Public Affairs (PhD) - Health Services Management and Research

Program Overview

The Public Affairs (PhD) – Health Services Management and Research program prepares individuals for academic positions in higher education and leadership roles in public, nonprofit, and for-profit organizations. It combines theoretical knowledge with analytical and ethical foundations to equip students in conducting research that influences public policy decisions and delivery of services. The program emphasizes experiential learning through community-based research projects and requires a significant research project (dissertation) as a culmination of the student's academic journey.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Public Affairs (PhD) – Health Services Management and Research program is an interdisciplinary program that prepares students for academic positions in colleges and universities as well as research and leadership positions in public, nonprofit and for profit agencies and organizations. The program is designed to provide students with the theoretical, analytical and ethical foundation to discover new knowledge that will impact affirmatively public policy decisions and develop programs and systems that will enhance the delivery of services to an expectant and unyielding public.

Outline:

The program requires 60 credit hours beyond the master's degree, distributed as follows:

• Public Affairs Substantive Core (9 credit hours):
• PAF7000 - Foundations of Public Affairs: People, Places, Policies and Paradigms (3 credits)
• PAF7230 - Strategic Change and Management for Public Affairs (3 credits)
• PAF7317 - Social Inquiry and Public Policy (3 credits)
• Methodological and Statistical Core (18 credit hours):
• PAF7802 - Advanced Research Methodology for Public Affairs (3 credits)
• PAF7804 - Advanced Statistics for Public Affairs I: Multivariate Analysis (3 credits)
• PAF7805 - Advanced Statistics for Public Affairs II: Survey of Statistical Methods (3 credits)
• PAF7820 - Qualitative Methods for Public Affairs (3 credits)
• PAF7325 - Policy and Program Evaluation for Public Affairs (3 credits)
• One of the following:
• PAF7868 - Public Affairs Mixed Methods Research (3 credits)
• PAF7856 - Applications of Structural Equation Modeling in Public Affairs (3 credits)
• Community-based Research (3 credit hours):
• PAF 7947 - Public Affairs Community-Based Research (3 credits)
• Track Specialization (15 credit hours):
• HSA7116 - Theories in Healthcare Management (3 credits)
• HSA7936 - Advanced Seminar in Health Economics (3 credits)
• HSA7938 - Advanced Seminar in Health Services Research (3 credits)
• At least 2 of the following:
• HSA6108 - Health Care Organization and Management II (3 credits)
• HSA6128 - Health Care Services Management (3 credits)
• HSA6342 - Health Care Human Resources (3 credits)
• PHC6000 - Epidemiology (3 credits)
• PHC6146 - Health Planning and Policy (3 credits)
• PHC6160 - Health Care Finance (3 credits)
• HSA7125 - Globalization and Health (3 credits)
• Dissertation (15 credit hours):
• PAF 7980 Dissertation Research (15 credits)

Assessment:

• Research Proficiency Exam (RPE): Assesses a student's ability to integrate curriculum knowledge and apply it in the realm of community problem solving as it relates to policy, administration, governance, and organizations.
• Integrative Qualifying Exam (IQE): Assesses a student's ability to integrate curriculum knowledge and apply it in the realm of community problem solving as it relates to policy, administration, governance, and organizations.
• Dissertation: A significant research project that demonstrates the student's ability to conduct independent research and contribute to the field of public affairs.

Teaching:

• Faculty: The program draws on the expertise of faculty in the fields of Criminal Justice, Health Management and Informatics, Public Administration, and Social Work.
• Teaching Methods: The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, group projects, and independent research.
• Community-Based Research: The program emphasizes experiential learning through community-based research projects.

Careers:

• Academic Positions: The program prepares students for academic positions in colleges and universities.
• Research and Leadership Positions: The program prepares students for research and leadership positions in public, nonprofit and for profit agencies and organizations.

Other:

• Track Prerequisites: Applicants must hold a master's degree from an accredited institution, preferably in criminal justice, health, public administration or social work.
Applicants with a master's degree in a field not directly related to public affairs may be required to take courses at the master's level in preparation for doctoral level study. A maximum of 6 credit hours taken at the doctoral level may be considered for transfer.
• Grading: A grade of B- or better is required in all substantive core and methodological core courses.
Students receiving a grade of "C+" or lower will be required to repeat the course and receive a grade of B- or better prior to taking the Research Proficiency Exam and Qualifying Exam. Any student who receives more than one "C" in their doctoral course work may be dismissed from the program.
• GPA: A minimum of 3.0 graduate status GPA and program of study GPA is required to maintain graduate student status and for graduation.
Students with a GPA less than 3.0 may be dismissed from the program.
• Failing Grades: Any student who receives an "F" grade in their doctoral course work will be dismissed from the program.
• Faculty Advisers: Upon acceptance of a student into the program, the program director provides students with an initial orientation and a general advising session.
The Track Coordinator in conjunction with the PAF Director helps the student throughout the foundation stage of the program, assisting in the clarification of interests and goals and facilitating the introduction of students to faculty and research interests that can advance the student's program of study. Health Services Management and Research Track students will be advised by the Health Services Management and Research Track Coordinator.
• Candidacy Status: Students can officially obtain candidacy status when they have successfully completed all course work, passed the research proficiency and qualifying exams, formed their Dissertation committee, have no more than six required courses remaining (electives included) and all required paperwork has been completed and submitted.
In addition, students admitted to their UCF doctoral program in Fall 2011 or a later term must complete all CITI Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training. Once they have obtained Candidacy status, students can register for dissertation hours.
• Equipment Fee: Full-time students in the Public Affairs Program pay a $40 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled.
Part-time students pay $20 per semester.