Epidemiology, Ph.D.

Admissions

Admissions decisions are based on an evaluation of the applicants’ entire file in relation to the pool of applicants that year. We also evaluate whether the applicant’s needs and goals fit well with our department’s strengths and resources. We review master’s degree applications once/year for fall matriculation, and we review doctoral student applications twice/year for fall and spring matriculation.

Applicants for graduate degree programs in Epidemiology must meet all requirements of the Graduate School  for admission and the Arnold School of Public Health. All applications are submitted through SOPHAS, with the following required documents:

  • Resume or CV 
  • Three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources 
  • Official transcripts from all schools or colleges previously attended
  • GPA 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale)
  • GRE scores 50% or higher for each:  Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical Writing
    • MCAT scores may not be substituted for GRE scores. 
    • The percentiles above are general guidelines not cut points.
  • Personal statement describing your academic and research interests and professional goals.
    •  Master’s applicants should discuss how they became interested in epidemiology as a career choice. 
    • Doctoral applicants must discuss their research area of interest along with the faculty member who has agreed to mentor them.
  • Non-US institution transcripts must be verified by World Education Services (WES) or equivalent service. Submit course-by-course evaluation (WES ICAP). 
  • For those whose native language is not English, we require either a TOEFL (minimum 80) or IELTS (minimum 7.0) score.    

For the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program, applicants must have a master’s degree in public health from an approved school of public health or related field or an equivalent advanced professional degree.

Before an application is reviewed, students must find an epidemiology faculty member in their research area of interest who agrees to be their mentor. This agreement should be mentioned in the personal statement. A holistic approach to application review process is utilized.

Research experience and publications are not required; however, prior experience is highly encouraged along with publications, including first author.

Degree Requirements (42 Hours)

Prerequisites

Coursework for the Ph.D. in epidemiology assumes that the applicant has taken sufficient courses in the biological or social sciences and has solid preparation at the master’s level in epidemiology. For students holding a master’s degree in a discipline other than epidemiology, preparatory course requirements are set by the Academic Advisor, in consultation with the Graduate Director and Admissions Committee. At a minimum, applicants must master the content and skills taught in the following master’s level courses:  EPID 701, BIOS 701, EPID 741, BIOS 757, and BIOS 709. Other courses are required on a case-by-case basis.

Coursework

Course Title Credits
PUBH 700Perspectives in Public Health3
replaced with elective if student has M.P.H.
EPID 800Advanced Methodological Theory in Epidemiology3
EPID 801Advanced Analytic Methods in Epidemiology3
EPID 802Grant Writing3
EPID 845Doctoral Seminar (1 credit taken 3 times)3
EPID 890Independent Study (Teaching Practicum)3
EPID 890Independent Study (Consulting Practicum)3
Two Epidemiology courses6
Three Biostatistics courses9
Two electives6
EPID 899Dissertation Preparation12
Total Credit Hours54