Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required to Earn the Degree: 45
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| EPBI 8012 | Multivariable Biostatistics | 3 |
| EPBI 8401 | Concepts and Methods in Epidemiologic Research | 3 |
| EPBI 8402 | Intermediate Concepts and Methods in Health Research | 3 |
| EPBI 8403 | Applied Concepts and Methods in Health Research | 3 |
| HRPR 5001 | Current and Emerging Issues in Public Health and Health Professions 1 | 0 |
| Research Methods Courses | ||
| EPBI 8212 | Grantsmanship in Health Research | 3 |
| HRPR 5999 | Research Experience in Health Professions | 0 |
| Epidemiology Methods Courses 2 | ||
| Select two from the following: | 6 | |
EPBI 8207 | Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology | |
EPBI 8213 | Cancer Epidemiology | |
EPBI 8301 | Clinical Research Methods in Public Health | |
EPBI 8303 | Behavioral Epidemiology | |
| Biostatistics Methods Courses 2 | ||
| Select two from the following: | 6 | |
EPBI 5003 | Spatial Analysis in Public Health | |
EPBI 8204 | Multilev Mod in Int Res | |
EPBI 8304 | Applied Statistical Methods for Incomplete Data Analysis | |
EPBI 8305 | ||
| Electives 3 | ||
| Select four from the following: | 12 | |
ENVH 8016 | Human Health Risk Analysis | |
ENVH 8207 | Environmental Epidemiology | |
EPBI 5204 | Mental Health Epidemiology | |
EPBI 5205 | Surveillance, Epidemics and Outbreaks | |
EPBI 5500 | Seminar in Current Issues in Public Health | |
EPBI 8011 | Social Epidemiology | |
EPBI 8201 | Structural Equation Modeling | |
EPBI 8205 | Chronic Disease Epidemiology | |
EPBI 8206 | Infectious Disease Epidemiology | |
EPBI 8209 | Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS | |
EPBI 8302 | Behavioral Measurement | |
EPBI 8306 | ||
EPBI 8307 | Systematic Reviews | |
GUS 5062 | Fundamentals of Geographical Information Systems | |
GUS 5068 | Census Analysis with Geographical Information Systems | |
GUS 5069 | GIS for Health Data Analysis | |
| Research Courses 4 | ||
| EPBI 9994 | Preliminary Examinations | 1 |
| EPBI 9998 | Dissertation Proposal Research | 2 |
| EPBI 9999 | Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |
- 1
This common College Core course is required of all incoming graduate students in the College of Public Health. It is available completely online and designed such that students can complete the modules at their own pace over the course of their degree program.
- 2
Students may select from these courses to fulfill general electives requirements if they are not taken as an epidemiology or biostatistics methods course. Other courses may be used to fulfill the methods course requirements with approval.
- 3
Students select electives with advisement from a faculty mentor or the program director. With approval, other electives from outside of the department can be taken. There are elective options not listed that can be chosen based on advisement and availability.
- 4
The Graduate School requires that students complete a minimum of 6 credits that include EPBI 9994, EPBI 9998, and EPBI 9999. Of the 6 credits, at least 2 credits must be earned in EPBI 9999.
Minimum Grade to be Earned for All Required Courses: B-
Culminating Events:
Area Paper:
Prior to sitting for the preliminary examinations, students must write a published or publishable paper in their chosen area. The purpose of the paper requirement is to demonstrate critical and interpretive knowledge in epidemiology, as well as a high proficiency in written communication and a capacity to contribute to generalizable knowledge in the field. The paper can be written in one of a variety of formats, including a systematic review, an empirical paper, or a theoretical piece relevant to the field.
The student must be the lead or sole author. The paper can be a peer-reviewed published or in-press article. Papers that are of publishable quality but have not yet been submitted or are under review for publication are also acceptable. A committee of departmental faculty members, exclusive of the student’s advisor, determines if the published paper meets the writing requirement. The committee evaluates the paper and votes on whether the student has passed or failed. Students who fail the paper requirement are allowed to submit a revision by the end of the next term.
A student cannot advance to the preliminary examinations without passing the paper requirement. Failure to satisfactorily complete the area paper requirement within one term after initial submission can result in dismissal from the PhD program. Students who are entering the PhD program and have already published a peer-reviewed paper related to epidemiology can request to waive this requirement by completing a waiver application and submitting it along with the published document to the Graduate Program Director.
Preliminary Examinations:
In the term prior to taking the preliminary examinations, students should review their progress with their faculty advisor. When eligibility has been confirmed, students contact the Assistant Director of Administration and request to be registered for EPBI 9994 Preliminary Examinations in the subsequent academic term with the faculty advisor or Director of Graduate Studies.
In order to advance to doctoral candidacy, the student must pass both a written preliminary examination on methods, biostatistics, and substantive coursework and a take-home exam, as well as an oral dissertation proposal. The written preliminary examination is given to students prior to initiating the third academic year in the program. It is largely based on material covered in required coursework and its application to theoretical and practical problems. Students meet with the Graduate Program Director in January of their second year to discuss the exam. It is suggested that students form a study group and study at least one day per week during the term prior to the examinations.
The preliminary exam is offered in the Summer term and covers the core components of students’ training in epidemiology and biostatistics, as well as the specific area of concentration. The examinations consist of the following components:
- Morning Session on Methods and Biostatistics: Epidemiological methods and all materials in core epidemiological courses are covered. Biostatistical methods are also included, covering materials in required biostatistics courses.
- Afternoon Session on the Substantive Area: The student’s faculty advisor writes the substantive area section of the exam, which is approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. This section covers advanced/specialty topics and related methods aligned with the student’s area of interest.
- Take-Home Exam: Each student is provided questions and a data set from which the student needs to analyze data to provide answers to the questions provided. As such, the take-home exam represents an applied portion of the preliminary examination. The objectives of the take-home exam are to test a student’s knowledge and logic in thinking through a problem and to ensure that the student is prepared to move on to the next phase in the program. The take-home exam is due approximately one week after completion of the methods, biostatistics, and substantive on-site exam.
Occasionally, a student chooses to take a course after or concurrent with the preliminary examinations. The student's faculty advisor and the Graduate Program Director must approve such an exception in advance in writing.
The Graduate Program Director coordinates the grading of the preliminary examinations. A committee of departmental faculty members review and score the examinations.
Students who fail these exams may have one opportunity to take the examinations again. A second failure results in automatic dismissal from the PhD program.
Dissertation Proposal:
After passing the preliminary examinations, students may enroll in EPBI 9998 Dissertation Proposal Research. When eligibility has been confirmed, students contact the Assistant Director of Administration and request to be registered for the course.
All students must form a Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC) with the approval of the Graduate Program Director. The DAC is composed of at least three Graduate Faculty members: two members, including the Chair, must be from the PhD program faculty of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. The DAC Chair must be approved as Doctoral Graduate Faculty by the Dean of the College of Public Health and by the Graduate School. The chair is responsible for overseeing and guiding the student's progress; coordinating the responses of the committee members; and informing the student and the Graduate Program Director annually of the student's academic progress. The student should plan for an additional external reader at the time of the final dissertation defense (see DEC below). The external reader is not present at the defense of the proposal.
To fulfill the requirements of EPBI 9998, students must submit a dissertation proposal, successfully defend it orally before their committee, apply for Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for the proposed research, and submit the proposal to the Graduate School. Students have a maximum of one year from the time of completing their preliminary examinations to develop and defend their dissertation proposal. Thus, students may enroll in EPBI 9998 for only two terms without permission. Students needing more time may, with the support of their faculty advisor, formally petition the Graduate Program Director for an extension, although an extension is not guaranteed. Failure to meet these requirements can result in dismissal from the program.
Dissertation:
When eligibility has been confirmed, students contact the Assistant Director of Administration and request to be registered for EPBI 9999 Dissertation Research.
The doctoral dissertation is an original theory-based research study that makes a significant contribution to the fields of public health and epidemiology. It should expand existing knowledge and demonstrate the student's mastery of research design methods and advanced statistical techniques, particularly within the field of epidemiology. The research should be rigorous, while upholding the ethics and standards of the field. It is expected that the study will result in publication and presentation to professional audiences.
To fulfill the dissertation requirement, students must prepare and orally defend the final dissertation in a public meeting. Students present their plans for publishing their dissertation as part of their defense. Students must be enrolled continuously in EPBI 9999 until their dissertation is successfully defended. The Graduate School requires a minimum of 2 credits for the dissertation experience. Students must be enrolled in the term that they graduate.
The Dissertation Examining Committee (DEC) consists of the DAC plus at least one additional external reviewer. The external reviewer must be doctorally prepared. If this person is not a member of the Temple University Graduate Faculty, they must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies, the Dean of the College, and the Graduate School to take part in the final dissertation examination. The DEC evaluates the student’s written dissertation and oral defense, including the student’s ability to articulate orally the research question; methodological approach; primary findings; interpretation of the findings; and implications for theory, research and practice. The DEC votes to pass or fail the dissertation and the defense at the conclusion of the public presentation.
If a student needs to change a member of a committee, the new member must be approved by the Graduate Program Director and registered with the Graduate School.
Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation should confirm a time and date with their DEC and work with the department coordinator for the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics to secure a room. This should be done at least one month in advance of the proposed date. The department coordinator arranges the time, date and room within two working days. After the time, date and room are secured, the student must send to the Graduate School a completed "Announcement of Dissertation Defense" form, found in TUportal under the Tools tab within "University Forms." This must be submitted at least 10 working days before the defense. The department posts flyers announcing the defense, and the Graduate School lists the defense on its website.