Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (DEPM)
Doctor in Philosophy in Epidemiology
The accredited Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology program prepares individuals for interdisciplinary public health research careers. A rigorous program of advanced studies equips the student for professional contributions to research and the practice of epidemiology in academic institutions, health departments, hospitals, regulatory and government agencies, international organizations, private industry, and other health-care settings.
Doctoral students explore the etiology and natural history of disease, assess the effectiveness of medical interventions, and study systems to enhance the quality and control the cost of health-care services. This doctoral program provides special opportunities for students and faculty seeking interdisciplinary collaboration with clinical departments in the School of Medicine.
Students gain extensive research experience through class projects, individual research studies, graduate research assistantships, and the conduct of a scholarly dissertation. Upon successful completion of this degree program, graduates will achieve an understanding of advanced epidemiological and biostatistical principles and methods, and will learn to use multiple research strategies to determine causal relationships in a biomedical setting.
A combined M.D./Ph.D. degree is available to qualified students who enroll in the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Medicine. Applicants should have taken courses in biology, inorganic chemistry and algebra, with calculus and matrix algebra strongly recommended. Each applicant will be evaluated individually, with attention to areas of strength which relate to the skills and background necessary to succeed in doctoral study in epidemiology.
Preference will be given to applicants with a record of participation in research. The degree requires a minimum of three years of full-time graduate study and research after completing our M.S. program or its equivalent.
Students who complete the Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology program will have achieved knowledge and skills in applying epidemiological and biostatistical principles and methods, an understanding of the use of multiple research strategies to establish causality, and experience in conducting interdisciplinary research in a biomedical setting. Each student will develop strength in at least one substantive area where epidemiological research can be pursued.
The required courses for the Ph.D. include the following courses (also required for the M.S. degree): PREV 600, 619, 620, 659, 720, 747, and 748), plus:
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3)
- Three of the following five courses:
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology (3)
- Cancer Epidemiology (3)
- Genetic Epidemiology (3)
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3)
- Molecular Epidemiology (3)
- Three of the following four courses:
- Regression Analysis (2)
- Survival Analysis (2)
- Longitudinal Data Analysis (2)
- Statistics for Molecular Biology (2)
- Health Survey Research Methods (3)
- Clinical Trials & Experimental Epidemiology (3)
Additional elective courses (9 credits) form a core content area of expertise. A comprehensive examination follows the basic core courses and is prior to advanced studies, and the dissertation proposal.
For more information, contact:
epiacademicprograms@epi.umaryland.edu
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