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UIC School of Public Health Student Handbook 2008-2009

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR EPIDEMIOLOGY

To print the curricular table for the Epidemiology MS, please download here(pdf)

MS Curriculum

TOTAL Credit Hours = minimum of 50 semester credit hours (SH)

http://www.uic.edu/sph/eb.htm

School-Wide

Core

Requirements

· EPID 403 Introduction to Epidemiology: Principles and Methods (3 SH)

· BSTT 400 Biostatistics I (4 SH)

Required Non-Credit Training:
(http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ovcr/research/protocolreview/irb/
education/initial.shtml)

· HIPAA Research 101 (non-credit)

· Investigator Training 101 (non-credit)

MS Thesis Research Requirement:*

· IPHS 598 Research in the Public Health Sciences – MS (8 SH)

Divisional

Core

Requirements

· EPID 404 Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods (4 SH)

· EPID 406 Epidemiologic Computing (3 SH)

· EPID 591 Current Epidemiologic Literature (2 SH)

· EPID 595 Research Seminar (1 SH)

· BSTT 401 Biostatistics II (4 SH)

Select one of the following:

· BSTT 505 Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis (2 SH)

· BSTT 506 Design of Clinical Trials (3 SH)

· BSTT 507 Sampling and Estimation Methods Applied to Public Health (3 SH)

SUB-TOTAL: 16-17 semester credit hours

Electives

and

Concentrations

Students may use their electives to pursue a course of study in the following optional concentration; or may customize their program of study by selecting from a broad range of course work to meet their career goals and interests.

All students must complete a minimum of 19 semester hours of electives.

Epidemiology Courses (12 SH)

At least 7 SH must be at the 500 level

Other Electives (7 SH)

At least 3 SH should be one of the following:

EOHS 400 Principles of Management in Public Health (3 SH)
CHSC 400 Public Health Concepts and Practice (3 SH)
CHSC 401 Behavioral Sciences in Public Health (3 SH)
HPA 400 Principles of Management in Public Health (3 SH)

SUB-TOTAL: minimum 19 semester credit hours

Optional

Concentration

Cancer Epidemiology

Students electing the Cancer Epidemiology concentration must complete the School-Wide Course Requirements and the following courses in lieu of the Divisional Core Requirements:

· EPID 404 Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods (4 SH)

· EPID 406 Epidemiologic Computing (3 SH)

· EPID 515 Survey of Cancer Epidemiology (3 SH)

· EPID 591 Current Epidemiologic Literature (2 SH)

· EPID 595 Research Seminar (1 SH)

· BSTT 401 Biostatistics II (4 SH)

· BSTT 505 Survival analysis and logistic regression (2 SH)

Select two from the following:

· CHSC 514/HN 594 (cross-listed) Nutritional Epidemiology (3 SH)

· EPID 516 Advanced Cancer Epidemiology (2 SH)

· EPID 520 Genetics in Epidemiology (2 SH)

· EPID 554 Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology (2 SH)

· EPID 594 Advanced Special Topics in Epidemiology: Social Epidemiology (2 SH)

· EPID 594 Advanced Special Topics in Epidemiology: Surveillance Epidemiology (2 SH)

Cancer Epidemiology Electives:

Students must take a minimum of 11-12 SH of electives as necessary to reach minimum of 50 total program hours

SUB-TOTAL: minimum of 35 semester credit hours

Other Recognized Interdisciplinary Concentrations

Global Health http://www.uic.edu/sph/global/index.shtml – formal approval pending Spring 2009

TOTAL HOURS

Minimum of 50 semester credit hours

Epidemiology: MS Learning Objectives

In addition to the school-wide learning objectives, for students pursuing the MS degree in Epidemiology, the following objectives apply:

Exhibit the ability for problem conceptualization and study design
Demonstrate critical reading skills and the ability to synthesize epidemiological and related biological information.
Illustrate the ability to write reports from studies that are suitable for publication in scientific journals.

Additionally, the Cancer Epidemiology concentration is intended to provide specialized training to enable MS students:

To describe and characterize the major known determinants of cancer;
To describe, locate, analyze and interpret existing data relevant to cancer;
To understand the strengths and weaknesses of alternative epidemiologic study designs in the context of cancer research; and
To work within a multidisciplinary team to study behavioral, environmental, infectious, nutritional and/or genetic factors involved in cancer etiology.

General MS Curricular Policies: See http://www.uic.edu/sph/shandbook_ms.htm

MS Thesis Research Requirements

The MS Thesis in Epidemiology at UIC SPH is intended to prepare the student to conduct epidemiology studies as a part of a research team. The thesis process involves a) developing a thesis proposal in conjunction with a thesis advisor and committee, and b) completion of the research, writing, and defense of the dissertation. With the assistance of the advisor, the student should select appropriate faculty for his/her thesis committee. The committee must be comprised of three members at a minimum, with at least one member a tenured faculty. The members of the thesis committee will meet with the student to approve the thesis proposal, and to determine that the student is adequately prepared to undertake it.

The student may generate his or her own research hypothesis or work with a faculty member who outlines a research hypothesis. The use of existing data to test a hypothesis using standard epidemiological study designs and analytic techniques is recommended. However, other formats (e.g. descriptive studies and studies with limited field work), may be acceptable. It is anticipated that the thesis results will be suitable for publication in a peer reviewed scientific journal.

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