Master of Public Health Program

Mission Statement

The mission of the Master of Public Health in Epidemiology program is to train students in general public health knowledge, general epidemiologic principles and methods and their application to a variety of global, national and regional public health isssues. This program is designed to prepare future professionals and leaders in public health practice.

Program Description

This program is designed to prepare persons who have no previous training in public health for a career in that area.  This program is also designed for individuals already employed in the health field (MD, DDS, RN, DVM, MBBS, or PHARMD) or training to be a physician; it enables them to acquire or update knowledge of epidemiology and research skills needed in their jobs. 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.   A minimum of 45 credits is required.  The Department also participates in the MD/MPH program.

Masters International Program

The Department of Epidemiology also welcomes students to join us as Masters Internationalists.  These students complete their MPH course work on campus, but they also gain vital public health experience through two years of service with the Peace Corps.  The Peace Corps experience offers a number of personal and professional benefits to public health students, and it also fulfills the practicum requirement of the school.  If you'd like more information about the Peace Corps Masters Internationalist program please click here.

Program Competencies

At the completion of the MPH in Epidemiology students will be able to:

• Pose the appropriate research question or questions when given a public health or medical problem requiring an epidemiologic investigation (EPID 6260, EPID 7120)
• Select the appropriate study design to answer the research question (EPID 7120)
• Identify demographic, social/behavioral and environmental factors which have an impact on the problem under investigation (EPID 6030, EPID 6260, ENHS 6030, SPHL 6030)
• Specify the data needed to answer the question including data on possible confounding factors identified above (EPID 6260, EPID 7120)
• Write a study protocol detailing the objectives and methods for such an investigation (EPID 7120, EPID 6240)
• Identify the sources of health data such as demographic reports, vital statistics records, disease registries, and clinic and hospital records and how to access these sources (EPID 6030, EPID 6240, EPID 7120)
• Interpret health status indices based on these data, such as mortality and morbidity rates (EPID 6030)
• Plan, organize, and manage procedures for collecting data from existing sources as well as original sources such as household surveys or subjects identified for specific studies (EPID 6240, EPID 6260, BIOS 7250)
• Use computer software for data processing preparatory to statistical analysis (EPID 6230)
• Analyze data using appropriate statistical techniques under the guidance of someone with more advanced training (BIOS 6030, BIOS 6040)
• Interpret the results in consultation with an investigator experienced in the problem area (EPID 7120)
• Critique epidemiologic literature for strengths and weaknesses of the methodology in published studies (EPID 7120)
• Discuss from knowledge of the literature the epidemiology in a chosen area of interest, namely chronic diseases, infectious diseases, environmental, reproductive, genetic, or molecular epidemiology (elective course in chosen area)

Admission Requirements

A baccalaureate degree (science or social science major preferred) with a grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale, a minimum combined GRE score of 1050 with quantitative score equal to or greater than the verbal score, three favorable letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic or work experience qualifications; and a career statement indicating the applicant’s reasons for choosing the epidemiology program.  Applicants with lower GRE’s but solid academic performance or prior public health experience and good letters of recommendation may be admitted on probation to be evaluated at the end of their first semester.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 45 credits are required for the MPH degree. Students will gain knowledge of general epidemiologic principles and methods and will then apply this knowledge to a chosen area of interest, such as infectious disease, chronic (i.e., non-infectious) disease, environmental/occupational health, reproductive epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, or molecular epidemiology of cancer.

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.

Course Requirements

School Core Course Requirements (18 credits):
 

Required Courses for Epidemiology majors:

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:

Practicum (SPHL 998)

Every student seeking an MPH degree must complete a Practicum. For more information about this requirement, read the Practicum Handbook. Approval by the student's academic advisor is required prior to beginning the Public Health Practicum and Culminating Experience. Some examples of practicum opportunities in Epidemiology include:

• NYC Epi Scholars Program
• Maternal and Child Health Bureau Graduate Student Internship Program
• Louisiana Office of Public Health
• New Orleans Health Department
• ASPH/CDC/ATSDR Internship
• NCI Fellowships and Internships in Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics
• Indian Health Service, Division of Epidemiology and Disease Prevention
• PACE of Greater New Orleans
• South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness
• Pan American Health Organization
• United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division
• Family Health International
• The Cooper Institute
• Tulane SPHTM Career Center - Internship List
• PublicHealthJobs.net

Culminating Experience (SPHL 7950)

Students seeking MPH degrees must also complete a Culminating Experience. For more information about this requirement, read the Competency Framework for the Culminating Experience. Each student chooses one of the following options: (a) Public Health Analysis, (b) Thesis, or (c) Comprehensive Exam. Approval by the student's academic advisor is required prior to beginning the Public Health Practicum and Culminating Experience.

Model Course Schedule

First Semester

• EPID 6030 Epidemiologic Methods I                            3 credits
• EPID 6230 Computer Packages for Epidemiology         2 credits
• BIOS 6030 Introductory Biostatistics                           3 credits
• SPHTM Core                                                           3 credits

Semester Total                                                                11 credits 

Second Semester

• EPID 7120 Epidemiologic Methods II                            3 credits   
• BIOS 6040 Intermediate Biostatistics                           3 credits
• SPHTM Core                                                            3 credits
• EPID Content or Methods Course                               2-3 credits
• Organize the Practicum                                             _________

Semester Total                                                                 11-12 credits

Summer

• Practicum                                                                 0 credits

Third Semester

• EPID 7130 Observational Epidemiology                         3 credits
• SPHTM Core                                                             3 credits
• EPID Content or Methods Course                                2-3 credits
• EPID Content or Methods Course                                2-3 credits

Semester Total                                                                  10-12 credits

Fourth Semester

• EPID Content or Methods Course                                2-3 credits
• SPHTM Core                                                             3 credits
• Elective Courses                                                        4-7 credits
• Culminating Experience                                              0 credits

Semester Total                                                                 10-13 credits

Degree Total                                                                      45 credits

For additional information: contact Therese Carter, tcarter1@tulane.edu, 504.988.6809.