Epidemiology

Students in the PhD Program in Epidemiology address major health problems, including physical and mental disorders, from a research perspective. Epidemiology is the study of disease in human populations, and epidemiological studies are the foundation for prevention and control of health disorders. Students learn to:

• Measure manifestations of disease
• Measure the physical, social, and behavioral phenomena of the environment
• Design studies
• Collect, handle, and interpret large bodies of data
• Analyze statistics

As the study of epidemiology requires an understanding of human biology and pathology in social context, and of the ways of enumerating and analyzing populations, the interdisciplinary curriculum includes courses in biomedical and social science disciplines, as well as biostatistics. Students can specialize according to their background and interests, in addition to gaining general knowledge of epidemiology and public health.

The department awards a number of fellowships to recognize academic achievement and support future scholarly success. As teaching and research experience are considered an important aspect of graduate training, these fellowships include some teaching and research apprenticeship.

Doctoral students are required to complete and defend a dissertation to be awarded the PhD. After completing their qualifying exams, students identify a topic and a dissertation sponsor, who then appoints other members of the dissertation committee.

The dissertation committee usually consists of the sponsor, a chair, and a second reader all in the Epidemiology Department, as well as two other members extraneous to the Department. Working closely with their sponsors, students develop and defend a research proposal first to their committee and then at a public seminar.

Having successfully met these challenges, the students complete a literature review relevant to their specific aims, undertake the appropriate analyses, and usually complete the dissertation in the form of at least two empirical and publishable papers with associated introductions and appendices. They defend the final dissertation before their committee in closed session. 

Doctoral Required Courses

Core Methods Sequence 

• P6400 Epi I: Principles of Epidemiology *
• P8438 Epi II: Design and Conduct of Observational Epidemiology * 
• P8400 Epi III: Applied Epidemiologic Analysis  *
• P9400 Epi IV: Critical Thinking in Epidemiology
• P9485 Epi V: Concepts in Causal Inference
• P9487 Epi VI: Advanced Techniques in Epidemiologic Methods 

Core Skills Sequence 

• P8483 Applications of Epidemiologic Research Methods I  *
• P9489 Applications of Epidemiologic Research Methods II
• P9494 Publications, Presentations, and Grants
• P9405 History of Epidemiology
• P9410 Biology and Physiology for Epidemiologists

*Master's level course

Requirements

All applicants must have, or be in the process of completing, a master's degree in epidemiology or a related field. Individuals who have completed a doctoral degree in a program that does not confer a master's degree (e.g., MD) are also eligible.

Applicants should be committed to public health research and practice, so past research and/or other work experience in public health are encouraged.

Course work in mathematics (e.g. calculus and statistics), and a strong background in the natural and/or social sciences are strongly recommended. Oral and written communication skills, as well diversity in terms of gender, race and ethnic background, and areas of interest or expertise are highly valued.

In addition to the requirements listed below, all students must submit an official transcript showing courses and grades from each prior institution, a statement of academic purpose, a writing sample as described below, and three letters of evaluation from academic and/or work sources. All international students whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS scores.

• Resume/CV
• Writing sample
• GRE General

Scholarships

• Training program fellowships (departmental or institutional)
• Other scholarships and fellowships arising both inside and outside the University
• Research-based employment—Graduate research assistantships (GRAs)
• Seminar leadership
• NIH individual dissertation grant awards (F31 and R36)