College: School of Medicine and Public Health
Designation: Department
Major: Population Health
Degrees Offered: M.S., Ph.D.
Other: Ph.D. Minor
Official Options: MS and PhD degree options available in Epidemiology.
Faculty: Professors Nieto (chair), Albanese, Cruickshanks, Dempsey, Fryback, Kanarek, Mullahy, Palta, Remington, Wolfe, Young; Associate Professors Deleire, Durkin, Ladinsky, Oliver, Olson, Patz, E. Smith, M. Smith, Trentham-Dietz; Assistant Professors Bautista, Engelman, Gangnon, Martinez-Donate, Skinner, Vanness, Witt; CHS Professor Brokopp
The Department of Population Health Sciences is part of the School of Medicine and Public Health and strives to provide leadership in the emerging, integrative field of population health. Its mission is to create, integrate, disseminate, and apply knowledge promoting the most efficient, equitable, and effective possible use of resources to maintain and improve the health of populations. The Department offers two graduate degrees: a master of science in population health and a doctor of philosophy in population health. These research-oriented degree programs are designed to provide rigorous, interdisciplinary training to develop students' abilities to synthesize knowledge and skills needed to address today’s health-related problems. Methodological and analytical training is grounded in biostatisics, epidemiology, and health services research, but also emphasizes methods employed in the social sciences and econometrics that contribute importantly to the study of health in populations. While the program is based on a sequence of core courses, students, in consultation with their major professor, have the flexibility to design advanced study and research that best prepares them for their chosen area of interest.
Individuals choose this program because of its innovative approach, strong research focus, and personal attention to students. It is an ideal option for those considering a broad array of fields including epidemiology, public health, health policy, health economics, health services research, environmental health, industrial engineering, demography, and more. UW-Madison ranks as one of the most prolific research universities in the world, placing third among American public universities for research expenditures. Our interdisciplinary focus allows students the flexibility to work with a wide array of research/faculty on campus. For instance, program faculty include members from a number of other departments such as Business, Family Medicine, Industrial Engineering, Law, Medical History and Bioethics, Medicine, Nursing, Ophthalmology, Public Affairs, Sociology, Veterinary Medicine, etc. The multidisciplinary character of the faculty, coupled with the diverse backgrounds of the students, provides a rich and stimulating training environment. The department is also proud of the sense of community it has built by being a smaller program. The faculty and student offices are integrated, and colleagues and professors are friendly and accessible.
Faculty, staff, and students in the Department of Population Health Sciences engage in a wide variety of epidemiological and health services world-class research projects to understand determinants of health and health problems in populations, to analyze public and clinical health policies, and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare. Research topics may include (but are not limited to) chronic, infectious, and environmental disease epidemiology; public health; studies of medical outcomes; health economics; the determinants and measurement of population health status; and health administration and policy. These multidisciplinary research programs may include (but are not limited to) the study the effects and interactions of genetic traits; biologic and metabolic processes; pathogens; pollutants; lifestyles; behaviors; economic social and physical environments; and public health and health care systems on the health of populations. Methods employed involve developing and maintaining long term cohort studies, disease registries, population surveys, and retrospective analyses of large observational databases. Researchers in the department also work to advance methodology in health economics, population health evaluation, and statistical analyses.
For more information, view our Population Health MS/PhD Academic Guide at www.pophealth.wisc.edu/grad/info_curr_grad.htm
Students who have strong quantitative and analytical skills with academic preparation in bio-medical fields, population social sciences, or health-related social sciences have the greatest potential for success. However, many enter and succeed with other backgrounds such as public policy, education, psychology, economics, environmental studies, actuarial science, etc. The faculty Admissions Committee considers many aspects of the application including grades, GRE scores, recommendation letters, statement of purpose, and prior research and/or professional experience (resume/CV). The minimum requirements are as follows:
1. Applicants should have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), although successful applicants generally have a GPA above 3.0.
2. GRE scores are required for admission. For applicants with doctoral degrees, GRE scores are strongly recommended, but not required.
3. Applicants whose native language or language of study was not English must submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A score of 580 (written) or 237 (computer-based) or above is required.
4. At least one semester of advanced quantitative preparation (e.g., calculus, statistics, or other) with a grade of "B" or better.
5. Applicants must meet both the above departmental admission requirements and the Graduate School admission requirements.
Students admitted to the program are assigned an initial course advisor appropriate to their background and interests. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the program's website for information about faculty research interests and to contact individual faculty directly to explore mutual interests. Faculty and program information is available at: www.pophealth.wisc.edu/grad/ .
For more information: Department of Population Health Sciences, Population Health M.S./Ph.D. Graduate Program, 744 WARF Building, 610 Walnut Street, Madison, WI 53726-2397 ; pophealth@mailplus.wisc.edu; www.pophealth.wisc.edu/grad.