Admissions

Applicants to the Indigenous Health Ph.D. must demonstrate adequate preparation to complete the doctoral degree.

Evidence of preparation for graduate work is indicated by the grade point average (GPA) from all post-secondary schools attended; work experience and accomplishments; and professional references. Applicants are required to have a Master's degree to be considered for admission, preferably the Master of Public Health degree. The program is also well-suited for those with a master’s degree in Social Work, Public Policy, Public Administration, or related field.

Prior to applying, applicants will have taken at least one 3-credit Master’s level course in biostatistics and one 3-credit Master's level course in epidemiology within the past 5 years with a grade of "B" or better. If coursework is not completed within the past 5 years, applicants are encouraged to describe current work experience in biostatistics and/or epidemiology within their personal statement. If applicants are currently enrolled in biostatistics and/or epidemiology, they should state this clearly in their personal statement. Graduate-level courses in biostatistics and epidemiology are offered at the University of North Dakota, both on-campus and online.

Admission decisions are based upon full review of all information in the application in order to ensure fairness and to balance the limitation of any single indicator. Preference for admission will be given to applicants with at least one year of Indigenous health-related work experience.

General Admissions Requirements

1. Completion of the online application and payment of the application fee.
2. A master’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university (for U.S. degrees, accreditation by one of the six regional accrediting associations: MSA, NASC, NCA, NEASC-CIHE, SACS-CC or WACS-Sr.).
3. A graduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00.
4. Applicants will have taken at least one 3-credit, graduate-level course in biostatistics and one in epidemiology within the past 5 years with a grade of "B" or better. If coursework was completed more than 5 years ago, applicants are encouraged to describe current work experience in biostatistics and/or epidemiology within their personal statement. If applicants are currently enrolled in biostatistics and/or epidemiology, they should state this clearly in their personal statement.
5. Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies' English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation:

1. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who the applicant feels are most qualified to evaluate their academic potential and leadership potential in Indigenous health. Close family and friends are not eligible to provide recommendation.
2. Curriculum vitae
3. A written personal statement that describes the applicant’s professional goals and motivation for seeking a degree in Indigenous health. In addition, applicants should comment on any personal qualities, characteristics, and abilities they believe will enable them to be successful in achieving their career goals. See below for detailed requirements.
4. A written research statement that demonstrates the applicant’s strong interest in a specific Indigenous health area and indicates interest in particular Indigenous and/or Western ways of knowing and study designs. See below for detailed requirements.
5. Writing sample
   1. Include with your application an individually-authored or first author sample of your writing that the admission committee can use to evaluate your ability as a writer and potential success in the doctoral program.
   2. The minimum length of the sample is five pages and should not exceed 30 pages. Examples of possible writing samples include, but are not limited to, journal articles, paper from a course, or some written work product such as a manual or technical report.
6. Official post-secondary academic transcripts from all institutions attended. Transcripts must be sent directly from the institutions to the UND School of Graduate Studies.

The Admissions Committee may request an in-person or Zoom interview with an applicant to assist in the decision process. A background check will be completed on each student before admission is final.

Ph.D. applicants are required to submit both a personal statement and an Indigenous research statement. Limit each document to two pages.

Personal Statement (limit to two pages)

Describe your experience and background from both a professional and cultural perspective. Also, discuss why you are interested in the Indigenous Health Ph.D. program and your long-term career goals. Applicants are encouraged to comment on any personal qualities, characteristics, and abilities they believe will enable them to be successful in achieving their career goals. The personal statement is required to assess your writing ability and to determine if the program suits your needs.

Indigenous Research Statement (limit to two pages)

The statement of research interests is intended for the applicant to: demonstrate a strong interest in a specific Indigenous health area; indicate interest in particular Indigenous and/or Western ways of knowing; and describe considerations for appropriate study designs and methodology. Also describe proposed methodologies (Indigenous, quantitative, qualitative or mixed) related to this content area.

In this statement, please describe the specific content area in which you propose to focus your doctoral work, and why this area is of interest to you. It is not intended to be as specific as a dissertation statement and will not preclude your exploring other areas during your doctoral work.

The admissions committee expects that you have a specific content area in mind within your desired field of study, and within that content area, have some specific issues in which you are interested. Familiarity with the field is essential for successful application to the program.

Guidance for Completing Your Application

• A graduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00. Preference will be given to candidates with a graduate GPA of 3.50 or greater. The admissions committee will also evaluate relevant coursework performance, i.e. Indigenous health and related research and methodology coursework, etc. 
• Experience with Indigenous populations.  Preference will be given to those who have established connectivity and direct experience working with Indigenous communities.
• Preference will be given to applicants with at least one year of Indigenous health-related work, internship, or educational work experience. 
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals who the applicant feels are most qualified to evaluate their academic and leadership potential in Indigenous health. Letters of recommendation are best secured from those you have interacted with professionally, academically, or in community/advocacy work. Close family and friends are not eligible to provide recommendation.
• Personal Statement will be used to assess your writing ability.  
  • Is the writing informative, thoughtful, organized and reflective of your personal qualities, characteristics and abilities?
  • Does the statement help to demonstrate your ability to achieve your long-term goals?
  • Do you describe your experience and vision?
  • Does your statement demonstrate how your long-term goals are aligned with our program?
  • Do you demonstrate your connection to Indigenous communities?
  • Do you describe your experience, comfort and ability with biostatics and epidemiology, or your plan to obtain proficiency?
• Indigenous Research Statement will also be used to assess your writing ability.
  • Is the writing informative, thoughtful, and well organized?
  • Do you demonstrate your experience and plans for Indigenous research related methodologies or research focused on Indigenous health priorities?
  • Does your statement demonstrate your research goals are aligned with our program?
• Writing sample
  • Include with your application an individually-authored or first author sample of your writing that the admission committee can use to evaluate your ability as a writer and potential success in the doctoral program.
  • The minimum length of the sample is five pages and should not exceed 30 pages. Examples of possible writing samples include, but are not limited to, journal articles, paper from a course, or some written work product such as a manual or technical report.

Computer Requirements

Upon matriculation, all Ph.D. students are required to have their own personal computer.

• Laptop or Desktop computer capable of running and staying up to date with the latest versions of Windows or MacOS as they are released.
• High speed, reliable  internet connection capable of supporting online live class sessions and for taking exams and quizzes.
• For more information: https://campus.und.edu/campus-services/uit/tech-requirements.html