Frequently Asked Questions about the Epidemiology course tracks:

The objectives of both tracks are to introduce students to epidemiologic methodology and give students the skills to interpret epidemiologic data and make causal inferences.

Will students in the Applied Epidemiology track be able to transfer into the Epidemiologic Research track mid-sequence?

No.  Students in the Epidemiologic Research track must take all courses in the sequence; students will not be able to transfer into the Epidemiologic Research track if they have not been enrolled in prior classes.

Will students in the Epidemiologic Research track be able to transfer into the Applied Epidemiology track mid-sequence?

Yes.  Students who transfer from the Epidemiologic Research track into the Applied Epidemiology track will be prepared for the methodological content.

I want to learn epidemiologic methods beyond “Principles of Epidemiology” (340.601).  Which track should I take?

There are two introductory Epidemiology methods course sequences: the Applied Epidemiology track and the Epidemiologic Research track.  They are both comprised of three courses (3 terms) and students can choose to take one or the other. A frequently asked question is “which one should I take?”

The Applied Epidemiology Track focuses on teaching public health professionals the methods of epidemiology as they apply to public health problem-solving and policy development.  The Applied Epidemiology track is comprised of two existing courses, Principles of Epidemiology (340.601) and Observational Epidemiology (340.608) and a proposed third course on Applied Epidemiology.   In this sequence, students will learn the application of epidemiology to public health problems, as utilized in health departments, health interventions, and health policy. 

The Epidemiologic Research Track teaches public health and clinical researchers how to design, conduct, and analyze epidemiologic studies, using longstanding and emerging epidemiologic methods.  It is comprised of three courses (340.751 to 340.753), and an optional fourth term course geared toward doctoral and other advanced students.  The Epidemiologic Research Track has been developed to be comprehensive and prepare students for careers in research. At the end of the sequence, we expect that students will have a strong understanding of epidemiologic inference and multi-level modeling, be able to design and analyze epidemiologic studies, and effectively interpret and report results from such studies.

Which track should MPH students do?

Students entering the MPH program will be expected to take Principles of Epidemiology (340.601) in the summer term. 

MPH students who decide to enter the Applied Epidemiology track will continue with Observational Epidemiology in the second term and Applied Epidemiology in the third term.

MPH students in the Concentration in Epidemiological & Biostatistical Methods for Public Health & Clinical Research and others who decide to enter the Epidemiologic Research Track will continue with Epidemiologic Methods 1 in the first term, followed by Epidemiologic Methods 2 and 3 (340.752 and 340.753) in the second and third terms, respectively.  The focus and content of the Epidemiologic Methods 1 course will provide a deeper understanding of the concepts covered in Principles of Epidemiology.

I'm not in Epidemiology but the program I am in requires courses in Epidemiology.  What do I do? 

Please check with your academic coordinator or departmental curriculum committee.