PhD in Public Health Sciences in Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences

Admission Process

Admissions to the Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences program are made annually for the fall semester only. The formal application, including the application, fee, and all required materials must be submitted to the University of Louisville Graduate School. Please note that materials sent directly to School of Public Health and Information Sciences faculty or staff are not considered official and may result in delays to admission.

Admission Deadlines

The following deadlines are for fall enrollment. Applications received on or after April 1 will be held for the following year’s application cycle (e.g., applications received in April 2024 would be considered for admission for Fall 2025).

Admission Requirements

Requirement Details

Curriculum Vitae/Resume: A CV/resume should reflect academic history, work, and relevant experience, as well as any publications. Prior work experience relevant to the health promotion discipline is desired but not required; however, relevant work and research experience are considered as factors in acceptance into the program.

Personal Statement: The personal statement should be a one- to two-page essay addressing the following:

Letters of Recommendation: Submission of three professional or academic letters of recommendation is required. The online form may be used, or a formal letter of recommendation is acceptable. All references must be submitted to the Graduate School Admissions Office

Transcripts: Official transcripts of all college work are required and should be sent directly to the Graduate School Admissions Office. Unofficial transcripts will not fulfill the admission requirement. 

Standardized Testing: Standardized test scores, including the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), are optional.

Application Fees: Application fees are required by the Graduate School. All fees must be paid and required documents submitted before an applicant can be considered for admission. The Graduate School may waive the application fees if the student is a McNair Scholar, receiving food stamps, or is a disabled veteran. Contact the graduate admission office at or  502-852-6495 or 800-334-8635 with any fee waiver questions. 

Provisional Admission 

  • Applicants who have a master’s degree in a discipline other than public health may be admitted provisionally with the stipulation that they complete foundational course work (i.e., leveling courses) in public health. The leveling courses include the four MPH core courses (12 credit hours) and must be completed prior to beginning courses in the student’s PhD degree plan.
  • Students who have an MPH from an unaccredited school will be required to take PHPH 523: Public Health in the United States. This coursework is in addition to the outlined curriculum and does not count towards credit hours for the doctoral program. 

Additional Questions? If you have questions about the PhD in Public Health Sciences program in the Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences Specialization, contact Dr. Ryan Combs, HPBS PhD Program Committee Chair, by emailing ryan.combs@louisville.edu.

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