Epidemiology, M.S.

About the Program

The conduct of epidemiological research involves the study of the distribution of disease and/or injury in human populations. The M.S. in Epidemiology degree is designed specifically for students interested in in-depth training and knowledge of the research techniques appropriate to conducting epidemiological studies in a particular concentration of health research. Master's-level epidemiologists work in applied settings conducting disease surveillance and outbreak investigations or in research settings developing and evaluating research hypotheses generated to understand the effects of behavioral, biological, environmental, and social factors on human health. Since epidemiology is the principal science underlying disease prevention and control programs, this training is also a basic component for other degree and training programs in public health and preventative medicine.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years

Campus Location: Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The program is designed to accommodate both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students can earn their degree within 2 years, while part-time students typically complete the degree in 3 years.

Interdisciplinary Study: Students are encouraged to develop programs of study that are interdisciplinary in nature, involving coursework across departments, schools, and colleges. Research in affiliated units is encouraged.

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. These partnerships allow us to offer students a wide range of fieldwork opportunities to translate skills learned in the classroom to actual practice in the community.

Study Abroad: Temple University has campuses in Tokyo, London, and Rome where independent research can be pursued under advisement.

Accreditation: The program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Areas of Specialization: Areas of specialization can be dictated through the area of concentration pursued by the student in her/his thesis research.

Job Prospects: Graduates of the M.S in Epidemiology program are prepared to be faculty members or researchers in colleges and universities or to hold research-related positions in a wide range of organizations. Graduates are employed in health systems, hospitals and clinics, public health departments, and public health and other healthcare and human service agencies. Some graduates are employed by schools at the local, state, and federal levels. Graduates also work in pharmaceutical companies, non-profit and for-profit corporations, foundations, and consulting firms.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Students are permitted to take up to 9 credits of coursework before matriculation. If a student is accepted into the program, those courses may be applied toward the degree requirements. Course selection should be made in consultation with an advisor, and students should be aware that completion of coursework does not ensure admission into the program.

Financing Opportunities: Limited Teaching and Research Assistantships are available in the College of Public Health. The Graduate School website details the types of graduate student support. Assistantships are awarded on a term or annual basis. Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Research Assistants (RAs) provide 20 hours of service per week. TAs may be assigned to assist in the teaching of courses, including grading examinations and papers or teaching laboratory sections. Some TAs independently teach undergraduate courses. RAs perform supervised research activities. Both assistantships carry a minimum stipend and full tuition remission for up to 9 credits per term. Applications for assistantships are available from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and must be submitted by January 15 for the following Fall term. The application requires a statement of previous teaching and/or research experience, areas of interest, and future goals; unofficial copies of transcripts; and a curriculum vitae. The department makes offers of assistantships following admission to the program.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: March 1

All applicants to the M.S. in Epidemiology 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 the CPH Office of Admissions at cph@temple.edu or 215-204-5200 or contact Annemarie Szambelak, Assistant Director of Admissions, at annemarie@temple.edu.

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 the applicant's academic competence and, if appropriate, research supervisors or mentors.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Proficiency in statistical programming and a minimum of 6 credits of undergraduate quantitative and/or analytical methods (statistics, research design, etc.) are required.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of an accredited baccalaureate degree. The minimum acceptable undergraduate GPA is 3.0.

A WES evaluation is required for applicants who completed their bachelor's degree outside of the United States. This can be requested at https://www.wes.org/ and submitted through SOPHAS.

Statement of Goals: Write a well-considered 500- to 1,000-word statement of purpose that articulates your interests in public health and our program in particular. Craft your statement to specifically address the following questions:

Why are you pursuing this master’s degree program, and what are your particular areas of interest in public health?
How does the M.S. in Epidemiology within Temple's Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics best fit your public health interests?
What are your career goals, and how will this degree help you to achieve these goals?
What are your plans in the first few years after graduation?

Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: Required. While the program takes a portfolio approach to admissions, standardized tests provide important insight into quantitative and verbal abilities. Scores above the 75th percentile on both the verbal and quantitative sections of the test are desired. Official GRE scores should be sent to SOPHAS using code 0151.

Standardized tests considered in lieu of the GRE include DAT, GMAT, MCAT, OAT, and PCAT.

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

TOEFL iBT: 79 (send officially to SOPHAS using the SOPHAS-specific TOEFL code 5688)
IELTS Academic: 6.5
PTE Academic: 53
Duolingo: 110

Resume: Current resume or CV required.

Interview: An interview may be required.

Transfer Credit: Graduate credits from an accredited institution are considered for transfer into the M.S. in Epidemiology degree program. Such courses are reviewed by the M.S. Graduate Program Director to determine whether they are equivalent to coursework offered at Temple and fulfill any degree requirements. The grade must be a "B" or better in order to transfer and have been earned within five years of applying to the program. The maximum number of credits that may be transferred into the M.S. program is 6.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 36

Required Courses:

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Courses
ENVH 5004	Environmental Health	1.5
EPBI 5002	Biostatistics	3
EPBI 5005	Applied Analysis of Health	1.5
EPBI 5201	Epidemiological Research Methods I	3
EPBI 8012	Multivariable Biostatistics	3
EPBI 8202	Epidemiological Research Methods II	3
HRPR 5001	Current and Emerging Issues in Public Health and Health Professions	0
Advanced Quantitative Methods Courses
Select two from the following:		6
EPBI 5003	Spatial Analysis in Public Health
EPBI 8201	Structural Equation Modeling
EPBI 8204	Multilev Mod in Int Res
EPBI 8302	Behavioral Measurement
EPBI 8307	Systematic Reviews
EPBI 8402	Intermediate Concepts and Methods in Health Research
EPBI 8403	Applied Concepts and Methods in Health Research
GUS 5062	Fundamentals of Geographical Information Systems
GUS 5068	Census Analysis with Geographical Information Systems
GUS 5069	GIS for Health Data Analysis
Cognate Epidemiology Electives
Select three from the following: ¹		9
ENVH 8207	Environmental Epidemiology
EPBI 5204	Mental Health Epidemiology
EPBI 5500	Seminar in Current Issues in Public Health ²
EPBI 8011	Social Epidemiology
EPBI 8206	Infectious Disease Epidemiology
or EPBI 8205	Chronic Disease Epidemiology
EPBI 8207	Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology
EPBI 8209	Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS
EPBI 8213	Cancer Epidemiology
EPBI 8301	Clinical Research Methods in Public Health
EPBI 8303	Behavioral Epidemiology
EPBI 8401	Concepts and Methods in Epidemiologic Research
Research Course
EPBI 9996	Masters Res in Pub Hlth (2 terms)	6
Total Credit Hours		36

With approval, students may select alternate electives.

EPBI 5500 requires prior approval.

Minimum Grade to be Earned for All Required Courses: B-

Culminating Event:
Thesis:
The master's thesis documents the student's independent research and demonstrates mastery of her/his primary area of interest. Thesis research is conducted under the direct supervision of an academic advisor. The specific topic for research should be of current interest in the professional community. After a research topic is selected, the student performs preliminary background research. A thesis proposal is then submitted describing the plan for further steps toward completion of the proposed research. The student may continue the research only after the proposal is approved by the committee. Presentation of methods and study results is performed upon completion of the thesis.

Courses

EPBI 5001. Biostatistics for Health Professions. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is for graduate students in nursing and other health-related professions and is meant to teach students the common biostatistical tools used to analyze, present and interpret health-related data. The course will cover topics including data summary and visualization, descriptive statistics, sampling and confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, diagnostic tests, and inference related to t-test, ANOVA, simple and multiple regression, nonparametric tests and measurement agreements. Statistical processing through the program SPSS will be integrated into the program and used in tandem with critical principles needed for effective statistical decision making. At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to analyze real data sets and provide quantitative evidence to support scientific conclusions.

Level Registration Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Undergraduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 5002. Biostatistics. 3 Credit Hours.

Students will review fundamentals of descriptive statistics, estimation, and hypothesis testing. More advanced influential methods will be introduced, including, but not limited to, regression and correlation and analysis of variance. At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to analyze real data sets and provide quantitative evidence to support scientific conclusions. The emphasis is on "doing" statistics utilizing sound statistical theory and relying on validated statistical software (SAS/SPSS) to produce descriptive statistics and inferential analyses, and interpret the results.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 5003. Spatial Analysis in Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.

This course will create a methodological framework for approaching public health issues within the context of spatial investigations of health and disease, both internally via perceptual mapping, and externally via geographic information systems (GIS). This integrative discipline provides the opportunity for students to draw upon the concepts and techniques of sound public health and add a spatial perspective to their analysis.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 5005. Applied Analysis of Health. 1.5 Credit Hour.

This lab course will focus on integrating concepts from biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health policy, and social and behavioral health through hands-on data analysis and presentation techniques using SAS statistical software. Modules will also include SPSS and qualitative software. Labs will immerse students in applied exercises so they more fully understand the statistical principles presented in the co-requisite lecture course (EPBI 5002) as well become comfortable assessing available data and producing data-driven public health materials for various audiences. Each lab session includes exercises to help students more fully understand the statistical and analytic principles. It also re-enforces material covered in EPBI 5101, EPBI 5201, and EPBI 5002.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: College of Public Health.

Co-requisites: EPBI 5002.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites:
EPBI 5101|Minimum Grade of B-|May be taken concurrently
OR EPBI 5201|Minimum Grade of B-|May be taken concurrently.

EPBI 5101. Fundamentals of Epidemiology. 3 Credit Hours.

The main purpose of this course is to provide an understanding of the basic methods and tools used by epidemiologists to study the health of populations. This course provides a graduate-level introduction to the fundamental concepts and methods used in epidemiology, the basic science of public health and prevention. This course covers terminology used in epidemiology; basic measures of frequency of disease occurrence; concepts of exposure, outcome, and association; epidemiologic study designs; epidemiologic criteria for causality; potential sources of bias and controlling for bias; and the role of epidemiology in public health policy. Applications related to a broad range of current epidemiologic studies are discussed. Students will calculate basic statistics used in epidemiologic studies.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 5201. Epidemiological Research Methods I. 3 Credit Hours.

This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of conducting epidemiologic research and protocol development. It covers definitions of epidemiology; measures of disease frequency and risk assessment; measures of effect and association; epidemiologic study designs, including randomized clinical trials, cohort, case-control studies, and cross-sectional surveys; assessment of screening programs; an overview of the role of bias and confounding in epidemiologic study results; and analytic techniques, including modeling using multiple variables, survival analysis, and issues related to quality assurance. Note: This course is the introductory epidemiology course for students in the M.S. in Epidemiology or related Public Health degree programs that require advanced quantitative methods. May be taken in place of EPBI/PBHL 5101 for students in the M.P.H., M.S. in Environmental Health and Ph.D. programs.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 5204. Mental Health Epidemiology. 3 Credit Hours.

Epidemiology of psychiatric disturbances is explored, including alcohol and other drug dependencies, psychosocial aspects of health and illness. The emphasis is on epidemiologic methods and theories in psychosocial and mental health research.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: College of Public Health, Social Work.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 5500. Seminar in Current Issues in Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.

Seminar topics rotate to address current issues in public health research, policy and practice.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

EPBI 8002. Research Seminar in Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.

This is a research seminar on linkages between theory and research in social and behavioral health studies. It is required for Ph.D. students prior to taking the preliminary examinations.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 8011. Social Epidemiology. 3 Credit Hours.

The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction for graduate students to the key social factors that are thought to influence health. These social factors include constructs such as gender, race, socioeconomic status, and social support. Understanding these social factors is important for public health research and practice. These factors can be considered "fundamental causes" of health outcomes insofar as they may cause or modify other factors that are known to influence health, such as individual behaviors or genetics. The course will focus on the conceptual and theoretical basis of these social factors, how these social factors are measured in epidemiologic research, and the mechanisms by which these social factors are thought to affect health. Students will have the opportunity to improve their skills in critically evaluating empirical data about the association between these social factors and health.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 8012. Multivariable Biostatistics. 3 Credit Hours.

The objective of the course is to provide basic theory and application of regression models, analysis of variance, nonparametric statistics, and survival analysis applied to the analysis of population-based data. The emphasis will be on generating and interpreting results and health related applications rather than on statistical theory. The course is designed for graduate students in public health who are already familiar with basic statistical concepts, including descriptive statistics, the components of statistical inference (p-values, hypothesis tests, confidence intervals, etc.), as well as concepts of confounding and effect modification.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites:
EPBI 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR PBHL 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.

EPBI 8201. Structural Equation Modeling. 3 Credit Hours.

An extremely rapid pace of change in statistics and methodology in the field of developmental processes and family systems requires that graduate students (and newly minted PhDs in academic and applied settings) be well versed in current data analytic techniques and able to keep abreast of emergent techniques by being aware of contemporary methodological literature. This course will illustrate the uses of structural equation models for cross-sectional, longitudinal, and family data analysis. The course is organized to take participants through each of the cumulative steps in the analysis: deciding which type of model is appropriate, setting up the data file and coding variables, interpreting and displaying empirical findings, and presenting results in both verbal and written form. Class time will be devoted primarily to lectures, examples, group discussions, and hands-on application of course material.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 8202. Epidemiological Research Methods II. 3 Credit Hours.

The content of this course illustrates statistical concepts, methods, and strategies used in epidemiologic studies, beyond the principles discussed in EPBI/PBHL 5201 (Epidemiological Research Methods 1). Topics include a review of basic study designs, analysis of prospective and retrospective data, assessment of bias, confounding, effect modification/interaction, statistical methods of stratification and adjustment, sample size/power calculations, importance of quality control and data monitoring in randomized clinical trials, critical determination of causality, and the comprehensive analyses, reporting and presentation of epidemiologic results.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites:
EPBI 5201|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR PBHL 5201|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.

EPBI 8204. Multilev Mod in Int Res. 3 Credit Hours.

Interdisciplinary research nearly always involves data with a nested, hierarchical, or multilevel structure. Such data violate the standard statistical assumption of independence of observations. As well, the most important interdisciplinary research questions often involve understanding effects of one level of this structure on characteristics of another level of structure. Within the intervention contexts, individuals often serve as their own context as events unfold over chronological time. This course provides a broad and comprehensive introduction to analysis of multilevel data with an emphasis on questions which bridge disciplines. Participants should be familiar with the general linear model (analysis of variance, regression) prior to enrolling in this course, but no previous familiarity with mixed models (other than repeated measures ANOVA) is assumed.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 8205. Chronic Disease Epidemiology. 3 Credit Hours.

This intermediate course will cover selected topics in chronic disease epidemiology through critical examination of the current literature. Students will have the opportunity to study methodological issues, strategies for prevention, and contemporary issues in research. Coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, chronic lung diseases and others will be addressed.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 8206. Infectious Disease Epidemiology. 3 Credit Hours.

This course provides the basis for understanding infectious diseases, disease transmission, risk factors, outbreak investigation and study designs, surveillance methods, and current infection-control strategies and mechanisms. The purpose of this course is to expose students to the principles and practices of infectious disease epidemiology and how communicable diseases and their control affect public health locally, nationally, and internationally.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 8207. Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology. 3 Credit Hours.

This course presents the epidemiology of major reproductive and perinatal outcomes and offers an overview of human reproduction. The course will be divided into two parts. Part one covers the basic principles of reproductive biology and physiology. The second part will focus on outcomes in reproductive and perinatal research including fertility and fecundity, reproductive disorders, birth defects, preterm birth, fetal growth, miscarriage, stillbirth, and preeclampsia. The course will discuss unique methodological issues and novel study designs in reproductive and perinatal epidemiology. An emphasis of the course will be the evaluation of the current literature related to reproductive and perinatal complications as well as the design of a reproductive or perinatal epidemiologic study.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites:
EPBI 5101|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR EPBI 5201|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.

EPBI 8208. Data Management and Analysis. 3 Credit Hours.

The content of this course will illustrate practical concepts, methods, and strategies used in the development, management and analysis of large data sets through in-class and homework exercises, quizzes, and a final project. Each class session will be a mixture of a lecture, demonstration and hands-on SAS programming exercises.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites:
EPBI 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR EPBI 8012|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.

EPBI 8209. Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS. 3 Credit Hours.

The epidemiology of HIV/AIDS is the subject of this course. Application of epidemiological principles and concepts in infectious disease epidemiology with emphasis on surveillance, research, prevention, and control are covered.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 8212. Grantsmanship in Health Research. 3 Credit Hours.

This course will provide students with applied advanced epidemiologic research methods to critically assess gaps in current knowledge and to develop a competitive grant proposal application. Students will apply the epidemiologic methods and knowledge from prior courses and gain expertise in assessing gaps in knowledge, innovative thinking, grant conception, development and writing, study implementation and approach, budget preparation, and grant critiques. In the first half of the course, students will be introduced to the concepts of significance and innovation, identifying gaps in knowledge, choosing an epidemiologic research topic, identifying a funding agency and developing a set of specific aims, significance and innovation statements. In the second half of the course, the grant proposal will be written in the format of an NIH pre-doctoral epidemiology research grant following NIH grant application guidelines including a developed research plan, identified research team, and NIH biosketch and human subject protection plans. Students will be introduced to the concepts of power, sample size and effect size and will calculate necessary power and sample size requirements in the finalized grant proposal. Students will also participate in a mock grant review session. Students will use this opportunity to develop and submit an application for an NIH or foundation pre-doctoral award to support their dissertation work.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 8213. Cancer Epidemiology. 3 Credit Hours.

This course covers general principles of carcinogenesis and genetics of cancer, domestic and international patterns in cancer incidence and mortality, cancer surveillance and screening, cancer prevention and control, as well as epidemiologic characteristics and risk factors for most prevalent cancers among adults, children/young adults, and public health implications of cancer. In addition, there is a focus throughout the course on critical evaluation of different methodological approaches used in cancer research, potential biases inherent given study designs, and practical solutions.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 8301. Clinical Research Methods in Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.

This course provides an introduction to the core topics in clinical research. Beginning with practical issues in starting and advancing in a career in clinical investigation, the course proceeds to cover diagnosis and treatment studies, research on prognostic and casual risk factors, special types of study design and analyses, principles of measurement in human subjects, studies using secondary databases, and outcomes research. This course will be an elective class for all students enrolled in the Master of Science in Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, as well as the Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology programs. This graduate level course is principally aimed at health care professionals, not limited to the field of public health, usually with graduate courses relevant to their clinical discipline, who desire advanced knowledge and skills in evaluating, designing and implementing clinical research studies.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites:
EPBI 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.

EPBI 8302. Behavioral Measurement. 3 Credit Hours.

This course will cover the classical and modern test theories and their applications to solve measurement problems in practice. This course will educate students on measurement concepts including test standardization, validity, reliability, operational definitions, scaling and latent variables in social and behavioral sciences. Issues surrounding validity and reliability of measures will be discussed in detail. Students will be given an opportunity to critically evaluate existing measures and to propose how a new measure can be developed and evaluated.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites:
EPBI 5002|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR EPBI 8012|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.

EPBI 8303. Behavioral Epidemiology. 3 Credit Hours.

This course covers behavioral epidemiology and its role in public health. Students will be able to identify and explain the appropriate methods for measuring health-related behaviors/outcomes and related psychosocial constructs; critically analyze the appropriateness of methods used within published studies on health-related behaviors as well as determine appropriate methods for behavior-related research questions. In addition, students will use a behavioral theory/model as a framework and apply their skills in the development and assessment of a behavioral intervention to address a current public health problem of their choice including, but not limited to, intervention development, implementation planning, and evaluation/analyses.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 8307. Systematic Reviews. 3 Credit Hours.

Systematic reviews are essential tools for health care workers, researchers, consumers, and policymakers who need to keep abreast of the accumulation of knowledge within their field. Systematic reviews provide more objective evaluation of the evidence than has been possible with traditional narrative reviews, and so can help resolve uncertainty and point toward promising future directions in research and practice. When appropriate, meta-analyses can help increase the precision of estimates regarding treatment effects and way to improve treatments. For example, identification of subgroups of individuals most (or least) likely to benefit from treatment can generate new questions to be addressed.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 8401. Concepts and Methods in Epidemiologic Research. 3 Credit Hours.

The doctoral course is designed to be the first in a series of doctoral level epidemiologic research courses and will focus on providing an in-depth conceptual framework of key research concepts and techniques. The course will enhance knowledge of research methods and encourage critical thinking to successfully develop research questions and design research studies. Students will demonstrate mastery in the fundamental skills that enable them to apply epidemiologic research methods to the design, analysis and interpretation of public health data. Specifically, the course will provide didactic and hands-on training in causality and association, study design, bias, error, confounding, causal diagrams, interaction, and effect modification. By the end of this course, students will have the foundational knowledge to begin to apply these methods to their own research. The course is intended for doctoral students in epidemiology or related fields. Students must be enrolled in a doctoral program in the College of Public Health or by permission from instructor.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: College of Public Health.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 8402. Intermediate Concepts and Methods in Health Research. 3 Credit Hours.

This intermediate level research methods course will solidify student competencies in modern design of population health studies and provide methodological training beyond traditional approaches. This course is designed for doctoral students who have completed EPBI 8401 or a similar graduate level research methods course (as approved by Instructor) that provided a foundation for the understanding of epidemiologic concepts in population based studies. The course will include in-depth instruction through hands-on learning and didactic training that will develop the skills needed for students to design studies that preemptively address threats to validity and data analysis plans for both traditional and novel complex study designs. In addition to focus on the core concepts of study design, students will focus on understanding advanced topics such as causal inference and bias analysis. Students will also understand commonly encountered study issues such as competing risks, confounding, error, bias, and missing data. By the end of this course, students will move beyond understanding conceptual methods learned in entry-level research methods courses and will advance to applying traditional and advanced concepts to study design and data analysis planning.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites:
EPBI 8401|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
OR EPBI 8202|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.

EPBI 8403. Applied Concepts and Methods in Health Research. 3 Credit Hours.

This laboratory-based class will focus on analytic exercises to analyze and interpret data from cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, longitudinal and nested studies. Concepts will include traditional regression modeling as well as multilevel/hierarchical modeling, bias analysis, and Bayesian statistics. Students will learn how to apply key epidemiologic concepts to the analysis of data. By the end of this course, students will have developed the practical skills needed to analyze and interpret epidemiologic data.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 9083. Readings and Conference in Public Health. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.

This is an advanced tutorial in public health with an appropriate faculty member. Note: Registration requires a written contract with the supervising faculty member and approval of the student's advisor and of the Director of Graduate Programs.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

EPBI 9187. Biostat Cnslt Practicum. 3 Credit Hours.

The objective of this course is to prepare students to collaborate effectively as biostatistics support consultants in the health professions. The emphasis will be to refresh statistical techniques and develop communication and problem solving skills. This course is designed for graduate students in public health who can use well-validated commercial statistical software, such as SAS, for the analyses of data from observational and/or interventional research studies.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

EPBI 9289. MPH Fieldwork I. 3 Credit Hours.

This course entails a fieldwork project or internship in a public health agency. It includes seminars, oral and written reports of progress, and joint supervision by a preceptor and faculty member.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 9389. MPH Fieldwork II. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is an evaluation of the fieldwork project or internship using a full range of research methodologies. Data are collected, analyzed, and reported in a comprehensive final report. Oral and/or poster presentations are presented to public health organizations. The course includes a final oral defense of the project or internship.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

EPBI 9991. Public Health Research Project. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.

Under the direction of an appropriate graduate faculty member, students tie together their coursework in a project that poses a problem, gathers data to help analyze the problem, and provides a solution. Note: Enrollment must be approved by the student's advisor and the Director of Graduate Programs.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

EPBI 9994. Preliminary Examinations. 1 Credit Hour.

This course supports preparation for taking the preliminary examinations in the Health Policy and Social and Behavioral Sciences Ph.D. programs. To enroll, students must have completed all required coursework for the Ph.D. and obtain the approval of the Ph.D. Program Director. Students must be enrolled to take the required preliminary examinations.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

EPBI 9996. Masters Res in Pub Hlth. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is limited to students who have chosen to fulfill the master's degree by writing a thesis.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

EPBI 9998. Dissertation Proposal Research. 1 to 2 Credit Hour.

This course supports preparation of the dissertation proposal. The course is required for students who have passed the preliminary examinations for their PhD program and who have not yet defended the dissertation proposal.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

Pre-requisites:
EPBI 9994|Minimum Grade of P|May not be taken concurrently.

EPBI 9999. Dissertation Research. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.

This course is limited to Ph.D. candidates who have completed and defended a dissertation proposal that is filed with the Graduate School by the last day to add a course in the semester. Continuous registration in 9999 fall and spring is required until the dissertation is successfully defended.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Student Attribute Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Student Attributes: Dissertation Writing Student.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.