Portland-State-University 2024-2025 Bulletin

Epidemiology Ph.D.

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in human populations. It is a fundamental science of public health and medicine enabling estimation of disease burden, assessment of risk and resilience factors, and assessment of interventions to reduce disease burden over time. Epidemiology requires a foundation of coursework in epidemiologic methods, biostatistical analysis, and public health disciplines. Epidemiologists with doctorates focus on the causes and prevention of disease in human populations, as well as methods to advance epidemiologic research. Objectives Graduates of the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health PhD Program in Epidemiology will acquire the advanced quantitative and analytical skills needed to conduct innovative independent research that advances knowledge of the etiology, prevention, and amelioration of human disease. They will be prepared for positions as scientists in a wide range of public health settings, including universities, federal and state agencies, business, and industry.

Core Competencies

Students graduating from this program will be able to:

Apply population-based concepts of chronic and infectious disease epidemiology within appropriate biological, pathophysiological, social, and community contexts. 

Apply methods for collecting, evaluating, and synthesizing existing evidence of health determinants to research on public health problems.

Apply appropriate data quality assurance and statistical methods for the research questions and study designs used in epidemiologic research.

Formulate a testable hypothesis and propose a related study design and analytic approach that have the potential for advancing knowledge of the determinants of health and disease.

Apply ethical principles to problems that arise in epidemiologic research and practice.

Evaluate scientific, cultural, and political issues on epidemiologic research, including research goals, recruitment of study participants, and communication of results in the appropriate contexts. 

Demonstrate excellent verbal and communication skills in teaching epidemiologic principles and concepts at appropriate levels to different audiences.

For more information and instructions on how to apply visit the PhD in Epidemiology web page.

Core Requirements

Epidemiology Core

Epi 613Epidemiology II

4

Epi 614Epidemiology III

4

Epi 636Epidemiological Data Analysis & Interpretation

4

Epi 630Epidemiology Journal Club

1

Epi 625Doctoral Seminar in Causal Inference Methods

3

Epi 640Research Proposal and Design

3

Epi 668Infectious Disease Epidemiology

2

Epi 676Chronic Disease Epidemiology

2

Total Credit Hours:24

Biostatistics Core

BSTA 612Linear Models

4

BSTA 613Categorical Data Analysis

3

BSTA 515Data Management & Analysis in SAS

3

 

BSTA 514Statistical Analysis of Time-to-Event Data

3

or

BSTA 519Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Mentored Teaching

Epi 660Mentored Epidemiology Teaching

1

Total Credit Hours:1

Epidemiology Dissertation

Epi 603Epidemiology Dissertation Credits

27-29

Total Credit Hours:27-29

Public Health Core

Conj 650Scientific Ethics

1

or

HSMP 673Values and Ethics in Health

3

 

PHE 622Health and Social Inequalities

3

PHE 612Principles of Health Behavior

3

ESHH 611Concepts of Environmental Health

3

HSMP 674Health Systems Organization

3

CPH 622Communicating Public Health Data

3

Total Credit Hours:16-18

Electives

Other Approved Electives

Courses selected relevant to course of study and necessity to meet credit requirements. 

Courses must be chosen so that program requirements are met with no more than 24 credits (required plus elective) at the 500-level.

Total Credit Hours:12-14

Methods Electives

Courses chosen from pre-approved list or in consultation with program director and advisor.

  • No more than 6 of 12 required credits can be met with Epi 650 Mentored Epidemiology Research. 
  • Courses selected relevant to course of study and necessity to meet credit requirements. 
  • Courses must be chose so that program requirements are met with no more than 24 credits (required plus elective) at the 500-level. 
Total Credit Hours:12
Dissertation and elective credit totals vary based on number of dissertation credits students complete.

Total Credit Hours: 108