Master’s Programs and Doctoral Programs

Master's Programs

Master of Public Health Programs

The Department of Epidemiology offers a Master of Public Health program for health professionals that requires a minimum of 42 credits and a program for pre-professionals that requires 45 credits. The Department also participates in the MD/MPH program.

Students in the Department’s MPH program are required to maintain standards of performance that exceed the minimum required by the School. Students receiving a grade of "C" in any course (including core courses outside of the Department) must repeat the course. Students receiving a grade of "F" in any course will be dismissed (unless special extenuating circumstances can be demonstrated). Students from other departments can only register for courses in epidemiology if they have a grade of "B" or better in each of the prerequisite courses. 

The following is an overview of the common program requirements a typical MPH student might undertake. These apply to all students entering in the Spring 2007 semester or after.

       
AND
             
At least two of the following courses in advanced methods:

AND
             
At least one of the following courses in descriptive epidemiology:

AND

AND

Public Health Practicum (SPHL 998)*

AND

The Culminating Experience in Epidemiology (SPHL 795)*

Students may choose to complete one of the following:

Public Health Analysis

or

Thesis

or

Comprehesive Exam

*Approval by the student's academic advisor is required prior to beginning the Public Health Practicum and the Culminating Experience.

MPH Program for Professionals

This program is designed for individuals already employed in the health field (or training to be a physician); it enables them to acquire or update knowledge of epidemiology and research skills needed in their jobs. A minimum of 42 hours of coursework (including the core curriculum) is required. Many professionals will be able to waive certain core courses and thus take more electives. Individuals who expect to assume supervisory positions are strongly advised to take 45 credits over a period of three semesters. 

MPH Program for Pre-Professionals

This program is designed to prepare persons who have no previous training in public health for a career in that area. A minimum of 45 credits is required. Students will gain knowledge of general epidemiological principles and methods and will then apply this knowledge to a chosen area of concentration, such as infectious disease, chronic (i.e., non-infectious) disease, environmental/occupational health, reproductive epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, or molecular epidemiology of cancer.

By the end of the program, students will have thorough knowledge of the sources of health data and their use in epidemiologic studies. They will also be able to design and implement studies for collection of data from original sources, such as field surveys. Students will also acquire skills in the processing, analysis and reporting of data. The program prepares graduates for positions in public and private agencies in which epidemiologic information is needed for health policy decisions, as well as for the management of research projects in academic and other institutions.

Master of Science Program 

The Department of Epidemiology also offers the degrees of Master of Science and Master of Science in Clinical Research.  The MS degree is an academic degree intended to prepare students for careers in research/education institutes with programs that emphasize understanding of theoretical issues and the application of disciplinary methods to the study of public health problems.  The MS program offers research training in epidemiology and is appropriate for physicians or other health professionals who are interested primarily in the academic subject matter of the field to prepare for research and teaching careers rather than professional practice.  The program includes coursework in epidemiology and biostatistics and a research-based master's thesis is required.

The MS in Clinical Research is limited to health professionals already holding a doctoral degree who plan a career in clinical research. The class size is strictly limited with preference being given to faculty and fellows already at the Tulane School of Medicine. Other applicants are considered on an individual basis.

Students complete 36 credit hours, including 6 credits of thesis.

The following is an overview of the common program requirements a typical MS student might undertake. These apply to all students entering in the Spring 2007 semester or after.

Required Courses:

AND
             
At least one of the following courses in advanced methods:

AND
             
At least one of the following courses in descriptive epidemiology:

Thesis Requirement

Students enrolled in the MS program are required to complete a thesis which will demonstrate an ability to interpret current literature and conduct epidemiologic analysis.  The completed thesis must constitute the equivalent of one epidemiologic paper that meets the current standards of publication in refereed journals.  Students must also defend the purpose, methods and results of the thesis research in an oral presentation.  No more than six credit hours may be earned for thesis research.

MS degree requirements must be completed within 2 years after the student first enrolls as a master's student, if full-time, and one year post completion of coursework for part-time students.

Chronic Disease Epidemiology 

This track focuses on chronic disease epidemiology in general.  This includes cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic renal disease, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer among others.  The objective of the chronic disease epidemiology track is to provide students with the cutting edge of  knowledge, etiology and prevention of chronic diseases. The track activities are enhanced by the close collaborative relationships which exist between the Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Departments and Centers at Tulane University Medical Center.

This track offers several specialty courses: Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Prevention and Health Promotion for Cardiovascular Health, Cancer Epidemiology, Environmental Epidemiology, Pharmacoepidemiology, Clinical Epidemiology, Experimental Clinical Research, Meta-analysis, Advanced Epidemiologic Methods, Chronic Disease Epidemiology Journal Club and Epidemiology Seminar.  Other courses, such as Stroke Epidemiology, Diabetes Epidemiology, Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology, and Nutrition Epidemiology will be offered in the future.  A wide variety of hospital- and community-based research activities at sites in the United States and overseas are available to students in the track.

HIV/STI Epidemiology

The purpose of this track is to guide students who wish to pursue careers in infectious disease research or evaluation, particularly focusing on sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. The goal of the track is to help students learn the methodology and quantitative skills they will need for future employment and to provide them with practical experience to enhance what they have learned in the classroom. Emphasis is placed on how to access information relevant to infectious diseases.

This track offers six specialty courses: Epidemiology of HIV/STI's (EPID 721), Analytic Epidemiology (EPID 722), and Design and Evaluation of HIV/AIDS Programs (EPID 613). The track facilitates interaction between students and the HIV Outpatient Program, Office of Public Health, City of New Orleans STD Clinic, several Family Planning Clinics, and many other public health facilities.

Environmental/Occupational Epidemiology

This area concentrates on the epidemiology of diseases associated with industrial and other occupational exposures as well as with environmentally induced illness in general.  Courses in this specialty include Advanced Environmental Epidemiology, Occupational Epidemiology, and Descriptive, Analytic, and Biological Methods in Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology. Studies are carried out in conjunction with industry and government and provide excellent opportunities for research. 

Reproductive Epidemiology

This area covers the broad themes of the determinants, consequences of reproductive and perinatal health and the strategies for prevention and control of reproductive and perinatal disorders. Studies are carried out in multidisciplinary approaches, with marked interactions between Obstetrics, Maternal and Child Health, Women's Health, Pediatrics and International Health. Current research projects include etiology and prevention of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes such as pregnancy-induced hypertension/preeclampsia, preterm birth and low birth weight, fetal and neonatal growth and its potential influence on health later in life, international comparisons of perinatal and maternal mortality, and improving perinatal health care in developing countries especially in Latin America.  Coursework includes EPID 648, Reproductive Epidemiology.

Genetic Epidemiology

With the completion of the Human Genome Project, vast opportunities are now available to evaluate the interaction between genes and the environment and how this relationship affects the biological processes that underlie disease.  Coursework includes EPID 629, Genetic Epidemiology.

Cancer Epidemiology

Cancer continues to be one of the major health risks world wide.  There is now extensive evidence of the environmental and genetic contributions to Cancer, as well as the molecular mechanisms that contribute to cancer.  Cancer epidemiology studies are now able to integrate all of these factors into more complex questions regarding risk factors and trends in cancer.  Coursework includes EPID 621, Cancer Epidemiology and EPID 781, Human Molecular Genetics.

Doctoral Programs

The Department of Epidemiology offers programs of study leading to either of two doctoral degrees:

1. The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree
2. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree

The purpose of the DrPH program is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct epidemiologic investigations for the solution of public health problems and the ability to apply results in public health practice. The program prepares graduates to work as epidemiologists in a public health setting. The purpose of the PhD program is to prepare students for a career in epidemiologic research and teaching, usually in an academic setting. The PhD graduate is expected to have knowledge across a wider range of epidemiologic theory and methods than the DrPH graduate who will be working primarily in an applied field.

For both degrees the student is required to pass a written comprehensive examination and to submit a dissertation. In the comprehensive examination the student must demonstrate general knowledge of epidemiologic and biostatistical methods and particular knowledge of the epidemiology of one of the following areas: chronic disease; infectious disease, environmental and occupational health; or health behavior. For the dissertation the student must design and execute an original research study which has the potential of contributing new knowledge to the field.

The application deadline for either program (DrPH or PhD) is January 1st to begin in the fall semester.

The doctoral program requires 60 credits of graduate coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree, of which not more than 30 can be transfer credits, and, depending on the student’s career focus, may require demonstrated proficiency in one foreign language.

Additional course requirements for doctoral degrees:

• EPID 730 Advanced Epidemiologic Methods
• BIOS 706 Regression Analysis
• BIOS 715 Categorical Data Analysis
• BIOS 740 Clinical Trials
      OR
• BIOS 730 Survival Analysis

Two additional EPID methods courses.

One 3-credit content course.

For a complete listing of courses in Epidemiology, please click here.