Program Requirements

Epidemiology, Ph.D.

I. Program Plan

The Ph.D. core curriculum is required for all Epidemiology Ph.D. students. Any course substitutions or waivers need to be approved by the student's advisor and the Credentials Committee. The final shape of the program, the nature of additional courses, readings, and the focus on particular subspecialties are a matter for the student and advisor.

II. Grantwriting Skills

In addition to completing PubH 6348, it is recommended that students participate as a member of a grant-writing team for an NIH or comparable grant, preferably with their own advisor or another member of their Ph.D. committee.

III. Teaching

Ph.D. students have three teaching requirements: a) Teaching in Higher Education (Grad 8101); b) one semester as a teaching assistant; and c) preparing and giving a course lecture.

IV. Examinations

Preliminary Written Examination
Students entering with a master¿s degree in Epidemiology are encouraged to write the examination within 18 months of matriculation into the Ph.D. program.  The examination consists of two parts: (1) epidemiology and biostatistics exam, and (2) a grant-writing exercise. Students must pass both sections.

Preliminary Oral Examination
Students should take the preliminary oral examination within six months of completing the preliminary written examinations. The oral examination, administered by the student'scommittee, focuses on plans for thesis design and analysis. Students have a maximum of five years to complete the Ph.D. after passing the preliminary oral exam.

Final Oral Examination and Seminar Presentation
The first hour of the final oral examination is open to the public.

V. Research

First-Authored Manuscript for Publication
During their Ph.D. studies, students must prepare a first-authored manuscript for publication. The paper must be written in a form acceptable for publication, the student¿s committee must agree that the paper is publishable, and it must be submitted for publication.

Research Ethics Training
All Graduate School students in the Health Sciences are required to have research ethics training during their doctoral studies.  Epidemiology doctoral students take PubH 6742, Ethics in Public Health: Research and Policy.

Ph.D. Dissertation
The process to complete a dissertation is two-fold: students must pass a preliminary oral exam and a final oral exam. Students have two options for the dissertation: (1) a traditional dissertation, which is an in-depth volume describing (a) theoretical background and literature to date, (b) the methods and results of a research project, and (c) a detailed discussion of the strengths, limitations, interpretation, and significance of the findings; or (2) a series of publishable papers, with appropriate introductory and concluding sections (most common option).

VI. Research Administration Experience

Students should develop experience in research administration during their program through regular participation in project-staff or steering committee meetings, helping to prepare or administer a grant budget, taking an operational role in a sponsored research project, etc.