PhD Program in Epidemiology

The mission of the PhD Program in Epidemiology is to train independent researchers in the development and application of epidemiologic methods and to prepare them for positions as scientific leaders in academia and industry. The PhD is a research degree; it indicates the highest attainable level of scholarship, and a commitment to a research career. The PhD does not represent merely the accumulation of course credits, but rather, the development and completion of a well-designed and conscientious program of scientific investigation that makes a unique contribution to the field of epidemiology.
 

The PhD program in Epidemiology requires basic and advanced courses in epidemiology, statistical methods, as well as electives drawn from other departments and schools that serve the student's research interests. The program also requires separate oral qualifications and candidacy examinations, and the successful public defense of a doctoral dissertation, in accordance with University of Pennsylvania policy.
 

The PhD program typically requires the equivalent of at least four years of full-time study, in three defined phases: coursework, pre-candidacy, and candidacy. The coursework phase typically takes two years of full time study, and is intended to provide the student with the knowledge needed to pursue advanced, independent study and investigation in epidemiologic research. This phase culminates in the oral Qualifications Examination, normally taken after most or all of the student's coursework has been completed. The pre-candidacy phase focuses on the preparation of a scientifically unique, methodologically sound, and feasible dissertation proposal. This phase ends with passing the oral Candidacy Examination, at which time the student is recognized as a Candidate for the PhD and focuses his or her effort on performing the research for and writing the dissertation. A successful public defense of the dissertation then completes the academic requirements for the PhD.
 

The PhD Program in Epidemiology is administered by the Graduate Group in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (GGEB) and is led by the Chair of the Doctoral Program in Epidemiology, working with the PhD Program Executive Committee. The Office of Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS) provides oversight and coordination for the GGEB and six other graduate groups offering PhD degrees in the biomedical sciences. BGS provides centralized support to the graduate groups for admissions, student fellowships, curricular oversight, record-keeping, and other operations.

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The current standard course sequence for PhD students consists of up to seven core courses (see below). Additional course units are taken in electives (advanced epidemiology and/or biostatistics courses and courses outside the department and school, as needed to serve the student’s specific interests). In addition, a minimum three semesters of lab rotations (EPID 699) and one unit of dissertation research (EPID 995) are required. They are:

  • EPID 7010: Introduction to Epidemiologic Research, 1.0cu
  • EPID 7020: Advanced Topics in Epidemiologic Research 1.0cu
  • EPID 6000: Data Science for Biomedical Informatics 1.0cu
  • BSTA 6300: Statistical Methods and Data Analysis I*  1.0cu
  • BSTA6320: Statistical Methods for Categorical and Survival Data (Methods II)* 1.0cu
  • EPID 5340: Qualitative Methods in the Study of Health, Disease and Medical Systems, 1.0cu
  • HPR 6080: Applied Regression Analysis for Health Policy Research*  1.0cu
  • EPID 7000: Doctoral Seminar 1.0cu
  • Ethics course 1.0cu (or MSCE workshops)

* Students can either take BSTA 6300 and BSTA 6320 OR HPR 6080.  They do not need to take all three. 

Additional requirements include:

  • Participation in a monthly Career Development Workshop Series
  • Attendance at the weekly epidemiology seminars
  • Participation in a weekly Works in Progress (WIP) session
  • Participation in the Responsible Conduct of Research Course
  • Completion of web-based seminars in CITI and HIPAA training
  • Teaching support as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for an Epidemiology or Biostatistics course
  • Successful completion of all PhD examinations

Course descriptions can be found at: http://www.cceb.med.upenn.edu/course-descriptions

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All students are expected to develop and maintain a current course plan developed with and monitored by their mentor. This course plan must be approved by the Program Chair, and will be reviewed semi-annually in order to monitor the student's progress and identify potential delays in completing the program. A typical course plan is provided below.

 

Sample course plan for an entering PhD students starting Fall 2020

Year

Term

Course

Credit Unit









Year 1

 


Fall

EPID 7010: Introduction to Epidemiologic Research

1

§BSTA 6300 Statistical Methods and Data Analysis I

1

EPID 6000: Data Science for Biomedical Informatics (if placed out of 526/527)

1

EPID 6990: Lab Rotation

0.33

Career Development Workshop Series

0

 

 

Spring

EPID 7020: Advanced Topics in Epidemiologic Research

1

 HPR 6080: Applied Regression Analysis for Health Policy Research 

1

§ BSTA 6320: Statistical Methods for Categorical and Survival Data  1
EPID 6990: Lab Rotation

0.33

Advanced Elective

1-3

Career Development Worshop Series

0


Summer

EPID 6990: Lab Rotation

0.33

Qualifications Examinations  
 





 

Year 2

Fall

EPID 5340: Qualitative Methods in the Study of Health Disease and Medical Systems 

1

EPID 6990: Lab Rotation or EPID 899: Pre Dissertation Lab Research (for those who have selected a dissertation mentor)

0.33-3

Career Development Workshop Series 0
Ethics Course or MSCE Bioethics Workshops

0-1

Advanced Elective

1-3

Spring

EPID 6990: Lab Rotation or EPID 899: Pre Dissertation Lab Reseach (for those who have selected a dissertation mentor)

0.33-3

 
  Advanced Elective

1-3

  EPID 7000: Doctoral Seminar 1.00

Summer

Candidacy Examination  
 

 

 

Year 3

Fall

EPID 8990: Pre Dissertation Lab Rotation

0.33-3

Advanced Elective

1-3

Spring

EPID 8990: Pre Dissertation Lab Rotation

0.33-3

Advanced Elective

1-3

Summer

EPID 9950: Dissertation Research  0
 


Year 4

  EPID 9950: Dissertation Research  

Dissertation Defense

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