Epidemiology

Graduate Program

Epidemiology Program Office
F262 Health Sciences, Box 357236
206-685-1762 or 206-543-8226
epi@uw.edu
depts.washington.edu/epidem

The Department of Epidemiology offers the following three graduate degrees: Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science, and Master of Public Health, for individuals intending to become academicians, highly qualified research specialists, or well-trained public health practitioners, respectively. The department also offers a number of degree tracks within the degree programs, as well as several graduate certificates.

The Master of Public Health degree requires coursework in health services and environmental health, in addition to epidemiology and biostatistics, as well as a thesis and a practicum as preparation for a career in public health practice or as a prelude to the Ph.D. program. Three tracks are available: the General Track, which is selected by most students; the Maternal and Child Health Track (MCH); and the Global Health Track (GH). The MCH and GH tracks require coursework in the respective specialty areas in addition to the requirements of the General Track. (The Epidemiology Global Health Track is not the same as the M.P.H. in Global Health through the Global Health Department, but incorporates some of the same classes.)

Formal concurrent degree programs involving the M.P.H. (Epidemiology) include the following: Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Anthropology, Master of Arts in International Studies (M.A.I.S.), and Master of Public Affairs (M.P.A).

The Master of Science degree requires concentration on courses and research in epidemiology and biostatistics as preparation for a research specialization or as a prelude to the Ph.D. program. It also requires electives from the School of Public Health. Two tracks are available, the General Track and the Clinical Research Track. A formal concurrent degree program combines the Epidemiology General Track M.S. with the Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Applicants interested in an M.S. in Genetic Epidemiology, administered by the Institute for Public Health Genetics, should visit depts.washington.edu/phgen/degreeprograms/MSGE_degree.shtml.

The Ph.D. requirements differ from the M.S. program requirements primarily in the scope and complexity of research for the dissertation. Coursework includes a core series in epidemiology and biostatistics. Electives in substantive disease and exposure areas, as well as research methods, are required. Requisite general electives from the School of Public Health are also part of the curriculum. M.D. students at the UW may apply for formal concurrent M.D. and Ph.D. degrees.

An informal concurrent degree program involving the M.P.H., M.S., or Ph.D. in Epidemiology and another graduate or professional degree at the U.W. may be pursued with the permission of both departments.

The Epidemiology Department and other School of Public Health departments offer several graduate certificate programs open to any qualified graduate student at the University. Some certificate programs are open to Graduate Non-Matriculated students, if indicated on the certificate Websites. They offer specialization in the following specific areas:

• Advanced Clinical Research Methods: depts.washington.edu/epidem/Certificates/acrc.shtml
• Basic Clinical Research Methods: depts.washington.edu/epidem/Certificates/bcrc.shtml
• Global Health: depts.washington.edu/deptgh/students_programs/cert_grad.php (Offered by the Global Health department)
• HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections: depts.washington.edu/cfas/training/grad_cert (Offered by the Global Health department)
• Maternal and Child Health: depts.washington.edu/mchprog/certificate/
• Public Health Genetics: depts.washington.edu/phgen/certificateprogram/Certificate.shtml
• Statistical Genetics: www.stat.washington.edu/statgen/index.php?page=certificate (Offered by the Biostatistics department)
• A complete list of School of Public Health certificates is available at sph.washington.edu/prospective/edprograms.asp#cert

Admission Requirements for All Degrees

Admission to all graduate programs is highly competitive and is based on the following:

1. Background in epidemiology or other health-related fields (such as medicine, health or biological sciences, mathematics, quantitative social sciences), including prior areas of study and work experience, especially quantitative public health research
2. Undergraduate and graduate grades (if applicable)
3. GRE scores (except for master's degree applicants with a prior doctorate from a U.S. university, M.D./M.P.H. applicants at UW, and M.D./Ph.D. applicants funded by the Medical Scientist Training Program at UW)
4. TOEFL or IELTS score from international applicants unless bachelor's degree taught entirely in English or successful petition on the basis of a two-year master's degree or a Ph.D. entirely in English
5. Letters of reference

Master of Public Health

Degree Requirements

Minimum 63 credits, as follows:

1. 45 to 49 course credits
2. Core Courses: 33 graded credits, including EPI 512 (4), EPI 513 (4), BIOST 511 (4), BIOST 512 (4), BIOST 513 (4), HSERV 510 (3), HSERV 511 (3), EPI 514 (4)
3. EPI 510 (2), a prerequisite for EPI 514, is required for students without substantial SAS/Stata programming experience
4. Electives: 6 credits of EPI course electives of 2 or more credits each (see acceptable electives in the appropriate degree checklist at depts.washington.edu/epidem/CurrentStudents)
5. 3 to 6 credits (120 to 240 hours) in a field-based practicum (EPI 595)
6. 9 to 18 thesis (EPI 700) credits
7. Students may enroll in additional elective courses in epidemiology and other relevant departments, and for independent study (EPI 600) to bring the total to 63 credits. Public health-related 400-level coursework taken as a graduate student at the University of Washington may count toward total credits with departmental approval. Coursework unrelated to public health and at the 300-level or below does not count toward the degree.

M.P.H. Specialized Program Options: The M.P.H. degree offers specialized tracks as listed below. They have additional admission and course requirements detailed at the program Websites.

• Global Health: Requires two years prior health science work experience in a developing country to be eligible. Applicants without this experience may apply to the General Track and the Global Health Certificate listed above.
• Maternal and Child Health: Requires approximately two years prior U.S. MCH experience to be eligible. Applicants without this experience may apply to the General Track and the MCH Certificate listed above.

Master of Science

Degree Requirements

60 credits, to include:

• 36 to 40 course credits
• Core Courses: 24 graded credits, including EPI 512 (4), EPI 513 (4), EPI 514 (4), BIOST 511 (4), BIOST 512 (4), BIOST 513 (4)
• EPI 510 (2), a prerequisite for EPI 514, is required for students without substantial SAS/Stata programming experience.
• Electives: 6 credits of EPI course electives of 2 or more credits each (see acceptable electives in the appropriate degree checklist at depts.washington.edu/epidem/CurrentStudents)
• School of Public Health Electives: Two additional courses (2 or more credits each) in any department of the School of Public Health (including Epidemiology) or other University of Washington courses with significant public-health content. (See acceptable electives in the appropriate degree checklist at depts.washington.edu/epidem/CurrentStudents.)
• Contact program for acceptable elective courses.
• 9 to 18 thesis credits (EPI 700)
• Students may enroll in additional elective courses in epidemiology and other relevant departments, and for independent study (EPI 600) to bring the total to 60 credits. Public health-related 400-level coursework taken as a graduate student at the University of Washington may count toward total credits with departmental approval. Coursework unrelated to public health and at the 300-level or below does not count toward the degree.

M.S. Specialized Program Options:

• The M.S. Clinical Research track is chiefly intended for professionals who have already completed clinical training and who plan to conduct research with patients in health care settings as a significant part of their future career. For specific coursework requirements, visit the program Website at depts.washington.edu/epidem/cr.html.
• The M.S. in Genetic Epidemiology track is officially housed in the Epidemiology Department, but has different application procedures and requirements. See the following Website: depts.washington.edu/phgen/degreeprograms/MSGE_degree.shtml.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements Specific to the Ph.D.

1. Admission requirements listed here are in addition to the admission requirements for all degrees listed above.
2. Master's degree in epidemiology or other health-related field, including mathematics and quantitative social sciences.
3. GRE from all applicants, including those who hold a U.S. doctorate, except M.S.T.P. M.D. students at UW.
4. An applicant should research the interest areas of appropriate Epidemiology Department faculty, but does not need to locate a faculty mentor in advance.

Degree Requirements

Minimum 90 total credits, to include:

1. Reduced minimum to 60 credits for students with a prior relevant master's degree (All course requirements must be satisfied even if more than 60 credits are necessary to do so.)
2. 54 to 66 course credits
3. Core Courses: 32 graded credits including EPI 512 (4), EPI 513 (4), EPI 514 (4), EPI 515 (4), EPI 536 (4) EPI 537 (4), BIOST 517 (4), BIOST 518 (4)
4. EPI 510 (2), a prerequisite for EPI 514, is required for students without substantial SAS/Stata programming experience
5. Required Non-graded Courses: EPI 528 (3), three quarters of EPI 584 (1 credit each), EPI 588 (2)
6. Minimum three required Epidemiology electives (minimum 2 credits each). (See acceptable electives in the appropriate degree checklist at depts.washington.edu/epidem/CurrentStudents/.)
7. Three additional electives (minimum 2 credits each) from any department of the School of Public Health (including Epidemiology) or other University courses with significant public health content
8. Students are encouraged to take EPI 583 (1) each quarter of the first year and EPI 591 (1) each quarter after the first year.
9. Dissertation: 27 credits of EPI 800
10. The Supervisory Committee may require additional courses to ensure that the student has adequate training in the area of epidemiology he or she is pursuing.
11. Additional epidemiology courses and EPI 800 credits, independent study (EPI 600), and relevant courses offered by other departments or schools (with permission), may be applied to the total Ph.D. credits. Public health-related, 400-level coursework taken as a graduate student at the University of Washington may count toward total credits with departmental approval. Coursework unrelated to public health, and at the 300-level or below does not count toward the degree.

Financial Aid

Research assistantships for work on various projects provide salary and tuition waivers for students working 20 hours/week. (Although funding is not guaranteed with admission, the majority of students find a research assistantship before the start of autumn quarter.) Research training stipends with partial tuition support are available on a limited basis, especially for more advanced doctoral students. Teaching assistantships are available competitively for second-year and higher-level students.

Research Facilities

University facilities include an excellent library system and access to computers. Many, varied opportunities for field research and practica are provided in Seattle and elsewhere in the state and nation, at institutions such as Seattle Children's Hospital, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Group Health Research Institute, Harborview Medical Center, the Center for AIDS and STD, Public Health: Seattle-King County, Washington State Department of Health, VA Puget Sound Health Care Systems, and many other local health institutions. Cooperating organizations focusing on global health also are available in Seattle and internationally. Additional, but not exhaustive, lists are at depts.washington.edu/epidem/research/Other_Institutions.shtml, globalhealth.washington.edu/resource_center/fund_field.php, and sph.washington.edu/practicum/resource.asp.