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 600 | Building a Culture of Wellness | 1 |
| CHTH 601 | Indigenous and Rural Health | 3 |
| CHTH 690 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-10 |
| Electives determined by doctoral committee (including 15 transferred; see list of electives below) | 27-37 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Option 1b: Master's done elsewhere, start directly into PhD (3 years depending on prior coursework)
| CHTH 600 | Building a Culture of Wellness | 1 |
| CHTH 601 | Indigenous and Rural Health | 3 |
| CHTH 690 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-10 |
| Electives determined by doctoral committee (including maximum of 21 transferred; see list of electives below) | 27-37 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
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 600 | Building a Culture of Wellness | 1 |
| CHTH 601 | Indigenous and Rural Health | 3 |
| CHTH 690 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-10 |
| Electives determined by doctoral committee (including maximum of 21 transferred; see list of electives below) | 27-37 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Electives for All Three Options:
| Anatomy & Physiology | ||
| BIOH 595 | Anatomy & Physiology for Tchrs | 3 |
| CBPR and other community-led research methods | ||
| CHTH 503 | Community-Based Participatory Research: Research, Practice, and Policy | 3 |
| EDU 617 | Participatory Research in Education | 3 |
| Cultural Competency/Humility | ||
| HDCO 563 | Multicultural Awareness | 3 |
| EDU 617 | Participatory Research in Education | 3 |
| Environmental Health/Infectious Disease | ||
| LRES 507 | Environmental Risk Assessment | 3 |
| MB 527 | Toxicology | 3 |
| MB 530 | Virology | 3 |
| MB 536 | Exploring Microbiology | 3 |
| MB 539 | Infection and Immunity | 3 |
| MB 540 | Environmental Microbiology | 3 |
| Health Policy | ||
| NASX 530 | Federal Law and Indian Policy | 3 |
| NRSG 612 | Ethics, Law, and Policy for Advocacy in Healthcare | 3 |
| Health Systems | ||
| MEDS 515 | Cancer, Hormones, & Blood | 7 |
| NRSG 608 | Design H C Delivery Systems | 3 |
| NRSG 613 | Finance & Budget H C Systems | 2 |
| Indigenous and Rural Food Systems | ||
| NASX 515 | Native Food Systems | 3 |
| NUTR 520 | Advanced Diet and Disease Systems | 3 |
| Leadership Skills | ||
| EDU 643 | Leading Social Justice | 3 |
| Mental/Emotional/Behavioral Health | ||
| PSYX 584 | Stress and Health | 3 |
| Native American History | ||
| NASX 550 | Native Americans: Dispelling the Myths | 3 |
| Native American and Rural Health Methods and Ethics | ||
| BIOB 524 | Ethical Practice of Science | 3 |
| NASX 541 | Critical Approach to NAS Methods | 3 |
| Programming and Evaluation | ||
| AGED 507 | Program Planning and Evaluation | 3 |
| CHTH 502 | Theories and Models in Health | 3 |
| CHTH 548 | Program Planning and Evaluation | 3 |
| EDCI 504 | Assessment and Evaluation in Education | 3 |
| NASX 570 | Indigenous Planning: Strategic Economic and Human Development Approaches | 3 |
| NRSG 611 | Program Planning & Evaluation, Outcomes, & Quality Improvement | 3 |
| Research Methods and Statistics | ||
| CHTH 540 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HDFS 515 | Statistical Approaches to Studying Children, Families and Communities | 3 |
| EDU 613 | Indigenous Methodologies in Educational Research | 3 |
| PSCI 551 | Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| NASX 542 | Research Praxis in Native American Studies | 6 |
| NRSG 605 | Evidence Based Practice II | 3 |
| NRSG 606 | Statistical Applications | 3 |
| EDCI 501 | Educational Statistics I | 3 |
| EDCI 506 | Applied Educational Research | 3 |
| EDCI 604 | Advanced Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDU 602 | Educational Statistics II | 3 |
| EDU 606 | Mixed Methods Research Design in Education | 3 |
| EDU 607 | Quantitative Educational Research | 3 |
| EDU 608 | Advanced Quantitative Research | 3 |
| EDU 610 | Qualitative Educational Research | 3 |
| EDU 611 | Advanced Qualitative Research | 3 |
| Teaching | ||
| EDLD 501 | Foundations of Adult Education | 3 |
| EDLD 509 | Issues and Trends in Higher Education | 3 |
| EDLD 512 | Finance and Administration in Higher Education | 3 |
| EDLD 529 | Post Secondary Distance Delivered Education | 3 |
| EDLD 531 | Student Development Theory | 3 |
| EDLD 533 | Law and Policy in Higher Education | 3 |
| EDLD 535 | Student Services | 3 |
| EDLD 605 | Higher Education History and Philosophy | 3 |
| EDLD 616 | Organization and Administration of Higher Education | 3 |
| EDLD 628 | College Students | 3 |
| EDLD 635 | College Teaching | 3 |
| EDU 637 | Institutional Research and Assessment | 3 |
| NASX 523 | Am Indians/Minority in High Ed | 3 |