Curriculum

The program in infectious disease epidemiology provides a rare opportunity for students to obtain rigorous training both in traditional methods for epidemiologic studies, and in mathematical modeling and other approaches to study the mechanisms of transmission. Coursework bridging these areas is reinforced by ongoing collaborations within the department, and between epidemiologists and bench scientists who can measure parameters relevant to epidemiologic models.

This program can be pursued in two ways:
 

Degree Area of Research Interest

Students in an ScM, ScD, or DPH program in Epidemiology can select Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases from one of the fifteen areas of research interest available to them. Students are then required to complete elective courses and conduct thesis or dissertation research in their chosen area of interest.

Please note that this is different from the interdisciplinary concentration listed below. In order to study Infectious Diseases Epidemiology as an area of research, the student must be assigned to Epidemiology. The requirements for the ScD program are 20 credits in entry level Epi, 10 credits in biostatistics (a required minor), and 10 credits from any another area of interest. The remaining 10 credits provides the student with the option to create their own coarse load in ID Epi. Students that are interested in receiving the certification awarded to students completing the ID Epi interdisciplinary concentration (explained below), still have the option to do so.

Course requirements for each area of interest are determined by the degree program to which the student matriculates. Review the current year
Epidemiology Student Handbook for complete degree program requirements, and the list of recommended courses.

Interdisciplinary Concentration

Having applied and been granted admission to an HSPH degree program (PhD, ScD, DPH, ScM, MPH), interested students should complete and submit the concentration form in their first term of participation. Students will then be expected to meet the requirements of the interdisciplinary concentration, as well as those of their departmental degree program. To meet these requirements, students must have successfully completed a course sequence as outlined in the concentration courses section of this website.
Four new courses have been added for the 2009-10 Academic year: GHP534, GHP539, and EPI 502 (primary electives) and NUT210 (secondary elective). During this year only, because of limited required courses offered for this concentration, 1st and 2nd year Master's students may substitute a primary elective for a required course.

Graduating students must submit a final, revised concentration form with an unofficial transcript to the program coordinator for review and approval of concentration completion. This must be submitted no later than the first week of the final semester of the degree program.

Masters students in one year programs should consult with their academic advisers prior to beginning this interdisciplinary concentration, as some courses are not offered every year.

NOTE: No special degree in the epidemiology of infectious diseases is awarded. Upon successful completion of the concentration requirements, graduating students will receive a letter of completion from the concentration.