Epidemiology

The goal of the PhD program in epidemiology is to train students for future careers as research epidemiologists in academic, not-for-profit, governmental, and private sector settings.

Upon completion of the PhD, students will be able to identify important public health issues that merit epidemiologic study and conduct independent, scholarly research that advances knowledge about the causes, prevention, and amelioration of human disease.

The successful PhD graduate will be prepared to teach graduate students and health professionals in academic and other settings and to work collaboratively with health professionals in other disciplines on research and applied projects that include epidemiologic elements.

Doctoral Dissertation

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

TBA Epi VI: Advanced Topics in Epidemiologic Methods 

Core Skills Sequence 

P8483 Applications of Epidemiologic Research Methods I  *

TBA Applications of Epidemiologic Research Methods II

TBA Publications, Presentations, and Grants

TBA History of Epidemiology

TBA Biology and Physiology for Epidemiologists

*Master's level course

Admissions Information

PhD applicants apply through the Mailman School. Deadline for applications is December 1.