The UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health (HSPop) requires students to complete research and/or field-based projects for their degrees. Final projects vary depending upon the program and are dissertations, theses, practicum projects, and/or capstone projects.
Dissertations
Doctoral students are required to write a dissertation that significantly advances the state of knowledge in their chosen field. As part of their course requirements and dissertation requirements, students are also required to publish research findings.
Programs and Degrees
Dissertations, along with theses from health services graduate students, are available in the UW Library’s research archives.
Theses
A thesis is an original research project that generates new knowledge using rigorous methods appropriate to the research questions, while also applying concepts and methods from one or more branches of science relevant to public health.
Programs and Degrees
- Health Services Master of Science (M.S.)
- Health Services Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Community-Oriented Public Health Master of Public Health (COPHP MPH)
Theses, along with dissertations from health services students, are available in the UW Library’s research archives.
Practicum Projects
A practicum project allows students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to a public health setting, while they enhance their skills in areas such as leadership, communication, and teamwork. The practicum is also an excellent opportunity for students to gain practical experience in their particular area of interest in public health.
Project examples are on the individual program websites.
Capstone Projects
A capstone project is a culminating scholarly project usually conducted for, or on behalf of, an organization, constituency, or community.
Capstone projects are designed to give students meaningful hands-on experience working on real-world health policy or health administration challenges.
Project examples are on the individual program websites.
Programs and Degrees
Student Research and Fieldwork
These are a few stories about HSPop student research and fieldwork.
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COPHP capstone project explores Indigenous youths’ connection to Water
Steven Nez of the Community-Oriented Public Health Practice MPH program takes a deep dive into his past as an Indigenous Youth and his connection to Water in his COPHP capstone project, recognizing natural entities like water as integral elements of wellness.
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Seattle’s sweetened beverage tax linked to lower BMIs in children
The researchers found that compared to those living in neighboring nontaxed areas, Seattle children experienced a greater decrease in body mass index.
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Understanding racial disparities in uterine fibroid care
Compared to other races receiving treatment for fibroids, Black women are more likely to be put through invasive surgeries, yet they still end up having worse outcomes. “One key takeaway from our research is the importance of offering Black veterans multiple treatment options, including fertility-sparing choices,” says Owens.