Course Descriptions for Ph.D. in Epidemiology

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Fall Term


BST 625 - Survey of Statistical Computing (3 cr)
This three credit course aims to familiarize students with the basic use of SAS and R for routine statistical analysis and prepare them for more advanced courses and/or thesis research. Statistical computation will be illustrated with examples in medical research, biological study and business. The focus of the course is on the computing environment, therefore a thorough discussion of statistical theories will not be provided. It is expected that students will already be prepared statistically.

EPH 651 - Research Methods
Purpose of the course is to provide students with a sound understanding of the fundamental concepts and methods for conducting public health research. After a brief introduction to the philosophy of science, the major emphasis in the early portion of the course is on research conceptualization, design and measurement, with a particular focus on the logic of minimizing rival alternative explanations of finding for experimental and quasi-experimental studies.

EPH 752 - Advanced Research Methods (3 cr)
This is a survey course in advanced quantitative methods for research and evaluation in prevention science. The course will provide students with an introduction to research methodology, matching research questions to specific methods, applying methods to real world data, and presenting the application of a method to a broader audience.

EPH 703 - Advanced Statistical Methods I (4 cr)
Advanced statistical methods used in analyzing data from epidemiologic investigations. Topics include Mantel-Haenszel chi-square, interaction, standardization of rates, incidence density, logistics regression, and other special topics.
Prerequisite: EPH 601.

EPH 740 - Basic Pathology and Patho-physiology (3 cr)
The course emphasizes basic patho-physiological mechanisms and diseases of particular interest to students of public health. Students obtain an understanding of basic pathological processes, nomenclature of pathological findings, and common natural and unnatural diseases affecting various body systems. Observations of autopsies and the gross pathology of selected organs are also incorporated in the course.

EPH 774 - Epidemiologic Methods and Reasonings (3 cr)
This course will discuss epidemiological methods (e.g., study designs) and concepts (e.g., confounding, bias, interaction, random error) required to evaluate the totality of evidence in etiologic research. It will also discuss theoretical models of etiologic research and techniques for quantifying the magnitude of disease or other health indicators as well as the magnitude of study errors specific to study designs.
Prerequisite: EPH 601 and 621. And pre or corequisite: EPH 602.

EPH 700 - Professional Development Seminar (1 cr)
This course will discuss principles of epidemiologic methods. Introduction to causal inference and advanced epidemiologic topics will be covered. This course will be theoretical and quantitative and will include, when applicable, illustrative data examples using various statistical softwares.
Prerequisite: EPH 601 and 621. And pre or corequisite: EPH 602.

EPH 776 - Methods in Epidemiology (3 cr)
This course will discuss principles of epidemiologic methods. Introduction to causal inference and advanced epidemiologic topics will be covered. This course will be theoretical and quantitative and will include, when applicable, illustrative data examples using various statistical softwares.
Prerequisite: EPH 601 and 621. And pre or corequisite: EPH 602.

EPH 830 - Doctoral Dissertation (1-12 cr)
This course will discuss principles of epidemiologic methods. Introduction to causal inference and advanced epidemiologic topics will be covered. This course will be theoretical and quantitative and will include, when applicable, illustrative data examples using various statistical softwares.
Prerequisite: EPH 601 and 621. And pre or corequisite: EPH 602.

EPH 840 - Doctoral Dissertation- Post Candidacy (1-12 cr)
Required of all candidates for the PhD. The student will enroll for credit as determined by his/her advisor.

Spring Term


BST 630 - Longitudinal and Multilevel Data (3 cr)
This course offers students an introduction to linear and generalized linear models for the analysis of multi-level and longitudinal biomedical data. The course will also provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to perform analysis of these types of data using statistical software packages.

EPH 625 - Research Ethics in Public Health (3 cr)
The course identifies and analyzes ethical issues in epidemiologic practice and research. Issues include data acquisition and management, confidentiality, valid consent, advocacy, public policy, subgroup stigma, research sponsorship, conflicts of interest, communication of risk, and international and intercultural difference.

EPH 651 - Research Methods
Purpose of the course is to provide students with a sound understanding of the fundamental concepts and methods for conducting public health research. After a brief introduction to the philosophy of science, the major emphasis in the early portion of the course is on research conceptualization, design and measurement, with a particular focus on the logic of minimizing rival alternative explanations of finding for experimental and quasi-experimental studies.

EPH 772 - Design & Implementation of Epidemiologic Studies (3 cr)
This is the second epidemiology course after completion of the Fundamentals of Epidemiology. This course will assume knowledge of basic study designs and the basic principles of internal validity (random error, systematic error, and confounding). The concepts, principles, and methods of epidemiologic study designs (beyond basic designs) and the practical issues in the design and conduct of epidemiologic studies will be discussed. The emphasis will also include the application of the epidemiologic methods in the forms of journal article critique of epidemiologic study designs, study design project and/or research proposal development. The course has two intended audiences. PhD students or early career researchers and advanced master’s students who wish to add depth to their understanding of some of the fundamental issues in epidemiology. Doctoral students in epidemiology may take this course to fulfill one of the "research method courses" for the PhD in Epidemiology degree. Students who are not in the PhD in Epidemiology program and who wish to take this course require instructor's evaluations (pre-test) and permission.
Prerequisite: EPH 621 and must have already taken or be currently enrolled in EPH 601.

EPH 705 - Advanced Statistical Methods II (3 cr)
Continuation and elaboration of EPH 703. Advanced statistical methods used in analyzing data from epidemiologic investigations. Topics include Kappa statistics, life tables, survival analyses, logistic regression, Poisson regression, log linear models, clusters, meta-analysis, and other special topics.
Prerequisite: EPH 703.

EPH 740 - Basic Pathology and Patho-physiology (3 cr)
The course emphasizes basic patho-physiological mechanisms and diseases of particular interest to students of public health. Students obtain an understanding of basic pathological processes, nomenclature of pathological findings, and common natural and unnatural diseases affecting various body systems. Observations of autopsies and the gross pathology of selected organs are also incorporated in the course.

EPH 751 - Survival Analysis in Clinical Trials (3 cr)
Statistical methods for analysis and interpretation of survival data arising from clinical trials. Topics include survival curves, estimation of sample size, survival curves, proportional-hazard models, time dependent variables, and prognostic indices.

EPH 776 - Methods in Epidemiology (3 cr)
This course will discuss principles of epidemiologic methods. Introduction to causal inference and advanced epidemiologic topics will be covered. This course will be theoretical and quantitative and will include, when applicable, illustrative data examples using various statistical softwares.
Prerequisite: EPH 601 and 621. And pre or corequisite: EPH 602.

EPH 700 - Professional Development Seminar (1 cr)
This course will discuss principles of epidemiologic methods. Introduction to causal inference and advanced epidemiologic topics will be covered. This course will be theoretical and quantitative and will include, when applicable, illustrative data examples using various statistical softwares.
Prerequisite: EPH 601 and 621. And pre or corequisite: EPH 602.

EPH 830 - Doctoral Dissertation (1-12 cr)
This course will discuss principles of epidemiologic methods. Introduction to causal inference and advanced epidemiologic topics will be covered. This course will be theoretical and quantitative and will include, when applicable, illustrative data examples using various statistical softwares.
Prerequisite: EPH 601 and 621. And pre or corequisite: EPH 602.

EPH 840 - Doctoral Dissertation- Post Candidacy (1-12 cr)
Required of all candidates for the PhD. The student will enroll for credit as determined by his/her advisor.

Summer Term


EPH 604 - Clinical Trials (3 cr)
Planning, design, analysis, and data management for clinical therapeutic and prophylactic trials. Illustrations are provided through case examples.

EPH 830 - Doctoral Dissertation (1 - 12 cr)
Required of all candidates for the PhD.  The student will enroll for credit as determined by his/her advisor.

EPH 840 - Doctoral Dissertation- Post Candidacy (1 - 12 cr)
Required of all candidates for the PhD.  The student will enroll for credit as determined by his/her advisor.

EPH 830 - Doctoral Dissertation (1-12 cr)
This course will discuss principles of epidemiologic methods. Introduction to causal inference and advanced epidemiologic topics will be covered. This course will be theoretical and quantitative and will include, when applicable, illustrative data examples using various statistical softwares.
Prerequisite: EPH 601 and 621. And pre or corequisite: EPH 602.

EPH 840 - Doctoral Dissertation- Post Candidacy (1-12 cr)
Required of all candidates for the PhD. The student will enroll for credit as determined by his/her advisor.