Indigenous and Rural Health PhD

Indigenous and Rural Health Curriculum

Students in the Indigenous and Rural Health PhD program will complete dissertations and can select either an academic track or an applied track depending on their career goals. The academic track will take the form of the Manuscript Format Option of the Montana State University Graduate School, with a minimum of three completed manuscripts. The applied track will be focused on meeting community-defined interests and needs, where students, in consultation with their committee and community, will select three projects to complete such as a community needs assessment, program evaluation, and other projects that assist community well-being. This option will include a community presentation and a public presentation defense to their committee and public. This option can include completed manuscripts.

About the Curriculum

There are three curriculum options for students entering the program. Option 1a is for those who wish to earn a master’s degree in community health on the way to completing the PhD in Indigenous and Rural health (3.5-4 years to completion). Option 1B is for those who have completed a master's degree and want to start directly into the PhD program (3 years to completion depending on prior coursework). Option 2 is for students who start the program with a bachelor's degree in Nursing. Students in this option may receive a master’s degree in community health if they decide to leave the program prior to completing the PhD requirements. However, they must still complete the community health master’s degree requirements to receive the degree.

Up to 21 credits from prior graduate work can be considered for the PhD (exact courses to be considered for credit determined by department).

How remote learners will be accommodated in this program:

Students enrolled in the PhD in Indigenous and Rural health program will be in a face-to-face program with accommodations for remote learners. The required classes include “Indigenous and Rural Health” which is offered as a hybrid course where students can participate in the classroom or online. The other required core course is the “Building a Culture of Wellness” Seminar, which is a 1 credit, 1-week summer course. The purpose of the summer course is to build a community across the cohort which may be especially important for the distance students. The curriculum link above provides a list of optional elective courses. There is a mix of distance, in-person, and hybrid courses across the areas of focus that the student may select. Through these options the student may select all distance courses or all in-person or a mixture to meet degree requirements.

Option 1a: Master's and PhD at MSU (3.5 - 4 years to complete PhD)

CHTH 600Building a Culture of Wellness1
CHTH 601Indigenous and Rural Health 3
CHTH 690Doctoral Dissertation1-10
Electives determined by doctoral committee (including 15 transferred; see list of electives below)27-37
Total Credits60


Option 1b: Master's done elsewhere, start directly into PhD (3 years depending on prior coursework)

CHTH 600Building a Culture of Wellness1
CHTH 601Indigenous and Rural Health 3
CHTH 690Doctoral Dissertation1-10
Electives determined by doctoral committee (including maximum of 21 transferred; see list of electives below)27-37
Total Credits60


Option 2: Nursing: start program with BSN, 3-year program 

If a student comes in with graduate credits, they may transfer up to 21 credits into PhD (exact courses to be transferred for credit determined by College of Nursing). Students in this option may receive a mater's degree in Community Health if they decide to leave the program prior to completing the PhD requirements. Students must meet Community Health master's degree requirements to receive this degree. 

CHTH 600Building a Culture of Wellness1
CHTH 601Indigenous and Rural Health 3
CHTH 690Doctoral Dissertation1-10
Electives determined by doctoral committee (including maximum of 21 transferred; see list of electives below)27-37
Total Credits60


Electives for All Three Options: 

Anatomy & Physiology
BIOH 595Anatomy & Physiology for Tchrs3
CBPR and other community-led research methods
CHTH 503Community-Based Participatory Research: Research, Practice, and Policy3
EDU 617Participatory Research in Education3
Cultural Competency/Humility
HDCO 563Multicultural Awareness3
EDU 617Participatory Research in Education3
Environmental Health/Infectious Disease
LRES 507Environmental Risk Assessment3
MB 527Toxicology3
MB 530Virology3
MB 536Exploring Microbiology3
MB 539Infection and Immunity3
MB 540Environmental Microbiology3
Health Policy
NASX 530Federal Law and Indian Policy3
NRSG 612Ethics, Law, and Policy for Advocacy in Healthcare3
Health Systems
MEDS 515Cancer, Hormones, & Blood7
NRSG 608Design H C Delivery Systems3
NRSG 613Finance & Budget H C Systems2
Indigenous and Rural Food Systems
NASX 515Native Food Systems3
NUTR 520Advanced Diet and Disease Systems3
Leadership Skills
EDU 643Leading Social Justice3
Mental/Emotional/Behavioral Health
PSYX 584Stress and Health3
Native American History
NASX 550Native Americans: Dispelling the Myths3
Native American and Rural Health Methods and Ethics
BIOB 524Ethical Practice of Science3
NASX 541Critical Approach to NAS Methods3
Programming and Evaluation
AGED 507Program Planning and Evaluation3
CHTH 502Theories and Models in Health3
CHTH 548Program Planning and Evaluation3
EDCI 504Assessment and Evaluation in Education3
NASX 570Indigenous Planning: Strategic Economic and Human Development Approaches3
NRSG 611Program Planning & Evaluation, Outcomes, & Quality Improvement3
Research Methods and Statistics
CHTH 540Principles of Epidemiology3
HDFS 515Statistical Approaches to Studying Children, Families and Communities 3
EDU 613Indigenous Methodologies in Educational Research3
PSCI 551Quantitative Research Methods3
NASX 542Research Praxis in Native American Studies6
NRSG 605Evidence Based Practice II3
NRSG 606Statistical Applications3
EDCI 501Educational Statistics I3
EDCI 506Applied Educational Research3
EDCI 604Advanced Educational Psychology3
EDU 602Educational Statistics II3
EDU 606Mixed Methods Research Design in Education3
EDU 607Quantitative Educational Research3
EDU 608Advanced Quantitative Research3
EDU 610Qualitative Educational Research3
EDU 611Advanced Qualitative Research3
Teaching
EDLD 501Foundations of Adult Education3
EDLD 509Issues and Trends in Higher Education3
EDLD 512Finance and Administration in Higher Education3
EDLD 529Post Secondary Distance Delivered Education3
EDLD 531Student Development Theory3
EDLD 533Law and Policy in Higher Education3
EDLD 535Student Services3
EDLD 605Higher Education History and Philosophy3
EDLD 616Organization and Administration of Higher Education3
EDLD 628College Students3
EDLD 635College Teaching3
EDU 637Institutional Research and Assessment3
NASX 523Am Indians/Minority in High Ed3