DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is an advanced graduate degree for those who intend to pursue teaching and research careers. The major objective of the Ph.D. degree with a concentration in Epidemiology is to prepare an individual to pursue original epidemiologic investigation of diseases and develop novel methodological approaches. The major objective of the Ph.D. program with a concentration in Biostatistics is to prepare an individual to develop and apply biostatistical principles and methods to public health problems.

Typical Doctoral Progression 

After admission to a doctoral program in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, each student will be assigned an academic advisor from the faculty of the department. The assigned advisor will advise the student about prerequisite course work and courses needed to prepare the student for the Qualifying Examination and will generally work with the student until admission to candidacy. The student and advisor will develop a preliminary program of study.

The Qualifying Examination should be attempted as soon as possible after completion of the master’s degree in Epidemiology or Biostatistics and no later than one year after full admission. This exam must be passed before admission to doctoral candidacy and continuation in the program. After admission to candidacy, the student should select a faculty member to direct the doctoral work and, in consultation with this major professor and the department chair, ask other faculty members to serve on the Doctoral Advisory Committee. The Doctoral Advisory Committee approves a program of study (see page 57) including any cognates that are related to the student’s dissertation research interests; no program prerequisite courses can appear on the program of study. A student’s Program of Study must be filed with The Graduate School no later than two (2) years after being fully admitted. Further registration will be blocked if the program of Study is not on file by that time. Members of the Doctoral Advisory Committee can also serve on the Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Committee, Dissertation Committee and Dissertation Exam Committee; the major professor typically chairs all four committees.

With the approval of the Doctoral Advisory Committee, the student may begin development of the dissertation proposal while completing course work and preparing for the Comprehensive Examination. Required course work includes a teaching practicum and a consulting practicum.. Upon completion of doctoral course work as specified on the program of study, the student must satisfactorily complete a Comprehensive Examination. Either in conjunction with or after the oral component of the Comprehensive Examination, the student must defend his/her dissertation proposal to the Dissertation Committee. The student must then complete his/her dissertation research, present the results in an open seminar and defend the work to the Dissertation Examination Committee. Further details for each of these components of the doctoral program are described below.

Progression Checklist