Epidemiology PhD
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy (PHD)
Minimum Required Credits: 39.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 26.1309
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-1041
About the Program
The Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology prepares students to critically analyze public health problems, generate significant epidemiologic questions, and use rigorous research strategies to answer these questions. The program is grounded in the values of the Dornsife School of Public Health — integrity, rigor, critical thinking, and self-reflection — and emphasizes a commitment to pursue important and innovative topics of inquiry even when faced with methodological challenges, and to undertake studies that generate knowledge applicable to diverse social, ethnic, and geographically defined populations.
Graduates will be prepared to initiate and direct scientifically rigorous research to inform policies and interventions that improve population health and eliminate health disparities.
Students will complete a comprehensive exam that requires them to synthesize coursework and demonstrate mastery of public health competencies. Students will then develop and defend a dissertation proposal and complete a dissertation including three papers of publishable quality and final defense.
Additional Information
For more information about this program, please contact the Dornsife School of Public Health
Admission Requirements
Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health admissions requirements can be found at: https://drexel.edu/dornsife/admissions/overview/
In addition to the requirements listed below, students are required to complete the TA Orientation and Preparation Course and the Responsible Conduct of Research Training.
Degree Requirements
| Core/Foundational Courses | ||
| PBHL 5000 | Public Health Foundations 1 | 3.0 |
| PBHL 8000 | Professional Development | 3.0 |
| PBHL 8001 | Proposal Writing Seminar | 3.0 |
| Subject-Area Focused Courses | ||
| BST 5003 | Intermediate Biostatistics I | 3.0 |
| BST 6003 | Intermediate Biostatistics II | 3.0 |
| EPI 8000 | Advanced Concepts in Epidemiologic Study Design and Analysis | 3.0 |
| EPI 8001 | History and Theory of Epidemiology | 3.0 |
| EPI 8002 | Internal Validity in Epidemiologic Research | 3.0 |
| EPI 8003 | Applied Causal Inference | 3.0 |
| Select one of the following courses: | 3.0 | |
| Data Science in R | ||
| Data Management for Public Health Using SAS | ||
| Dissertation | 3.0-65.0 | |
| Dissertation Guidance | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 6.0 credits in the following: 2 | 6.0 | |
| Any BST (Biostatistics) course at the 5000-9999 level | ||
| Any CHP (Community Health and Prevention) course at the 5000-9999 level | ||
| Any EOH (Environmental and Occupational Health) course at the 5000-9999 level | ||
| Any EPI (Epidemiology) course at the 8000-9999 level | ||
| Any HMP (Health Management and Policy) course at the 5000-9999 level | ||
| Any PBHL (Public Health) course at the 5000-9999 level | ||
| Total Credits | 39.0-101.0 | |
- 1
Foundational Public Health Knowledge: Public Health Foundations is only required for students who do not have a degree from a CEPH accredited school. Students who have a degree from a CEPH accredited school will take an elective in place of Public Health Foundations.
- 2
Students can take additional 5000-9999 level electives across the university with Faculty Mentor approval.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the social and physiological basis of health and disease, with special competence in areas needed for dissertation research
- Search and critically evaluate literature to synthesize information, identify major gaps in knowledge, and formulate statement of research problem and hypothesis.
- Design studies based on application of principal study designs, strengths and limitations; identify, assess, and minimize bias and confounding.
- Analyze data using state-of-the-art statistical and data science approaches, and incorporating rigorous data manipulation and coding practices.
- Apply epidemiologic causal inference theory to the design, implementation, and interpretation of analyses.
- Communicate public health research and knowledge orally and in writing to diverse audiences and place findings in appropriate public health and health policy context.