looking at health policies.

I agree with the response above. The MPH-PhD route will not (necessarily) make the doctorate shorter because MPH curricula is largely a professional degree whereas a PhD is academic/research-oriented. You start at square one. While you may be able to wave certain doctoral-level courses because they may match the courses you would have taken during your MPH program, this does not necessarily mean the PhD itself will be shorter. It may be that you would still be required to take the same number of credits, except perhaps more opportunities for elective courses or more time to do research.

The MPH-DrPH route will make the DrPH shorter, about 3 (perhaps 4) years after the MPH. Many DrPH, if not most, require applicants to have already earned the MPH before matriculating to their doctoral program. But "shorter" can be deceptive precisely because the MPH is required for admission. So, you would still have had to do the 3 or 4 years at the doctoral level anyway after the MPH.

I would encourage you to think about what your longer-term goals are. Is the PhD or some other advanced degree the only way to get there? Is it possible to get there taking a different route?

Lastly, can I ask which school and program you are currently attending? I am also applying to health policy. I wonder if I could get some input. Good luck! 🙂