Degree Requirements

The PhD in Epidemiology program requires a minimum of 96 semester hours. This program includes the following course requirements:

PhD Student Handbook

School-Wide Core Requirements (32 - 46 semester hours) Heading link

  • BSTT 400 – Biostatistics I (4 semester hours)*
  • BSTT 401 – Biostatistics II (4 semester hours)*
  • IPHS 520 – Foundations of Public Health (required for all PhD students without an MPH degree) (3 semester hours)
  • EPID 403 – Introduction to Epidemiology: Principles and Methods (3 semester hours)*
  • IPHS 599 – PhD Dissertation Research (minimum 32 semester hours)

BSTT 400, BSTT 401 and EPID 403 do not need to be completed if previously taken at the masters level.

Required Non-Credit Training Heading link

Divisional Core Requirements (28 semester hours) Heading link

  • BSTT 505 – Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis (2 semester hours)
  • BSTT 506 – Design of Clinical Trials (3 semester hours)
  • EPID 404 – Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods (4 semester hours)
  • EPID 406 – Epidemiologic Computing (3 semester hours)
  • EPID 410 – Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (2 semester hours)
  • EPID 411 – Epidemiology of Chronic Disease (3 semester hours)
  • EPID 500 – Advanced Applied Epidemiologic Methods II (4 semester hours)
  • EPID 501 – Advanced Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology (4 semester hours)
  • EPID 591 – Current Epidemiologic Literature (2 semester hours)
  • EPID 595 – Epidemiology Research Seminar (1 semester hour)

Note: Students in the PhD program in Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology need to discuss these requirements with their advisor.

Electives (minimum of 29 semester hours) Heading link

  • Two 500-level substantive Epidemiology classes, in different areas, toprepare for substantive sections of preliminary examination (e.g. Cardiovascular, Cancer, Aging, Infectious, Pediatrics, Genetics) (4-6 semester hours).
  • At least one biological science class relevant tostudent’s research area is required if no prior biological sciences background (4 semester hours). Note: Students may enroll in an undergraduate biological sciences course; however these hours will not count towards graduation credits for the PhD.
  • Additional coursework in relevant area outside of Epidemiology and approved by your advisor (e.g. Biostatistics, Nutrition, Maternal and Child Health, Environmental Sciences, Sociology) (6 semester hours)
  • Remaining electives(13 – 15 semester hours)