PhD in Global Health, Metrics and Implementation Science

The Department of Global Health, in collaboration with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and Health Alliance International, have developed a PhD program in Global Health that is the first of its kind, building on the expertise of faculty in the areas of metrics and implementation science. The PhD program provides students with the latest and most innovative tools to advance global health solutions that are critical for decision-making and priority setting.

In this unique interdisciplinary program, students develop skills through a combination of didactic courses, seminars, and research activities including primary data collection and analysis. The PhD program is comprised of a core curriculum in advanced quantitative methods, epidemiology, population health measurement, impact evaluations, and implementation science methods.

Implementation Science Area of Emphasis

Coursework focuses on developing and applying diverse, state-of-the-art methodologies to understand and improve complex health systems to close the gap between incomplete evidence on interventions into effective programs.

The interdisciplinary implementation science framework includes systems analysis and improvement techniques; innovative designs to measure impact; economic analysis; and policy research to inform the formulation, implementation, and scale-up of improved delivery approaches. Because of the applied nature of this area of emphasis, it is expected that implementation science doctoral projects will involve primary data collection.

To learn more about the program, its structure, and curriculum, please visit:

• PhD in Global Health, Metrics and Implementation Science website
• Read current PhD student profiles
• The role of implementation science training in global health: from the perspective of graduates of the field’s first dedicated doctoral program (Global Health Action, 2016)

G H 345 Global Health Economics (5 credits)

Introduces the application of health economics and the tools economists use to inform global health solutions in low and middle-income countries. Examines relationship between global health and development, survey of health economic evaluation concepts with focus on diseases and conditions in low and middle-income countries.

Prerequisite Coursework: Recommended: ECON 200 strongly recommended, G H 101 recommended.
Offered: Spring

G H 531 Monitoring and Evaluation of Global Health Programs (3 credits)

Focuses on practical, feasible, and appropriate program monitoring and evaluation (M&E) methods in global health, supporting evidence generation for quality health interventions in low resource settings. Builds skills across all phases of planning, developing and implementing a program M&E plan. Students design an evaluation of a global health program. Assumes prior knowledge of health intervention planning and mixed methods research designs.

Prerequisite Coursework: None
Offered: Spring

G H 535 Advanced Methods for Global Health I (4 credits)

Focuses on the advanced concepts, theories, and methods of implementation science in global health, with a specific focus on fidelity, adaptation, strategy selection, de-implementation, sustainability, scale-up, advanced trials designs, qualitative methods, and mixed methods. Assumes prior knowledge of the fundamentals of implementation science.

Prerequisite Coursework: G H 541 or permission of instructor.
Offered: Autumn

G H 536 Advanced Methods for Global Health II (4 credits)

Presents applications of the cluster-randomized trial design to estimate the impact of interventions for a global health and implementation science audience. Covers trial design and implementation, reviews methods commonly used for analysis. Assumes prior knowledge of generalized linear models and modern methods to analyze correlated data, including generalized estimating equations (GEE) and random-effects models.

Prerequisite Coursework: Either BIOST 540, CS&SS 560/SOC 560/STAT 560, or permission of instructor; recommended: EPI 512 and EPI 513.
Offered: Winter

G H 537 Advanced Methods for Global Health III (4 credits)

Presents applications of the cluster-randomized trial design to estimate the impact of interventions for a global health and implementation science audience. Covers trial design and implementation, reviews methods commonly used for analysis. Assumes prior knowledge of generalized linear models and modern methods to analyze correlated data, including generalized estimating equations (GEE) and random-effects models.

Prerequisite Coursework: Either BIOST 540, CS&SS 560/SOC 560/STAT 560, or permission of instructor; recommended: EPI 512 and EPI 513.
Offered: Spring

G H 541 Fundamentals of Implementation Science in Global Health (4 or 5 credits)

Provides an introduction to the emerging field of implementation research by outlining various methods that are applied to improving implementation (including applied engineering, management tools, health systems, and policy research), and using experiential case studies from global health leaders. Addresses barriers to effective replication and scale-up in local settings.

Offered: Spring

G H 542 Introduction to Economic Evaluation for Global Health (2 credits)

Introduces the concepts and methods for economic evaluation in low and middle-income countries with a focus on cost-effectiveness analyses and methods that are specific to work in resource-limited settings. Topics covered include measuring costs, valuing health outcomes in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), discounting, utilizing models to conduct economic evaluation and evaluate uncertainty, and prioritizing in environments of scarcity.

Offered: Spring

Training Certificates open to non-UW students