The curriculum for the Prevention Science Doctoral Program is designed to ensure that students both (a) receive broad, interdisciplinary training in the area of prevention science; and (b) develop specialized expertise through the selection of relevant electives, research, and outreach activities.
Graduates of this program will have the following competencies:
- Demonstrated proficiency of theory and basic research on human development in the contexts of family, peers, school, and community.
- An understanding of 1) individual, family, and environmental risk and protective factors and how they relate to optimal human development; and 2) the epidemiological approach to assessment of their prevalence.
- The skills to conduct rigorous basic and/or applied research in prevention science, with a demonstrated mastery of scholarship and the ability to perform original research that advances knowledge in a specialized discipline, chosen in consultation with a student’s committee.
- The ability to apply theory and research findings to the design of programs that promote optimal development and prevent poor physical, social, and emotional outcomes.
- The ability to design and conduct scientific tests of program efficacy and effectiveness.
- The ability to conduct dissemination and implementation research and translating findings into practice to enhance the quality implementation, sustainment, and scalability of prevention programs, focusing on implementation, outcomes, dissemination cost, and sustainability (moving programs from research to practice).
- Effective written and oral communication skills, enabling the effective dissemination of research findings to diverse audiences and influencing evidence- based policy decisions.
- The ability to write successful grant and contract proposals to fund prevention science research and programming.
- Knowledge of and experience with effective teaching and/or mentoring strategies from classroom to community contexts.
- Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research designs, methods, measures, and outcomes for application in a variety of settings.
Learn about career opportunities for prevention science graduates.
Degree Requirements
To earn a PhD in Prevention Science, students must:
- Complete the required courses in three core competency areas (a) developmental epidemiology and public health, (b) research methods and statistics, and (c) program development, implementation, and institutionalization,
- Complete and successfully defend a Master’s Thesis,
- Complete and successfully defend the Preliminary Doctoral Exam,
- Complete and successfully defend a Doctoral Dissertation.