Program Information
The epidemiology doctoral program requires a minimum of 90 semester credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. The requirements include a minimum of 12 credits in epidemiology foundation coursework, which in most cases will be satisfied by a student’s master’s degree. It is anticipated that most students may have a directly related master’s degrees (i.e. master of science in epidemiology or master of public health with a concentration in epidemiology or biostatistics). Regardless of master’s degree, all students will need to demonstrate that they have successfully completed the 11 credits of foundation courses in order to take more advanced epidemiology coursework. All students must complete a minimum of 37-38 hours of epidemiology core coursework, 15 credits of a concentration, 14-15 credits of general electives (which can be satisfied by master’s degree coursework if approved by the supervisory committee), and 12 credits of dissertation work. Students must also complete a teaching experience, which can be fulfilled via a teaching assistantship or other experience requiring college level classroom teaching.
The University of Florida Program is mentor driven. All applicants will be reviewed with the expectation that they will work with a primary mentor and receive graduate assistant funding to work on research projects and/or teach, if a full time student during their course of studies.
The core coursework of the University of Florida epidemiology doctorate program was designed to incorporate competencies recommended in the report of the 2002 workshop on doctoral education in epidemiology from the American College of Epidemiology and Association of Schools of Public Health; and criteria for applied epidemiology competencies.
The overall outcomes expected of all graduates are for them to be able to:
1. Apply epidemiological methods to address critical &/or emerging
public health and clinical research issues through the use of:
*Appropriate epidemiological research designs
*Advanced statistical analysis methods for health studies
*Data structures & measurement methods for health research
*Biological, behavioral & social theory applied to the understanding
& prevention of contemporary threats to health & well-being
*Depth of knowledge in an area of specialization
2. Assimilate the history, philosophy, & ethical principles of epidemiology into current research
3. Develop grant proposals & manage research projects
4. Write scientific papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals, & communicate research results to scientists, policy makers, & the public
5. Compete successfully for research & teaching positions in academic institutions, federal or state agencies, or private institutions
The figure below summarizes the current course offerings and required components of the University of Florida epidemiology doctoral degree (current as of March, 2008).
Epidemiology PhD Curriculum Overview
| I. EPIDEMIOLOGY FOUNDATION COURSES: 11 Credits | Credits |
|
| FOUNDATION IN STATISTICS AND DATA MANAGEMENT | 8 |
|
| STA 6166 | Statistical Methods in Research I | 3 |
| PHC 6053 | Regression Analysis | 3 |
| GMS 6803 | Data Management for Epidemiologic & Clinical Research | 2 |
| FOUNDATION IN EPIDEMIOLOGY | 3 |
|
| PHC 6002/GMS 6801 or PHC 6003/GMS 6802 | Epidemiology of Infectious Disease/Prevention, Control of Infectious Diseases OR Epidemiology of Chronice Diseases/Prevention, Control of Chronic Diseases | 3 |
| II. EPIDEMIOLOGY CORE:37 - 38 credits | ||
| EPIDEMIOLOGICAL METHODS | 12 |
|
| PHC 6000 PHC 6011 |
Epidemiology Methods I | 3 |
| Epidemiology Methods II | 3 |
|
| GMS 6818 OR GMS 6844 | Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials I OR Experimental and Quasi-experimental Research Designs for Community Settings | 2 |
| GMS XXXX OR GMS XXXX | Case-Control Studies & Other Case-Based Studies OR Cross-sectional & Longitudinal Research Design | 2 |
| Students select one additional course from the list below. (Please note: Students can select an additional course from the 2-credit methods courses above to fulfill this requirement) | 2 |
|
| GMS 6842 | Translational Reserach Methods | 2 |
| GMS 6846 | Meta-Analysis in Clinical, HSR, & Public Health | 2 |
| GMS 6819 | Design & Conduct of Clinical Trials II | 2 |
| DOCTORAL SEMINAR SERIES | 6 |
|
| GMS 6892 | Epidemiology Seminar I | 3 |
| PHC 7000 | Epidemiology Seminar II | 3 |
| JOURNAL CLUB SERIES | 2 |
|
| PHC 6901 | Epidemiology Literature Review and Critique | 1 |
| GMS 6894 | Epidemiology Journal Club | 1 |
| ETHICS IN RESEARCH | 2 |
|
| GMS 6931 | Ethical & Policy Issues | 2 |
| MEASUREMENT | 3-4 |
|
| GMS 6821 & GMS 6822 OR PHC 6711 | Measuring & Analyzing Health Outcomes I & II OR Measurement in Epidemiology & Outcomes Research | 4/3 |
| ADVANCED STATISTICS (can be taken post prelim exam): Appropriate courses are discussed with & approved by supervisory committee based on academic needs of students | 6 |
|
| ADVANCED EPIDEMIOLOGY ELECTIVES: All students must select 6 credits of advaned epi coursework from the list below | 6 |
|
| PHC 6014 | Epidemiology, Prevention, & Control of Chronic Diseases II | 3 |
| GMS 6815 | Cardiovascular Epidemiology | 2 |
| GMS 6812 | Cancer Epidemiology Prevention & Control | 3 |
| GMS 6816 | Pediatric Epidemiology | 2 |
| GMS 6811 | Grant Writing Skills in Epidemiology & Clinical Research | 2 |
| PHC 6162 | Public Health Grant Writing | 2 |
| PHC 6441 | Health Disparities | 3 |
| PHC 6938 | Oral & Craniofacial Epidemiology | 3 |
| PHA 6268 | Pharmacoepidemiology & Therapeutic Risk Management | 3 |
| PHC 6717 | Theory & Methods in Public Health Disability Research | 3 |
| PHC 6937 | Seminar in Social Epidemiology | 3 |
| PHC 6837 | Bias in Observational Research | 3 |
| PHC 6937 | Public Health Concepts in Infectious Disease | 3 |
| PHC 6937 | Special topics: Survival Analysis | 3 |
| TEACHING EXPERIENCE - All students are required to complete a teaching experience, such as a teaching assistanship or practicum; the type of experience is discussed with & approved by supervisory committee (*can be taken for elective credit if agreed to by supervisory committee*) | 0* |
|
| III. EPIDEMIOLOGY CONCENTRATION: 15 credits (Note: students either select the clinical concentration or select a general track in which they complete additional advanced epi coursework ) | ||
| Clinical Epidemiology – requires Clinical Trials I & II listed to fulfill core methods requirement & requires Measuring & Analyzing Health Outcomes I & II to fulfill core measurement requirement. Additional requirements include: GMS 6832 Cost Effectiveness & Cost Benefit Analyses in Health (3); GMS 6811 Grant Writing Skills (3); Seminar in Clinical Epi & Investigation (2); Advanced Electives (5); & Advanced Methods in Epi (2) | ||
| IV. GENERAL ELECTIVES: 14-15 credits (courses listed below are only suggestions; students can elect 6000 level or higher coursework with the approval of their supervisory committee; these can be satisfied with appropriate master’s work with approval of supervisory committee) | ||
| GMS 6817 | Epidemic Investigations | 2 |
| GMS 6830 | Epidemiology & Health Policy | 3 |
| GMS 6832 | Cost Effectiveness & Cost Benefit Analysis in Health | 3 |
| GMS 6833 | Health Care Policy & Vulnerable Populations | 3 |
| GMS 6835 | Health Policy Issues in Children | 3 |
| GMS 6834 | Health Policy & the Formulation of Payment Mechanisms for Health Care | 3 |
| GMS 6893 | Clinical & Translational Science Seminar Series | 2 |
| GMS 6841 | Design & Analysis of Translational Research in Biomedical Sciences | 3 |
| HSA 7106 | Seminar in Health Care Access & Utilization | 3 |
| HSA 7116 | Health Services Organizational Research | 3 |
| HSA 7157 | Research Foundations in Health Policy | 3 |
| HSA 7414 | Society, Health, & Medical Care | 3 |
| PHC 6716 | Survey Research Methods | 3 |
| V. DISSERTATION: minimum of 12 credits | ||
| PHC 7980 or GMS XXXX | Research for Doctoral Dissertation | 12+ |
Course Descriptions
PHC 6000: Epidemiology Methods I (3) Prereq: PHC6001
and PHC6050 or STA6166, or program approval. Overview of epidemiology
methods used in research studies that address disease patterns in community-
and clinic-based populations.
PHC 6002: Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (3) Prereq:
PHC6001, or program approval. Epidemiology, prevention, and control
of infectious diseases affecting local, national, and global community health.
Epidemiologic methods used in disease surveillance, and measures for slowing
or preventing the spread of disease.
PHC 6003: Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases (3) Prereq:
PHC6001, or program approval. Overview of epidemiology of chronic diseases
and disabilities prevalent in various populations. Introduces contemporary
methods for surveillance including risk factors, etiology, and changes over
time.
PHC 6011: Epidemiology Methods II (3) Prereq: PHC 6000
and STA/PHC 6166 or program approval. Analytic methods and database
analysis and research project with observational epidemiology concentrating
on methodological issues such as sources of biases and statistical analysis.
PHC 6014: Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control of Chronic Diseases
II (3) Prereq: PHC 6001, 6003 or equivalent. Survey of
major chronic diseases not covered in PHC 6003. Emphasizes recent epidemiology
research and findings.
PHC 6053: Regression Methods for the Health and Life Sciences (3)
Prereq: STA/PHC 6166 or equivalent. For graduate students in fields
other than statistics. Introduction to a wide range of regression methods.
Primary topics are multiple linear regression, logistic regression, and
Poisson regression.
PHC 6162: Public Health Grant Writing (2) Prereq: PHC
6000, 6001. Discuss problems encountered in the design and execution
of public health population-based and intervention studies.
PHA 6268---Pharmacoepidemiology (3) Prereq: PHC 6001
Principles of Epidemiology and PHC 6000 Epidemiology Methods (or equivalent
research methods coursework) or permission from instructor.The course
covers basic principles and methods used in epidemiology as they apply to
drug safety and effectiveness.
PHC 6405: Epidemiology of Aging (3) Prereq: PHC 6050,
PHC 6001, or equivalent. This course examines the principles and methods
of aging as applied to the study of aging. Examination of concepts such
as trends in aging and the health of the aging populations, explanations
and consequences of mortality decline, dominants of health and mortality,
and how health care affects and is affected by aging are covered.
PHC 6711: Measurement in Epidemiology and Outcomes Research (3)
Prereq: PHC 6050, PHC 6001, or equivalent. Covers epidemiologic
transitions in the USA, surveillance and policy implications, and the major
designs of epidemiology and health services outcomes research. There is
a special emphasis on the principles of measurement for these studies, particularly
using primary data collection.
PHC 6716: Survey Research Methods (3) Prereq: PHC 6001
and, 6050 or equivalent, or permission of Instructor. Introduction
to population surveys typical in descriptive (surveillance) and analytic
epidemiology research.
PHC 6717: Theory and Methods in Public Health Disability Research
(2-3; max: 3) Prereq: PHC 6050, PHC 6001, or equivalent, or
permission of instructor. The interplay of epidemiology, disability,
and public health in America. Theoretical framework and applied research
methods for disability.
PHC 6901: Epidemiology Literature Review & Critique (1, repeatable
to max 3) Prereq: PHC 6000 and PHC 6053 or equivalent or permission
of instructor. This course is intended to extend students’ understanding
of the field of epidemiology, and their ability to explore and critique
research methods. In weekly sessions, the instructor, guest faculty, and
students, will prepare a peer-reviewed article for class discussion that
demonstrates or involves innovative epidemiology content or methods. A secondary
goal of this class is to prepare students to perform peer-review themselves
(e.g., for journals, study sections) by examples of this work from faculty.
PHC 6912: Special Project: Independent Research (1-9; max: 9)
Prereq: 18 credits of major course work. Student must undertake
significant responsibility for all or part of a research project of particular
interest. Required final paper and oral presentation. S/U.
PHC 6937: courses are listed with this temporary number;
students should check with the department for the current course number.
PHC 6937: Seminar in Social Epidemiology (3)
Prereq: PHC 6001 Principles of Epidemiology and PHC 6000 Epidemiology
Methods (or equivalent research methods coursework) or permission from instructor.
Social determinants of population health (including acute and chronic disease
outcomes, as well as health behavior) are the focus of this course. In addition
to discussion of current findings, this course will serve as an introduction
to methodological approaches to the field of social epidemiology with specific
attention to measurement issues.
PHC 6937: Public Health Concepts in Infectious
Disease (3) Prereq: PHC 6001,PHC 6002, and PHC 6050 or equivalent
or permission of instructor. Special topics and extension to the issues
covered in PHC 6002, especially in regard to emerging infectious disease
issues and epidemiology research in this field.
PHC 6937: Bias in Observational Studies (3) Prereq:
PHC 6011 and PHC 6053 or equivalent or permission of instructor. Students
are required to have applied SAS and this class assumes an advanced competency
with epidemiologic principles and vocabulary. The goal of this class is
to provide a foundation for addressing issues of bias in observational studies,
in terms of both the statistical language required for its discussion and
the statistical methods available for its remediation. Sources of bias include
but are not limited to confounding, misclassification, measurement error,
selection bias, ecologic bias, bias due to censored or missing data, overmatching,
recall bias, and tacit assumptions of homogeneity.
PHC 6938: Oral and Craniofacial Epidemiology (3) Prereq:
PHC 6001 and PHC 6050 or equivalent. PHC 6000 and STA 6166 are recommended,
but not required. Introduction to epidemiology of oral and craniofacial
diseases and the principles and methods of epidemiologic research in this
field.
PHC 7000. Epidemiology Seminar II (3) Prereq: PHC 6011,
doctoral student status, and permission of program. This course follows
Seminar I offered by GMS. The primary focus of this seminar series is to
learn to construct research ideas and incorporate strong advanced and auxiliary
methods topics and discussion based on students planned dissertations topics.
PHC 7980: Research for Doctoral Dissertation (minimum 12 credits).
Permission of program required.
