Centers

Predoctoral fellows are formally admitted as candidates for the PhD in Sociomedical Sciences and must fulfill the general requirements for this degree program as well as requirements specific to the fellowship program. At the time of application, candidates select a concentration in one of six social sciences: anthropology, economics, history, political science, psychology or sociology.

Students entering the program with a BA complete 20 courses during the first three years of residency. Half the courses are taken within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' disciplinary department of their choice, the other half in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences and other Mailman School departments. Students entering with an MPH or social science MA apply for advanced standing for up to 10 courses that may be distributed between public health and social science courses.

Predoctoral Fellows complete both general requirements for all SMS PhD students and those specific to the Fellowship Program.

General Requirements for all SMS PhD students:

1. Rigorous disciplinary training comparable to that received by PhD candidates in Columbia's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences;
2. A two-semester course in the major traditions of social theory that support and frame contemporary practice in the sociomedical sciences and its application to health-related research;
3. Training in epidemiology and biostatistics; and
4. To progress to the dissertation stage of doctoral studies, students are examined in four areas: a written methods examination, oral examinations in health systems and population health/health behaviors; and an examination specific to the student's social science concentration.

Requirements specific to the Fellowship Program:

1. A one-semester course, "Critical Perspectives in Gender, Sexuality, and Health."
2. A minimum of one course selected from those focusing on contemporary theoretical approaches and substantive topics in sexuality and health including: "Culture, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS"; "Theories and Perspectives on Sexuality and Health"; and the "Seminar in Sexuality, Gender, Health and Human Rights";*
3. A course in the major biological and public health aspects of reproductive and sexual health: "Technical Aspects of Reproductive Health";*
4. An ongoing faculty-fellow seminar in gender, sexuality and health that meets every 2-3 weeks;
5. A required course in research ethics*;
6. A research apprenticeship supervised by program faculty; and
7. Doctoral research and dissertation focused on a topic in gender and/or sexuality and health.

*Courses required for the Predoctoral Fellowship program are counted towards the sequence of 10 public health courses.

The Predoctoral Fellowship admits students for only full-time enrollment. Students entering with a BA normally enroll for four or five courses per semester for the first two years of graduate studies, or for the first year in the case of students entering with an MA. Summer months are devoted primarily to research activity. Students entering with a BA are expected to complete their course work and comprehensive examination during the first three years of residency. Students entering with an MA are expected to complete these requirements in two years. The dissertation phase usually takes between two and three more years.