Infectious Disease Epidemiology at HSPH : Curriculum

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The program in infectious disease epidemiology provides a rare opportunity for students to obtain rigorous training both in traditional methods for epidemiologic studies, and in mathematical modeling and other approaches to study the mechanisms of transmission. Coursework bridging these areas is reinforced by ongoing collaborations within the department, and between epidemiologists and bench scientists who can measure parameters relevant to epidemiologic models.

This program can be pursued in two ways:

Degree Area of Research Interest

Students in an ScM, ScD, or DPH program in Epidemiology can select Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases from one of the fifteen areas of research interest available to them. Students are then required to complete elective courses and conduct thesis or dissertation research in their chosen area of interest.

Course requirements for each area of interest are determined by the degree program to which the student matriculates. Review the current year Epidemiology Student Handbook for complete degree program requirements, and the list of recommended courses.

Interdisciplinary Concentration

Having applied and been granted admission to an HSPH degree program (PhD, ScD, DPH, ScM, MPH), interested students should complete and submit the concentration form in their first term of participation. Students will then be expected to meet the requirements of the interdisciplinary concentration, as well as those of their departmental degree program. To meet these requirements, students must have successfully completed a course sequence as outlined below.

Graduating students must submit a final, revised concentration form with an unofficial transcript to the program coordinator for review and approval of concentration completion. This must be submitted no later than the first week of the final semester of the degree program.

Masters students in one year programs should consult with their academic advisors prior to beginning this interdisciplinary concentration, as some courses are not offered every year.

NOTE: No special degree in the epidemiology of infectious diseases is awarded. Upon successful completion of the concentration requirements, graduating students will receive a letter of completion from the concentration.

Concentration Courses
Below is an outline of courses available in this concentration. A fuller list of course descriptions is downloadable.

Required courses: select one (5.0 credits).

EPI 255 - 256		Epidemiology of HIV, Part 1: etiology, natural history and transmission, and Part 2: design and conduct of therapeutic and prevention interventions	5.0 total
EPI 285		Infectious Disease Dynamics	5.0

Elective courses:

10.0 credits required, of which at least 5.0 must be drawn from the options in bold.

BIO 287	Public Health Surveillance	2.5
EPI 216	Epidemiology in Public Health Practice
EPI 255	Epidemiology of HIV, Part 1: Etiology, Natural History and Transmission	2.5
EPI 256	Epidemiology of HIV, Part 2: Design and Conduct of Therapeutic and Prevention Interventions	2.5
EPI 260	Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases	2.5
EPI 285	Infectious Disease Dynamics	5.0
ID 229	Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases of Public Health Importance in Developing countries	3.0
IMI 201	Ecology, epidemiology, and control of important parasitic diseases of developing areas	2.5
IMI 208	Immunology of infectious diseases	2.5
IMI 228	Combatting Infectious Diseases in the Developing World	2.5
BIO 249	Bayesian Statistics in Biostatistics	5.0
BIO 283	Spatial Statistics for Health Research	5.0
EH 223	Advanced Respiratory Physiology	5.0
EH 253	Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality	2.5
EH 256	Introduction to Aerobiology	2.5
EH 278	Human Health and Global Environmental Change	2.5/5.0
EPI 252	Infections and Cancer	2.5
ID 201	Malaria and Human Affairs	2.5
ID 262	Introduction to the Practice of International Health	2.5
ID 517	Public Health Response to Mass Emergencies (formerly ID287)	2.5
ID 298	Inference in Infectious Disease Epidemiology	2.5
IMI 202	Tuberculosis: the Host, the Organism, and the Global Threat	2.5
IMI 204	Survey of Immunology	1.25
IMI 206	Principles of Public Health Entomology	2.5
IMI 216	Cellular and Molecular Biology of Parasites	5.0
IMI 225	Design and Development of a Vaccine	2.5
IMI 227	Genetics and Genomics of Infectious Diseases: TB, Malaria, HIV	2.5
IMI 229	Introduction to Computational Genomics for Infectiuos Disease	2.5
PIH 253	Human Ecology	2.5
PIH 267	HIV/AIDS in Developing Countries: Epidemiology and National Responses	2.5
PIH517	Public Health and Security Management	2.5
RDS 280	Decision Analysis for Health and Medical Practices	2.5

Additional departmental program information:

Biostatistics Student Handbook
Epidemiology Student Handbook
Health Policy and Management
Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Population and International Health