Welcome to the Epidemiology Concentration!
Epidemiology focuses on the study of the distribution and determinants of health in populations and communities. It is the scientific foundation of public health research that seeks to reduce risk factors and improve health. The discipline also contributes to public health practice and policy, and research in other health related fields such as medicine and pharmacy. This concentration area is designed to train professionals to apply the principles and methods of epidemiological investigation in a broad range of settings.
Students who seek epidemiology as a concentration typically have strong quantitative training, or are interested and enjoy quantitative or mathematical work. They tend to describe themselves as enjoying science, problem solving, analytic reasoning, and have goals that include studying the causes, cures, and prevention of health problems.
MPH graduates with a concentration in epidemiology are employed as epidemiologists in a broad range of organizations, such as federal, state and local public health agencies, private, government and academic research, pharmaceutical and other industries, healthcare organizations and medical settings, legal settings, and consulting firms.
Faculty in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division of Epidemiology teach courses and advise students in the epidemiology concentration. The curriculum is designed to prepare practicing epidemiologists and to provide a foundation for those who wish to continue to a PhD program in Epidemiology. Courses and other educational experiences are carefully structured to enable students to develop competence in very specific epidemiology skills. In addition to the 16 credits that constitute the public health core courses, the epidemiology concentration requires 12 credits of epidemiology concentration courses in epidemiological methods and the epidemiology of acute and chronic diseases, 3 credits of biostatistics, and at least 6 credits of specialty electives, such as social epidemiology, survey research, survival analysis, pharmacoepidemiology, or research measurement. Public health electives, additional concentration electives, and the special project (5-8 credits) complete the 48-credit degree.
Click below to view full curricula for the 48-credit and accelerated 42-credit MPH programs.
- Standard 48-credit MPH Curriculum, Epidemiology Concentration
- Accelerated 42-credit MPH Curriculum, Epidemiology Concentration
Click below for descriptions of the epidemiology concentration core courses
- PHC 6000 Epidemiology Research Methods I
- PHC 6011 Epidemiology Research Methods II
- PHC 6002 Epidemiology of Infectious Disease
- PHC 6003 Epidemiology of Chronic Disease
- PHC 6xxx Regression Methods for the Health and Life Sciences
View the matrix of epidemiology concentration competencies and courses designed to achieve them.
PHC 6000—Epidemiology
Methods I (3) Prereq: PHC 6001, and STA 6166 or PHC 6050 or
approval of department.
This course extends the concepts and methods of epidemiology from PHC 6001
(Principles of Epidemiology). Research design and analytic reasoning are
emphasized throughout the class. The course provides an understanding of
the methods of epidemiological study designs and their analyses including
issues of bias, confounding, and effect modification. The goal of this class
is to provide a strong background in analytic reasoning and research design,
study execution, analysis, and research interpretation. Click
here for full syllabus
PHC 6011 Epidemiology Research
Methods II (3) Prereq: PHC 6000, and STA 6166 or PHC 6050 or
approval of department.
This course extends the concepts and methods of epidemiology from PHC 6000
(Epidemiology Methods I). Hands on analytic methods in epidemiology are
the primary emphasis of the class. The goal of this class is to provide
a foundation in applied epidemiological analysis and experience in peer-review
productivity based on secondary data analysis. Click
here for full syllabus
PHC 6002—Epidemiology
of Infectious Diseases (3) Prereq: PHC 6001, and STA 6166 or
PHC 6050 or approval of department.
Epidemiology, prevention, and control of infectious diseases impacting local,
national, and global community health; epidemiology methods used in disease
surveillance and measures used in slowing or preventing spread of disease.
Click here for
full syllabus
PHC 6003—Epidemiology
of Chronic Diseases and Disability (3) Prereq: PHC 6001, and
STA 6166 or PHC 6050 or approval of department.
This course is an overview of the epidemiology of chronic diseases and disabilities
prevalent in various populations and introduction of contemporary methods
for surveillance including risk factors, etiology, and changes over time.
Click here for
full syllabus
PHC 6053/formally 6937–
Regression Methods for the Health and Life Sciences (3) Prereq:
STA 6166 or equivalent.
This course introduces graduate students in fields other than statistics
to a wide range of modern regression methods. Emphasis is on modeling driven
by actual data from studies in a variety of areas, primarily from health,
biology, and ecology. The primary topics are multiple linear regression,
logistic regression, and Poisson regression. A main goal is to determine
what approach to use among the linear and nonlinear models, and how to determine
if the fit is adequate. By the end of the course, students will achieve
competence in carrying out the analyses in standard statistical software,
primarily the SAS language. Click
here for full syllabus
PHC 6937SI- Social Influences in Public Health
PHC 6937 - Oral and Craniofacial Epidemiology
PHC 6937 - Public Health Concepts in Infectious Disease
