Catalog Home College of Public Health Epidemiology

Epidemiology

The Department of Epidemiology focuses on surveillance for disease, risk factors for disease in the general population, behavioral factors in disease, use and outcome of health interventions and care, and the establishment and evaluation of disease control measures in the community. Students are guided by faculty members whose research interests include epidemiology of communication disorders, pharmacoepidemiology, cancer epidemiology, infectious disease epidemiology, adverse reproductive outcome epidemiology, anatomic pathology, genetics, cardiovascular disease, nutrition, smoking cessation, epidemiology of reproduction, dental epidemiology, clinical epidemiology, neuroepidemiology, meta-analysis, intervention trials, international health, and effects of aging.

Graduate Programs

• Master of Science in epidemiology (with or without thesis)
• Master of Science in clinical investigation
• Doctor of Philosophy in epidemiology
• Certificate in Clinical Investigation

In addition to its graduate degree and certificate programs, the department offers the epidemiology subtrack for the Master of Public Health; see "M.P.H. Subtrack" below.

Master of Science: Epidemiology

The Master of Science program in epidemiology requires 38 s.h. of graduate credit and is offered with or without thesis. The program prepares graduate students for professional careers in which specialized knowledge of epidemiological methods and analytic techniques are essential. Graduates find employment in local, state, and federal health agencies, academic institutions, and private enterprise.

Graduate students in epidemiology must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00. Those who receive a grade of C on 7 s.h. of course work may be dismissed from the program. Students who choose to complete the degree without thesis are required to pass a comprehensive examination.

Students are required to attend 80 percent, for three semesters, of all Department of Epidemiology seminar meetings and journal club meetings. They also must present one scientific poster at an international, national, regional, state, University, or departmental level before they may graduate.

The Master of Science in epidemiology requires the following course work.

CORE COURSES

Students earn 30-31 s.h. in the required core, as follows.

All of these: 

One of these: 

One of these: 

One of these: 

One of these: 

ELECTIVES

Students must earn a total of 7-8 s.h. in elective course work, including at least 5 s.h. in Department of Epidemiology courses (prefix 173) and 2 s.h. in additional graduate-level course work pertinent to the student's educational goals and background (the additional 2 s.h. may be earned in an epidemiology course or in another graduate course, with the advisor's approval). The following courses are recommended. 

Students may need to do additional elective course work in order to complete the minimum 38 s.h. required for the degree.

Master of Science: Clinical Investigation

The Master of Science program in clinical investigation requires 30 s.h. of graduate credit. The program is designed for clinicians interested in pursuing careers in clinical research. It includes in-depth training in biostatistics, epidemiology, research ethics, and academic survival skills as well as didactic training applicable to clinical research careers.

Graduates of the program are able to critically evaluate clinical literature, write competitive grant proposals, design and conduct clinical research projects, work effectively with other researchers and support staff, and disseminate research results through manuscripts and presentations.

Applicants to the program must have completed at least 6 s.h. of pathology, physiology, and/or pharmacology. Students must remedy deficiencies by taking courses that fill this requirement during their enrollment in the program.

Graduate students in epidemiology must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00. Those who receive a grade of C on 7 s.h. of course work may be dismissed from the program.

The Master of Science in clinical investigation requires the following course work.

CORE COURSES

Students earn a minimum of 15 s.h. as follows.

All of these: 

One of these: 

One of these: 

EPIDEMIOLOGY CORE

Students earn a minimum of 12 s.h. as follows.

Both of these: 

One of these: 

One of these: 

FOCUS AREA ELECTIVES

Students earn a minimum of 3 s.h. from one focus area.

General (Applicable to More Than One Focus Area) 

Patient-Oriented Research 

Epidemiology and Behavioral Research 

Outcomes and Health Services Research 

M.P.H. Subtrack

The Department of Epidemiology offers the epidemiology subtrack for the Master of Public Health. The subtrack focuses on fundamental concepts and methods and provides training in the use of data and methods for disease assessment and for evaluation of programs and interventions. Graduates of the program work in public health departments and other health care settings. See Master of Public Health Program in the Catalog.

Doctor of Philosophy: Epidemiology

The Doctor of Philosophy program in epidemiology requires a minimum of 75 s.h. of graduate credit. The program prepares graduate students for careers as scientists, teachers, and practitioners of epidemiologic methods. Employment opportunities exist in academic institutions; local, state, and federal health agencies; and in commercial enterprises.

Graduate students in epidemiology must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00. Those who receive a grade of C on 7 s.h. of course work may be dismissed from the program.

All doctoral students must successfully complete a qualifying examination, a comprehensive examination, and a dissertation--a substantial scholarly treatise. The research topic and content, which vary depending on the program of study, must be approved by the student's dissertation committee. Other degree requirements include approved electives chosen from Department of Epidemiology courses and other University of Iowa courses.

Students are required to attend 80 percent, for three semesters, of all Department of Epidemiology seminar meetings and journal club meetings. They also must present one scientific poster at an international, national, regional, state, University, or departmental level before they may graduate.

The Doctor of Philosophy in epidemiology requires the following course work.

CORE COURSES

Students earn 39-41 s.h. in the required core, as follows.

All of these: 

One of these: 

One of these:

Ph.D. students also must earn 3 s.h. in epidemiology courses outside their emphasis area.

ELECTIVES

Students must complete a total of 23-25 s.h. of elective course work. They must earn 3 s.h. in a Department of Epidemiology course (prefix 173) outside their emphasis area and at least 20 s.h. in courses in their emphasis area. Course selection must be approved by the student's advisor and Ph.D. plan of study committee.

DISSERTATION

All doctoral students must successfully complete a Ph.D. thesis. 

Certificate in Clinical Investigation

The Certificate in Clinical Investigation requires a minimum of 19 s.h. of graduate credit and may be completed in one year. It is designed for clinicians who seek advanced training in clinical methodology and applied patient-oriented research skills. Completion of the certificate is noted on the student's transcript.

The certificate program is open to individuals who hold a doctoral-level degree in a clinical discipline (e.g., M.D., D.O., D.D.S., Ph.D., Pharm.D., D.V.M.) or are enrolled in the Medical Scientist Training Program (Carver College of Medicine). Admission requirements are similar to those for the Master of Science program in clinical investigation; see "Admission" below.

Certificate students complete didactic course work and clinical research preceptorships and participate in clinical research seminars according to the study plan below.

The Certificate in Clinical Investigation requires the following course work.

Summer session:

Fall semester:

Spring semester:

Admission

M.S. and Ph.D.: Epidemiology

The epidemiology faculty considers several factors when evaluating applications for admission, including GRE scores, grade-point average, letters of recommendation, intent and motivation for graduate study, and research interests. A student with deficiencies in one area may be admitted if all other components of his or her application are very strong.

All M.S. program applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree and have a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.00. Undergraduate preparation must include two semesters of biological sciences, and mathematics through algebra.

Ph.D. program applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree (an M.S. or M.P.H. usually is required), and must have a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.00. Courses in the biological, physical, and mathematical sciences provide important background; one semester of calculus and two semesters of biological sciences are highly recommended. Computing skills also are desirable.

All applicants to the M.S. or Ph.D. program must have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.

Applicants whose first language is not English and who do not hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada (except Quebec), Australia, or New Zealand must score at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants who score 550-599 (paper-based), 213-249 (computer-based), or 81-99 (Internet-based) are required to take English fluency courses. Applicants who score below those ranges are not considered for admission. In place of TOEFL scores, the department accepts International English Testing System (IELTS) scores of 7.0 or higher, with no subscore below 6.0.

All M.S. and Ph.D. applicants and students are required to have strong written and oral communication skills.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

Application deadlines for fall entrance to the M.S. in epidemiology are July 1 for U.S. citizens, April 15 for international applicants. Application deadlines for spring entrance are April 15 for U.S. citizens, March 1 for international applicants.

Application deadline for fall entrance to the Ph.D. in epidemiology is April 1. Application deadline for spring entrance (not encouraged) is October 1.

M.S.: Clinical Investigation

Applicants to the M.S. program in clinical investigation must hold a doctoral-level degree in a clinical discipline (e.g., M.D., D.O., D.D.S., Ph.D., Pharm.D., D.V.M) or be enrolled in the Medical Scientist Training Program (Carver College of Medicine). They must hold a baccalaureate degree with a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.00; foreign-trained applicants must have an outstanding doctoral training record.

All applicants must have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), or Dental Admission Test (DAT). Applicants whose first language is not English and who do not hold a degree from an accredited English-speaking college or university must have taken the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Applicants are considered based on their credentials, prior training, and research training plans. An applicant with deficiencies in one area may be admitted if all other components of his or her application are strong.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

The M.S. in clinical investigation accepts students only for summer entrance. Application deadlines are April 15 for U.S. citizens, March 1 for international applicants.

Financial Support

A limited number of graduate research assistantships are available for advanced M.S. and Ph.D. students; for information, consult the department. For information on financing education through jobs, grants, and loans, contact the University's Office of Student Financial Aid.

Opportunities for funded predoctoral fellowships are available. Funded positions sponsored by federal agencies are available only to U.S. citizens.

Resources

The State Health Registries of Iowa, which encompasses the Iowa Cancer Registry and the Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders, works in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Public Health to collect medical data on Iowans. It is one of 10 registries nationwide that report data to the National Cancer Institute.

The Preventive Intervention Center conducts population-based intervention trials to prevent occurrence and recurrence of disease and to promote wellness, with a focus on the elderly. The Lipid Research Clinic specializes in research promoting prevention of cardiovascular disease and provides an interdisciplinary approach to risk factor interventions. The Healthcare Effectiveness Research Center is a collaborative research enterprise with the College of Pharmacy that studies whether particular health care treatments or services are over- or underutilized. The Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases employs epidemiological methods, laboratory technologies, and clinical evaluations to achieve a better understanding of emerging infectious diseases. The Nutrition Center provides expertise in nutrition and dietary assessment, dietary interventions, and nutrition lifestyle change strategies.

Courses