This degree is typically completed over 2 academic years. The 80-credit SM program is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree. Applicants should have a strong background in relevant disciplines (e.g., biology, chemistry, genetics, physiology, bioengineering, and related social and computational sciences) and mathematics, and clear research goals. A Thesis is required for this degree.
*The GRE is recommended but not required for the degree application. Applicants that are not submitting GRE scores should be able to show quantitative skills in other areas of their application (ie: transcripts, research experience, letters of recommendation). If you have questions about this, please contact Eric DiGiovanni at edigiova@hsph.harvard.edu
Questions regarding this program can be directed to either our Faculty Director, Lorelei Mucci (lmucci@hsph.harvard.edu) or our program administrator Caroline Huntington (chunting@hsph.harvard.edu).
| Course Requirements (2.5 credits = 1/2 term course or ~7-8 weeks, 5 credits =full semester or ~15-16 weeks) |
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| Epi 201 | Introduction to Epidemiology (2.5 cr) |
| Epi 202 | Elements of Epidemiologic Research (2.5 cr) |
| Epi 203 | Study Design in Epidemiological Research (2.5 cr) |
| Epi 204 | Analysis of Case-Control and Cohort Studies (2.5 cr) |
| Epi 289 | Causal Inference (2.5 cr) |
| Bst 201 | Introduction to Statistical Methods (5 cr) |
| Bst 210 OR 213 |
Applied Regression Analysis (5 cr) OR Applies Regression for Clinical Research (5 cr) |
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Course Requirements
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**All core courses listed above must be taken for ordinal grading**
At the end of the 80 Credit Master of Science program, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate basic skills in core public health sciences of epidemiology and biostatistics as listed in the MPH Curriculum Guide.
- Develop comprehensive knowledge of the role of epidemiology as a basic science for public health and clinical medicine to provide a quantitative approach to addressing public health and clinical problems.
- Interpret descriptive epidemiologic results in order to develop hypotheses of possible risk factors for a disease.
- Critically evaluate public health and medical literature through knowledge gained of the basic principles and methods of epidemiology, including disease (outcome) measures, measures of association, study design options, bias, confounding, and effect measure modification.
- Apply quantitative skills to analyze and synthesize epidemiologic data related to public health issues.
- Develop quantitative skills needed to analyze and synthesize epidemiologic data.
- Apply knowledge of the physiology and pathophysiology of human disease to epidemiologic studies.
- Develop the skills to interpret the methods for disease screening.
- Develop substantive knowledge of the epidemiology of infectious and chronic disease and apply this knowledge to public health issues.
- Design an epidemiologic investigation (Master’s Thesis) resulting in a publishable manuscript or grant application.
