Program Overview

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Public Health - Epidemiology (PHEP)

Course Fees

Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.

Course Descriptions

PHEP 501. Introduction to Epidemiology

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: Basic epidemiological methods are presented: terminology; study design; issues of contemporary practice; basic skills for interacting with epidemiologists, reading disease control literature, and drawing on epidemiological concepts.

PHEP 602. Introduction to Epidemiologic Methods

• Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
• Prerequisite(s): PHEP 501 and enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: This course is focused on the design, performance, and analysis of epidemiological research studies. Classes will be conducted as lectures with sample analyses. The course aims to provide a thorough orientation to the fundamentals of the design, performance, and analysis of epidemiological research studies.

PHEP 604. Epidemiology of Infectious Disease

• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: This course will discuss the epidemiology and prevention of infectious disease.

PHEP 605. Research in Infectious Disease

• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Corequisite(s): Concurrent enrollment in PHEP 604.
• Description: This course provides students with an opportunity to expand the content of epidemiology of infectious disease with a research project.

PHEP 606. Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology

• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: The course examines basic principles of Mendelian inheritance in humans and the fundamentals of genetic action in relation to disease etiology.

PHEP 607. Epidemiology of Cancer

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences and successful completion of PHEP 616 or PHEP 622.
• Description: This course reviews the epidemiology of selected cancers and the relationship between environmental and genetic factors in cancer etiology. The roles of risk assessment and screening for cancers in selected organ systems are also addressed.

PHEP 608. Research in Cancer

• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Corequisite(s): Concurrent enrollment in PHEP 607.
• Description: This course provides students with an opportunity to expand the content of epidemiology of cancer with a site-specific, directed research experience.

PHEP 609. Epidemiology of Cardiometabolic Disease

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences and successful completion of PHEP-616 or PHEP-622.
• Description: This course focuses on the epidemiology of metabolic syndrome, and related disorders, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, and dementia.

PHEP 610. Research in Cardiovascular Disease

• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Corequisite(s): Concurrent enrollment in PHEP 609.
• Description: This course provides students with an opportunity to expand the content of epidemiology of cardiovascular disease with a research project.

PHEP 611. Nutritional Epidemiology

• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: This course examines epidemiologic methodology in relation to nutritional measures and the epidemiology of nutritional diseases and disorders.

PHEP 612. Statistics for Epidemiologic Research and Practice

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the MS program in Epidemiology.
• Description: This course introduces students to essential statistical concepts and problem-solving skills for epidemiologists. In this course, students will conduct statistical analyses and present results for practical or research settings.

PHEP 613. Epidemiology of Aging and Disability

• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: This course covers the principles and methods of epidemiology as applied to the study of aging. Major research issues in aging epidemiology and methods to study them will be presented.

PHEP 614. Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology

• Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
• Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MS in Clinical Investigation Sciences, the Certificate in Clinical Investigation Sciences, or the MS in Epidemiology.
• Description: This course introduces the student to the basic concepts of clinical epidemiology, including epidemiological study designs and methods applied in clinical research for determining the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic criteria, efficacy of treatments and interventions, and evaluating prognosis and outcomes.

PHEP 615. Foundations of Global Maternal and Child Health

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: This course provides an overview of global maternal and child health (MCH), including both international and U.S. contexts. The course introduces the main components of MCH, MCH history, programs and policies, data sources, epidemiologic issues, and specific MCH challenges for the future.

PHEP 616. Disease Surveillance and Health Statistics

• Prerequisite(s): PHEP 501 and enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: This course reviews the basic concepts and terminology of disease surveillance and covers the spectrum of health statistics, including population censuses, health surveys and disease reporting systems.

PHEP 617. Field Epidemiology

• Prerequisite(s): PHEP 501 and enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: This course focuses on the practical aspects of doing field epidemiology.

PHEP 618. Epidemiologic Methods I

• Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the MS in Epidemiology program.
• Description: This course provides an intensive review of epidemiologic methods used in a variety of study designs.

PHEP 619. Biology of Disease in Populations

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MS program in Epidemiology and successful completion of PHEP 618 and PHEP 612, or permission of instructor.
• Description: This course provides a broad overview of the biology and basic anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, and pathophysiology of common acute and chronic diseases and conditions from the epidemiologic perspective.

PHEP 620. Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): Completion of or concurrent enrollment in PHEP-602 Epidemiological Methods or enrolled in the MS in Epidemiology program.
• Description: This course offers an overview of selected topics in environmental and occupational epidemiology and methods for studying environmental and occupational determinants of disease.

PHEP 621. Statistical Foundations for Epidemiology

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the PhD in Public Health Sciences specialization in Epidemiology program.
• Description: This course introduces essential statistical concepts and foundations for epidemiologists. It is designed for epidemiology students to exercise statistical theory and computer programming using statistical software as applied to epidemiologic problem-solving.

PHEP 622. Population Pathology

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the Public Health Sciences PhD program with specialization in Epidemiology.
• Description: This course introduces students to the physiologic measures and biomarkers that are used by public health researchers and practioners to assess the health status of populations.

PHEP 623. Theoretical Foundations of Epidemiology

• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the MS program in Epidemiology or the Public Health Sciences PhD program specialization in Epidemiology.
• Description: This course provides an overview of the history of epidemiology, the development of theory, study designs and methods, and ethical and legal issues in the translation of epidemiologic findings into public health policy.

PHEP 624. Methods in Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology

• Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of, or concurrent enrollment in, PHEP 501.
• Description: This course allows students to pursue foundational studies in the epidemiology of reproduction and maternal/child health with an emphasis on the biology of reproduction, epidemiological studies, and maternal and perinatal health.

PHEP 625. Child Health & Development

• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: This course focuses on the core processes of human health and development from infancy through adolescence in global contexts covering the developed and developing worlds.

PHEP 626. Introduction to Social Epidemiology

• Term Typically Offered: Occasionally Offered
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: This course is an introduction to Social Epidemiology, with an emphasis on the theoretical underpinning of social epidemiology and methodologic issues, including definition/measurement of social constructs, appropriate research designs, and analytic approaches.

PHEP 627. Survey Research Methods

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Description: This course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of survey research methods. It will focus on all aspects of the survey research process, from sampling, design of instruments prior to data collection, including online instruments, and including analysis of survey data and reporting.

PHEP 628. Computational Epidemiology with SAS

• Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
• Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MS program in Epidemiology and Population Health and successful completion of PHEP 618 and PHEP 612, or permission of instructor.
• Description: This course provides an overview of data management using SAS statistical software, as well as common statistical methods used in epidemiology with hands-on application to existing or simulated datasets under a variety of study designs.

PHEP 629. Computational Epidemiology with R

• Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
• Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MS program in Epidemiology and Population Health and successful completion of PHEP 618 and PHEP 612, or permission of instructor.
• Description: This course provides an overview of data management using R statistical software, as well as common statistical methods used in epidemiology with hands-on application to existing or simulated datasets under a variety of study designs.

PHEP 630. Study Coordination Skills for Epidemiologic Research

• Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
• Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MS program in Epidemiology and Population Health and successful completion of PHEP 618 and PHEP 612, or permission of instructor.
• Description: This course will provide students with an introduction to the basic and skill-based practical methods needed for the coordination and management of a population-based epidemiologic research study.

PHEP 632. Epidemiologic Methods II

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the Public Health Sciences PhD program with specialization in Epidemiology and successful completion of PHEP 621.
• Description: This is an intermediate course in epidemiologic methods with a focus on epidemiologic measures of disease occurrence and measures of association and their confidence intervals, study designs including cross-sectional, randomized control trials, cohorts, and case-control studies.

PHEP 633. Epidemiologic Methods III

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the Public Health Sciences PhD program with specialization in Epidemiology and successful completion of PHEP 621 and PHEP 632.
• Description: This course provides an intensive orientation and assessment of epidemiologic biases and epidemiologic concepts with hands-on application to existing or simulated datasets under a variety of epidemiologic study designs.

PHEP 647. Epidemiology Data Management & Analytics Lab

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): PHEP 602 or concurrently.
• Description: Graduate student in public health services will learn to analyze epidemiologic data using the Epi info and SAS statistical packages for Windows.

PHEP 650. Advanced Topics in Epidemiology

• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: The purpose of this course is to provide an opportunity to address issues in Epidemiology not covered in the regularly offered curriculum.

PHEP 655. Emerging Issues in Epidemiology

• Prerequisite(s): PHEP 501 and enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
• Description: This course is an overview of emerging topics in epidemiology. Emphasis is on the role that practicing epidemiologists have played or are playing in current public health events.

PHEP 666. Master's Independent Study in Epidemiology and Population Health

• Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
• Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MS in Epidemiology or the MPH concentration in Epidemiology and Population Health.
• Description: Course allows master's students to pursue advanced study with faculty guidance on a topic related to epidemiology and population health.

PHEP 701. Advanced Epidemiologic Methods

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the Public Health Sciences PhD program with specialization in Epidemiology and successful completion of PHEP 621, PHEP 632, and PHEP 633.
• Description: This course provides an intensive review of common and advanced statistical methods used in epidemiology with hands-on application to existing or simulated datasets under a variety of study designs.

PHEP 702. Epidemiologic Research Management

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the Public Health Sciences PhD program with specialization in Epidemiology and successful completion of PHEP 621, PHEP 632 and PHEP 633.
• Description: This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the practical methods necessary for conducting epidemiologic research including study design, regulations, databases, sampling, recruitment and tracking, instrument design, and data quality control.

PHEP 703. Computational Epidemiology

• Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
• Prerequisite(s): PHEP 621, PHEP 623, PHEP 618, and PHEP 701; instructor permission is required for MS Epidemiology students.
• Description: This course provides an intensive review of common and statistical and machine learning techniques used in computational epidemiology with hands-on application to existing or simulated datasets under a variety of study designs.

PHEP 750. Seminar I in Epidemiology

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the Public Health Sciences PhD program with specialization in Epidemiology.
• Description: This course provides doctoral students the opportunity to engage with faculty as junior-peers and discuss a variety of topics related to the professional practice of epidemiology.

PHEP 751. Seminar II in Epidemiology

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the Public Health Sciences PhD program with specialization in Epidemiology and successful completion of PHEP-750 Seminar I in Epidemiology.
• Description: This course provides doctoral students the opportunity to engage with faculty as junior-peers and discuss a variety of topics related to the professional practice of epidemiology.

PHEP 752. Seminar III in Epidemiology

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the Public Health Sciences PhD program with specialization in Epidemiology and successful completion of PHEP 751 Seminar II in Epidemiology.
• Description: This course provides doctoral students the opportunity to engage with faculty as junior-peers and discuss a variety of topics related to the professional practice of epidemiology.

PHEP 777. Dissertation Research

• Prerequisite(s): Completion of Doctoral Qualifying Examination for Public Health Sciences PhD program with specialization in Epidemiology.
• Description: This course is for mentored dissertation research in the PhD Program in Epidemiology.

PHEP 778. Doctoral Independent Study in Epidemiology and Population Health

• Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
• Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the PhD program in Public Health Sciences with specialization in Epidemiology.
• Description: Course allows doctoral students to pursue advanced study with faculty guidance on a topic related to epidemiology and population health.