BARNETT COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

About the Program

The PhD in Translational Science in Health Professions is designed for clinicians and health professionals seeking advanced research training to pursue academic, industry, healthcare, and community-based research careers. The 46-credit curriculum combines research-intensive core coursework, statistics and methodology training, individualized electives, and dissertation experiences to develop expertise in clinical and translational health sciences. Offered in a flexible hybrid format with full- and part-time options, the program accommodates working professionals while preparing graduates to lead rigorous research initiatives across diverse health-related settings.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years

Campus Location: Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Full-time study is required.

Interdisciplinary Study: Students are encouraged to develop a program of research that is interdisciplinary in nature, involving coursework and research across departments, schools and colleges that is quantitative and methodological in focus. Research in affiliated units is encouraged.

Areas of Specialization: Areas of specialization can be dictated through the area of concentration pursued by the student in their dissertation research.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students may take PhD courses only with the permission of the instructor. Further, 8000-level courses are not open to non-matriculated students. Completion of coursework does not ensure admission into the program.

Financing Opportunities: Full-time PhD students generally receive financial support through a combination of fellowships and assistantships. Research Assistants (RAs) perform supervised research activities. Teaching Assistants (TAs) may be assigned to assist in the teaching of courses, including grading examinations and papers or teaching laboratory sections. Some TAs independently teach undergraduate courses. TAs and RAs provide 20 hours of service per week. Both assistantships carry a stipend and tuition remission for up to 9 credits per term. The RA/TA application requires a statement of previous teaching and/or research experience, areas of interest, and future goals; unofficial copies of transcripts; and a curriculum vitae. The department makes offers of assistantships following admission to the program.To be considered for a Teaching Assistantship in BCPH students must complete the online application.  Applicants must be an incoming or current student in a graduate program to be considered. The online application link can be provided by your program director. Please note: Completion of the application does not guarantee a teaching assistantship.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: December 15

All applicants to the PhD in Translational Science in Health Professions program must apply via the Centralized Application Service for Public Health (SOPHAS). The system can be accessed at the SOPHAS website.

All application materials must be received by the deadline in order to be reviewed by the PhD Admissions Committee. Admission is competitive, and students are admitted only once a year. An important component of the admissions decision is the fit between the applicant's goals, experiences, and interests and the expertise of the faculty in the PhD program. Therefore, it is highly recommended that applicants explore the Admissions Requirements webpage and reach out to a potential program mentor to discuss their areas of interest and opportunities for mentored research before applying.

Applicants should check their application status on the SOPHAS portal often and inquire directly of SOPHAS about receipt of materials. For other questions, please contact the CPH Office of Admissions at cph@temple.edu or 215-204-5200.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from evaluators who can provide insight into the applicant's academic abilities and talents, as well as comment on the applicant's aptitude for doctoral-level study and research. Recommendations from college/university faculty members are preferred.

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A master's degree is generally required.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree is required, although it need not be in public health.

A WES evaluation is required for applicants who completed their bachelor's degree outside of the United States. This can be requested at https://www.wes.org/ and submitted through SOPHAS.

Statement of Goals: In no more than 750 words:

• Your interest in the program and respective track  
• Research interests  
• Achievements related to academic and/or research  
• How your interest in health sciences relate to your career goals and work of faculty members associated with the Ph.D. program  

Standardized Test Scores:

GRE: Optional. While the program takes a portfolio approach to admissions, standardized tests provide important insight into quantitative and verbal abilities. If submitted, scores above the 75th percentile on both the verbal and quantitative sections of the test and a written score of 4.0 or higher are desired. Official GRE scores should be sent to SOPHAS using code 0151. 

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master's degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

• TOEFL iBT: 4.5 (send officially to SOPHAS using the SOPHAS-specific TOEFL code 5688)
• IELTS Academic: 6.5
• PTE Academic: 53
• Duolingo: 110

Resume: Current resume required.

Writing Sample: Scholarly articles, technical reports or academic professional papers of which the applicant is the first author are preferred. Unless it is a published work, the writing sample should be no more than 10 pages.

Laptop: All incoming students in the Barnett College of Public Health are required to have a laptop. Academic programs in the college are technology intensive. They incorporate statistical and database analyses; utilize specialized tools for athletic training, kinesiology and physical therapy; stream audio and video for communication sciences; facilitate online interactive counseling for social work; and foster clinical experiences and online assessments. The laptop requirement enables the Barnett College of Public Health to improve opportunities for active learning and provide greater access to specialized software and required tools in and out of the classroom, better preparing students for the workforce. Learn more about device specifications and suggested vendors. Students can use excess financial aid (i.e., funds that are reimbursed after all tuition and fees are paid) to meet student needs, including the purchase of a laptop. Scholarships may also provide funding.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements
Number of Credit Required to Earn the Degree: 46

Course Sequence

¹

This core course if required of all graduate students in the Barnett College of Public Health. It is available completely online and designed such that students can complete the modules at their own pace.

²

Students discuss gaps in their training or areas of scholarship development with their faculty mentor prior to completing the first four academic terms in the program. Based on this planning, students engage in a project with a research mentor, as approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

³

If HRPR 9999 needs to be repeated, the course will be repeated for 1 credit each additional semester.

Content Elective Course Options

Students will take 15 credits of content elective courses purposefully intended to help them develop expertise in an area of research content/methods or a clinical specialty. These courses will be identified as part of the professional development planning process in the beginning of the program in consultation with the PhD student's advisor and approved by the Program Director. Each PhD student will have an advisor identified and assigned at the beginning of the program. There are a number of opportunities across Barnett College of Public Health where students can fulfill these credit hours (i.e., Teaching Certificate in Higher Education; Neuromotor Sciences; Regulatory Program in the College of Pharmacy). All content elective courses must be graduate-level courses. Specific courses are not identified here in order to allow students to individualize their course of study to meet their professional development and research goals.

Contacts

Department Contacts: