Graduate

Research Careers

The Ph.D. in Behavioral & Community Sciences is designed to prepare graduates for advanced roles in academia, research, and applied settings, including institutions of higher education, government agencies, healthcare systems, and private and nonprofit organizations with a research or policy mission. The program addresses pressing societal challenges, including mental health disorders, substance use, and developmental disabilities, which continue to drive demand for highly trained researchers and practitioners capable of advancing evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies.

Current national workforce projections indicate sustained demand for doctoral-level training in behavioral and community sciences. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–2034 projections), employment of postsecondary teachers is expected to grow by approximately 6%, with more substantial growth in health-related disciplines (~17%). In addition, research-oriented and data-intensive occupations, such as operations research analysts, are projected to grow by approximately 21%, reflecting increased reliance on advanced analytical and methodological expertise to address complex public health and social challenges. Similarly, employment of medical scientists and other health-related researchers is projected to grow, reinforcing the need for doctoral-level professionals trained in clinical investigation, population health, and translational research.

Beyond academia, graduates are well-positioned for a range of careers, including roles as health policy researchers, program directors, behavioral health consultants, medical science liaisons, and research analysts across diverse organizational settings. These opportunities align with continued expansion in the healthcare and social assistance sector, which is projected to be among the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. economy, alongside increasing demand for behavioral health professionals and community-based intervention specialists.

The program further supports career readiness through structured professional development opportunities, including early exposure to academic and non-academic career pathways, engagement with professionals across sectors, and applied research experiences. Collectively, these elements ensure that graduates develop the advanced quantitative, evaluative, and interdisciplinary research competencies necessary to meet current and emerging workforce needs. Evidence from national labor market projections and professional employment trends demonstrates clear alignment between program outcomes and the evolving national demands of the behavioral health, public health, and social science workforce.