Sociomedical Sciences PhD

The Sociomedical Sciences PhD program is interdisciplinary, with study divided between the Mailman School of Public Health and one of several department in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Anthropology, History, or Sociology ). The aim of the program is to train researchers and teachers to apply social science theory and methods to the study of social factors related to health status and health care needs, the social structure of health care delivery systems, and the relation between these systems and the populations they are designed to serve.

Fellowships are awarded in recognition of academic achievement and in expectation of scholarly success. Teaching and research experience are considered an important aspect of the training of graduate students. Thus, graduate fellowships include some teaching and research apprenticeship.

Sociomedical Sciences Predoctoral Fellowship in Gender, Sexuality and Health

The first program of its kind, the fellowship is designed to prepare students for research and teaching careers in gender and sexuality as they shape reproductive and sexual health. The department invites applications from individuals interested in a multidisciplinary program that combines rigorous graduate studies in a social science discipline with specialized courses and doctoral research apprenticeships in gender, sexuality and health. The department will support one or two fellowships annually for up to five years. The program is funded by the Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Development.

Students should apply directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and should check off their interest in the fellowship on the External Funding section of the application.  Applicants for the fellowship should also note on their 500 word personal statement their interest in gender and sexuality and briefly outline a prospective area of research for their doctoral dissertation.

Admissions Requirements

In addition to the requirements listed below, all students must submit one official transcript showing courses and grades per school attended, a Statement of Academic Purpose*, a writing sample (a course paper, term paper, etc.) and three letters of evaluation from academic sources. All international students whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English must submit scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS.

(Applicants note: The Department is not admitting students into the political science and psychology concentrations for the 2012-2013 academic year.)

Visit the department site for more information.

*Applicants applying for the Predoctoral Fellowship in Gender, Sexuality and Health must note their interest in gender and sexuality and briefly outline a prospective area of research for their doctoral dissertation in their Statement of Academic Purpose.