Ph.D. Program in Health Related Sciences
Develop research skills. Build your practice. Improve the health and well-being of your community.
You’ve committed your life to health care, and you are passionate about your specialty. But you seek to take it all farther — to teach others, to research the field, or to lead others.
Emphasizing practice-based, problem-solving approaches, the Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences program fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and prepares you to lead in research, education, and administration. The VCU program is uniquely designed for experienced health professionals to conduct impactful, fundable research and gain the expert knowledge needed to address complex societal health problems.
Flexible
Getting a Ph.D. isn’t (and shouldn’t) be easy. But remote learning gives you flexibility in how and when you learn, offering hybrid learning options with live and recorded lessons and two annual one-week on-campus events in Richmond, VA.
Balanced
Keep your job and life intact. Designed for working adults and led by fellow health care professionals who understand your demands and need to keep your career and life on track.
Interdisciplinary
Real-world research and practice never happens in a silo - and neither does our curriculum. Our interdisciplinary cohort model uses a practice-based and problem-solving approach to address current healthcare issues.
We bring your coursework to your fingertips. From the classroom to your desktop, to your laptop and mobile devices, you can stay connected. Your materials are accessible whether you are traveling or just taking a leisurely walk while listening to a lecture. We understand the versatility needed by the 24/7 demands of our students.
Lectures can be delivered via webcasts to the desktop which may include a video of the lecturer and PC screenshots. Whether it is a PowerPoint presentation, lecture, software, or other course material, all of the video and audio that is captured is available for the student to offload to their favorite mobile device. Much of the course material is posted to the Canvas Course Management System for online review. Students participate in class discussion forums on Canvas at a time that works for their daily schedule - during the day, late at night or early in the morning. These forums provide an excellent opportunity to express your opinions and interact with your cohort.