Overview

Welcome to the doctoral program in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education (HBHE) at the University of Michigan School of Public Health! This document provides students and their faculty advisors with guidelines and Departmental requirements about the program. This document is intended to complement the Rackham Graduate School Academic Policies and students and their advisors are encouraged to consult both resources.

Social and behavioral factors play a significant role in the etiology and course of today’s pressing health problems. The doctoral program in HBHE prepares professionals for research, teaching, service, and leadership positions with the overall objective of improving the health of populations. To meet this objective, all students in the program are trained to conduct independent research that will inform the development of interventions and policies to promote health at the individual, community, population, societal, and/or global levels.

Guidelines and requirements are only a small part of what ensures the successful and timely completion of a doctoral program– the rest depends on motivation and mentorship. We encourage you to seek counsel from your doctoral advisor, and to cultivate mentoring relationships with additional faculty early in your program. When questions arise, as they inevitably will, your faculty advisor should be your first source of counsel. Any unanswered questions should then be directed to the HBHE Doctoral Committee, and we can proceed to Rackham if needed.

We look forward to your success!