Public Health Sciences: Specialization in Epidemiology (PhD)
Admission Requirements
Students who have satisfactorily completed the MS degree in Epidemiology are eligible for the PhD specialization in Epidemiology.
Students who have satisfactorily completed a master's degree in a relevant discipline (for example MPH, MBBS) or other advanced degree (for example, MD or DO) may be accepted into the PhD in Public Health Sciences, specialization in Epidemiology pending evaluation of appropriate training, experience, and coursework. Previous coursework in mathematics and/or statistics and biological or health sciences (for example, biology, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology) is strongly recommended.
The following are required for admission to the University of Louisville and should be submitted to the Graduate School:
- Formal graduate application
- Curriculum vitae
- A one-page personal statement describing the applicant’s background and interest in epidemiology
- Two letters of recommendation
- Undergraduate GPA at least 3.0 on 4.0 scale
- Official transcripts of all degrees
- International applicants: Foreign credential evaluation of all degrees from non-U.S. institutions.
- International students for whom English is not their primary language must show English language proficiency by one of the following:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score 79 or higher on the internet-based test, 213 or higher on the computer-based test.
- Official IELTS score of at least 6.5 overall band score from the academic module exam.
- Official Duolingo overall score of 105.
- Hold a bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States.
Application Deadline
Fall semester - January 1 (International applicants); February 1 (Domestic applicants).
To be competitive for available program scholarship opportunities, applicants should apply on or before March 1 for full consideration.
Spring semester - Applications are not accepted.
Summer semester – Applications are not accepted.
Program Requirements
The Public Health PhD specialization in Epidemiology is designed to consist of 49 credit hours of coursework over a minimum of two years plus one to four years for completion of the dissertation. The coursework is organized into two blocks of 26 and 23 credit hours. The curriculum outlined below represents an ideal sequence for a full-time student. A part-time student may need to deviate from this sequence. Completion of the first block of coursework is prerequisite for sitting for the proficiency examination. After passing the proficiency examination, the student can proceed with the second block of coursework. Successful completion of the second block is prerequisite to sitting for the candidacy examination.
After passing the candidacy examination, the student is admitted to doctoral candidacy. A doctoral candidate must then successfully develop and defend a dissertation proposal that describes an original and independent research project. Upon successful defense of the proposal, the student may then proceed to dissertation research. Upon successful completion of the research, oral defense of the dissertation, and demonstration of the required competencies listed above, the student is awarded the PhD degree.
Academic Standing
To maintain good academic standing in the PhD in Epidemiology program, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for all coursework in the program. A student must be in good academic standing in order to receive the degree.
Any PhD in Epidemiology student with a program cumulative GPA below 3.0 will be placed in probationary status. Any student who remains in probationary status for two consecutive terms may be considered for dismissal from the program.
Coursework
49 total credit hours (beyond admission requirements) consisting of the following:
- 20 credit hours of required courses
- 8 credit hours of seminars in Epidemiology
- 21 credit hours of elective/selective/independent study courses
Note: Students who have completed the MS degree and have been accepted to the PhD program will advance to Block 2/Year 2 of the PhD curriculum upon matriculation. these students will still be required to complete the Seminar and Content Course Electives credits listed in Block 1/Year 1.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| PHEP 621 | Statistical Foundations for Epidemiology | 4 |
| PHEP 622 | Population Pathology | 3 |
| PHEP 623 | Theoretical Foundations of Epidemiology | 3 |
| PHEP 750 | Seminars in Epidemiology | 2 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHEP 618 | Epidemiologic Methods | 4 |
| PHEP 750 | Seminars in Epidemiology | 2 |
| Content Course Electives or Public Health Selectives (see lists below) | 6 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| PHEP 778 | Doctoral Independent Study in Epidemiology and Population Health (optional, 3-6 credit hours) | optional |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHEP 701 | Advanced Epidemiologic Methods | 3 |
| PHEP 702 | Epidemiologic Research Management | 3 |
| PHEP 750 | Seminars in Epidemiology | 2 |
| Content Course Elective or Biostatistics Selective (see lists below) | 3 | |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Spring | ||
| Content Course Elective | 3 | |
| Content Course Elective or Biostatistics Selective (see lists below) | 3-6 | |
| PHEP 750 | Seminars in Epidemiology | 2 |
| PHEP 778 | Doctoral Independent Study in Epidemiology and Population Health | 3-6 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 49 | |
Elective and Selective Coursework
Content Course Electives consist of courses specialized in either an exposure or disease category and offerings will vary from semester to semester based upon faculty workloads and student programs of study. These may include:
- PHEP 607 Epidemiology of Cancer
- PHEP 611 Nutritional Epidemiology
- PHEP 613 Epidemiology of Aging and Disability
- PHEP 615 Foundations of Global Maternal and Child Health
- PHEP 620 Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
- PHEP 624 Methods in Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology
- PHEP 625 Child Health & Development
- PHEP 626 Introduction to Social Epidemiology
Public Health Electives may be an offering from another SPHIS department.
Biostatistics Electives should be restricted to advanced courses such as PHST 684 Categorical Data Analysis, PHST 683 Survival Analysis, or PHST 750 Statistics for Bioinformatics. These electives are subject to instructor permission. Students must discuss their choices with their advisor and rationalize them with respect to their program of study which must be approved by the Program Director.
NOTE:
- A minimum of 26 credit hours of coursework is required before taking the Proficiency Exam.
- A minimum of 49 credit hours of coursework is required before taking the Candidacy Exam.
Proficiency Examination
Upon successful completion of the first block of required coursework, the student is eligible to sit for the written proficiency examination, which is administered by a committee of departmental faculty appointed by the chair. The timing of the proficiency examination is determined by the student’s faculty advisor and the department chair. The subject matter includes basic knowledge of disease biology and pathophysiology; theory and skills in epidemiologic research methods, including study design and management; and quantitative analytic methods. A student who does not successfully pass the proficiency examination is allowed a second opportunity to pass the exam. Failing the proficiency examination the second time results in dismissal from the program.
Candidacy Examination
After passing the proficiency examination and upon completion of the second block of coursework, the student is eligible to sit for the written and oral candidacy examination, which is administered by a committee appointed by the department chair and composed of graduate faculty. The subject matter includes knowledge of advanced epidemiologic methods; specialized knowledge pertaining to the minor field of specialization; disease biology and pathophysiology, which may be tailored to the student’s special area of interest; and knowledge of the research process. Successful passage of the candidacy examination admits the student to doctoral candidacy. A student who does not successfully pass the candidacy examination may be required to take additional or remedial coursework and is allowed a second opportunity to pass the exam. Failing the candidacy examination the second time results in dismissal from the program.
Dissertation
A dissertation is required of every candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Sciences, specialization in Epidemiology. The dissertation is a scholarly achievement in research and presents an original contribution to knowledge. It should demonstrate a thorough understanding of research techniques in epidemiology and the ability to conduct independent research. The following sections summarize the basic requirements for the dissertation committee, dissertation proposal, and defense. Additional details are available in the department’s document “Student Advising, Thesis and Dissertation Committees.”
Dissertation Committee
A dissertation committee consists of five members. The committee chair must be an active member of the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, and the majority of the committee must hold primary appointments in the department. Co-chairs are not allowed. At least one member must be from another department in SPHIS, another school or unit in the university, or outside of the university pending approval of graduate faculty status. Adjunct faculty to the department may serve as an outside committee member.
The dissertation must be approved by the committee and the chair of the department.
Dissertation Proposal
After successful completion of the qualifying examination, a doctoral candidate must submit a written dissertation proposal to the members of the dissertation committee. The candidate is then orally examined on the dissertation proposal.
Dissertation Preparation
The dissertation is prepared with the formatting according to the guidelines of the Graduate School.
Dissertation Approval
The dissertation is submitted in completed form to the chair of the department at least thirty days before the end of the term in which the candidate expects to be graduated, and the candidate is not eligible for final examination until the dissertation has been received by the committee and chair.
The dissertation committee schedules an oral defense by the candidate. The time and place for the defense is published to the general academic community, members of which are free to attend the defense. The dissertation is approved by a majority vote of the committee and the concurrence of the department chair.
Dissertation Submission
The following steps must be taken to submit the final copy of the dissertation electronically after oral defense and approval of the committee:
- Final document must be converted to a PDF (following the guidelines as noted above) and sent to the Graduate School and the department’s administrative assistant.
- Submit as advised by the Graduate School through the ThinkIR repository. The directions on submission will be provided upon review of the dissertation by the Graduate School.
- The signature page within the electronic version must have the names of your committee members typed under the signature line; the signatures cannot be scanned into the document.
- Submit a signed signature page, digital/electronic signature page can be found on the Graduate School web-site.
A copy of the final, signed dissertation must also be deposited with the department office.
