Program will train future leaders to advance research on health challenges
Irvine, Calif., Sept. 16, 2025 — Communities across the nation are grappling with profound and enduring health challenges deeply rooted in social, structural and behavioral factors. To prepare the next generation of researchers to address these challenges, the University of California, Irvine’s Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health is launching a new Ph.D. program in health, society and behavior, beginning fall 2026.
The doctoral program will train students to analyze and address the social, political and structural forces that shape population health outcomes. Students will engage in advanced coursework, community-engaged research and independent dissertation projects to generate evidence-based solutions that advance health equity for vulnerable and underserved populations.
“This program is designed for students who want to do more than study health inequities – they want to solve them,” said Dylan Roby, chair and professor of health, society and behavior at Wen Public Health. “Our graduates will leave UC Irvine equipped to design and evaluate interventions, shape policy and drive systemic change in public health.”
The curriculum will emphasize critical analysis of health disparities, cutting-edge training in qualitative and quantitative research methods, and community-driven engagement. Students will work closely with faculty mentors and conduct independent dissertation research that advances health equity. The program’s competencies include mastery in evaluating evidence, analyzing health determinants, conducting original research and engaging communities to design solutions.
Graduates will be prepared for careers in academia, government, nonprofit organizations and the private sector, leading efforts to design, evaluate and implement solutions. The new degree is a culmination of curriculum development managed by Wen Public Health’s Department of Health, Society, and Behavior.
Students will benefit from a cohort-based model, faculty mentorship tailored to their research interests, and access to new facilities in UC Irvine’s health sciences core. The program will also offer full funding packages that may include teaching and research assistantships, fellowships and summer research support. Ph.D. students and their families are guaranteed subsidized on-campus housing for the normative time to degree of 5 years, helping to ensure a supportive environment for both academic and personal success.
Applications will open on Oct. 1, for the program’s inaugural cohort. The deadline to apply is Dec. 1, 2025, for fall 2026 admission. Applicants should hold at least a master’s degree in a health-related or social science discipline; advanced degrees such as M.P.H., M.S. or M.P.P. are preferred.
For more information about the Ph.D. in health, society and behavior, please visit https://publichealth.uci.edu/degrees-programs/doctoral-programs/phd-in-health-society-behavior/.
