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Rutgers School of Public Health

Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Master of Science (MS) in Epidemiology, Pharmacoepidemiology Concentration

Pharmacoepidemiology, the study of the utilization and effects of medications and therapeutic products in large numbers of people, utilizes epidemiological methodologies in pharmaceutical research and market settings.

The research-based MS degree in Epidemiology, Pharmacoepidemiology Concentration, provides students with critically important, in-depth training to bridge the gaps between epidemiology, pharmaceutical science, therapeutics, and population health.

Students will learn how to select and implement pharmacoepidemiologic techniques to quantitatively evaluate patterns and changes in disease and treatment of disease. To ensure high quality standard of care and treatment patterns, students will also study how to assess medicinal use benefits and detriments through pharmacoepidemiologic research and practice.

Graduates trained in Pharmacoepidemiology will be prepared to work in industry, academic, and governmental settings.

Students enrolled in this program begin their coursework in the fall semester. Most courses are offered in-person with a few courses offered remotely or in a hybrid format (asynchronous and remote learning).


Competencies

Each concentration 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 MS curriculum in Epidemiology, Pharmacoepidemiology Concentration, will be able to:

  • Synthesize epidemiologic literature on pharmacoepidemiology topics in order to generate conclusions and recommendations
  • Select and implement pharmacoepidemiologic techniques to quantitatively assess patterns and changes in disease and treatment of disease
  • Develop and test a specific hypothesis using an appropriate pharmacoepidemiologic study design and analysis plan
  • Determine appropriate use and implement data systems in pharmacoepidemiologic research and/or practice
  • Implement complex quality control methods during pharmacoepidemiologic data analysis
  • Appropriately analyze and interpret pharmacoepidemiologic data, including large national or international level datasets

Curriculum

Curriculum for the Master of Science in Epidemiology, Pharmacoepidemiology Concentration (36 credits)

Students seeking the MS in Epidemiology, Pharmacoepidemiology Concentration, degree must complete 36 credits of academic work with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0; earn no more than six (6) credits bearing grades less than “B,” and complete the degree requirements within five years. Courses are three credit hours unless otherwise noted and semester when each course is typically offered is noted parentheses. Students should review the Forward Schedule for long-term course planning and the Course Schedule for each semester to determine when, where, and how a course is offered.

  • CORE COURSES (12 credits)
    • PHCO 0502 – Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
    • PHCO 0504 – Introduction to Biostatistics
    • PHCO 0512 – Public Health Foundations (Spring)
    • EPID 0672 – Pharmacoepidemiology & Therapeutic Risk Management (Spring)
  • METHODS COURSES (12 credits)
    • EPID 0656 – Intermediate Epidemiologic Research Methods (Fall/Spring)
    • EPID 0657 – Applied Methods in Epidemiologic Research (Fall/Spring)
    • BIST 0535 – Biostatistical Computing (Fall/Spring)
    • BIST 0551 – Applied Regression Analysis for Public Health Studies (Fall/Spring)
  • CONCENTRATION REQUIRED COURSES (6 credits)
    Note: Students should review the Course Descriptions in the School Catalog for specific information about prerequisites required for required courses.
    • EPID 0676 – Intermediate Pharmacoepidemiology (Fall)
    • EPID 0678 – Analysis of Real-World Pharmacoepidemiologic Data (Fall)
  • REQUIRED MS EPIDEMIOLOGY RESEARCH (6 credits)
    • EPID 0603 – PETS Pharmacoepidemiology Research Meetings (0 credits; required 2 times)
      Students must attend a minimum of 5 meetings per semester in their last two semesters; students are encouraged to attend after starting EPID 0672
    • RESH 0620 – MS in Epidemiology Thesis Proposal Seminar (Fall)
    • RESH 0621 – MS in Epidemiology Research