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School of Public Health and Tropical MedicineHome /Programs & Degrees /Joint Degree Programs /MD/MPH Joint Degree Program /MD/MPH Program Options /Program Requirements /Epidemiology MD/MPH Program Requirements

Epidemiology MD/MPH Program Requirements

The MPH in Epidemiology is a professional degree that prepares students to serve as epidemiologists in mid-level positions in public health research or practice settings. The program appeals to professionals currently employed in the health field and as well as those without previous training or experience in public health.

The MPH degree in epidemiology is highly analytical and methods-based. Students learn to apply conceptual methodology to the study of public health problems and health disparities as a means of understanding how to prevent or address them. As an MPH student in epidemiology, the knowledge base and research skills are applied within a chosen content area of current importance in the field, such as chronic or infectious disease; environmental, reproductive, molecular/cancer, or genetic epidemiology.  Through coursework and other learning experiences, students gain a thorough knowledge of the sources of health data, how to collect data from original sources, process, analyze and effectively report findings from epidemiologic studies.

Graduates can design and carry out studies in which epidemiologic information is needed for making sound health policy decisions or for the management of research projects in both public and private agencies and institutions.

Program Competencies

For MPH in Epidemiology:

  •  Identify characteristics of major study designs used in epidemiologic research, including assessment of the threats to validity for each design.
  •  Evaluate readings from the epidemiologic literature for methodologic strengths and weaknesses, including appropriateness of the study design relative to the 
  • research question, and potential threats to the validity of study findings.
  • Analyze and interpret public health and epidemiologic data, using appropriate statistical software and statistical techniques.
  • Write a study protocol for a specific research question, incorporating scientific rationale, study design, and details of research methods..
Admission Requirements

Students applying to master's programs at SPHTM must meet the school's general admission requirements.

Degree Program Requirements

In addition to the SPHTM academic standards, students in the MPH in Epidemiology and those taking advanced epidemiology courses must demonstrate the following performance standards:

  • All students must complete and earn a "B" or better in the prerequisite EPID 6030 Epidemiologic Methods I before advancing to EPID 7120 Epidemiologic Methods II or other advanced epidemiology courses.
  • Any Epidemiology student receiving a grade of "C" in any required course (including any core course) must repeat the course.
  • Epidemiology students receiving a grade of "F" in any course will be dismissed from the program, unless special extenuating circumstances can be demonstrated.
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

The MPH in Epidemiology for MD/MPH students requires 42 credits, including 10 transfer credits for successful completion of public health relevant coursework at the Tulane School of Medicine (SOM). 

SPHTM - Core Courses (15 credits)

  • BIOS 6030 Introductory Biostatistics (3)
  • EPID 6030 Epidemiological Methods I (3)
  • GCHB 6030 Social and behavioral aspects of global health (3)
  • GEHS 6030 Survey of Environmental Health (3)
  • GHSD 6030 Health Systems, Management and Policy (3)

MPH in Epidemiology - Required Courses (17 credits)

Required courses  (11 credits)

  • EPID 7120 Epidemiologic Methods II (3)
  • EPID 7130 Observational Epidemiology (3)
  • BIOS 6040 Intermediate Biostatistics (3)
  • EPID 6230 Computer Packages for Epidemiology (2)

At least two of the advanced methods courses below are required (5 - 6 credits minimum):

  • EPID 6290 Genetic Epidemiology (3)
  • EPID 6340 Clinical and Translational Research Methods (3)
  • EPID 6420 Clinical Epidemiology (3)
  • EPID 6750 Outbreak Epidemiology (3)
  • EPID 7160 Survey Methodology (3)
  • EPID 7170 Clinical Trials, Design, Conduct and  Interpretation Analysis (3)
  • EPID 7310 Meta-Analysis (3)
  • EPID 7410 Pharmacoepidemiology (2)

Other Elective Credits (10 credits)

MD/MPH students receive 10 credits transferred from the Tulane SOM for successfully completing specific coursework with public health relevance.

Practicum (SPHL 9980)

All EPID MD/MPH students must complete a 200-hour field practicum during the MD/MPH Rotation, for which they will register in the SOM during their T3 or T4 year.

Culminating Experience (SPHL 7950)

MD/MPH students in Epidemiology conduct a Public Health Analysis, typically between the end of T2 and T4 year.

Contact Us

MD/MPH Director: Adam Maese

MD/MPH Senior Program Coordinator: Rachael Ruiz

MD/MPH EPID Faculty Advisor: Lydia Bazzano, MD, PhD

Email: mdmph@tulane.edu

Phone: (504) 988-7055

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