Dept. of Preventive Medicine, page 5

Dept. of Preventive Medicine, page 5
School of Medicine

Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology

The department offers a degree leading to the Ph.D. in epidemiology. This program may be an extension of the applied biometry/epidemiology track in the M.S. program and is especially aimed at persons with a strong background in medicine: in particular, students enrolled in the M.D. program of the School of Medicine who wish to interrupt their M.D. studies after two years to complete a Ph.D. degree. This program is designed to produce an epidemiologist with in-depth statistical skills. The program requires a solid core of courses in methodological aspects of statistics and in statistical thinking as applied to medicine, as well as a solid grounding in epidemiological methods and in certain medical disciplines.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 60 course units with a maximum of 20 units of research and dissertation; passing of screening and qualifying examinations; and completion of dissertation and final oral are required. In preparation for the screening examination the student must take the required 21 units of master's level applied biometry/epidemiology courses. A student failing the screening examination will either terminate or terminate with the M.S. degree upon satisfactory completion of the epidemiology track. In preparation for the qualifying examination, all students are required to take PM 517ab, 527 and 611ab. The student is also required to take at least nine units but not more than 20 units in medical school courses. Satisfactory completion of the first two years of the M.D. program will be considered to provide 20 units of medical school courses; other suitable courses are listed in this catalogue, e.g., BIOC 401ab, 441; MICB 500L, 544; PHBI 582, 618. Other courses not listed here may be acceptable upon approval by the chair of the guidance committee.

Guidance Committee

A formal guidance committee, consisting of five faculty members, with at least three from the Department of Preventive Medicine (one designated as chair) and one from a department offering a Ph.D. outside of the Department of Preventive Medicine, will recommend courses in preparation for the qualifying examination.

Qualifying Examination

The written portion of the qualifying examination will test the student's integration of knowledge in biometry and medicine. An oral examination will ascertain the student's competency in orally communicating his or her knowledge, and will cover the proposed dissertation research area.

Dissertation

Upon passing the qualifying examination, the Ph.D. candidate and his or her chair will recommend a three-member dissertation committee. The dissertation should be completed within two years and should be oriented toward a methodological application to a problem area in the biological or health sciences.

The Oral Defense

This examination is based on a draft or final version of the dissertation and will be administered by the dissertation committee with other faculty invited to attend.

Language and Other Requirements

Proficiency in the English language is essential.

Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
David Henriquez
univpub@stuaff.usc.edu