Public Health Research Methods

Does an HIV prevention intervention increase condom use among teens? What factors impede parents' ability to effectively manage their children's asthma? How can increased levels of regular physical activity be promoted in low-income, urban communities?

Finding answers to complex questions like these requires carefully designed research studies; and those results are essential in shaping policy, programs, and treatments.

To be effective, public health practices must be informed by well-executed research and data analyses. Strong research skills are in demand by employers that include government, academia, non-profits, and private industry in the United States and overseas.

The Certificate in Public Health Research Methods (PHRM) will provide students from various disciplines with the critical skills to design, conduct and analyze data from health studies, particularly those that have direct implications for programs and policy. This rigorous program will teach students to formulate testable research hypotheses, utilize appropriate study designs, collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data, and interpret findings with an eye to their potential public health impact. 

Admissions Eligibility

Public Health Research Methods is open to Columbia MPH students in:

Environmental Health Sciences
Epidemiology
Population and Family Health
Sociomedical Sciences

Note that given the required classes, the program may be most compatible for students enrolled in Epidemiology, Population and Family Health or Sociomedical Sciences.

Learn More

Visit the School's Academics website for more information about Public Health Research Methods' required courses, certificate electives, and scheduling.