Rutgers School of Public Health

Biostatistics & Epidemiology

PhD in Epidemiology (72 credits)

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Epidemiology offers students rigorous training in the concepts, methods and analytic approaches used in epidemiology to understand the distribution and causes of health in populations. Upon completion of the degree, students will have the following skills and competencies: ability to critique epidemiologic literature, assess its strengths and weaknesses and determine if conclusions are supported; use of epidemiologic techniques to quantitatively assess patterns and changes in disease occurrence; formulate a specific hypothesis and determine an appropriate study design and analytic plan; design, implement and assess ordinary data collection systems for public health research; design and implement basic quality control methods during data entry and analysis; appropriately analyze and interpret epidemiologic data, including large national and state level datasets; communicate and present study findings to professional audiences; conduct independent epidemiologic literature reviews and summarize studies using qualitative and quantitative techniques; independently design and implement a study to investigate a suspected cause of disease; originate, design and implement new studies in the field that are worthy of publication and grant support; and have sufficient familiarity and understanding of epidemiologic research methods to teach at the graduate level.

Competencies

Competencies for the PhD in Epidemiology (72 credits)

Each Department identifies competencies for each degree offered. These competencies reflect the full range of knowledge, skills, and other attributes that a student will acquire as a result of completing the requirements for a particular degree.

Upon graduation, a student completing the PhD curriculum in Epidemiology will be able to:

  • Critique epidemiologic literature, assess its strengths and weaknesses and determine if conclusions(s) are supported;
  • Conduct independent epidemiologic literature reviews and summarize studies using qualitative and quantitative techniques;
  • Quantitatively assess patterns and changes in disease occurrence using epidemiologic techniques;
  • Formulate specific hypotheses and determine an appropriate study design and analysis plan using quantitative data analysis techniques;
  • Analyze and interpret epidemiologic data appropriately, including data from large national and state level datasets;
  • Design and implement studies to investigate causes of disease;
  • Design and implement clinical trials as applied to public health research and interventions;
  • Design reliable and valid measurement instruments;
  • Design, implement and assess ordinary data collection systems for public health research, including quality control for data entry;
  • Apply principles of intervention and prevention in public health settings;
  • Develop skills to effectively work on multidisciplinary teams, including scientists and non-scientists;
  • Communicate and present study findings to professional audiences;
  • Originate. design and implement new studies in the field that are worthy of publication and grant support;
  • Demonstrate competency in teaching epidemiologic research methods at the graduate level;
  • Maintain high public health ethical standards; and
  • Anticipate and follow Institutional Review Board expectations and requirements.

Curriculum (Prior to Fall 2018)

Curriculum for the PhD in Epidemiology (72 credits)

For Students Enrolled Prior to Fall 2018

Students seeking the PhD in Epidemiology degree must complete a minimum of 72 credits of academic work with a minimum GPA of least 3.2 overall and a 3.2 in the set of required courses specified by their department; earn no more than nine (9) credits bearing grades less than B; and complete the degree requirements within nine years. Courses are three credit hours unless otherwise noted.

  • PREREQUISITES
    • BIST 0535 - Biostatistical Computing (formerly Biometrics Computing)or equivalent
  • CORE COURSES (9 credits)
    • PHCO 0502 - Principles and Methods of Epidemiology (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
    • PHCO 0504 - Introduction to Biostatistics (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
    • PHCO 0508 - Issues in Environmental and Occupational Health (1 credit)
    • PHCO 0510 - Issues in Health Education and Behavioral Science (1 credit)
    • PHCO 0511 - Issues in Health Care Systems and Policy (1 credit)
  • REQUIRED COURSES (33 credits) Semesters when the required courses will be offered are noted for your course planning.
    • EPID 0552 - Infectious Disease Epidemiology
    • EPID 0652 - Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases
    • EPID 0656 - Intermediate Epidemiologic Research Methods (Spring)
    • EPID 0657 - Applied Methods in Epidemiologic Research (Fall)
    • EPID 0753 - Advanced Epidemiologic Research Methods with Applications (Fall)
    • BIST 0551 - Applied Regression Analysis for Public Health Studies (Fall/Spring)
    • BIST 0615 - Categorical Data Analysis
    • BIST 0627 – Applied Survival Data Analysis (formerly BIST 0616 - Lifetime Data Analysis)
    • BIST 0650 - Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis
    • ENOH 0594 - Environmental & Occupational Toxicology or other toxicology/biology course
    • -also-
  • Choose one of the following two:
    • HEBS 0663 - Intermediate Survey Methods
    • EPID 0621 - Survey Research Methods Questionnaire Design
  • RECOMMENDED ELECTIVE COURSES (6 credits)
    • EPID 0563 - Introduction to Outcomes Research
    • EPID 0591 - Air Pollution Epidemiology (2 credits)
    • EPID 0595 - Global Communicable Disease Control
    • EPID 0607 - Perinatal Epidemiology
    • EPID 0650 - Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
    • EPID 0670 - Advanced Seminar in Epidemiology I
    • EPID 0671 - Advanced Seminar in Epidemiology II
    • EPID 0673 - Social Epidemiology
    • EPID 9542 - GIS for Health and Planning
    • EPID 9663 - Regression Analysis
    • BIST 0655 - Biocomputing II
    • BIST 0660 - Clinical Trials: Design and Analysis of Medical Experiments
    • BIST 9655 - Nonparametric Statistics
    • ENOH 9627 - Advanced Multivariate Methods for Environmental Health Issues
    • PHCO 0503 - Introduction to Environmental Heath
  • REQUIRED RESEARCH (24 credits)
    • RESH 0760 - Doctoral Research

Curriculum (Fall 2018-2019)

Curriculum for PhD in Epidemiology (72 credits)

For Students Enrolled Fall 2018 and After

Students seeking the PhD in Epidemiology degree must complete a minimum of 72 credits of academic work with a minimum GPA of least 3.2 overall and a 3.2 in the set of required courses specified by their department; earn no more than nine (9) credits bearing grades less than B; and complete the degree requirements within nine years. Courses are three credit hours unless otherwise noted.

  • PUBLIC HEALTH CORE COURSES (9 credits)

    MPH from an accredited school or program meets Public Health core requirements. PHCO 0502 and PHCO 0504 must be completed before Year 1, Fall semester (e.g., online summer before) if student does not have graduate level coursework in these two areas.

    • PHCO 0502 - Principles and Methods of Epidemiology (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
    • PHCO 0504 - Introduction to Biostatistics (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
    • PHCO 0512 - Public Health Foundations (available in Spring 2019)
  • REQUIRED COURSES (24 credits)

    The following represents a typical course schedule and the order in which courses would be taken for a student in the PhD program. Schedule is subject to change.

    • YEAR 1 COURSE
    CREDITS
    FALL
    		 BIST 0535:Biostatistical Computing (formerly Biometrics Computing) (Mon, 6-8pm)
    3
    EPID 0656: Intermediate Epi Methods (Mon, 3-5pm)
    3
    HSAP 0673: Population Health and Public Policy (Tue, 3-5pm)
    3
    SBHS 0715: Evaluation & Research Design for Public Health Interventions
    (Wed, 3-5pm)
    3
    NEW: Doctoral Colloquium (under development)
    0
    TOTAL
    12
    SPRING
    		 BIST 0551: Applied Regression Analysis for Public Health Studies (Thu, 6-8pm)1
    3
    SBHS 0705: Intermediate Survey Research Methods (Wed, 3-5pm)
    3
    NEW: Theories and Models for Public Health (under development)
    3
    NEW: Doctoral Colloquium (under development)
    0
    RESH 0760: Doctoral Research
    2
    TOTAL
    11
    YEAR 2 COURSE
    CREDITS
    FALL
    		 BIST 0615: Categorical Data Analysis (Wed, 6-8pm)
    3
    Specialization Courses
    6
    NEW: Doctoral Colloquium (under development)
    0
    RESH 0760: Doctoral Research
    2
    TOTAL
    11
    SPRING
    		 Specialization Courses
    9
    NEW: Doctoral Colloquium (under development)
    0
    RESH 0760: Dissertation Proposal Seminar (under development)
    3
    TOTAL
    12
    YEAR 3 COURSE
    CREDITS
    FALL
    		 NEW: Doctoral Colloquium (under development)
    0
    RESH 0760: Doctoral Research
    9
    TOTAL
    9
    SPRING
    		 NEW: Doctoral Colloquium (under development)
    0
    RESH 0760: Doctoral Research
    8
    TOTAL
    8
  • REQUIRED SPECIALIZATION COURSES (15 credits)
    • EPID 0657 - Applied Methods in Epidemiologic Research
    • EPID 0753 - Advanced Epidemiologic Research Methods with Applications
    • EPID Elective - (3 credits) selected with advisor approval
    • -also-
  • Choose one of the following three:
    • EPID 0552 - Infectious Disease Epidemiology
    • EPID 0652 - Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases
    • EPID 0672 - Pharmacoepidemiology & Therapeutic Risk Management
    • -also-
  • Choose one of the following two:
    • BIST 0627 – Applied Survival Data Analysis (formerly BIST 0616 - Lifetime Data Analysis)
    • EPID 0650 - Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis
  • REQUIRED RESEARCH (24 credits)
    • RESH 0760 - Doctoral Research (21 credits)
    • RESH 0760 - Dissertation Proposal Seminar (3 credits)

All PhD students are expected to engage in research activities with their faculty advisor.

Notes:
1With Advisor approval, may substitute with BIST 0610 - Advanced Regression Methods for Public Health Studies

Curriculum (Fall 2019 and After)

Students seeking the PhD in Public Health (Epidemiology) degree must complete a minimum of 72 credits of academic work with a minimum GPA of least 3.2 overall and a 3.2 in the set of required courses specified by their department; earn no more than nine (9) credits bearing grades less than B; and complete the degree requirements within nine years. Courses are three credit hours unless otherwise noted.

  • PREREQUISITES (9 credits)
    • PHCO 0502 - Principles and Methods of Epidemiology (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment) or equivalent
    • PHCO 0504 - Introduction to Biostatistics (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment) or equivalent
    • BIST 0535 - Biostatistical Computing (formerly Biometrics Computing) or equivalent
  • REQUIRED COURSES (39 credits)
      Content (12 credit)
    • PHCO 0512 - Public Health Foundations
    • EPID 0552 - Infectious Disease Epidemiology
    • EPID 0752 - Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases
    • ENOH 0560 - Public Health Biology and Physiology -OR- ENOH 0594 - Environmental & Occupational Toxicology (can be waived by your Academic Advisor for students with a biology or clinical background)
      Methods (27 credits)
    • EPID 0656 - Intermediate Epidemiologic Research Methods
    • EPID 0657 - Applied Methods in Epidemiologic Research
    • EPID 0753 - Advanced Epidemiologic Research Methods with Applications
    • EPID 0700 - Critical Review of Epidemiologic Literature (1 credit; required 3 times)
    • BIST 0551 - Applied Regression Analysis for Public Health Studies -OR- BIST 0610 - Advanced Regression Methods for Public Health Studies
    • BIST 0615 - Categorical Data Analysis
    • BIST 0627 - Applied Survival Data Analysis -OR- BIST 0727 - Survival Analysis
    • BIST 0650 - Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis -OR- BIST 0750 - Longitudinal Data Analysis
    • SBHS 0663 - Intermediate Survey Methods
  • RECOMMENDED ELECTIVE COURSES (9 credits; 6 credits must be doctoral level)
    • EPID 0563 - Introduction to Outcomes Research
    • EPID 0569 - GIS for Public Health and Epidemiology
    • EPID 0591 - Topics in Comparative Effectiveness Research in Health Care
    • EPID 0601 - Cancer Epidemiology
    • EPID 0607 - Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology
    • EPID 0621 - Survey Research Methods
    • EPID 0650 - Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
    • EPID 0672 - Pharmacoepidemiology & Therapeutic Risk Management
    • EPID 0673 - Social Epidemiology
    • EPID 0705 - Intermediate Pharmacoepidemiology
    • EPID 0770 - Advanced Seminar in Epidemiology I
    • EPID 0771 - Advanced Seminar in Epidemiology II
    • BIST 0655 - Biocomputing II
    • BIST 0660 - Clinical Trials: Design and Analysis of Medical Experiments
    • BIST 0688 - Statistical Methods in Genetics
    • BIST 9688 - Data Mining
    • BIST 9655 - Nonparametric Statistics
    • ENOH 9627 - Advanced Multivariate Methods for Environmental Health Issues
    • HSAP 0617 - Health Services Research and Evaluation
    • UGPH 0605 - Qualitative Research Methods
    • UGPH 0644 - Methods for Research among Hidden Populations (available 2020)
  • REQUIRED RESEARCH (24 credits)
    • RESH 0760 - Doctoral Research (21 credits)
    • RESH 0760 - Doctoral Research: Dissertation Proposal Seminar (3 credits)
  • RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT (0 credits)
    • RESH 0700 - Doctoral Colloquium PhD students should register for RESH 0700 each Fall and Spring semester they are enrolled at the School of Public Health.