Masters in Public Health- Concentration in Epidemiology

Description of the Program:

The purpose of the MPH in epidemiology is to train highly skilled individuals in the foundations of epidemiology and its application in public health. Individuals will be trained in epidemiologic study design and statistical analysis as well as the biological principles underlying human diseases. The goal is to train staff scientists and public health practitioners who can implement epidemiologic surveillance and research studies that will protect the public health and meet the rigorous standards of the scientific community.

Contact Information:

Epidemiology MPH Concentration Director / Chair Epidemiology Department
Marci Sontag, PhD / Jill Norris, MPH PhD
(303) 724-4430 / (303) 724-4428
/
Epidemiology Program Assistant
Melodie Proffitt
(303) 724-4488

Competencies for students concentrating in Epidemiology

  1. Explain the descriptive epidemiology of a given condition, including case definition, calculation of the primary measures of disease morbidity and mortality, and appropriate comparisons by person, place and time.
  2. List the strengths and limitations of descriptive statistics.
  3. Identify data from existing local, national or international sources.
  4. Describe study designs and understand the advantages and limitations of each design for addressing specific problems, as well as the practical aspects of their uses, including trade-offs.
  5. Identify and minimize sources of bias; describe both the direction and magnitude of the bias and the effect of potential biases on the measures of association.
  6. Use statistical computer packages to calculate and display descriptive statistics, analyze categorical data, and perform multivariable regression, and other analyses as required.
  7. Examine data for the presence of confounding and interaction (effect modification), identify their presence, and manage them appropriately.
  8. Interpret research results, make appropriate inferences based on results, and recognize the implications of the research results.

Helpful Tips for a Successful Program

  1. Meet with your faculty advisor each semester. It is your responsibility to schedule a meeting with your advisor. You should meet with your advisor before your first semester, and once a semester after that.
  1. Be prepared at your first meeting with your advisor. Be prepared to discuss your interests and career plans. This will help to identify the course schedule that you should be taking and may help to inform later discussions about practicum and capstone. If you don’t have specific interests yet, that is ok too!
  1. Look at the courses that we offer and when they are offered. At the first advising meeting, bring the advising worksheet already filled in with a rough draftof classes that you would like to take over the two years. You can use the EPI MPH course schedule provided to help outline electives. You may end up with more classes than you need – that is ok. Use that as a guide to start the conversation with your advisor.
  1. Practicum and Capstone: These are opportunities for you to gain real experience in the field. Think about where you want to be in 5 years and what skills you will need to do that job. Try to find a practicum and capstone experience that will help you to gain those goals. Reach out to your advisor early in the process and have a conversation with him/her. Advisors love to have input on the projects and appreciate time to do so – avoid the end of the semester rush! 
  2. Practicum: Towards the end of the first year you should schedule a meeting with your advisor to discuss practicum plans. Our first goal for a practicum is to get students exposed to an area of public health that is of interest to them and gain experience in the field. The tasks of the practicum don’t have to be directly related to epidemiology. Many students will continue from their practicum into their capstone, so think about potential practicum opportunities and how they may work into a capstone.
  3. Capstone: During the first semester of the second year you should be planning for your capstone. Many capstones come from the practicum experience, however some will be independent. You need to meet with your faculty advisor early in the semester to define an appropriate capstone. Your capstone should address epidemiology concentration competencies. Please work with your advisor and your preceptor to identify a meaningful capstone.

MPH Concentration in Epidemiology Course Requirements:(for students matriculating Summer/Fall 2013)

Course Title / Course # / Credits
Required MPH Core Credits / 21
Applied Biostatistics I  / BIOS 6611/6601 / 3
Epidemiology / EPID 6630 / 3
Environmental& Occupational Health / EHOH 6614 / 3
Social & Community Factors / CBHS 6610 / 3
Health Systems / HSMP 6603 / 3
Foundations in Public Health / PUBH 6600 / 2
Practicum / PUBH 6606 / 2
Masters Project / PUBH 6955 / 2
Required Epidemiology Courses / 7
Analytical Epidemiology / EPID 6631 / 3
Applied Biostatistics II / BIOS 6602 / 3
Bios Lab‐SAS # / BIOS 6603 / 1
Epidemiology Electives: / 5
Methods-Oriented Courses
Research Methods in Epidemiology / EPID 6626 / 3
Clinical Epidemiology * / EPID 6629 / 2
Advanced Epidemiology / EPID 6632 / 2
Introduction to Systematic Reviews * / EPID 6646 / 1
Outbreak Investigations * / EPID 6640 / 2
SAS Database Design and Management in SAS / BIOS 6680 / 3
Genetic Epidemiology * / EPID 7640 / 1
Research Methods in Secondary Data Sources / EPID 7605 / 3
Topic Oriented Courses
Cancer Prevention and Control * / EPID 6622 / 2
Epidemiology of Communicable Disease / EPID 6635 / 2
Chronic Disease Epidemiology / EPID 6636 / 3
Injury and Violence Epidemiology and Prevention * / EPID 6637 / 2
Cardiovascular Epidemiology * / EPID 6638 / 1
Foodborne and diarrheal disease epidemiology * / EPID 6640 / 2
Public Health Genetics * / EPID 6642 / 2
Epidemiology of HIV/STD/TB * / EPID 6670(1) / 2
Clinical Preventive Services: Evidence-Based Practice * / EPID 6670(2) / 2
Pharmacoepidemiology * / EPID 7615 / 2
Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology / EHOH 6617 / 3
Other Electives:All CSPH Courses are potential electives.
Epi electives are also available at CSU campus / 9

 -BIOS 6611/6612 series recommended for students who have previously taken calculus

* -Course is offered every other year – check course catalog for specific timing

# - Course is required for all Epi students entering Fall 2011 or later. Can be waived for students taking BIOS 6611/6612

Please meet with your advisor each semester before registering for courses.

Example of Full-Time Program of Study, RECOMMENDED Course of Study:

Course Title / Course # / Credits / Total
Credits
Fall Semester Year 1
Epidemiology / EPID 6630 / 3
Applied Biostatistics I / BIOS 6601/6611 / 3
SAS Lab (Not required with BIOS 6611) / BIOS 6603 / 1
SAS Database Design Management / BIOS 6680 / 3
Foundations in PH / PUBH 6600 / 2 / 12
Spring Semester Year 1
CORE Course / HSMP/CBH/EHOH / 3
CORE Course or EPI Electives / HSMP/CBH/EHOH / 3
Applied Biostatistics II / BIOS 6602/6612 / 3
Research Methods in Epidemiology / EPID 6626 / 3
12
Fall Semester Year 2
Practicum / PUBH 6606 / 2
Analytical Epidemiology / EPID 6631 / 3
CORE Course / HSMP/CBH/EHOH / 3
Electives (EPI or outside of EPI) / 2
10
Spring Semester Year 2
Capstone Project / PUBH 6955 / 2
Electives (EPI or outside of EPI) / 6
8

Please meet with your advisor each semester before registering for courses.

Example of Full-Time Program of Study, students with infectious disease interests:

Course Title / Course # / Credits / Total
Credits
Fall Semester Year 1
Epidemiology / EPID 6630 / 3
Applied Biostatistics I / BIOS 6601/6611 / 3
SAS Database Design & Management / BIOS 6680 / 3
Foundations in PH / PUBH 6600 / 2
SAS Lab (Not required with BIOS 6611) / BIOS 6603 / 1 / 12
Spring Semester Year 1
CORE Course / HSMP/CBH/EHOH / 3
Research Methods / EPID 6626 / 3
Applied Biostatistics II / BIOS 6602 / 3
Epidemiology of Communicable Disease / EPID 6636 / 2 / 11
Fall Semester Year 2
Practicum / PUBH 6606 / 2
CORE Course / HSMP/CBH/EHOH / 3
Analytical Epidemiology / EPID 6631 / 3
Foodborne/diarrheal disease epi (odd years)
OR
Epidemiology of HIV/STD/TB (even years) / EPID 6670 / 2
10
Spring Semester Year 2
Capstone Project / PUBH 6955 / 2
CORE Course / HSMP/CBH/EHOH / 3
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks (even years)
OR
Public Health Surveillance(odd years) / EPID 6640
EPID 6624 / 2
Electives (EPI or outside of EPI) / 2 / 9

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Updated 5/28/13