Epidemiology

The PhD in epidemiology is offered through Emory’s Laney Graduate School. This program trains students to become independent investigators and to obtain skills to be successful in PhD-level positions in academia, government, and the private sector.

The curriculum for the doctoral program in epidemiology includes rigorous training in epidemiological and biostatistical methods. Elective coursework requires students to apply these methods to a particular substantive area. In addition to traditional courses, students learn through research assistantships and teacher training. 

Students learn from our department's faculty, as well as faculy from the Hubert Department of Global Health, the Department of Environmental Health, and the Emory School of Medicine. Students' dissertation committees often include faculty from organizations outside of the school and university, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Cancer Society. 

• EPI 530, SAS Programming (1)
• EPI 533, Epidemiologic Methods II (3)
• EPI 534, Grant Writing and Research Ethics (2)
• EPI 591U, Application of Epidemiologic Concepts (3)
• EPI 731, Analytical Foundations of Epidemiology (3)
• EPI 738, Advanced Epidemiologic Methods I (2)
• EPI 739, Advanced Epidemiologic Methods II (2)
• EPI 790R, Journal Club (enrollment required every semester until graduation) (1)
• EPI 740, Epidemiologic Modeling (3)
• EPI 750, Longitudinal Data Analysis (3)
• BIOS 500 or 506, Biostatistical Methods I (4)
• BIOS 591P or 507, Biostatistical Methods II or Applied Linear Models (4)
• BIOS 510, Probability Theory (4)
• EPI XXX, Electives 6(min)
• EPI 799R, Research Hours 24
• EPI 701, Translational and Interdisciplinary Public Health Research (1)

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
• College-level biology and calculus are required. These courses must be complete no later than December 18, 2016 for Fall 2017 consideration. Applications that do not meet the calculus and biology requirement will not be considered. Applicants are specifically asked in the application to identify where on their transcript we will find the pre-requisites met.
• GRE scores taken within the last five years. Scores in the 60th percentile or higher are recommended.
• Application + $75 application fee. For applications completed on or before October 31, the $75 application fee will be automatically waived.
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Graduate faculty identification- on the application, students should identify at least two epidemiology graduate faculty members with whom they would like to work. Prospective students may view faculty who are available to mentor students in Fall 2017 by clicking here.
• Statement of purpose: Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose that should be no more than approximately 500 words or two pages double-spaced.  The personal statement should convey an understanding of the field of epidemiology, the applicant’s desire to pursue a PhD in epidemiology, defined research interests inasmuch as possible, and why the Epidemiology PhD program at Emory is a good fit for his or her doctoral training.
• Unofficial transcripts from each post-secondary institution you have attended.
• Resume/CV
• For applicants with post-secondary degrees from a non-US institution, WES course-by-course evaluations are strongly recommended.

International Applicants

In addition to these requirements, all departments require international students to submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.

TOEFL scores should be at least 100 or higher on the Internet-based test. International applicants who earned an undergraduate or two year graduate degree from an institution within the United States are waived from the TOEFL requirement.

A World Education Service (WES) course-by-course report is STRONGLY recommended of all students who have received a baccalaureate and/or advanced degree from a non-US institution. This does not include students who completed a semester study abroad as part of a US degree.

Scholarships

All admitted PhD students receive merit-based support packages consisting of full tuition scholarships each year. The first two years students are typically funded from institutional support from Laney Graduate School or Training Grants (pending satisfactory progress in the program). In years three through five, students in good standing are funded through mentor grants, training grants, pre-doctoral training fellowships, etc. As of 2016-2017, doctoral students receive annual stipends of $23,376

Training grants currently support some EPI PhD students with the following interests and research areas: 1) Reproductive, Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 2) Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology, 3) Molecules to Mankind (M2M), 4) Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology, and 5) Health Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease. Laney Graduate School also offers Professional Development Funding and Training(to attend conferences and for research).