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Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
David S. Markenson, MD
Interim
Department Chair
Dorothy Faulkner, MPH, PhD
Director, MPH Program
M.P.H. Program
- Epidemiology
• M.P.H
Program Curriculum
• Program Course Descriptions
• Dr.P.H. Program CurriculumEpidemiology is the scientific discipline that examines the distribution and determinants of disease in human populations with the goal of promoting public health. Epidemiology focuses on the research methods used to identify risk factors for disease and evaluation treatment approaches in clinical practice. Epidemiology may study a wide range of disease conditions, such as infectious diseases, chromic diseases, psychiatric illnesses and injury to name just a few. They may also investigate the impact of specific exposures on health and disease, such as smoking, obesity, and environmental or occupational exposures.
In the Epidemiology program, students learn and apply the research designs and analytic methods used to evaluate demographic, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence health and disease in human populations. Through course discussion students analyze clinical and epidemiology databases, and critically review the latest research literature. Students have the opportunity to work closely with experts in the field, have access to information on current public health issues, and are exposed to a variety of pertinent research areas.
The Epidemiology program offers a master of public health (M.P.H.) degree. This
degree provides students with the knowledge and quantitative skills necessary
to participate in the fascinating areas of medical, clinical, and public health
research. This program has been designed for those whose undergraduate degrees
were in the fields of biology, mathematics, psychology, or other health sciences
related areas, and for those with a keen interest in medical, clinical, and public
health research.
Graduates in Epidemiology have gained employment in medical research institutions
such as universities and hospitals, along with private foundations and governmental
agencies.
Admissions requirements include a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution;
a course in college algebra within the last five years; and, additional courses
in calculus, statistics, or research methods are desirable. Classes are offered
in the late afternoon and early evening and most of our students are part-time.
Part-time students complete their course work within three years. Full-time students
complete the course work in two years or less. A thesis is required, which some
students do concurrently with their advanced course work; others do it upon completion
of course work. Students must complete the 46 credit M.P.H. within 5 years.
The following courses are all 3 credits, unless otherwise noted.
M.P.H. Curriculum - 46 credits
- Required core courses: 22
credits
Health Care in the United States
Health Economics
Behavioral and Social Factors in Public Health
Environmental Influences on Human Health
Introduction to Biostatistics
Introduction to Epidemiology
Thesis
Practicum (1 credit)
- Required concentration
courses:18 credits
Intermediate Biostatistics I
Intermediate Biostatistics II
Advanced Epidemiology I
Advanced Epidemiology II
Seminar in Epidemiology
Directed Research in Epidemiology
- For Practicum and
electives (6 credits): See Academic Advisor
A graduate of the MPH program in Epidemiology must satisfy the competencies listed below:
- Calculate and interpret standard epidemiological measures (e.g., prevalence, incidence, risk ratio, case-fatality rate)
- State the advantages, disadvantages, and features of epidemiologic study designs, including appropriate effect measures
- Describe the effects of chance, bias, confounding, and effect modification on study design and interpretation of results
- List and apply the criteria for causation in epidemiologic studies
- Understand accuracy and reproducibility of measures and classifications (e.g., sensitivity, kappa)
- Identify the basic required components of ethical research including informed consent, and protection of the rights of human subjects
- Interpret commonly-used statistical tests (e.g., chi-square test, Student’s t-test)
- Manage a dataset while employing, evaluating, and interpreting various data analysis strategies
- Write an epidemiologic profile of a disease (e.g., clinical course of the condition, descriptive epidemiology, risk factors, levels of prevention)
- Conduct an epidemiologic investigation (e.g., cross-sectional study) using newly-collected or existing data, and write a report with 5 sections (Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Results, Discussion)
Health Care in the United States
This course provides comprehensive overviews of the American healthcare systems, their organization and financing. Lectures are structured to provide an understanding of the major stakeholders involved in health care and the critical health care issues. Discussion focuses on the changing delivery systems and the forces that are affecting them.
Introduction to Biostatistics
This course presents the fundamental statistical approaches employed in clinical and public health research. Lectures cover basic probability, common distributions, samples and populations, interval estimation, and inferential statistical approaches. Students learn how data are presented and interpreted in the professional literature by considering published articles, professional reports and public health data.
Introduction to Epidemiology
This course introduces students to the principles and practices of
epidemiology and provides them a population-based perspective on health and
disease. Students learn the basic measurements of frequency and association and
the methods employed in describing, monitoring, and studying health and disease
in populations.
Health Economics
This course explores the concepts of scarcity, social choice, rationing, resource
allocation, efficiency, investment, and market forces and their relationship
to health services delivery and health policy. A variety of analytical principles
and methods are examined and applied to issues including healthcare financing,
cost containment, regulation, access, insurance, productivity, and program evaluation.
Behavioral and Social Factors in Public Health
An overview and introduction to the way in which behavioral and social factors
contribute to health. The course covers a wide range of topics: theories of behavioral
science which have been applied to health behaviors; socio-cultural factors in
disease etiology and the role of social conditions and social policy in addressing
critical public health problems; individual, group, community, and technology-based
strategies for health behavior change; and current issues in behavioral science
for health promotion including its application to achieving the Healthy People
2010 goals.
Environmental Influences on Human Health
This survey of the major environmental determinants of human health covers physical,
chemical and biological sources of exposure; routes of exposure in humans; etiology
of environmental disease and mortality; and the complexities of environmental
public policy. Topics include airborne pollution, contaminated water and food,
solid and hazardous waste, and risk assessment as a tool for regulation. Students
have the opportunity to tour a local public works facility.
Advanced Epidemiology I (formerly Applied Epidemiology)
While exploring epidemiologic methods in further detail, this course provides students with practical experience in study design, questionnaire and proposal development, data analysis, and critical review of literature. Lecture topics include measures of rates and risks, study design and analytic methods to control for confounding factors, and issues regarding measurement error in data collection. Prerequisites: Introduction to Biostatistics and Introduction to Epidemiology.
Advanced Epidemiology II (formerly Advanced Epidemiology)
This course provides a detailed examination of special problems in epidemiologic
study design and analysis. Extensive exposure to the use of unconditional and
conditional logistic regression as related to epidemiologic methods will be afforded.
The course includes discussions of standardized mortality ratios, proportionate
mortality ratios, trends in risk ratios and use and interpretation of multivariate
models. Prerequisite: Advanced Epidemiology I
Topics in Cancer Epidemiology
This course focuses on the epidemiological, hereditary, and environmental factors
in the major types of cancer and the mechanisms of initiation, progression and
metastasis. The roles of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, viruses and environmental
carcinogens are emphasized. The important aspects of cancer prevention, detection
and treatment are discussed, along with the socio-economic and ethical problems
surrounding genetic screening and cancer risk.
Human Biology and Health
This course introduces the student to the basics of cell structure and function
and provides an overview of human physiology. Lectures and discussion lay the
foundation for understanding general disease processes, with particular attention
paid to the aging process. The relationship of human physiology to such health
problems as, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease,
is explored. The interaction between environmental factors and human biology
is emphasized and the influence of lifestyle on health is evaluated.
Applied Statistical Analysis
The objective of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to analyze
large data sets using multivariate models, with a focus on data analysis and
report writing for clinical research. Topic areas cover both parametric and non-parametric
methods, emphasizing ANOVA, linear regression, logistic regression, and survival
analysis. Specific techniques, such as, testing for moderation, adjustment for
confounding, and stratified analysis in multivariate models are covered. Prerequisites:
Health Quantitative Sciences I & II, Intermediate Biostatistics I & II
Ethics in Science: Research on Human and Animal Subjects
This course provides students with a background in the ethical conduct of research on human and animal subjects. A historical overview underlying the development of codes of conduct for research on humans and its extension to animals, as well as the current ethical system which governs conduct of scientific studies, is provided. Students will read notable cases of ethical misconduct in science and discuss their influence on current standards governing clinical and public health research.
Introduction to Data Management and Analysis
This course provides an introduction to electronic data management and statistical analysis. While Stata is used as an example of a data analysis and management program, the course covers general principles of electronic data management and analysis which the student can transfer to other management and analysis programs. The course includes a combination of lectures and extensive applied lab experiences using Stata with faculty support available if required.
The course educates the student both in graphical user interface approach to electronic data management and analysis, and in the writing, debugging and saving Stata programs. While the course demonstrates how to perform various statistical analyses - it does not serve as a Biostatistics course.
Seminar in Epidemiology
Contemporary trends and recent developments in an area of study not covered in
other elective courses are examined. Topics may change each term. Consult with
the track director to determine subject matter to be covered.
Field Experience in Epidemiology
This course requires students to apply theory by working in an approved public
health organization or equivalent. Field work is supervised by a faculty member
who serves as liaison to the health organization.
Directed Research in Epidemiology
An opportunity for advanced study and research in an area chosen by the student
in consultation with the professor is provided. Students are also given opportunities
to work on special problems.
Tutorial in Epidemiology
This course involves comprehensive individual study of a specific topic, guided
by a professor.
Epidemiology Capstone
This course is a culminating experience designed to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of knowledge and skills they have learned throughout their graduate education. Students will apply the art and science of problem definition, literature review, data interpretation, and scientific communication in written and oral form. The format of the course is semi-structured, incorporating group and independent sessions. It is designed to foster independent learning under the tutelage of a skilled, experienced instructor. It is also designed to apply Benjamin Bloom’s top four levels of learning: application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Prerequisite: All core and required courses for the MPH in Epidemiology.
Under special circumstances, and with prior approval of the department chair, Epidemiology students may write a thesis as an alternative to the Epidemiology capstone course.
Thesis
It is expected that the thesis will includes some independent research and
integration of skills acquired by the student through coursework. The thesis
includes formulation of research questions, methods to carry out the inquiry and
presentation of results of the research. Some theses may requires approval of
the university's Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior ro initiation of any
thesis work. Students should work through their department chair/program
advisor to determine if their thesis will require IRB review. Students must
maintain regular contact with the program and thesis advisors during their
thesis work.
Practicum
All students pursuing an M.P.H. degree must complete a practicum. This is to ensure that students have an opportunity to apply in a public health setting, the knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom. To fulfill this requirement, students will generally register for a one credit pass/fail course. Students who can demonstrate an exceptional practice experience prior to beginning their M.P.H. studies may apply for a waiver in writing eighteen months prior to graduation. Under the advisement of their faculty advisor and practicum coordinator, students must apply for the waiver in writing and attach accompanying documentation addressing the waiver criteria. The waiver application and documentation of the waiver criteria must be approved by the practicum waiver committee.
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