Social and Behavioral Sciences Ph.D.
One of two doctoral training programs offered by the Department of Health Behavior and Policy, the Ph.D. in Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) prepares students to become scientists, educators and program administrators across a multitude of health care settings.
Student learning is focused in the following areas:
- Analytical thinking: Students will demonstrate an appropriate level of ability to interpret information relevant to social and behavioral science, to connect rationales to procedures and evidence to findings, to draw reasonable conclusions, and to generate and evaluate alternate explanations.
- Integrated knowledge of social and behavioral science: Students will demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge of the current elements of the social and behavioral sciences as related to disciplinary specialization and a more detailed understanding of the individual area of scholarship, including an appropriate familiarity with the research literature and the ability to evaluate and critique.
- Oral communication skills: Students will demonstrate the achievement of an appropriate level of skill in the oral communication of social and behavioral science subject matter with respect to content, organization, logical flow, presentation, use of language and incorporation of visual aids in formal and collaborative communication.
- Study design: Students will demonstrate the achievement of an appropriate level of competence in the ability to appraise, modify and/or create, and implement study protocols and to design and develop studies.
- Written communication skills: Students will demonstrate the achievement of an appropriate level of written communication skill with respect to grammar, syntax, spelling, vocabulary and use of figures, tables and citations to effectively present social and behavioral science information.
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Critically evaluate social determinants of health and develop strategies for improving health equity
- Recommend and apply community-engaged principles in research design
- Propose and justify analytical approaches for answering public health research questions assessed using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods
- Construct and critique theory-driven approaches for developing, implementing, and evaluating health behavior change programs
- Design and produce an independent public health research project
About the Program
Our SBS doctoral training builds and expands upon the foundational understanding of health as the intersection of the following factors:
- Structural
- Cultural
- Social
- Behavioral
- Biological
With an emphasis on applied research and personalized mentorship, the SBS program gives students the skills and experience they need to make meaningful, independent scientific contributions in social and behavioral science and health.
Richard F. Brown, Ph.D.
Kellie E. Carlyle, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Dina T. Garcia, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Sun Jung “Sunny” Kim, Ph.D., M.S., M.A.
Jessica G. LaRose, Ph.D., M.S.
Alexander R. Lucas, Ph.D., M.S.
Maghboeba Mosavel, Ph.D., M.A.
Maria D. Thomson, Ph.D., M.Sc.
Katherine Y. Tossas, Ph.D., M.S.
Vanessa B. Sheppard, Ph.D.
Students complete a minimum of 54 post-master's credit hours in subject areas such as the following:
- Research methods in social and behavioral science
- Health disparities and social justice
- Communication in health care
- Digital technologies
- Intervention development and implementation
Learn more about the program’s curriculum and other degree requirements in the VCU Bulletin.
Life in Richmond
Urban life with a small-town feel
We encourage our students and researchers to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and Richmond is a wonderful place to engage in that well-rounded lifestyle. As the capital of Virginia since 1779, Richmond attracts students, faculty and staff from around the globe. The city’s location affords easy day trips to destinations like Washington, DC, Virginia Beach, Colonial Williamsburg and the Blue Ridge Mountains, among others.
As a mid-sized city with a metropolitan population of 1.3 million, Richmond provides stimulating activities while maintaining its intimate feel and unique vibe. Vibrant neighborhoods offer distinct, diverse experiences, with no shortage of art galleries, museums, music venues, restaurants, breweries and parks. For the outdoor enthusiast, you can’t beat the offerings in the city’s riverfront parks and urban wilderness areas such as white-water rafting, hiking, mountain biking and festivals.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for this doctoral program must have a master’s degree in a related discipline from an accredited program and a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 to be considered for admission.
Please see the VCU Bulletin for more information about graduate admissions.
The Social and Behavioral Sciences Program admits students in the fall each year. The 2023-24 Admissions Application for matriculation in fall 2024 will open in late August. The deadline for applications is January 1, 2024.
Faculty with availability to take new students beginning in fall 2024:
Please submit your application through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS).
Applicants must supply the following:
- Academic transcripts from all levels of study. Applicants who hold an international degree must submit their qualifications to World Education Services (WES) for evaluation. The degree must be equivalent to a U.S. master's degree as determined by WES.
- Three letters of recommendation from instructors or professional references in your field of study
- A personal statement addressing your reasons for pursuing graduate education at VCU, describing your background, passion for public health, research interests and other information you think the admissions committee might find relevant that isn’t asked for elsewhere in the application. This is also an opportunity to identify the faculty member(s) with whom you’d like to work.
- A first authored writing sample. This can be something published or submitted for publication or a paper from previous education work.
International applicants must also provide evidence of proficiency in the English language prior to admission or full-time enrollment at VCU. Accepted tests include TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo. The university minimum TOEFL score requirement is 550 (paper-based) or 80 (internet-based). The university minimum IELTS score requirement is 6.5. The PTE is also accepted with a minimum score of 65. Duolingo score minimum is 120.
GRE scores are not a required component for the PhD application.
A supplemental application is required upon completion of the application in SOPHAS. Fee waivers are available for those that qualify. There are no fee waivers available for the application in SOPHAS.
Please be cognizant of application deadlines and apply early if possible. SOPHAS requires four to six weeks to verify an application. While we only require that the application be submitted by the deadline, it is encouraged that you apply early enough for all of your application materials (transcripts and credentialing evaluations, letters of recommendation, test scores, etc.) to be complete and included in your application.
The department currently provides support for all full-time Ph.D. students in the form of a graduate research assistantship for up to four years. This includes both a stipend and tuition support, and it’s contingent upon availability of funds and student performance.
Graduate research assistantships require full-time enrollment (9-15 credits in the fall and spring and three credits in the summer) and up to 20 hours per week of work for a designated departmental faculty member.
More information about financial assistance is available at finaid.vcu.edu.
Contact Us
For more information about the Social and Behavioral Science Ph.D. program, please contact:
Nerice Lochansky Luu
Education Administrator
nlochansky@vcu.edu