The Graduate School

Doctor of Philosophy with a Major in Applied Health Sciences

Offering an innovative, interprofessional, and highly applicable PhD in Applied Health Sciences for professionals seeking advanced study and research training opportunities in order to comprehensively solve health care problems.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • A strong didactic program combined with advanced research in Allied Health Sciences 
  • Opportunities to work with outstanding faculty with expertise in health services
  • Prepares interprofessional, research-focused, and clinically-oriented faculty in the health sciences
  • Produces scholars capable of advancing the discovery, dissemination and application of new knowledge in the health sciences

Curriculum

Admission Criteria

Tuition and Fees

Apply Now

Questions?
Contact Us

Elena Dent, PhD
Interim Program Director
 edent@augusta.edu

Kim Dyches
Program Coordinator
 kdyches@augusta.edu

ASK A QUESTION

The PhD program is of interest to the fields of

  • Clinical Laboratory Science
  • Dietetics
  • Health Administration
  • Health Informatics
  • Medical Illustration
  • Medical Imaging
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physician Assistant
  • Physical Therapy
  • Radiation Therapy
  • Respiratory Therapy

Interests

Graduates of this collaborative program will be research-focused and clinically oriented, able to work on health care teams in evidence-based practice or as allied health faculty. The program is awarded through the Graduate School at the Augusta University’s Health Sciences Campus in Augusta.

aREAS OF INTEREST

  • DIAGNOSTICS SCIENCE
  • HEALTH OUTCOMES
  • REHABILITATION SCIENCE

Why a PhD in Applied Health Sciences?

The Augusta University's PhD in Applied Health Sciences Program addresses the acute need for discipline-specific health care PhD programs.

  • We offer health care professionals a doctoral education that meets individual, professional, and societal needs.
  • Academic programs in many fields increasingly prefer PhD-trained faculty to meet accreditation standards. 
  • Many accrediting bodies also now require interprofessional education in curriculums.
  • Team-based research is increasingly emphasized for federal research funding.

Our program combines advanced health education with excellence in research. We provide graduates with the innovative research skills needed for health care in Georgia and beyond.

Program Information

The program allows students to structure course work within three concentration areas: rehabilitation science, health care outcomes, and diagnostic sciences.

    • Courses are co-taught by doctoral faculty with expertise in health informatics, public and community health, clinical outcomes, evidence-based practice, medical anthropology, early childhood education, neuropsychology, neurorehabilitation, database management, cardiovascular/metabolic health and more.
    • Student research is also interdisciplinary in nature, with faculty members from at least two disciplines serving on a student’s PhD committee.
    • Students must complete an original investigation demonstrating independent thinking, a collaborative approach, scholarly ability, critical judgment, and knowledge of research methods and techniques.
    • Students are assessed based on portfolios of written class assignments, self-reflection papers, peer evaluations of team collaboration, oral presentations, manuscripts, and grant submissions.
    • Students meet with their major research advisor regularly to review their portfolio and to assess progress.

Student Profiles

Kendra Bufkin

"One of the strengths of the Applied Health Science Ph.D. program is the faculty. They are passion about training students and always willing to go above and beyond for their students.  They take pride in making sure their students are excelling academically and are involved in research projects that will have a great impact."

Kendra Bufkin >>

Stephanie Johnson and Lawrence Ramiscal

"I enjoy research, but needed enhanced knowledge and skills to produce quality research. This program is allowing me to do just that- become an expert within the field of my choice (ALS and QoL) while learning the essentials to be a solid researcher."  - Stephanie Johnson 

"As a clinician first and foremost, the program allows me to continue to think like one while I start transforming of becoming a scientist for which my research will support the advancement of my profession of physical therapy." - Lawrence Ramiscal

 Stephanie Johnson and Lawrence Ramiscal >>