This program is aimed at applicants with a strong background in clinical research, in particular, students enrolled in the M.D./Ph.D. program in the Keck 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 and analytic skills. The program requires a solid background in the 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. This program encourages applicants who have undergraduate degrees in allied health, public health, biological sciences, or other related fields to apply.

Preparation for the Screening Examination

Prior to the Screening Examination a mentor who will serve on the Guidance Committee must be identified. The Screening Examination will consist of an Applied portion and a Theory portion. Examination questions for the Applied portion will be drawn from the Core courses for the MS degree in Applied Biostatistics/Epidemiology (see above). Examination questions for the Theory portion of the Screening Examination may be drawn from Core Course including PM517a, as well as electives representing the research focus of the student. The content area of the Theory portion requires approval of the Biostatistics/Epidemiology program Directors. A student failing the Screening Examination may be given a second opportunity to retake either or both portions of the Screening Examination. Students failing the examination for the second time will terminate with the MS degree upon satisfactory completion of 33 units and an acceptable thesis.

Preparation for the Qualifying Examination

A formal Guidance Committee will be formed, consisting of five faculty members; up to four from the Department of Preventive Medicine (one designated as Chair) and at least one from an outside department offering a PhD degree. The Committee will recommend courses in preparation for the Qualifying Examination based on the student’s research and dissertation topic. In addition the student is required to join an on-going research project under the direction of the chair of the Guidance Committee, and directly participate in the conduct of that project. Credit will be given as PM 790 (4 units, 2 semesters). In addition, the student is recommended to take PM 610 (at least 2 semesters), PM517b, and PM 533. Electives may be selected (with the approval of the chair of the guidance committee) from courses in the biological sciences or from the medical school. For students in the MD/PhD program in epidemiology, satisfactory completion of the first two years of the MD program will be considered to provide 20 units towards the PhD degree. Prior to the Qualifying Examination, a written draft of the proposed dissertation must be submitted to the Guidance Committee. The dissertation should be oriented toward an epidemiological research area, and typically consists of: a) an independent and complete data analysis arising from an on-going epidemiological study, b) a "review" paper on an area of epidemiological research, and c) a grant application for a new epidemiological study.

Qualifying Examination

During the oral Qualifying Examination, the student will present plans for the implementation and completion of the three components of the proposed dissertation. In addition, the Qualifying Examination will test the student's integration of knowledge of statistical and epidemiological methods.

Dissertation and Oral Defense

Upon passing the Qualifying Examination, the Ph.D. candidate and his/her chair will recommend a three-member Dissertation Committee. The dissertation should be completed within two years of the Qualifying Examination. The oral Defense Examination is based on a draft or final version of the dissertation and will be administered by the Dissertation Committee and other invited faculty and students are invited to attend.