GHD Handbook

GLOBAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT

STUDENT HANDBOOK
2024-2025

Emory University
James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies

Hubert Department of Global Health,

Rollins School of Public Health

Last Updated: June 10, 2025

 GHD Handbook

GHD PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

Director of Graduate Studies

James Lavery, PhD Dept. of Global Health 404-727-6949
Rm R718, R Randall Rollins [email protected]

Department Chair
Usha Ramakrishnan, PhD Dept. of Global Health 404-727-1092
Rm R650, R Randall Rollins [email protected]

Executive Committee Members

Mohammed K Ali, PhD Dept. of Global Health 404-727-9776

Rm R755, R Randall Rollins [email protected]

Henry M. Blumberg, PhD Dept. of Medicine (404) 251-8716

49 Jesse Hill Jr Drive SE [email protected]

Sophia Hussen, PhD Dept. of Global Health 404-727-2446

Rm R732, R Randall Rollins [email protected]

Christine Moe, PhD Dept. of Global Health 404-727-257

Rm 6041, Claudia N Rollins [email protected]

Shivani Patel, PhD Dept. of Global Health 404-727- 3951

Rm R738, R Randall Rollins [email protected]

Dept. of Political Science

Holli A. Semetko, PhD Rm 312, Tarbutton Hall 404-727-7363
[email protected]

Dept. of Global Health

Kathryn Yount, PhD Rm R614, R Randall Rollins 404-727-8511
[email protected]

Program Coordinator 404-727-5552

Joan Lynfatt Dept. of Global Health
Remote [email protected]

Student Representatives [email protected]

Kamini Doraivelu Dept. of Global Health
Rm R7C6-3, R Randall
Rollins

Dept. of Global Health [email protected]

Sridevi Prasad
Rm R7C6-4, R Randall
Rollins

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GHD PROGRAM FACULTY

(See: https://sph.emory.edu/departments/gh/degree-programs/phd/faculty/index.html)

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Table of Contents
Program Overview .......................................................................................................................... 2
Curriculum ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Core Curriculum ......................................................................................................................... 3
Electives ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Global Health and Development Seminar (GHD 702R, GHD 704R) ............................................ 6
Research Rotations (GHD 597R) ............................................................................................... 6
Summer Term Registration (GHD 599R, 699R, 799R) ............................................................. 8
Laney School of Graduate Studies Training Requirements ........................................................ 9
GHD Ph.D. Program Milestones .................................................................................................. 12
Choosing a Dissertation Advisor .............................................................................................. 12
Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC) ................................................................................ 13
Assessing and Documenting GHD Student Progress ............................................................... 16
Documenting GHD Student Progress ........................................................................................... 18
GHD Program Competencies ................................................................................................... 18
Assessment of Learning Outcomes........................................................................................... 18
The Annual Progress Report ..................................................................................................... 18
Individual Development Plan (IDP) ......................................................................................... 20
Ph.D. Thesis Dissertation.......................................................................................................... 20
Degree Completion ................................................................................................................... 21
Commencement ........................................................................................................................ 21
Graduate Student Travel ............................................................................................................... 22
Travel Safely and Let Emory Know ......................................................................................... 22
Work Outside of the GHD Program ............................................................................................. 23
Withdrawal, Leave of Absence, Parental Accommodation .......................................................... 24
Withdrawal................................................................................................................................ 24
Leave of Absence...................................................................................................................... 24
Parental Arrangements .............................................................................................................. 24
Honor, Conduct and Grievance Policies ................................................................................... 25
Useful Program, Graduate School, University and Other Resources ........................................... 26
 GHD Handbook
Program Overview
The Doctoral Program in Global Health and Development (GHD) is a distinctive research
training program anchored in the Hubert Department of Global Health, and affiliated with the
Public Health Sciences cluster of doctoral programs within the James T. Laney School of
Graduate Studies.

The GHD is one of the only doctoral degree programs globally to offer a Ph.D. in Global Heath
and Development. The program aims to fill an important research capacity gap in global health
and development by training researchers to address complex health and health systems
challenges with a deep appreciation of the implications of development status and the economic,
social and societal determinants of health in the countries experiencing these challenges.

The primary goal of the GHD program is to train leaders and scholars who use science to
improve public health policy and practice for underserved populations globally. Graduates will
acquire a solid understanding of the theoretical foundations of implementation science and
relevant skills required to conduct independent research that can guide the design, management,
and evaluation of global health and development programs and policies to improve health
outcomes in a variety of settings across the globe.

The GHD program will provide students with deep and broad expertise in the field of global
health and development, creativity to cross discipline boundaries, courage to challenge
convention, and confidence to ask unexpected questions and articulate bold new perspectives.

Training faculty includes over 58 core faculty members. The core faculty have primary
appointments in the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory School of Medicine, Emory
College of Arts and Sciences, Goizueta School of Business, Nell Hodgson School of Nursing,
and Emory Law School and represent a wide variety of disciplines. The program also has 9
affiliated faculty members, based at key partner institutions, including The Carter Center, the
Task Force for Global Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Public
Health Foundation of India and the National Institutes of Public Health of Mexico.

Emory has strong collaborative partnerships with a number of prominent global health and
development institutions, including CARE, The Carter Center, the Task Force for Global Health,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among many others. Our partnerships with these
organizations offer our students unparalleled opportunities to train with experts who are engaged
in designing and implementing major global health and development programs and policies.
These opportunities are not as readily available to students in other institutions in the US or
abroad.

The GHD program takes a specific focus on implementation science. Graduates will acquire a
solid understanding of the theoretical frameworks and methods of implementation science along
with an understanding of the importance of development theory and practice. Students will also
gain deep expertise in the methods, skills and underlying theory in their specific areas of
academic interest through immersive research rotation and close mentorship by GHD faculty.

Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected
veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law. Emory University does not

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discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment, including recruitment, hiring,
promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and
training. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in university programs and in the
use of facilities without such discrimination. Emory University complies with Section 503 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act, and
applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal
opportunity, and affirmative action (for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities).
Inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Emory University Department of Equity
and Civil Rights Compliance, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Building, Atlanta, GA 30322.
Telephone: 404-727-9867 (V) | 404-712-2049 (TDD).

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Curriculum
Core Curriculum

The GHD PhD core curriculum is designed to provide students with a foundation for scientific
inquiry on complex problems at the interface of global health and development. Key aspects
include:
• An understanding of health systems, micro- and macro-economic factors and societal and
political determinants of health
• Methods and theories of implementation science and knowledge translation
• Development theories and practice
• An understanding of, and experience with, a range of quantitative and qualitative
methods skills for the implementation and evaluation of global health and development
initiatives
• Leadership skills applicable to different global research contexts

Entering students will take required coursework during the first two years as outlined below in
Table 1. The required core courses are organized by topic and entering students may petition to
waive or substitute some Core Courses for electives on a case-by-case basis in consultation with
their doctoral mentoring committee and the DGS. All students will also participate in the GHD
Doctoral Seminar Series (see Table 1, below) throughout their training and will be encouraged to
start research rotations by the spring semester of the first year.

Table 1. GHD Ph.D. Program Core Curriculum 2024-2025 Total Credits – 56

GHD Ph.D. Program Core Requirements
Class Credits Semester Title Notes
JPE 600 0 Pre-term Summer Jones Program in Ethics:
Core Class
JPE 610 0 Pre-term Summer Jones Program in Ethics:
Workshop
TATT 600 1 Pre-Term Summer Graduate School Workshop
TATT 605 2 Fall/Spring Teaching Assistantship
TATT 610 2 Fall/Spring Teaching Associateship
GHD 597R 3X2 = 6 Fall/Spring/Summer Research Rotation Taken two
times
PUBH 701 1 Fall Public Health Research: All PhD
Discovery to Practice students
GHD 599R 9 Summer 1 Thesis Research (Master Without
Level) mentor
GHD 699R 9 Summer 2 Advance Graduate Research With mentor
GHD 799R 9 Summer 3 Advanced Graduate/ In candidacy
Dissertation Research
GH 509 2 Spring Translation &
Implementation Sciences
GHD 702 1X2 = 2 Fall/Spring Introductory Graduate Taken two
Seminar times

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GHD 704 1X2 =2 Fall/Spring Advanced Graduate Seminar Taken two
in Global Health and times
Development
GHD 706 2 Spring Advanced Topics in
Implementation Sciences
and Evaluation
MDP 500 3 Fall Master Development
Practice 1 - Introductory
Field Seminar
Methods 6 Varies Choose from Appendix A:
Requirement Approved Methods Courses

Students entering the GHD Program without an MPH degree are also required to take the
following courses (see Table 2), unless a course waiver is granted. Credits for these courses do
not count towards the 56 credits required by the GHD Program. Students should consult the
GHD DGS for guidance.

Table 2. Required Courses for Non-MPH Students

Courses Required by Non-MPH Students
(unless waiver is granted)
Class Credits Semester Title Notes
BIOS 500 4 Fall Statistical Methods I
EPI 530 4 Spring Epidemiological Methods I
PUBH 700
1 Fall Introduction to Public Health
(Non-MPH)

Electives
Students will select suitable electives that will help them prepare for independent research based
on their emerging areas of interest with guidance from their Dissertation Advisory Committee
(DAC), normally during the first two years of the program. Because of the broad disciplinary
scope of the challenges and research questions encountered in global health and development,
there is no single research method or set of methods that is applicable to all GHD research. We
have reflected this in the GHD curriculum by treating research methods courses as electives,
rather than core requirements, giving our students the ability to tailor their research training to
the unique features of their interests and focus of their dissertation research. The student’s DAC
and DGS can provide valuable advice and support in the selection of elective courses. Current
research methods electives are presented in Table 3. Students must take a minimum of 6 credit
hours from the approved list. Students may select methods courses that are not presented in
Table 3 if they are responsive to their research needs, with the approval of the GHD Program
DGS.
Table 3. Approved Methods Courses 2024-2025
Class Credits Semester Title
GH 521 3 Spring Qualitative Methods 1: Data Collection

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GH 522 3 Fall Qualitative Methods 2: Data Analysis
GH 531 3 Spring Quantitative Methods 1: Data Collection
GH 532 3 Fall Quantitative Methods 2: Data Analysis
EPI 540 4 Spring Epidemiologic Methods II
EPI 550 4 Fall Epidemiologic Methods III
EPI 560 4 Spring Epidemiologic Methods IV
EPI 594 4 Spring Advanced Applied Methods in Social
Epidemiology

Students also gain valuable exposure to research methods beyond their immediate course
requirements through the research rotations (see below) and through the GHD Seminar. And
students are able to build on, complement and supplement their primary research methods with
other research methods courses from the elective list.

In addition to the focus on research methods, elective courses provide students with the
opportunity to broaden and deepen their understanding of specific topics and disciplinary
perspectives relevant to global health and development. Relevant courses may be offered by
Laney Graduate School, Rollins School of Public Health, or departments and programs from
other schools within Emory University. Students may also cross-register for courses at
neighboring institutions through the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education (ARCHE)
program. These include courses that are offered at the Georgia Institute for Technology, Georgia
State University, and the University of Georgia, Athens and will provide students with the
opportunity to take courses in areas such as bioengineering, animal health and agriculture that
are not offered at Emory. More details about the ARCHE program may be found at the Emory
ARCHE website (http://registrar.emory.edu/registration/cross-registration/index.html). Course
syllabi are also available on the websites of each school. Table 4 presents a list of example
electives organized by topic/area of interest.

Table 4. Example elective courses 2024-2025

Electives
Class Credits Semester Title Notes
ANT 585 3 Spring Special Topics:
Development and Change
BIOS 500 4 Fall Statistical Methods I Required if no
MPH unless
waiver is
approved
EPI 530 4 Fall Epidemiologic Methods I Required if no
MPH unless
waiver is
approved
GH 524 2 Spring Health Systems
Performance and Health
Systems Financing Methods
and Evidence

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GH 561 2 Fall Applications of Public
Health Economics in Low-
and Moderate-Income
Countries
GHD 597 3 Fall/Spring/Summer Research Rotation Required
twice; can be
taken a third or
fourth time
GHD 703 2 Fall Ethics in Global Health and
Development
GHD 705 2 Spring Leadership in Global Health
and Development
GHD 707 2 Under Global Development:
Development Theory and Practice
GHD 708 2 Spring Role of Partners in Global
Health and Development
HPM 522 4 Spring Economic Evaluation of
Health Care Programs
MDP 507 3 Spring Interdisciplinary Field
Seminar I

Global Health and Development Seminar (GHD 702R, GHD 704R)

All GHD students are required to enroll in four semesters of the GHD Seminar Series (two
semesters of GHD 702R in year one, and two semesters of GHD 704R in year two). The purpose
of the GHD Doctoral seminar is to provide students with experience in preparing presentations,
communicating research logic, design and findings to a professional audience, and learning to
provide and receive constructive critical feedback.

First-year students (GHD 702R) may present a recent paper, or a research topic approved by the
faculty member who is responsible for coordinating the Seminar Series. Second-year students
(GHD 704R) are required to present a seminar related to their area of research as a stand-alone
lecture in both the fall and spring semesters.

Research Rotations (GHD 597R)

Overview
Research rotations are an integral part of the doctoral program in Global Health and
Development. They expose students to research being conducted by GHD faculty on different
topics and disciplinary approaches. These experiences help students extend their understanding
of global health and development challenges and contexts and either deepen or expand their
methodological knowledge and skills. A second purpose of the research rotations is to assist
students in their identification of a faculty dissertation advisor by providing them with
opportunities to work closely with GHD faculty members in a range of research environments.

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Requirements
Each student is required to complete 2 research rotations (i.e., 2 separate registrations in GHD
597R). Students also have the option of adding a third research rotation as an elective. Each
research rotation will be coordinated by the student with the selected faculty member. Each
research rotation will involve a time commitment of approximately 10 hours per week for a full
semester, or the equivalent of a full semester, and counts for 3 credit hours.

Coordinating research rotations may be a lengthy process and requires planning ahead.
Research rotation opportunities will be periodically circulated through the GHD doctoral student
listserv, however, students are encouraged to connect with mentors in the GHD doctoral program
with similar research interests to identify rotation opportunities. It can take several months to set
up a rotation so planning should begin well before the intended start date. Rotations can be
started in the Fall Semester of the first year, and should be started by the Spring Semester of the
first year. Students intending to begin a research rotation in the Fall Semester of the first year are
encouraged to contact faculty members during the summer prior to beginning at Emory.

Research rotations are supervised by GHD program faculty (full or adjunct), with at least one
supervised by a full-time faculty member of the program.

Research Rotation Proposal

The research rotation should be structured as an investigation of a scientific problem in which a
specific question is addressed, or a specific type of analysis is applied to a broader scientific
question. Ideally, the research rotations will combine technical training, the acquisition of skills
(e.g., data analysis, laboratory techniques), exposure to a research area and the process of
answering a specific type of scientific question. The specific goals of the research rotation should
be defined by the student in a 1-2 page description of the project to be submitted to the DGS for
program approval within 2 weeks of the start date of the rotation. Prior to submission to the
DGS, the proposal should be approved by the research rotation faculty mentor.

Research Rotation Proposal Format

The 1-2 page research rotation proposal should follow this format:
• Purpose/specific aims of the research rotation
o e.g., to answer a specific research question, or to perform a specific piece of
data collection and analysis
o The purpose should be stated concretely and should map precisely to the
“Expected Final Products” of the research rotation (see below)

• Background and context

o Provide a brief description of the gap in knowledge that the research rotation
activity aims to address
o Provide a brief description of the research context, including a brief overview
of the focus and aims of the faculty mentor’s research project and a
description of the relevant country context, including relevant aspects of the
epidemiology, health system and policy circumstances.

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• Proposed Approach
o A brief description of the source of samples/participants/data, if applicable
o A brief description of the methods or techniques that will be used to complete
the activities and meet the goals of the research rotation

• Expected Final Product(s)

o The research rotation proposal should provide a detailed description of the
nature and scope of the expected products of the research rotation activities.
For example, a student may produce a specific data analysis using a specific
data set, or prepare an initial draft of a component of a grant proposal, or an
initial outline or draft of an academic manuscript. The DGS will work with the
student and faculty mentor to ensure that the proposed final product(s) is/are
feasible within the timeframe and context of the research rotation

• Learning Objectives
o Provide 2-3 specific learning objectives for the research rotation

• Timeline
o Expected start and end dates for the research rotation

Research Rotation Final Report

The final report should provide a brief description of the activities conducted during the research
rotation and a description of the status of the final products. The report should also provide a
brief account—from the student’s perspective—of the extent to which they were able to meet
their learning objectives during the research rotation. The student should also briefly share any
plans for future work or opportunities arising from the research rotation.

The final research rotation report should be submitted within one month of the end of the rotation
experience. And an email with the student’s grade for the research rotation should be sent by the
supervising faculty mentor to the DGS.

If the research rotation is incomplete at the end of the projected timeline—i.e., the final products
and final report have not been submitted to the DGS—a grade of “In Progress (IP)” will be
automatically assigned for the Research Rotation until the work is completed.

Summer Term Registration (GHD 599R, 699R, 799R)

Students must register for a minimum 9 credit hours during the summer term. Summer terms are
expected to provide students with time for independent research as they progress towards their
dissertations. In the summer of Year 1, students will register for GHD 599R, which is intended
for students who have not yet identified a dissertation advisor. When students have identified a
dissertation advisor, typically by the summer of Year 2, they will register for GHD 699R. And
for students who have achieved candidacy, typically by the summer of Year 3, they will register
for GHD 799R.

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GHD 599R, 699R, and 799R provide flexible credit hours. For those students working full-time
on their dissertation-related research the courses can count for the full 9 credit hours required as
the minimum per semester. For students who may be taking other courses, or who may be
enrolled in GHD 597R (Research Rotations) during the summer, the credit hours can be adjusted
according to the student’s available time and effort. Students should consult with the GDH
Program DGS and Coordinator for guidance about GHD 599R, 699R and 799R and for course
registration.

Laney School of Graduate Studies Training Requirements

The Laney School of Graduate Studies administers two require training programs that run
concurrently with the rest of the GHD program curriculum. The TATTO (Teaching Assistant
Training and Teaching Opportunity) Program provides teacher training and experience for
students enrolled in Laney Doctoral Programs. And the Jones Program in Ethics (JPE)
provides training for Laney Doctoral Program students in the ethical and responsible conduct
of research.

TATTO Program (TATTO 600, 605, 610)

The three stages of the TATTO program (outlined below) are designed to provide students with
teaching training and experience, while ensuring that they are not overtaxed with teaching
responsibilities. Full details of the TATTO program are available on the Laney website:
https://gs.emory.edu/professional-development/teaching/index.html Completion of all three
stages of the TATTO program is required for the Ph.D. degree. The first two stages, TATTO
600 and TATTO 605, must be completed before applying for candidacy. TATTO 610 may be
completed after candidacy. The contribution of the TATTO to required program credit hours is
presented in Table 5.

Table 5. TATTO degree requirements and credit hours

TATTO Stage Required for Ph.D. Degree Required for Candidacy Credit Hours
TATTO 600 Required Required 1
TATTO 605 Required Required 2
TATTO 610 Required for degree NOT required for candidacy 2

TATTO 600 is the first stage of TATTO program. It is offered in late summer, taken
immediately prior to a student’s first teaching experience, generally following the first year of
graduate study at Emory. The syllabus covers general topics of importance to all students,
including syllabus writing and grading, lecturing and leading discussions, the use of writing as
a pedagogical tool, the conduct of lab sessions, and the use of new technologies in the
classroom. TATT 600 must be taken prior to the teaching assistantship (TATTO 605) and the
teaching associateship (TATTO 610).

The second stage of the TATTO program is the teaching assistantship (TATTO 605), which is a
controlled, carefully monitored initial teaching opportunity. A faculty member closely supervises
the teaching assistant and provides continuous guidance and evaluation throughout the course.
The student registers for TATT 605 during the semester of the teaching assistantship.

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The third stage of the TATTO program, the teaching associate position (TATTO 610), advances
the student to a teaching opportunity with greater responsibilities. The Laney Graduate School
favors a co-teaching model for this stage, one in which the student and a faculty member
collaborate in all aspects of a course, from syllabus design to final grading. In many programs,
graduate teaching associates are largely responsible for teaching a course of their own design. In
all cases, teaching associates can expect attentive mentoring and evaluation. Students will
register for TATT 610 during the semester of the teaching associate position.

TATTO 605 and TATTO 610 are degree requirements for all doctoral students and are not paid
positions. GHD students may not accept paid TA positions until they have completed their
TATTO requirements. GHD students should discuss any potential TA or teaching opportunities
with the DGS before entering into any agreements.

Students who demonstrate exceptional teaching ability may be eligible to apply for
appointment as Dean’s Teaching Fellows. To be eligible for consideration, a student must have
completed all Laney Graduate School and program requirements except the dissertation and
must have been admitted to PhD candidacy. Dean’s Teaching Fellows have complete
responsibility for the course or courses they teach. The Laney Graduate School offers a number
of these fellowships to students, usually in their fifth or sixth year, on a competitive basis.
Applications for the Dean’s Teaching Fellows are due the December before the fellowship
begins (the next academic year). More information about the Dean’s Teaching Fellowship is
available at http://gs.emory.edu/financial_support/advanced.html.

In compliance with recommendations of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,

students may not serve as the teacher of record for a course before they have completed at least
18 semester hours of graduate credit in their teaching field.

Jones Program in Ethics (JPE)

Emory University is committed to the ethical conduct of science and offers a university-wide
program to all graduate students—the “Jones Program in Ethics” (JPE). The goal of the JPE is
to improve the ethical reasoning and practice of students and faculty, increasing their
knowledge of ethical theory, and increasing their appreciation for guidelines, standards and
etiquette relevant to scientific research, and to meet the federal ethical training requirements
for NIH-sponsored research and training grants. All students in the GH Doctoral Program will
participate in three formal courses that focus on ethical conduct in science as required by the
Laney Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (LGS). Completion of (1) and (2) are required for
candidacy and (3) is required for graduation.

JPE 600: A 6-hour core course in scholarly integrity: Values in Science: An Introduction to
the Responsible Conduct of Research

JPE 600 is required of all predoctoral trainees at Emory. The course introduces students to the
foundations of ethical reasoning and reflection that they will apply throughout their graduate
training. Details about the timing and format of this course can be found here:
https://gs.emory.edu/professional-development/jpe/jpe600.html

After participation in JPE 600, students are able to:

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• Describe and give examples of ethical reasoning in daily life;

• Differentiate ethical issues from issues of law, regulation, or policy;
• Identify, assess, and address ethical issues as they arise in the context of research,
scholarship, and teaching;
• Locate resources (local, institutional, regional, and national) for enhancing and preserving
scholarly integrity through research, scholarship, and teaching.

A minimum of 6 hours of program-based in-person ethics material:

The components of the JPE program that are provided specifically by the GHD Doctoral
program will be designed to be covered during specific class sessions in the core GHD
curriculum each semester. In addition, GHD program faculty and current DGS Dr. James
Lavery, Professor and Conrad N. Hilton Chair in Global Health Ethics offers an elective course
in the GHD curriculum (GHD 703) entitled: Foundational ethical challenges in global health, in
which students examine deep structural challenges in global health and development that create
and sustain many of the ethical challenges that GHD researchers and program managers face in
their day-to-day roles. As well, the GHD Program has a close partnership with the Focus Areas
on Compassion and Ethics (FACE) at the Task Force for Global Health. FACE offers regular
programming—accessible to all GHD students—that addresses the goals of JPE 600.

JPE 610: A minimum of 4 public topical workshops, training sessions, or lectures:

JPE 610 is a regular series of lectures and workshops are sponsored by LGS, the Emory Center
for Ethics. These sessions are disseminated by email, program listservs and listed on the JPE
website: https://gs.emory.edu/professional-development/jpe/jpe610.html Students register for
these sessions individually, and participation is recorded on the student’s transcript. JPE 610 may
be completed after candidacy.

In addition to the JPE requirements described above, several courses on research ethics are
offered as part of other ongoing training programs at Emory that will be available to our GHD
students. The Faculty of the Center for Ethics also offers a Bioethics Certificate for any student
enrolled in a PhD program at Emory University. The Certificate requirements include core
courses, a practicum experience, and a teaching experience and will benefit PhD students who
will be pursuing careers that require teaching undergraduates, nursing students, public health
students, or medical students.

Human Subjects Research (HSR) training through Collaborative Institutional Training

Initiative (CITI) Program

All students will be required to obtain IRB approval for rotation and dissertation research that
meets the regulatory criteria for Human Subjects Research. The Emory IRB requires that all
researchers receive certification in human subjects research through the Collaborative
Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program (www.citiprogram.org), which provides online
training through a series of modules. The CITI Program's HSR series covers the historical
development of human subject protections, as well as current information on regulatory and

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ethical issues. It consists of modules from two basic tracks, Biomedical (Biomed) and Social-
Behavioral-Educational (SBE), and a set of Additional Modules of Interest.

GHD Ph.D. Program Milestones

Choosing a Dissertation Advisor

By the end of the first year and a half of program requirements—i.e., course work, research
rotations, TATTO, JPE, students should have identified a dissertation advisor who is able to
serve as the student’s primary advisor and who is able to provide funding for the student’s
stipend and program fees for the duration of the program. Dissertation advisors typically support
student funding through research grants or contracts. In some cases, a prospective dissertation
advisor may be in a position to support only 50% of the student’s total costs and in those cases
the advisor and the student may attempt to find a second dissertation advisor to join the student’s
dissertation advisory team and provide the remaining 50% of funding. In these circumstances,
and in any situations in which funding is uncertain or below the necessary levels, the student
should work closely with the DGS to develop their advising and funding strategy.

The dissertation advisor plays a vital role in the student’s GHD program experience. Some
specific responsibilities include:

1. Providing guidance to the student on the design and implementation of a dissertation

project
2. Providing funding for the student’s stipend and fees beginning no later than the 18th
month of the program
3. Assist the student in the selection of appropriate electives for the execution of the
dissertation and for the student’s specific interests and career goals
4. Assisting the student with the idenfication and recruitment of members for her/his
Dissertation Advisory Committee.
5. Guide the student in the development of the dissertation proposal and preparation for the
dissertation proposal defense
6. Guide the student in the execution of the dissertation and preparation for the final oral
defense of the dissertation.

The dissertation advisor should be a full-time GHD Program faculty member. If a student
chooses a non-GHD or adjunct GHD faculty member as his/her dissertation advisor, a
co-advisor, who is a full-time GHD Program faculty member must also be named. The
dissertation advisor, or co-advisor, must have an appointment in the Laney School of Graduate
Studies.

The dissertation advisor (or advisor-co-advisor teams) is/are responsible for the full financial
support of the student (stipend and student fees) starting no later than the 19th month of the
program, i.e., April 1st of the second year1, and earlier if possible, for the remainder of the
student’s tenure in the GHD Program. The dissertation advisor is responsible for full stipend
support. The stipend ($37,467 for 2024-2025), and associated fees, such as health insurance
1
At the time of writing this reflects the most up-to-date understanding of the new Laney School of Graduate Studies
funding scheme for students entering the GHD program in the fall semester of 2025.

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 GHD Handbook
($10,697.54 for 2024-2025) are set by the Laney School of Graduate Studies.2 Funding
agreements should be discussed with, and must be approved by, the GHD Program DGS and GH
Department Chair.

Once a Dissertation Advisor is selected, the student and the advisor complete and submit the
Dissertation Advisory Assignment Agreement Form to the DGS and the Program Coordinator.

Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC)

DAC Purpose

The DAC is expected to help define the course of the student’s training, including the design and
execution of the dissertation research project, guidance on the selection of appropriate
coursework, networking and professional development, and preparation for, and evaluation of,
the Dissertation Proposal Defense (DPD) and the Final Oral Dissertation Defense.

DAC Composition

The Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC) must have a minimum of 4 members. The DAC
members must include:

• The Dissertation Advisor (or, less commonly, co-advisors) (Serves as DAC Chair and
must be a full time GHD Program faculty member)
• Two additional GHD Doctoral Program Faculty Members (may be full or adjunct
members, with appropriate Laney School of Graduate Studies faculty appointment)
• At least one additional member, who may be from another department or school within
Emory University, another university, or a collaborating partner institution (e.g., The
Carter Center, the Task Force for Global Health, CDC, CARE)
• At least 3 DAC members must have Laney Graduate School Faculty appointments

The Dissertation Advisor and the membership of the DAC must be approved by the GHD
Program DGS and by the Laney School of Graduate Studies.

Meeting Frequency

Once assembled the DAC is expected to meet with the student a minimum of twice per academic
year.

Dissertation Proposal Defense—Part 1: Process Overview

The dissertation proposal is the primary vehicle through which the student develops and
communicates the logic and approach of their intended dissertation work. As such, it plays a
critical role in student development and in the on-going evaluation of student progress through
the program. Providing guidance and high-quality critical feedback to the student on the
evolution of the dissertation proposal, and ensuring that the student is able to communicate and
2
Due to ongoing negotiations with the union representing Emory Ph.D. students, we are unable to provide accurate
forecasts for fees for subsequent academic years.

13
 GHD Handbook
defend the proposal at an appropriate level of scholarship, are two of the key responsibilities of
the DAC.

Since the defense of the dissertation proposal marks a critical transition for the student into the
execution of the dissertation research and preparation of the dissertation, the DPD has been
adopted by the GHD Program as the general doctoral exam or “qualifying” exam. When all other
program requirements have been met, a successful DPD allows the student to apply for
candidacy.

The progression from initial concept to successful dissertation proposal defense involves four
main milestones:

Milestone 1:
• Student submits a preliminary draft of their dissertation proposal to their DAC;

Milestone 2:
• Student responds to written comments on the draft proposal in a written revision of the
proposal;
• The dissertation committee determines the number of iterations required for the proposal
to be ready for defense—typically 3 or 4;
• At the conclusion of each meeting, the DAC committee completes and signs a
Dissertation Committee Meeting Report for the GHD Program, documenting the
student’s progress and key points of feedback and specific goals that the DAC has
provided to the student for the next iteration of the dissertation proposal.
• The DAC Chair submits the completed and signed meeting report to the GHD DGS and
GHD Program Coordinator.

Milestone 3:
• When the DAC is satisfied that the student’s dissertation proposal is ready to defend, the
DAC Chair (the student’s advisor) informs the student and the GHD program that the
dissertation proposal is ready for defense.
• The student submits the final proposal—with any outstanding revisions—to the DAC in
preparation for the oral defense;
• The student and dissertation committee schedule the defense, with the assistance of the
GHD Program staff and DGS
• The student’s DAC prepares her/him for the oral presentation and questioning of the
proposal by public participants in the defense, and by the DAC members during the
defense.

Milestone 4 (The Defense):

• The DPD will be scheduled for 2.5 hours
• Each DPD will be chaired by a GHD faculty member, who will ensure the orderly and
efficient conduct of the defense
• The DPD Chair welcomes all attendees (public and DAC) and briefly explains how the
DPD will proceed (approximately 10 minutes).

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 GHD Handbook
• To begin, the student makes a 30 minute presentation of the final dissertation proposal to
all attendees (public and DAC) and responds to questions from the public for 20 minutes
(total approximately 50 minutes)
• At the conclusion of the public questions the Chair dismisses the public attendees and
immediately begins the formal component of the DPD
• The Chair then invites each of the DAC members, in turn, to pose questions to the student
for 10 minutes, ending with the student’s dissertation advisor (total 40 minutes, assuming
a 4 member DAC)
• Following the formal questions the Chair invites committee members to pose any other
outstanding question and to engage in an open discussion with the student (approximately
20-30 minutes)
• At the conclusion of the questioning and discussion the Chair asks the student to leave
the room and the committee deliberates about its decision, either:
(a) accept proposal, as is, with no revisions;
(b) accept proposal with minor revisions;
(c) accept proposal with major revisions; or
(d) reject the proposal as unsatisfactory.
• Minor revisions will be completed by the student and submitted for final approval by the
student’s dissertation committee within one month.
• The timeframe for major revisions will be determined by the student’s Advisor and the
DGS, but will not exceed 3 months.
• The committee’s decision and rationale will be documented in DPD report form, signed,
dated and submitted to the GHD Program DGS and Coordinator.
• In the event of a decision of unsatisfactory, LGS procedures for a failed examination will
be followed.

Dissertation Proposal Defense—Part 2: Scheduling & Timeline

Students are expected to complete their DPD no later than the end of their second year. Students
should work closely with their DAC and the GHD Program DGS to ensure that the milestones,
described above, are planned and scheduled to ensure that the DPD can be completed by the end
of their second year.

Dissertation Proposal Defense—Part 3: Organization/Architecture Of The Dissertation

General Organization
The Dissertation Proposal should reflect the general architecture of a research-based doctoral
dissertation. The general elements of a dissertation are also common across most academic
disciplines (see Table 6), though specific language and emphasis may vary by funder
requirements. The student and DAC can agree on a specific format that best aligns with likely
funding sources for the research—e.g., an NIH proposal format for biomedically oriented studies
or NSF proposal format for social and behavioral research.

Table 6. General elements of the dissertation proposal

General elements of the Dissertation Proposal
Statement of purpose What does the dissertation aim to do?

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 GHD Handbook
Introduction/Context What does a reviewer need to know in order to appreciate the
purpose of the dissertation and the specific gap in knowledge that
it aims to fill?
Background What is the specific gap in knowledge that the dissertation aims to
fill?
Significance Why is it important to fill this specific gap in knowledge?
Methods How will the dissertation fill the gap in knowledge?
Results What were the key findings?
Discussion What are the implications and potential value of the key findings?
For whom? What are the critical lessons and insights that you (as
the producer of the dissertation) have gained through this
investigation?
Limitations What factors, both within and outside your control might have
affected the conduct and/or outcomes of the study?
Conclusions Despite the limitations described above, what conclusions can be
fairly and reliably drawn from the research presented in the
disseration

Specific Format
It is expected that most research proposal formats used by GHD faculty members and DAC
members will be appropriate for the Dissertation Proposal, i.e., they will require the student to
address the general categories presented in Table 6. Although there is no minimum or maximum
length for the Dissertation Proposal, it is the responsibility of the DAC to ensure that the
proposal provides an adequate level of detail and specificity to demonstrate the student’s mastery
of the key considerations in Table 6. It is expected that Dissertation Proposals will range from 12
(e.g., NIH 12-page research summary) to 20 pages. Students and DACs are encouraged to
consult with the GHD DGS for guidance.

Assessing and Documenting GHD Student Progress

Credit Requirements for Graduation with a Ph.D.

To be eligible for PhD candidacy, students must have earned at least 56 credit hours from the
core and elective courses listed, above.

Master's based on candidacy and Interim Master's degrees

Under special circumstances, a student may petition to leave the program with a M.S. degree.
While this path is discouraged, it is available with the approval of the DGS and LGS. Any
student who is contemplating this path should consult with the DGS as early as possible in the
process. Details of the required procedures are available on the Laney School of Graduate
Studies website. https://gs.emory.edu/academics/completion/index.html

Grading

The grading scale in the Laney School of Graduate Studies ranges from A (4.0) to C (2.0) and F
(0); there is no D grade. Some courses may be taken on a Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory (S/U)

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 GHD Handbook
basis with instructor approval. A grade of “Incomplete” must be corrected within a 12-month
period or the Registrar will automatically change the grade to an “F”. It is the responsibility of
the student to make the necessary arrangements to complete the course and have the grade
changed. A full course load (a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester) is required independent
of the number of credit hours to be repeated for the removal of an “I” grade.

Students in the graduate program will be expected to maintain an overall average of B (3.0) or
better. A student who has a grade point average below 3.0 at the end of a semester or who
receives a “C” or “F” or “U” in any course will be placed on academic probation for that
semester.

Details of the standards of academic performance and status are described in the Laney School of
Graduate Studies handbook, which also provides clear guidelines regarding withdrawals, leaves
of absence, and policies for accommodations for doctoral students with substantial parenting
responsibility as a result of childbirth, care of newborn, or a newly adopted child.

Advancement to Candidacy

Candidacy status is an indication that a GHD doctoral student has developed sufficient mastery
of a discipline to produce an original research contribution in his or her field. To be eligible for
candidacy in the GHD Ph.D. Program, a student must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete all GHD Doctoral Program requirements, including required coursework and
research rotations
2. Complete Laney School of Graduate Studies training program requirements, including
TATT 600, TATT 605 and JPE 600
3. Resolve any Incomplete (I) or In Progress (IP) grades
4. Have earned at least 58 credit hours at the 500 level or above
5. Successfully completed all requirements of the GHD Dissertation Proposal Defense
(DPD)
6. Be in good standing with a minimum cumulative 2.70 GPA

Note that TATTO 610 and JPE 610 may be completed after candidacy has been achieved.

Timing

Students should enter candidacy as soon as all requirements have been completed. Students
must reach candidacy by September 15 of their fourth year (see Laney Graduate School
Handbook). Students who do not meet this deadline will be placed on academic probation, will
not be eligible for PDS funds, and may forfeit financial support. These sanctions will be lifted
when the student enters candidacy.

Procedure

The candidacy form is available in the Laney Connect Hub, in the "Milestones" section. Log in
with your Emory credentials and follow the instructions to locate and submit the form. The

17
 GHD Handbook
application requires programs to affirm that all program requirements have been met and LGS to
affirm that any remaining requirements have been met. You will be considered "in candidacy"
when LGS has approved your candidacy application. At that point, candidacy will appear on
your transcript as a milestone.Students enter candidacy by submitting the application to enter
candidacy, available on the LGS

Documenting GHD Student Progress

GHD Program Competencies

By the completion of the GHD Ph.D. Program, graduates will be able to:
• formulate or pose a research question, a scholarly project, and evaluate global health
and development policies and programs.
• conduct independent research, design and implement interventions, and evaluate them
using qualitative and/or quantitative methods as appropriate.
• communicate the results, findings or new interpretations of their scholarly work.
• communicate current knowledge about key global health issues and challenges to students
and/or the public.
• critically evaluate scholarly work, programs and interventions, and/or work conducted by
peers.

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Student performance is assessed on a continuous basis using multiple methods, including:

• Grading and evaluation of coursework and course performance

• Grading and assessment by GHD faculty of performance and the quality of final products
for research rotations
• Instructor and peer evaluations of presentations during the GHD Graduate Seminar
• Multiple rounds of feedback on students’ dissertation proposals during progress towards
the dissertation proposal defense
• Dissertation Advisory Committee assessment and final decision on the Dissertation
Proposal Defense.
• Frequent informal “check-ins” and an annual meeting with the GHD Program DGS (see
below)
• The annual progress report (see below)
• The Individual Development Plan

The Annual Progress Report

An Annual Progress Report must be prepared by the student, reviewed and approved by the
DGS and submitted to the Program by September 1st of each academic year. All students will
also meet annually with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in the summer at the end of
each program year when they will discuss the progress of the graduate studies and review the
recommendations for electives in consultation with the doctoral mentoring and/or dissertation
committee. The DGS will also solicit feedback from the doctoral mentoring/or dissertation
committee as needed. The DGS will serve as mentors and resources for all GHD students

18
 GHD Handbook
throughout their time in the program, but they are the primary mentor and resource for those
students who have not yet identified a dissertation advisor. The Annual Progress Report should
contain the following:

1. Course work
◆ Itemize all courses taken during the most current academic year and all previous years
(Semester, Course Number, Title, credit hours, grade achieved). You may attach a
computer grade printout if you prefer.
◆ List the number and name of all required courses that you have not yet taken (write
‘none’ if applicable), and the semester in which you intend to take them.
◆ List the number and name of any other courses you plan to take in the coming academic
year.

2. Rotations
◆ List the rotations (Supervisor, semester, and topic) you have already taken, and provide
a timetable for completion of any additional required or elective rotations.

3. Major milestones
◆ List the date of successful completion of the Qualifying exam and the General Doctoral
examination. If these have not been completed, please indicate when you intend to take
them.
◆ Date or expected date of advancement to candidacy

4. Doctoral dissertation committee

◆ List the names of the chair and the other members of your doctoral committee. If these
have not been identified, please give a time frame for their selection.
◆ If you have identified a likely title for your dissertation, please provide it. Has your
committee approved your dissertation proposal?
◆ List the dates of your completed committee meetings (required to meet 2 x year).
♦What do you see as a likely date for defense of your dissertation?

5. Presentations and publications (as first or as junior author)

◆ List the complete author list, title, and journal for any articles submitted, accepted, or
published since you began the Ph.D. program. Please attach a copy of the abstract.
◆ List the complete author list, title, and conference name, date and place, for any
conference presentations (oral or poster) since you began the Ph.D. program. Please
attach a copy of the abstract.
♦List GHD Doctoral seminar lecture titles and dates.

6. Other achievements
◆ Identify any other achievements related to your progress in the GH Doctoral program.
7. C.V.
◆ Attach a current academic C.V.

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 GHD Handbook
8. Discussion
◆ Provide a self-evaluation of your progress to date. What new skills have you gained?
What additional skills do you hope to gain? Have your research interested become more
focused or are you still exploring several interests?

9. Goals
◆ Provide one or more goals for the upcoming year.

10. Individual Development Plan (IDP) one page summary

Individual Development Plan (IDP)

All students will develop their individual development plan (IDP) that will be updated annually.
A one-page summary of the IDP is due with the annual progress report and CV. IDPs are a
useful tool to help graduate students and postdocs identify their career goals and what they need
to accomplish to achieve those goals. The IDP concept is commonly used in industry to help
employees focus and obtain their career goals. The IDP process is intended to facilitate
communication between faculty mentors and their trainees. The GHD doctoral program
recommends the website sponsored by The American Societies for Experimental Biology
(FASEB). www.myidp.sciencecareers.org is a web-based career planning tool tailored to meet
the needs of PhD candidates and postdocs in the sciences. The web program facilitates
completion of the IDP and provides opportunities to learn about careers in science. The
suggested use of the web program is:

1. The student completes the planning tool on the website

2. The student shares the one-page summary with their dissertation advisor or a career
mentor and meets to discuss their plan.

Ph.D. Thesis Dissertation

When the dissertation research has progressed to a point satisfactory to the Dissertation Advisor
and the Dissertation Advisory Committee, a student may start to prepare the written dissertation
and set a date for the Dissertation Defense. The Dissertation Defense will typically include a 1-
hour presentation of the research that is open to the public and a closed session defense with
members of the Dissertation Advisory Committee.

The timing of defense must be considered carefully and should be discussed with the mentor and
the DGS. The stipend and health insurance may end shortly after the defense, and this may affect
decisions on timing. All students should notify the program office of the defense and the
dissertation should be distributed to the Dissertation Committee at least 2 weeks prior to the
defense. All students will follow the Laney Graduate School’s Degree Completion requirements
for formatting of the dissertation and required paperwork. Please see Section 10 of the LGS
Student Handbook. The possible outcomes from a dissertation defense are:

• Approval and determination that the student has met the objectives in full.
• Approval with revisions needed. This is in the case that the student has substantially met

20
 GHD Handbook
the objectives, and that only minor edits (grammar, spelling, a few fact checks, small
additions or subtractions) are required.
• Rejection of the dissertation in current form

When revisions are required, the committee members will provide lists of required corrections to
the student. These must be completed within two weeks. The Mentor would then certify that
these have been completed.

Degree Completion

If you are approaching the end of your degree program, please review the timeline on the LGS
website at the link below. There are several forms you need to complete in order to receive your
degree, and some important guidelines, instructions, and checklists you should refer to as you
prepare your dissertation or thesis for submission.
https://gs.emory.edu/_includes/documents/sections/academics/policies-progress/lgs-2024_25-
handbook_april-2024.pdf

The student must submit the forms required by the Laney Graduate school:
http://www.gs.emory.edu/academics/completion/index.html
Instructions, Forms and Surveys

Forms and documents submitted to LGS should also be sent to the GHD program administrator
after submission.

Commencement
Commencement takes place each year at the end of spring semester. All students who received a
degree, master's or doctoral, during the previous summer, fall or spring semester are eligible to
participate. Information about, and instructions for, the ceremonies are in the documents on the
Laney Graduate School website: http://gs.emory.edu/academics/commencement.html

21
 GHD Handbook
Graduate Student Travel
Travel Safely and Let Emory Know
When you travel, please protect your personal safety and be sure to follow the Travel policies,
etc. as outlined in the Laney Graduate School Handbook. Visit Emory's International Travel
resources site, and use the International SOS feature to learn about advisories affecting the
region you will travel to. Emory students traveling internationally are required to submit a
record of where you will be and how you can be reached to International SOS before starting
your travel.
This record can be essential. In the case of tragic events such as natural disaster and abrupt
violence, information in International SOS records can help us to quickly ascertain that members
of the Emory community near those are safe and unharmed.
Before planning international travel, please read the International Travel and Visa Issuance
information on our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions page. Please also visit COVID-19
Information for the Emory Community | Emory University | Atlanta GA and the Emory Student
Health Service for more information on COVID-19.

LGS International Travel Form

Emory-sponsored* international travel for LGS students may be permitted, provided the
proposed travel has been reviewed and approved by the Dean of the Laney Graduate School.
Students who plan to travel internationally must seek approval from the LGS Dean using the
LGS International Travel Form.

Regardless of funding source (e.g. PDS award, program funding, etc.) ALL Emory-related
international travel MUST be approved through the International Travel Form - Laney Graduate
School (office.com). Please review the Laney Graduate School International Travel Policy for
more information.

Purchasing Travel with Emory Funding

Emory's Travel Policies establish all Emory University rules related to travel.

• Note: If you use Emory funding, you must comply with the policy. If you don't, Emory
funds may be withheld.

Essentially, the policy requires that air travel bought with Emory funds be bought through one of
Emory's air travel providers.

All travelers must have an updated travel profile prior to booking travel.

• If you have not booked travel through Corporate Travel Management (CTM) since March
2022, you will need an updated travel profile. Please forward your request to
[email protected] to initiate the process.

Once your travel profile has been activated/re-activated.

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 GHD Handbook
• Use https://www.finance.emory.edu/home/index.html to access and book travel through
Corporate Travel Management (CTM). At some point through the log in process, you
will be prompted to enter your Emory log in credentials.

• Click the Travel tile. DO NOT use the Quick Links on the upper left-hand side of the
travel page.
• Scroll down to Portal and click.
• Click Concur at the top of the page.
• Click Profile at the upper right-hand side of the page. Then click Profile Settings.
• Complete all Required sections... saving as you move through.

Please use your corporate card to purchase your ticket when using PDS Funds.

For CTM Agent Assistance Travel please call 877-289-4627 or email [email protected].
For CTM Technical Support please call 877-208-1396 or email [email protected]

Please direct travel related questions or concerns to: [email protected]

The Travel Clinic at Emory Student Health provides full travel consults to prepare students for
upcoming travel. They can provide all travel vaccines, including Yellow Fever, Typhoid,
Japanese Encephalitis, Polio, Hep A and Rabies. Prescriptions for malaria, traveler’s diarrhea
and altitude illness are also available. Link: Student Health Services | Emory University | Atlanta
GA

COVID-19 Vaccines
Emory Healthcare addresses vaccine questions and concerns through an online video
series. Remember, get the vaccine whenever and wherever you can. You can visit Vaccines.gov,
the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, or contact your state health department to find additional
vaccination locations in your area. Find vaccination sites in Georgia

Most other insurances will not cover travel consults, travel vaccines and most recommended
medications. These visits can get quite expensive, especially for students. Travel consults,
vaccines, and prescribed medications are covered under the Emory University Student Health
Insurance (EUSHIP) plan. If students are covered by EUSHIP - they are best served at Emory
Student Health for travel consults.

Travel Appointments can be scheduled through the Student Health Portal.

Work Outside of the GHD Program

Students are allowed to work up to 10 hours per week on teaching-related activities or research
projects not directly related to their dissertation. Any funds earned are in addition to the stipend.
Permission of their advisor and DGS is required. For any hours beyond those 10 per week,
permission by the Associate Dean for Research is required. Students without U.S. work
authorization such as F1 visa holders may have specific limitations.

23
 GHD Handbook
Withdrawal, Leave of Absence, Parental Accommodation
Withdrawal

Consult the LGS Handbook, Academic Affairs, section 1.3.3.

If you withdraw from all your courses, you must complete a Request for a Leave of
Absence.

Withdrawal and Leave of Absence

Submit this signature form online via the Web Login Service (Laney Connect Hub). If you
withdraw during the semester, you must obtain the signatures of all instructors.

Leave of Absence

The official Request for a Leave of Absence does not ask you about the reason you are
requesting a leave. We encourage you to discuss those reasons as well as your plan for returning
with your advisor and/or DGS. You and your program may wish to create a written record of
those discussions, to be kept by your program. Leave of Absence Form: lgs-loa-signature-
form.pdf

• Consult the LGS Handbook for the most current policy: Academic Affairs, section 6.3.
• You are limited to two one-year leaves of absence.
• Obtaining a leave of absence will affect your health insurance coverage as well as stipend
payments (if applicable). The rules are a little complex, and how you will be affected depends on
when your leave takes effect. Ask your program administrator and graduate school staff and be
sure you know exactly how these important areas will be affected.
• To return from a leave of absence, you will need to apply for readmission. The form required
for applying for readmission is available at: Readmission
•You can return only at the start of a semester.

Parental Arrangements

A graduate student caregiver designated as having substantial parental responsibility may be

relieved of full-time graduate duties and responsibilities for up to 8 weeks after the birth or
adoption of a child. Students are not employees and thus are not subject to Family and Medical Leave
Act (FMLA) provisions.

• Consult the LGS Handbook Section 9 on Parental Arrangements.

• Any matriculated doctoral student in good academic standing is eligible.
• Eligible students who are receiving stipend support would continue to receive this support
throughout the accommodation period.
• PhD students benefitting from accommodation will remain as full-time students. During these
eight weeks, students are expected to maintain registration, remain in contact with their advisor,
and engage in minimal academic activity (e.g., reading), as agreed upon by the student and their
advisor, assuming the student's and child’s good health. After eight weeks, students resume their

24
 GHD Handbook
responsibilities, and if students need additional arrangements, they should speak with their DGS
and the LGS Student Affairs Dean.

• Parental Arrangements are not a leave of absence. Students with parental arrangements will
remain full-time students. Thus, their eligibility for graduate student benefits remains intact (e.g.,
student stipend and health insurance benefits). However, students may prefer to apply for a
Leave of Absence if they need additional time.
Parental Arrangement | Emory University | Atlanta GA

Honor, Conduct and Grievance Policies

All honor, conduct and ethical policies in the Laney Graduate School Handbook are applicable.

If a student has a disagreement related to GHD-specific requirements and policies, this concern
should be initially discussed with the DGS and Program Director. If the student is not satisfied
with this or has a matter that they believe cannot be presented to the DGS or Program Director,
the matter should be presented to the LGS grievance committee, following the policies in the
LGS handbook.

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 GHD Handbook
Useful Program, Graduate School, University and Other Resources

I. Emergencies
In case of emergency, dial 911 and/or the Emory Police Department at 404-727-6111

II. NIH Program and Graduate School

• NIH Forms and Applications: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/all-forms-and-
formats.htm

• Laney Graduate School Website: https://gs.emory.edu/index.html

• Laney Graduate School Handbook:

https://gs.emory.edu/_includes/documents/sections/academics/policies-progress/lgs-2024_25-
handbook_april-2024.pdf

III. University Resources for Students

• Writing center
The Emory Writing Center offers 45-minute individual conferences. Their discussion- and
workshop-based tutoring approach enables writers of all levels to see their writing with fresh
eyes and to practice a variety of strategies for writing, revising, and editing. Students are
encouraged to schedule appointments in advance, as walk-ins are accepted only on a limited
basis. The Writing Center uses an online appointment system called WCOnline.

• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

o Address: 1462 Clifton Road, Suite 235, Atlanta, GA 30322
Phone: (404) 727-7450
Fax: (404) 727-2906
Crisis Consultation: Call (404) 727-7450, 8:30-3:30, Monday-Friday
Hours of Operation: 8:30-5:00, Monday-Friday

• Student Health Clinic

Emory University Student Health Services (EUSHS) is open 8:30 - 5 pm Monday - Friday.
Web-booking is available for nurse immunization appointments and wellness physicals. All
other appointments are scheduled by calling 404- 727-7551 (press 1) during office hours.

• Student Health Services

IV. Global Health and Development Professional Societies and Conferences

American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

https://www.astmh.org/

Consortium of Universities for Global Health

https://www.cugh.org/
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 GHD Handbook

V. Fellowship and Grant Information

Summer is a great time to explore outside fellowship funding, including NSF, Hughes, and NIH

27
 GHD Handbook
NRSA. Students will receive a $2,000/year stipend supplement for the term of the outside award
provided that the fellowship amount covers more than 75% of their stipend.

Below is a list of some potential fellowship award sources.

American Association of University Women

http://www.aauw.org/

American Indian Graduate Center

https://www.aigcs.org/

American Society for Microbiology

http://www.asm.org/

Association for Women in Science

http://www.awis.org/

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

http://www.hhmi.org/

Leakey Foundation
http://www.leakeyfoundation.org/

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships

https://ndseg.sysplus.com/

National Institutes of Health

www.nih.gov

NIH: National Institutes of Mental Health

www.nimh.nih.gov

National Science Foundation

www.nsf.gov

Oakridge Associated Universities

http://www.orau.org/

UNCF-Merck Science Initiative

https://www.accessandequity.org/uncf-merck-science-initiative/

Other Useful Search Sites

Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP): OSP maintains web links with federal funding agencies
and with select private sources. OSP's NIH Essentials and NSF Essential pages are especially
helpful. The Research and Funding Guide, a bi-monthly compilation of funding opportunities for
faculty research, is available at the OSP website. http://www.osp.emory.edu/
Community of Science (COS): Like IRIS, COS is a searchable database with links to programs

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in the sciences, social sciences and humanities. Access COS directly at:
https://www.fredhutch.org/en.html

GrantsNet: GrantsNet is sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of

Science and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Researchers can register for electronic
notification of funding opportunities
http://www.grantsnet.org/ or https://www.science.org/funding

Illinois Researcher Information Service (IRIS): Use IRIS to conduct individual searches for
funding opportunities. IRIS provides up-to-date information about grants in all academic
disciplines and has links to web pages where researchers will find additional information about
specific programs and electronic forms when available. Sign up for the IRIS Alert Service to
receive automatic notice of funding opportunities in your areas of interest.
https://www.library.illinois.edu/iris/

University Fund for Internationalization: The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences also
awards dissertation research grants on a competitive basis to support research outside of the
United States through the University Fund for Internationalization (pdf format).
http://www.emory.edu/GSOAS/PDF/Invest.pdf

Upcoming deadlines for funding opportunities of interest to students in the Graduate School are
listed in the Investigator, which is distributed to all students at the beginning of fall, spring, and
summer semesters. This information was gleaned from the Grants and Fellowship site of the
Graduate School as a reminder of funding opportunities.

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