About the Program
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PhD in Epidemiology
The PhD program in epidemiology trains epidemiologists as researchers and public health practitioners in New York City and around the world. The program promotes lifelong learning in development and application of epidemiologic methods. The training includes rigorous coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics and electives as well as research-based dissertation and teaching experience. Upon graduation students will be prepared to conduct independent and collaborative research in public health as well as teach graduate level courses in epidemiology. For more information on financial aid, scholarships, and tuition, please visit our Scholarships and Fellowships page.
Connect with our Admissions Team!
- Text: (646) 664-1366
- Phone: (646) 664-8355
- Email: admissions@sph.cuny.edu
- Chat with us 1-on-1: Book a meeting
- Upcoming admissions events: Join us!
Is this degree right for you?
The program is designed for students who are passionate about lifelong learning in development and application of epidemiologic methods.
What will you learn?
This program trains epidemiologists as researchers and public health practitioners in New York City and around the world. The training includes rigorous coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics and electives as well as research-based dissertation and teaching experience.
Where to after graduation?
Upon graduation students will be prepared to conduct independent and collaborative research in public health as well as teach graduate level courses in epidemiology.
Admissions Information
Admission Requirements
- Completed SOPHAS application.
- GRE scores are optional. We encourage applicants with low grades in quantitative/statistics undergraduate/graduate courses to include GREs to strengthen their application. We accept GRE scores from up to 7 years ago. Click here for information on how to submit scores. Please use the CUNY SPH SOPHAS code 7914.
- Completion of a master’s degree in epidemiology or biostatistics, or relevant subject area with a minimum of two graduate-level epidemiologic method courses and two graduate-level statistics courses.
- Three letters of recommendation (at least one of which is an academic reference)
- A resume/CV indicating experience in public health, research/data analysis, and/or teaching
- A personal statement (up to 1000 words)
- TOEFL scores, if language of instruction for prior degrees was not English
- Transcript evaluation from World Education Services for all applicants with non-US transcript
Deadline to Apply
Fall 2025: December 15, 2024
Curriculum
| Foundational Knowledge (0 credits) | PUBH 601 Foundations of Public Health Knowledge* |
| Core Courses (6 credits) | PUBH 803 Public Health Perspectives on Science |
| PUBH 804 (formerly PUBH 813) Qualitative Research Methods with Applications to Urban Health | |
| Concentration Courses (36 credits) | EPID 821 Epidemiological Methods II |
| EPID 822 Epidemiological Methods III | |
| EPID 823 Epidemiological Methods IV | |
| EPID 824 Epidemiological Methods V | |
| EPID 825 Experimental Design | |
| BIOS 821 Applied Biostatistics II | |
| BIOS 822 Applied Biostatistics III | |
| BIOS 823 Applied Biostatistics IV | |
| Four courses chosen in consultation with advisor | |
| Teaching Experience (0 credits) | Teaching experience to be determined in consultation with advisor |
| Examinations | Comprehensive Exam |
| Culminating Seminar and Experience (0 credits) | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision |
| Total Required Credits | 42 |
*Students who have a CEPH-accredited undergraduate or graduate degree in public health can be waived from PUBH 601 by submitting a Course Waiver Request.
Recommended Course Sequences
For full-time students
| Year 1 Fall | PUBH 601: Foundations of Public Health Knowledge* | 0 |
| PUBH 803 Public Health Perspectives on Science | 3 | |
| EPID 821 Epidemiological Methods II | 3 | |
| BIOS 821 Applied Biostatistics II | 3 | |
| Year 1 Spring | PUBH 804 Qualitative Research Methods with Application to Urban Health | 3 |
| EPID 822 Epidemiological Methods III | 3 | |
| BIOS 822 Applied Biostatistics III | 3 | |
| Year 2 Fall | EPID 823 Epidemiological Methods IV | 3 |
| BIOS 823 Applied Biostatistics IV | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 2 Spring | EPID 824 Epidemiological Methods V | 3 |
| EPID 825 Experimental Design | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 2 Summer | Comprehensive Exam | – |
| Year 3 Fall | Teaching Experience | – |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 3 Spring | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Year 4 Fall | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Year 4 Spring | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Year 5 Fall | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
For part-time students
| Year 1 Fall | PUBH 601: Foundations of Public Health Knowledge* | 0 |
| EPID 821 Epidemiological Methods II | 3 | |
| BIOS 821 Applied Biostatistics II | 3 | |
| Year 1 Spring | EPID 822 Epidemiological Methods III | 3 |
| BIOS 822 Applied Biostatistics III | 3 | |
| Year 2 Fall | EPID 823 Epidemiological Methods IV | 3 |
| PUBH 803 Public Health Perspectives on Science | 3 | |
| Year 2 Spring | EPID 824 Epidemiological Methods V | 3 |
| PUBH 804 Qualitative Research Methods with Application to Urban Health | 3 | |
| Year 3 Fall | BIOS 823 Applied Biostatistics IV | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 3 Spring | EPID 825 Experimental Design | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 3 Summer | Comprehensive Exam | – |
| Year 4 Fall | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year 4 Spring | Teaching Experience | – |
| PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 | |
| Year 5 Fall | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Year 5 Spring | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Year 6 Fall | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Year 6 Spring | PUBH 900 Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
*PUBH 601 should be completed during a student’s first semester. Students who have a CEPH-accredited undergraduate or graduate degree in public health can be waived from this requirement by submitting a Course Waiver Request.
Competencies
Core Competencies
- Critically analyze research for appropriateness of study design, sample, measures, data analysis, results, interpretation and dissemination.
- Design a feasible study and apply appropriate research methods to answer public health research questions.
- Develop professional skills in scientific writing, oral communication, and teaching.
- Uphold the highest ethical standards in planning, conducting, and analyzing research, including the involvement of human subjects.
- Apply historical and emerging scientific theories and paradigms to develop research aims and methods.
Concentration Competencies
- Demonstrate mastery in the conduct and interpretation of descriptive epidemiologic studies, including those involving the use of data from public health surveillance systems to monitor population health, predict risk, and/or identify targets of intervention
- Identify, apply and critique quantitative approaches to address epidemiological questions in public health research and practice
- Demonstrate mastery of causal inference and apply causal inference techniques to scientific questions relevant to public health
- Design and implement public health research from protocol development through analysis/translation of findings
- Present epidemiological methods and empirical findings transparently and persuasively to a wide array of audiences
Alumni Outcomes
Alumni outcomes data was collected via surveys of CUNY SPH alumni one year after graduation from 2016 to 2022. See more program outcomes here.