Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Epidemiology, Specialization in Jewish Studies: Epidemiology Public Health

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ed.D. in Faith-Based Epidemiology

Total program length

120 semester credit hours

Maximum approved transfer credit

Up to 40 semester credit hours

Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer

80 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Three to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, academic progress, and completion of the doctoral project

Advanced epidemiology and specialization courses

30 credit hours

Leadership, administration, and professional practice

21 credit hours

Research methods and program evaluation

18 credit hours

Professional application and doctoral residency

15 credit hours

Advanced electives or concentration courses

12 credit hours

Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy

6 credit hours

Applied doctoral project and defense

18 credit hours

Total

120 semester credit hours

The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Epidemiology, with a specialization in Jewish Studies, provides a rigorous scholarly framework for the study of disease distribution and health determinants within specific populations. This doctoral program synthesizes advanced epidemiological methodologies with historical and cultural scholarship, fostering a deeper understanding of communal health within the context of Jewish history and traditional ethics. Students engage in intensive research, critical analysis, and the application of evidence-based health strategies to address complex health challenges in community settings. The curriculum emphasizes the intersection of rigorous scientific inquiry and the moral responsibility to serve the common good, preparing graduates for high-level academic or policy-oriented roles. By bridging quantitative science with historical context, the program empowers scholars to examine the health implications of cultural, behavioral, and environmental factors through a lens of stewardship and communal wellness.

The Doctor of Education in Faith-Based Epidemiology is an applied professional doctorate emphasizing advanced faith-based epidemiology knowledge, organizational leadership, ethical stewardship, program development, community-care systems, higher-education instruction, and evidence-informed professional practice.

Students may receive up to 40 semester credit hours of approved graduate or doctoral transfer credit. Accepted transfer credits are applied toward the 120-credit graduation requirement and may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. A student receiving the maximum transfer-credit award must complete at least 80 semester credit hours through the University.

The applied doctoral project must address a documented faith-based epidemiology-support, educational, organizational, or community-care need. The project must include scholarly research, an implementation model, measurable outcomes, ethical safeguards, an evaluation plan, and a successful oral defense.

DOCTORAL TRANSFER-CREDIT POLICY: The Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy programs each require 120 semester credit hours. Students may transfer up to 40 semester credit hours of eligible graduate or doctoral coursework toward either degree. Transfer credit is not automatically awarded. Each request is evaluated individually according to: The academic level of the previous coursework; The relevance of the coursework to the doctoral curriculum; Course content and learning outcomes; Credit-hour equivalency; Grades earned; The age of the coursework; Official institutional documentation; The University's residency and transfer-credit policies. Accepted transfer credit may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. Students awarded the maximum 40 transfer credits will have 80 semester credit hours remaining in the 120-credit doctoral program. Comprehensive examinations, doctoral candidacy, doctoral residency, the applied doctoral project, dissertation research, and the final oral defense must ordinarily be completed through the University. These requirements may not be satisfied through transfer credit unless expressly permitted under a published University policy.

Program Details

• Total Credits: 120
• Duration: 3 years
• Degree Level: Doctorate

Dissertation Proposal Development

• 4
• RES820
• BIO860
• Advanced Epidemiological Modeling
• 4
• RES705
• ETH870
• Professional Ethics and Social Responsibility in Public Health
• 4
• THE720
• MGT880
• Managing Health Services and Teams
• 3
• MIN801
• RES850 — Dissertation Proposal Development: Candidates formalize their research objectives and methodology under faculty supervision. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BIO860 — Advanced Epidemiological Modeling: Deepening technical skill in stochastic and longitudinal health modeling. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• ETH870 — Professional Ethics and Social Responsibility in Public Health: This course examines ethical frameworks in public health, focusing on the moral responsibilities of organizations serving diverse populations. Students will analyze systemic challenges in community health and develop evidence-based strategies for advocacy and intervention. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT880 — Managing Health Services and Teams: Focuses on administrative excellence and team coordination within health-centered organizations. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Defense and Final Writing

• 4
• CAP900
• RES890
• Professional Seminar: Research Dissemination
• 3
• RES850
• HIS895
• Integrative Seminar in Jewish Studies and Public Health
• 4
• HIS840
• CAP900 — Doctoral Dissertation Research: Implementation of the approved dissertation research and data analysis phase. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CAP901 — Dissertation Defense and Final Writing: Final synthesis of research findings, submission of the written dissertation, and the oral defense. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES890 — Professional Seminar: Research Dissemination: Prepares students to publish and present their findings to diverse professional and community audiences. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• HIS895 — Integrative Seminar in Jewish Studies and Public Health: Synthesizes cultural knowledge and scientific inquiry for lifelong professional contribution. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation serves as the culminating academic experience for the Doctor of Philosophy, requiring the candidate to conduct an original, substantive research project that contributes new knowledge to the field of faith-based epidemiology. Students are expected to identify a critical public health issue within the context of Jewish studies, formulate a testable hypothesis, and implement a rigorous methodological framework to reach evidence-based conclusions. The scope of this project must demonstrate mastery of both the quantitative tools of epidemiology and the qualitative depth of historical or cultural inquiry. Through the dissertation, students articulate how their research addresses the needs of the community and reflects an application of moral stewardship and ethical inquiry. The project requires a formal proposal, mid-point defense, and a final oral defense before a faculty committee. By integrating faith-based perspectives, the dissertation showcases the student’s ability to align academic competence with character-driven leadership, demonstrating how rigorous investigation serves as a tool for sustainable, compassionate community improvement.

Career Opportunities

• Epidemiology Researcher in Non-Profit Organizations
• Health Policy Consultant for Faith-Based Institutions
• Public Health Program Director
• University Faculty Member in Health and Religion
• Community Health Advocate and Researcher
• Senior Data Analyst for Charitable Health Foundations
• Global Health Strategy Coordinator

Important Notices

• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Degree abbreviation | Ed.D. in Faith-Based Epidemiology
• Total program length | 120 semester credit hours
• Maximum approved transfer credit | Up to 40 semester credit hours
• Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer | 80 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Three to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, academic progress, and completion of the doctoral project
• Advanced epidemiology and specialization courses | 30 credit hours
• Leadership, administration, and professional practice | 21 credit hours
• Research methods and program evaluation | 18 credit hours
• Professional application and doctoral residency | 15 credit hours
• Advanced electives or concentration courses | 12 credit hours
• Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy | 6 credit hours
• Applied doctoral project and defense | 18 credit hours
• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES700 | Advanced Research Methodology | 3 | None
• HIS701 | Jewish History and Cultural Foundations | 3 | None
• BIO702 | Epidemiology Theory and Practice | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES705 | Statistical Analysis in Health Science | 4 | RES700
• SOC710 | Sociology of Community Health | 4 | None
• THE720 | Ethical Frameworks in Public Health | 3 | None
• BIO715 | Chronic Disease Epidemiology | 3 | BIO702
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES800 | Applied Research Seminar | 4 | RES705
• HIS805 | Health and Tradition in Jewish Studies | 4 | HIS701
• BIO810 | Environmental Health and Epidemiology | 4 | BIO702
• MIN801 | Leadership in Community Health Initiatives | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES820 | Qualitative Research Methods | 4 | RES700
• BIO825 | Global Health and Demographic Trends | 4 | BIO702
• SOC830 | Public Policy and Health Advocacy | 4 | SOC710
• HIS840 | Advanced Topics in Jewish Community Wellness | 3 | HIS805
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES850 | Dissertation Proposal Development | 4 | RES820
• BIO860 | Advanced Epidemiological Modeling | 4 | RES705
• ETH870 | Professional Ethics and Social Responsibility in Public Health | 4 | THE720
• MGT880 | Managing Health Services and Teams | 3 | MIN801
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CAP900 | Doctoral Dissertation Research | 4 | RES850
• CAP901 | Dissertation Defense and Final Writing | 4 | CAP900
• RES890 | Professional Seminar: Research Dissemination | 3 | RES850
• HIS895 | Integrative Seminar in Jewish Studies and Public Health | 4 | HIS840