About PhD Program,
The Health Services Organization and Policy (HSOP) Program is the HMP doctoral program leading to a PhD and prepares students for careers in research, teaching, and policy analysis in health services and policy.
The program’s primary objective is to provide students with the conceptual and analytic skills to address a broad spectrum of health services and policy issues. These issues range from the balance between equity, efficiency, and political feasibility in forming social policy to technical considerations in the organization, financing, use, and evaluation of health services. The scope of our programs includes not only personal health services (“healthcare”) but also the broader context of factors that influence health (“public health”).
While strongly oriented toward applied research, the program is firmly based in scientific theory and methods. Understanding and analysis of technical problems and policy issues in health services and policy require a commitment to scientific inquiry within a rigorous framework. The program considers the key bodies of theory for HSOP study to be the social sciences including economics, sociology, organizational studies (in Ross Business School) (in College of Literature, Science, and the Arts), political science, finance, operations research/decision science, and quantitative methods. The application of such theory requires the use of advanced methods in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. The HSOP Program, therefore, is designed to integrate a thorough knowledge of health services and policy, a sound understanding of a theoretical discipline, and a mastery of advanced research methods.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Admission to the HSOP program is extremely competitive, and space in our program is limited. Please be advised that:
- we typically receive more than 70 applications each year from very qualified and talented people. Each entering class consists of 5–7 students;
- the admissions decision is based on a holistic review that puts weight on many factors, including: fit with faculty research expertise; academic background for the proposed cognate; letters of recommendation; undergraduate GPA; and evidence of potential to be a productive researcher;
- and many of our applicants have a master’s or professional degree with strong grades, and most have relevant research experience. (However, we do not require any degree beyond a bachelor’s to be considered for admission.)
PhD Funding Coverage,
Funding directly through the HSOP doctoral program is available, and there are also many funding opportunities for PhD students with the Rackham Graduate School and throughout the university. The majority of our PhD students have one (or more) of these funding packages, and all of our students have full funding throughout the course of their PhD career. Common funding sources include:
- Fellowships: The Rackham Fellowship Officehas information about fellowships available through the Graduate School as well as information on many fellowships funded by external sources.
- Research Positions: Research assistantships on funded projects within HMP and affiliated projects are often available. Students typically seek out such opportunities with faculty mentors, and can find assistantships working on projects related to their own research interests.
- Graduate Student Instructor(GSI): GSI positions (also known as TA or teaching assistantship positions) are typically available within the department, as well as for the School of Public Health, and in a wide variety of departments with undergraduate programs.
- Traineeship and Assistantship programs: There are various traineeship and assistantship programs available through both HMP and the Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Examples of such programs are:
- National Research Service Awardfrom the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research Center
- Rackham Administered Fellowships
These funding opportunities cover full tuition and health insurance, as well as provide a stipend. The HSOP admissions committee arranges funding as a part of the admissions offer. Decisions are generally announced in March.
For information on federal financial aid student loan programs please contact The University of Michigan Office of Financial Aid. Non-U.S. citizen applicants are not eligible for most university-based awards including fellowships; such students should seek support from their own governments and agencies. HSOP students both U.S. and international are eligible for GSI and research positions, though these positions are usually attained only after the first year of study.
Application Requirement,
Visit the Rackham Graduate School site for details on the application process. Additional information for individuals with international credentials can be found on the Required Academic Credentials from Non-U.S. Institutions website.
Although personal interviews are not required, applicants are encouraged to get in touch with faculty with relevant research interests.
Regarding your Academic Statement of Purpose: Please describe how your background, experience, and research interests relate to the HSOP PhD program and identify any specific program faculty that you would like to work with.
All supplemental materials such as transcripts, CVs, and writing samples must be submitted via the online application system. Extra or supplemental materials will not be accepted by email.
Application Deadline,
Dec 01, 2024
Application Fee,
- United States citizens and those with permanent resident visa status, $75
- Non-U.S. citizens, $90
