Program: Health Services Research, PhD - George Mason University

Degree Requirements

Core Courses (30 credits)

Concentration and Elective Courses (30 credits)

Students take additional courses in one of two concentration domains: Knowledge Discovery and Health Informatics or Health Systems and Policy. Doctoral-level elective courses outside of CHHS or concentration-related content areas may be taken as approved by the student’s academic advisor. A maximum of 6 credits of 600-level courses may be applied to the degree.

▲ Concentration in Knowledge Discovery and Health Informatics (KDHI)

HAP 618 - Computational Tools in Health Informatics Credits: 3
HAP 701 - Health Data: Vocabulary and Standards Credits: 3
HAP 730 - Health Care Decision Analysis Credits: 3
HAP 745 - Health Care Security Policy Credits: 3
HAP 752 - Advanced Health Information Systems Credits: 3
HAP 770 - Medical Decision Making and Decision Support Systems Credits: 3
HAP 823 - Comparative Effectiveness Analysis using Observational Data Credits: 3
HAP 925 - Advanced Methods in Qualitative Research for Health Care Credits: 3
GCH 807 - Measurement Theories and Applications in Health Care Research Credits: 3
RHBS 720 - Principles of Clinical Trials Credits: 3
RHBS 816 - Rehabilitation Efficacy and Effectiveness Research Credits: 3
STAT 663 - Statistical Graphics and Data Exploration I Credits: 3
STAT 763 - Statistical Graphics and Data Exploration II Credits: 3
CSI 873 - Computational Learning and Discovery Credits: 3
Other course(s) supporting the student’s subject matter or research methods, as approved by the advisor.

▲ Concentration in Health Systems and Policy (HSYP)

HAP 645 - Introduction to Health Services Research Credits: 3
HAP 661 - Policy Development and Analysis for Community Health Programs Credits: 3
HAP 662 - Health Policy for Elders and People with Disabilities Credits: 3
HAP 704 - Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management Credits: 3
HAP 745 - Health Care Security Policy Credits: 3
HAP 746 - Health Policy Leadership Credits: 3
HAP 762 - Cost-Effectiveness for Health Care Management and Policy Decisions Credits: 3
HAP 766 - Policy Implementation and Health System Management Dilemmas Credits: 3
HAP 823 - Comparative Effectiveness Analysis using Observational Data Credits: 3
HAP 866 - Politics of Influencing Health Care Policy Credits: 3
HAP 925 - Advanced Methods in Qualitative Research for Health Care Credits: 3
GCH 807 - Measurement Theories and Applications in Health Care Research Credits: 3
RHBS 808 - Outcomes Measurement Credits: 3
RHBS 816 - Rehabilitation Efficacy and Effectiveness Research Credits: 3
Other course(s) supporting the student’s subject matter or research methods, as approved by the advisor.

Comprehensive Exams

Two comprehensive examinations (one written and one either oral or computational) will determine whether the student has the necessary knowledge and skills to undertake dissertation work. (Note: A computational exam presents the student with a question that requires analysis of data in order to provide a comprehensive answer.)The comprehensive exams must be taken within one year of completion of all coursework (except for dissertation sequence courses).

Students shall indicate by the end of the previous regular semester their intent to take the comprehensive exams. Students must have organized a dissertation committee with a chair approved by the HSR PhD Program Director. The dissertation committee will develop and evaluate the individual’s comprehensive exams on a pass/no-pass basis. Students must pass both exams to enter PhD candidacy. Students who fail to pass either of the comprehensive exams may attempt each exam again the following semester. No more than one additional attempt at the exams will be permitted. Students who do not pass both comprehensive exams after the maximum number of attempts will be dismissed from the program.

Written Comprehensive Exam

Members of the dissertation committee will utilize a written comprehensive examination to assess the student’s ability to apply theoretical concepts of research design and methods (including study design, data acquisition or collection, data management, analysis and interpretation) to relevant research questions in the student’s concentration and area of research.

Oral or Computational Comprehensive Exam

Members of the dissertation committee will utilize either an oral or a computational comprehensive examination to assess the student’s knowledge of theory and application pertaining to the content of the “field” and relevant subject matter, based upon the student’s concentration and areas of research.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students who pass the comprehensive exams and all core and concentration course requirements advance to candidacy. A student must advance to candidacy status before taking the dissertation courses.

Dissertation Sequence Courses (at least 12 credits)

HAP 998 - Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Credits: 1-3
HAP 999 - Doctoral Dissertation Credits: 1-9 (at least 6 credits)

Dissertation

After advancement to candidacy, the HSR PhD student must complete an approved dissertation. The student must seek and obtain the approval of the HSR PhD Program Director on the selection of his/her Dissertation Chair and committee members. The committee must have at least three members, each of which must be a full-time member of the graduate faculty. The Chair must hold an appointment in the Department of Health Administration and Policy (HAP) and be approved by the Program Director. The second member of the dissertation committee must be a member of either the HAP Department or the College of Health and Human Services, and the third member of the committee must be from the College or other academic unit at George Mason University. A fourth member of the committee may be appointed, from another academic unit or from outside Mason, with the approval of the Program Director.

Within six months of passing the comprehensive examinations, the student must submit a draft dissertation proposal to the Dissertation Chair and committee. The proposal shall describe the proposed research as directed by the Chair and Committee. Failure to submit the proposal in a timely manner is grounds for academic probation. The proposal must provide a detailed literature review that provides the context and rationale for the research objectives, state the dissertation objective(s), and describe the proposed study design and analytic methods. The proposal must address the feasibility of completing the dissertation research and state the chair and members of the student’s dissertation committee (with signatures or other appropriate documentation through e-mail) and include a short rationale for the inclusion of each member. An oral proposal defense must be scheduled with dissertation committee members who have agreed to serve. During the oral proposal defense, the student will describe their proposed research and address questions by the committee members. At the oral defense, the Dissertation Committee determines approval or disapproval of the proposal. Committee disapproval is accompanied by written recommendations for improving the proposed research with expectations for resubmission.

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Health Services Research, PhD

Reduction of Credit

Admission Requirements

Time Requirements