Graduate Catalog

Epidemiology and Human Genetics

Graduate Program in Life Sciences

http://lifesciences.umaryland.edu/epidemiology/

Degrees Offered

PhD, PhD/MD, MS, MS/MD, Certificate

Program Description

The graduate program in Epidemiology and Human Genetics (EHG) within GPILS at the School of Medicine offers a diverse array of integrated opportunities to develop skillsfor discovering how population, molecular, and genetic variations relate to health and disease. These skills are essential for translating new basic research findings into clinical practice and applying them to public health. New findings from epidemiology and human genetics research consistently make the news. Students in this program become leaders in improving the health of local, regional, and global populations. The program combines traditional areas of biomedical, genetic, clinical, and community studies with opportunities to learn and apply observational, biostatistical, molecular, and genomic tools in their investigations.

The PhD program consists of three tracks: epidemiology, molecular epidemiology, and human genetics, each with a tailored program of study. There are two MS degrees, the MS in Epidemiology and Clinical Research with two tracks (one in epidemiology and one in clinical research) and the MS in Human Genetics. Dual-degree programs enable students to earn an MS degree in combination with one of several PhD programs.

The PhD in Epidemiology and Human Genetics (Epidemiology Track) allows students to acquire advanced knowledge, skills, and experience in completing independent epidemiological research in a biomedical setting. This track has a strong quantitative focus, necessary for providing students with the tools needed to conduct world-class research on epidemiologic topics and to participate in multidisciplinary research in a broad range of specialties.

The PhD in Epidemiology and Human Genetics (Molecular Epidemiology Track) is designed for students who wish to undertake research that combines molecular, genetic, and epidemiologic techniques and to apply these technologies to the understanding of risk factors for disease transmission or acquisition. Students in this track are provided with a solid knowledge base in epidemiology and biostatistics while gaining the laboratory and informatics skills needed to incorporate genomic data into their research.

The PhD in Epidemiology and Human Genetics (Human Genetics Track) provides broad training for students wanting to understand human genetic variation and its relation to health and disease. Students receive an overview of human genetics (molecular, biochemical, clinical, cytogenetics, and genetic epidemiology/genomics) and then specialize in their areas of interest.

The MS in Epidemiology and Clinical Research (Epidemiology Track) is designed to offer an MS degree to students pursuing a PhD in Gerontology or in Pharmaceutical Health Services Research as part of our dual-degree programs. Also, students wishing to leave the Epidemiology and Human Genetics PhD program can opt to get the MS in lieu of their PhD.

Program Admission

Degree-seeking students are admitted into the program during the fall semester only, and the Graduate School must receive PhD application materials by December 1st.  The MS applications deadline is February 15 (March 1 for internal candidates) of the year in which the student intends to enroll.  Graduate Record Examinations (GREs) are mandatory; Medical College Admission Test scores may replace GRE scores for physician applicants. In addition to meeting the minimum requirements of the Graduate School and the Graduate Program in Life Sciences (GPILS), applicants should have completed coursework in biology relevant to understanding health and disease processes, and college algebra. The program evaluates each applicant individually with attention to areas of strength that relate to the skills and background necessary to succeed in graduate study in epidemiology and human genetics.

Degree Requirements

Doctoral students in the human genetics track are required to take 32 course credits. The doctoral degree in the epidemiology and molecular epidemiology tracks requires up to 44 course credits, depending on the student’s research interests and previously completed coursework. Students may need to take additional coursework as background preparation or in preparation for an area of specialization. PhD candidates must successfully complete a minimum of 12 credits of doctoral dissertation research.

The master’s degree for the epidemiology and clinical research track requires a total of 30 credits. A thesis is optional for students in this track; however, students who opt out of the thesis must complete Research Practicum I and II. 

Required Courses: PhD Epidemiology Track

PREV 600PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 619INTRODUCTION TO SAS

1

PREV 620PRINCIPLES OF BIOSTATISTICS

3

PREV 659OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 716CHRONIC DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 720STATISTICAL METHODS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 730INTRO TO R STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

1-6

PREV 747EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE RESEARCH PRACTICUM I

3

PREV 748EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE RESEARCH PRACTICUM II

2

PREV 749INFECTIOUS DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY - A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

3

PREV 758HEALTH SURVEY RESEARCH METHODS

3

PREV 803CLINICAL TRIALS AND EXPERIMENTAL EPIDMIOLOGY

3

 

CIPP 907RESEARCH ETHICS

1

CIPP 907: or equivalent

Select three of these statistical analyses courses:

PREV 721REGRESSION ANALYSIS

2

PREV 724INTRODUCTION TO CAUSAL INFERENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING

2

PREV 801LONGITUDINAL DATA ANALYSIS

3

PREV 899DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH

1 TO 12

8 credits of general electives

PREV 899: 12 credits minimum

Required Courses: PhD Molecular Epidemiology Track

PREV 600PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 619INTRODUCTION TO SAS

1

PREV 620PRINCIPLES OF BIOSTATISTICS

3

PREV 659OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 711GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

GPLS 716GENOMICS AND BIOINFORMATICS

3

GPLS 718PROGRAMMING FOR BIOINFORMATICS

2

PREV 720STATISTICAL METHODS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 724INTRODUCTION TO CAUSAL INFERENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING

2

GPLS 728GENOMIC DATA SCIENCE

3

PREV 730INTRO TO R STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

1-6

PREV 747EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE RESEARCH PRACTICUM I

3

PREV 748EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE RESEARCH PRACTICUM II

2

PREV 780MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 899DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH

1 TO 12

 

CIPP 907RESEARCH ETHICS

1

11 credits of general electives

CIPP 907: or equivalent

PREV 899: 12 credits minimum

Required Courses: PhD Human Genetics Track

GPLS 601MECHANISMS IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES: FROM GENES TO DISEASE

8

GPLS 716GENOMICS AND BIOINFORMATICS

3

HGEN 601BASIC HUMAN GENETICS I

4

HGEN 602BASIC HUMAN GENETICS II

4

HGEN 608HUMAN GENETICS SEMINAR

1

 

CIPP 907RESEARCH ETHICS

1

And

PREV 619INTRODUCTION TO SAS

1

PREV 620PRINCIPLES OF BIOSTATISTICS

3

Or

PREV 621BIOSTATISTICAL METHODS

3

HGEN 608: four semesters

Select two or more of the following:

HGEN 701HUMAN CYTOGENETICS

2

PREV 711GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

GPLS 717GENOMICS OF MODEL SPECIES AND HUMANS

3

GPLS 718PROGRAMMING FOR BIOINFORMATICS

2

GPLS 750TOPICS IN MOLECULAR MEDICINE

2

HGEN 720METABOLIC GENETICS

2

HGEN 728CLINICAL GENETICS I

2 TO 4

HGEN 731CLINICAL GENETICS II

2

HGEN 760CLINICAL CANCER GENETICS

2

PREV 600PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 780MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

CIPP 907RESEARCH ETHICS

1

PREV 899DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH

1 TO 12

CIPP 907: or equivalent

PREV 899: 12 credits minimum

Required Courses: MS in Epidemiology and Clinical Research (Epidemiology Track)

This program is only open to current students at UMB.
PREV 600PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 619INTRODUCTION TO SAS

1

PREV 620PRINCIPLES OF BIOSTATISTICS

3

PREV 648INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH SYSTEM AND HEALTH POLICY MANAGEMENT

3

PREV 659OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 720STATISTICAL METHODS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 747EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE RESEARCH PRACTICUM I

3

PREV 748EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE RESEARCH PRACTICUM II

2

PREV 799MASTER'S THESIS RESEARCH

1 TO 6

 

CIPP 907RESEARCH ETHICS

1

Electives as needed to meet 30-credit requirement

PREV 747 and PREV 748: or MS Thesis 

CIPP 907: or equivalent

PREV 799: 6 credits minimum if master’s thesis option

Required Courses: MS Epidemiology/ PhD Gerontology Joint Degree

(open only to students in the Gerontology PhD program)

PREV 600PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 619INTRODUCTION TO SAS

1

PREV 620PRINCIPLES OF BIOSTATISTICS

3

PREV 659OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 720STATISTICAL METHODS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 721REGRESSION ANALYSIS

2

 

PREV 724INTRODUCTION TO CAUSAL INFERENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING

2

Or

PREV 801LONGITUDINAL DATA ANALYSIS

3

 

PREV 758HEALTH SURVEY RESEARCH METHODS

3

PREV 803CLINICAL TRIALS AND EXPERIMENTAL EPIDMIOLOGY

3

Epidemiology electives from among PREV courses not already taken

3

Other courses required for the Gerontology PhD

Required Courses: MS Epidemiology/ PhD Pharmaceutical Health Services Research Joint Degree

(open only to students in the Pharmaceutical Health Services Research PhD program)

PREV 600PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 619INTRODUCTION TO SAS

1

PREV 620PRINCIPLES OF BIOSTATISTICS

3

PREV 659OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 720STATISTICAL METHODS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

3

PREV 721REGRESSION ANALYSIS

2

PREV 724INTRODUCTION TO CAUSAL INFERENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING

2

PREV 803CLINICAL TRIALS AND EXPERIMENTAL EPIDMIOLOGY

3

6 credits of Epidemiology electives from among PREV courses not already taken

Other courses required for the Pharmaceutical Health Services Research PhD

Available Electives

See PREV and other GPLS courses in the Course Descriptions part of this catalog.

Details are given in the Course Descriptions part of this catalog.