Apply to the Ph.D. Program in Health Policy and Administration

How to Apply

To be admitted to the Ph.D. Program in Health Policy and Administration (HPA), you must apply through Penn State's standardized online application system. Visit the Graduate School website for information on how to apply to the J. Jeffrey and Anne Marie Fox Graduate School at Penn State.

The application portal for the HPA Ph.D. program opens on September 1 for students enrolling in the fall semester of the following year. For full consideration, your completed application and all supporting materials must be received on or before December 15.

Application Materials

1. Statement of Purpose

Items to consider when writing your Statement of Purpose to help the HPA Ph.D. program committee better understand your goals and how they align with the learning outcomes of the Ph.D. program.

Become familiar with HPA Ph.D. program faculty research and identify those faculty whose research areas align most with your interests. Consider reaching out to them and introducing yourself.
Describe your background and the reasons for pursuing a research doctoral degree in health policy and administration, and include your future career goals.
Assess how well-prepared you are to complete the requirements of the Ph.D. program. Include a succinct explanation of your:
- academic preparation, including any experience in undergraduate and graduate coursework and opportunities you pursued outside of the classroom that will enable you to succeed in our program.
- experience engaging in scholarly research and what you have learned from your research experience.
- experience working with and learning from individuals from various backgrounds and different perspectives

2. Current curriculum vitae or resume

3. Three letters of reference

Ideally, your letters of reference should be written by someone engaged in research who is familiar with your research skills or research potential (e.g., a supervisor).

4. Transcripts

One unofficial transcript or scanned copy of the official transcript (or a notarized translation in English if the original is in a different language) from each institution attended.

5. TOEFL/IELTS

International students must meet all J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School requirements for international students. Students who received a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a country on the Graduate School’s list of predominantly English-speaking countries are exempt from TOEFL/IELTS requirements. View the full list of exempt countries.

Note: Applicants submitting TOEFL/IELTS scores must request that scores be sent to Penn State electronically using school code 2660 Penn State University.

6. GRE scores (optional)

We accept, but do not require, GRE scores. You may wish to submit GRE scores if you believe they will help us assess your ability to complete our program, which requires comfort with mathematical expressions, a solid foundation in quantitative empirical methods, and the ability to read and write analytically challenging content in English. Applicants who choose to submit GRE scores should have them sent to Graduate Enrollment Services (GES) at Penn State electronically using school code 2660 Penn State University.

More Information

For detailed information, including required coursework, the dissertation, and other milestones necessary to complete a Ph.D. in our program, please see our Ph.D. program handbook. If you are interested in the Dual Title program in Health Policy and Administration and Demography, please discuss that in your statement.

Questions

If you have any questions, please email our graduate program coordinator, Ashlee Foreman, or our professor-in-charge of doctoral studies, Dave Vanness.