EPIDEMIOLOGY, PHD
Epidemiology
Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology
The PhD in Epidemiology emphasizes epidemiologic study design and data analysis. The program is designed to prepare exceptionally qualified individuals for a career of research and teaching. Admission is competitive. Applicants should have earned a Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH), Master of Science (MS) degree or equivalent, with a strong background in epidemiology and statistics. Students who complete the degree will master the skills required for conducting independent research in epidemiology, with a firm background in epidemiology, biostatistics, and information management. Specific areas of concentration include chronic diseases, infectious diseases, molecular epidemiology, and injury epidemiologic methods. Further details about the PhD-EPI program may be obtained by contacting the Program Director, Dr. Marguerite Ryan Irvin at irvinr@uab.edu. You may also contact the Coordinator of Graduate Academic Programs, Kimberly Hawkins King at hawkinsk@uab.edu, or (205) 975-9749. For funding questions regarding our PhD program, please contact Dr. Marguerite Ryan Irvin or the program assistant Kate Sreenan at ksreenan@uab.edu or by calling (205) 934-7184.
Curriculum
To earn the PhD degree in Epidemiology students must complete a minimum of 60 total credit hours of academic course work. Of this 60 credit hour minimum, 18 semester hours are required and include Biostatistics and Epidemiology courses. 27 semester hours must be earned in doctoral level didactic Epidemiology courses and/or advanced Biostatistics courses. GRD 717 Principles of Scientific Integrity is also a required course that students take in the program. Students must also complete at least 12 semester hours of directed research (EPI 798) and 12 semester hours of dissertation research (EPI 799). Additionally, students must complete at least two semesters in candidacy (of EPI 799) before being allowed to graduate.
All students in an MSPH, MS, DrPH, or PhD program are required to complete PUH 600: Overview of Public Health. The course must be completed in a single semester (Fall or Spring); students must complete the course by the end of their second semester in the program. Students with prior public health education (BS in Public Health or MPH) or extensive public health experience (5+ years in public health practice) may be waived from this requirement by permission of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, but this is rare.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Departmental Requirements: (21 hours) | ||
| BST 621 | Statistical Methods I | 3 |
| BST 622 | Statistical Methods II | 3 |
| EPI 704 | Advanced Epidemiologic Methods | 3 |
| EPI 710 | Analysis of Case Control Studies | 3 |
| EPI 720 | Analysis of Follow-Up Studies | 3 |
| GRD 717 | Principles of Scientific Integrity | 3 |
| PUH 703 | Public Health Grant Writing | 3 |
| At least one additional doctoral-level Epidemiology course - Select from the following: | ||
| EPI 706 | The Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease | 2 |
| EPI 713 | Cancer Epidemiology and Control | 3 |
| EPI 721 | HIV/AIDS and STDs | 3 |
| EPI 731 & 731L |
Genetic Epidemiology and Genetic Epidemiology Lab |
4 |
| EPI 781 | Special Topics in Epidemiology Research | 3 |
| EPI 788 | Principles and Methods in Molecular Epidemiology | 4 |
| At least two advanced level Biostatistics courses: 1 | ||
| BST 623 | General Linear Models | 3 |
| BST 640 | Nonparametric Methods | 3 |
| BST 655 | Categorical Data Analysis | 3 |
| BST 660 | Applied Multivariate Analysis | 3 |
| BST 661 | Structural Equation Modelling | 3 |
| BST 665 | Survival Analysis | 3 |
| BST 670 | Sampling Methods | 3 |
| BST 671 | Meta-Analysis | 3 |
| BST 723 | Theory of Linear Models | 3 |
| BST 735 | Advanced Inference | 4 |
| BST 740 | Bayesian Analysis | 3 |
| BST 750 | Stochastic Modeling | 3 |
| BST 760 | Generalized Linear and Mixed Models | 3 |
| Area Course: At least one doctoral level course in an area of medicine or in one of the major areas of PH other than EPI and BST must be taken. | ||
| HPO 704 | Health Economics and Public Health Policy | 3 |
| GBS 727 | Advanced Human Genomics | 3 |
| GBS 757 | Biology of Disease | 3 |
| GBSC 715 | Molecular Basis of Disease | 3 |
| Doctoral Seminars: (4 hours) 2 | 4 | |
| EPI 790 | Doctoral Seminar in Epidemiology | 2 |
| EPI 790 | Doctoral Seminar in Epidemiology | 2 |
| EPI Directed Research: (Minimum 12 credit hours) | ||
| EPI 798 | Doctoral Level Directed Research Epidemiology 3 | 12 |
| EPI Dissertation Research: (Minimum 12 credit hours) | ||
| EPI 799 | Dissertation Research 4 | 12 |
| Minimum Credit Hours: | 60 | |
| 1 |
Other courses may be available in Biostatistics, with your advisor's approval. Please check the course catalog. |
| 2 |
Must be taken at least twice (2 times) |
| 3 |
EPI 798: Doctoral-Level Directed Research - Register prior to admission to candidacy; Must have at least 12 hours. |
| 4 |
EPI 799: Dissertation Research - Register after admission to candidacy; Must have at least 12 hours and at least 2 semesters. |
