Epidemiology, M.P.H.

COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

About the Program

The Master of Public Health in Epidemiology is a professional degree program for those students who desire to receive fundamental and applied training in the public health sciences with a focus on epidemiological study design, disease surveillance methods, bioethics of population-based research, and core biostatistical methods. This practice-oriented program prepares students to successfully work in public health and applied epidemiology agencies, including conducting disease surveillance within government public health agencies; directing community demonstration and clinical trials research; and evaluating and running screening programs and other preventative health services in the broad areas of public health practice and health policy. The program is grounded in the core M.P.H. competencies and disciplines of public health with an emphasis in epidemiologic techniques. It covers the application of epidemiological research methods with an emphasis on developing research and methodological skills and critically evaluating current epidemiological studies.

The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics also offers a small research-intensive M.S. in Epidemiology, which is a research-oriented degree intended for students who desire to learn the advanced concepts and methods of epidemiology and apply those concepts to a unique population-based study through the completion of a master's-level thesis project.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years

Campus Location: Main. Some required and elective courses are offered at satellite campuses and through online courses, but the full M.P.H. program is currently available only at Main Campus.

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Students can complete the degree program through evening classes and online courses. Full-time students usually complete the program within two academic years. Part-time students usually take three to four years to complete their degree.

Interdisciplinary Study: Interdisciplinary M.P.H. coursework, research, and interactions are encouraged to give students as broad a perspective as possible to excel in the complex, diverse, and dynamic state of public health. Through associations with the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Center for Women's Health, and others, students have access to over 100 faculty at Temple University and additional regional scholars who are actively involved in programs, research, and teaching in public health. Further, as with the other four M.P.H. degree programs offered by the College of Public Health, the M.P.H. in Epidemiology can be undertaken as part of these nine dual M.P.H. degree programs:

• D.M.D./M.P.H. with Temple University's Kornberg School of Dentistry
• D.O./M.P.H. with the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
• D.P.M./M.P.H. with the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
• J.D./M.P.H. with Temple University's Beasley School of Law
• M.D./M.P.H. with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
• M.H.A./M.P.H. with Temple University's Fox School of Business and Management
• M.P.P./M.P.H. with Temple University's College of Liberal Arts
• M.S. Health Informatics/M.P.H. within the Temple University College of Public Health
• M.S.W./M.P.H. with the Temple University School of Social Work

For more information, visit https://cph.temple.edu/mph/dual-degrees.

Affiliation(s): Locally, the program has long-standing research affiliations with The Food Trust, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Health Federation of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), School District of Philadelphia, Temple University Health System, and numerous other community health agencies.

Study Abroad: Short-term intensive study abroad courses are offered as part of the M.P.H. program of study. These courses are offered during the Summer and are open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Accreditation: The M.P.H. is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Achieving accreditation in 1985, Temple's M.P.H. program is one of the longest established accredited M.P.H. programs in community health in the country.

Areas of Specialization: The M.P.H. degree program is offered in five specialty fields of study:

• Applied Biostatistics (APBIO)
• Environmental Health (EH)
• Epidemiology (EPI)
• Health Policy and Management (HPM)
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS)

In addition, a certificate in Global Health is available to all students in the M.P.H. program. Many students in the Epidemiology M.P.H. program complete this transcripted Global Health concentration by utilizing their three elective courses for Global Health classes.

Job Prospects: Graduates with an M.P.H. in Epidemiology have positions in a wide range of health-related settings, including state and local public health departments, community-based organizations, voluntary health agencies, health maintenance organizations, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, clinics, schools, and public health-related work sites. Graduates are employed as HIV/AIDS coordinators, infection control coordinators, project directors, program evaluation specialists, research directors, prevention specialists, environmental health specialists, protocol directors, senior health educators, and consultants. Virtually all students are placed within three to six months of graduation.

Licensure: Students who complete an M.P.H. at Temple University are eligible to sit for the Certification in Public Health (CPH) exam and the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam. For information regarding credentialing in public health, see http://www.nchec.org/.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students are required to speak with an advisor before registering for classes and to obtain the permission of the professor. If accepted to the program, a maximum of three courses may be applied toward the degree program. Exceptions to this policy relate to formal certificate programs.

Financing Opportunities: The Graduate School awards fellowships on a competitive basis only to students with outstanding academic records who are admitted to Temple University for the Fall term. Applicants who wish to be considered for fellowships must apply no later than January 26 for consideration for the Fall term. The department's Admissions Committee nominates outstanding students for these awards, but the Graduate Board's Fellowship Committee makes all award decisions.

Limited Teaching and Research Assistantships are available in the College of Public Health. The Graduate School website details levels of support, benefits, and the terms and conditions of these types of graduate student support at http://www.temple.edu/grad/finances/. Assistantships are awarded on a term or annual basis. Students whose Fall applications are complete prior to or at the application deadline are reviewed for eligibility for Teaching Assistant (TA) positions. TAs are required to work 20 hours per week in any combination of teaching assignments made by the department and must meet the English Language Proficiency standards set by the University and the College. Students who hold Teaching or Research Assistantships are not permitted to hold other employment without the written prior approval of their advisor, the Director of Graduate Programs, and the Graduate School. To be considered for a Teaching or Research Assistantship, complete an application form that is sent to students upon admission to the M.P.H. program. The completed application must be returned to publichealth@temple.edu to be considered.

The College of Public Health has a limited number of scholarship opportunities available for M.P.H. students. Available scholarships are listed at https://cph.temple.edu/cph/giving/scholarshipsfunds. Students may also be eligible for financial support through the Office of Student Financial Services. See http://sfs.temple.edu/.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: March 1
Spring: November 1

All applicants to the M.P.H. program must apply via the Centralized Application Service for Public Health (SOPHAS). The system can be accessed at  https://sophas.liaisoncas.com/.

Applicants should check their application status on the SOPHAS portal often and inquire directly of SOPHAS about receipt of materials. For other questions, please contact Theresa White, Senior Graduate Advisor, at theresawhite@temple.edu or 215-204-5105.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of recommendation, which are completed electronically through the SOPHAS system, should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with academic competence. If the applicant has been out of school for a long time, please ensure that letters are from professional colleagues and that they address academic abilities, such as writing and research.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Applicants' files are reviewed for undergraduate coursework in mathematics and/or statistics, social science, and writing.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree is required.

Statement of Goals: In 500 to 1,000 words, address the following items:

• What are your interests in Public Health, and why are you planning to pursue an M.P.H. in Epidemiology?
• What are your future career goals, and what have you done either academically or professionally to guide your interest in Public Health?
• Are there any exceptional circumstances related to previous academic performance that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider?

Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: Required. While the program takes a portfolio approach to admissions, standardized tests provide important insight into quantitative and verbal abilities. Minimum scores are 500 (old test) on both the verbal and quantitative sections or, on the new test, 153 on the verbal section and 144 on the quantitative section.

Standardized tests considered in lieu of the GRE include DAT, GMAT, MCAT, OAT, and PCAT. The LSAT, which is also considered for some M.P.H. specialties, is not accepted when applying for Applied Biostatistics or Epidemiology.

TOEFL: 79 iBT or 550 PBT minimum.

Clearances: The M.P.H. programs require students to complete clinical/field education experiences at facilities both on and off Temple University’s campuses. These placements may require criminal background checks, Act 33/34 clearances, and perhaps a drug screen. Placements may also require the student to maintain personal health insurance. The results of these requirements may limit and potentially eliminate placement options for the student, thus resulting in her/his inability to meet graduation requirements.

Resume: Current resume or CV required.

Transfer Credit: Graduate credits from an M.P.H. program accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) may be transferred into the M.P.H. The credits must be equivalent to coursework offered at Temple, and the grade must be a "B" or better in order to transfer. The M.P.H. advisor approves the transfer of credits based on a review of course materials provided by the student. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 9.

Test Waivers: Graduates with a terminal degree from a U.S. medical school, foreign-trained physicians who have obtained licensure to practice in the United States, and those with Ph.D.’s may have the GRE requirement waived.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 45

Required Courses:

Internship: An internship is required as part of a student's M.P.H. fieldwork.

Culminating Events:
Fieldwork Practicum:
M.P.H. fieldwork requires a student to synthesize and integrate the knowledge acquired in coursework and other learning experiences and to apply theory and principles in a situation that approximates some aspect of professional practice through an internship or practicum experience with a public health agency or under the supervision of a faculty preceptor. The M.P.H. fieldwork experience serves as the culminating event as required by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the accrediting body of all U.S. schools of public health, for completion of the Master of Public Health degree. In addition, this culminating experience provides the student with the opportunity to develop expertise in a topic area and to contribute original and independent observations to a body of knowledge.

For the culminating experience to fulfill the requirements of EPBI 9289 and EPBI 9389, M.P.H. in Epidemiology students are expected to complete a fieldwork experience, which enables them to:

• Identify key sources of data for epidemiological purposes.
• Identify the principles and limitations of public health screening programs.
• Describe a public health problem in terms of magnitude, person, time, and place.
• Explain the importance of epidemiology for informing scientific, ethical, economic, and political discussion of health issues.
• Comprehend basic ethical and legal principles pertaining to the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of epidemiologic data.
• Apply the basic terminology and definitions of epidemiology.
• Calculate basic epidemiologic measures.
• Communicate epidemiologic information to lay and professional audiences.
• Draw appropriate inferences from epidemiologic data.
• Evaluate the strengths and limitations of epidemiologic reports.
• Apply basic statistical methods for summarizing public health data and for inference.
• Apply descriptive techniques commonly used to summarize public health data.
• Recognize concepts of probability, random variation, and commonly used statistical probability distributions.
• Distinguish the pros and cons of existing, national, publicly available data sets and surveys.
• Disseminate information through press releases, poster formats, and peer-reviewed manuscripts.

A final paper is the required deliverable for the M.P.H. fieldwork requirement. Students must also demonstrate their proficiency and the application of theory and principles in the paper and demonstrate mastery of the required competencies during the oral defense. The evaluation of the M.P.H. fieldwork practicum experience, therefore, is integrated into the culminating experience requirement.

Contacts

Department Contacts: