College of Public Health
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Departmental Doctoral Student Handbook
2012-2013
www.publichealth.uga.edu/epibio
Department Head Welcome
We pleased to have this opportunity to greet you and share
some information about the College of Public Health at the
University of Georgia and the Department of Epidemiology and
Biostatistics. We are one of the fastest growing academic units in
the College and we have a wonderful cadre of faculty and
students. Our department offers many exciting career opportunities
in epidemiology and biostatistics and provides excellent training to
prepare graduate students for both academic and professional
careers through the MPH degree program in both disciplines, the
Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) and beginning this year the
Doctorate in Epidemiology. Next year we will have the Master of
Science and the Doctorate in Biostatistics.
There is much excitement, anticipation, and great expectations for
you as the inaugural class of Epidemiology Doctoral Students at
UGA. We just occupied this spring our new home in Miller Hall and
will welcome new faculty and a new business manager this fall. You will be the first class to
have all your courses on the Health Science Campus.
The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics has an exciting, rapidly growing research
program in the areas of methods (including spatial statistics, infectious disease modeling,
survival analysis), infectious disease epidemiology, methods for tuberculosis control, aids
international training and research program, clinical, operational and health services research,
clinical epidemiology and translational research, cancer epidemiology& prevention and control,
medical screening, global health, food safety epidemiology, epidemiology of zoonoses in
domestic animal-human interface, antimicrobial drug resistance of food borne pathogens,
community-based research, occupational health, reproductive and developmental health,
environmental health, and health disparities. The department's developing research portfolio
includes methodological issues in Biostatistics including point process models for event history
data, spatial epidemiology and statistics, environmental statistics, analysis of high dimensional
massive data, bioinformatics ,data mining ,functional data analysis ,multiple testing, survival
analysis, joint modeling of survival and longitudinal data and covariate measurement error
models. See list below of faculty members and research Interests.
The department also has a strong tradition of significant collaboration with public and private
health agencies and institutions including strong collaborative ties with the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) and State Regional offices, the Archway Partnership Program, College of
Veterinary Medicine- Population Sciences, The Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute and
the Faculty of Infectious Disease. Please feel free to contact me at jvena@uga.edu or stop by
room 105 BS Miller Hall if you ever have any questions or concerns.
Welcome to the College of Public Health!
John E. Vena, Ph.D.
UGA Foundation Professor in Public Health
Head, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
2
Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholar
Table of Contents
Department Head Welcome ....................................................................................................... 2
Departmental Personnel ............................................................................................................ 5
Mission Statement ..................................................................................................................... 7
Departmental Governance ......................................................................................................... 7
Graduate School Policies ....................................................................................................... 7
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics By-Laws ......................................................... 7
Curriculum ................................................................................................................................. 8
Ph.D. Competencies............................................................................................................... 8
Pre-Requisites ........................................................................................................................ 9
Ph.D. Requirements ............................................................................................................... 9
Coursework......................................................................................................................... 9
Qualifying Exam .................................................................................................................11
Dissertation Research ........................................................................................................12
Program of Study – Examples............................................................................................14
Advancement to Candidacy ...............................................................................................15
Program Administration.............................................................................................................17
Advising.................................................................................................................................17
Major Professor..................................................................................................................17
Doctoral Dissertation Committee........................................................................................17
Annual Review of Doctoral Students ..................................................................................17
Policies and Procedures ........................................................................................................17
Academic Calendar............................................................................................................17
Registration........................................................................................................................18
Transfer of Credit ...............................................................................................................18
Time Limitations .................................................................................................................18
Residency Requirement .....................................................................................................19
Graduate School Deadlines ...............................................................................................19
Health Insurance ................................................................................................................19
University Policies and Resources ............................................................................................19
Academic Honesty Policy ......................................................................................................19
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UGA Faminly Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) .....................................................20
Mental Health and Stress Control ..........................................................................................20
Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy ....................................................................21
Campus Emergencies – UGA Alert .......................................................................................21
Source for UGA Policies and Procedures ..............................................................................21
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Departmental Personnel
Biostatistics
Kevin Dobbin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Phone: 706-583-8112
Email: dobbinke@uga.edu
Office: B.S. Miller Hall rm 206
Research Expertise
High dimensional data
Experimental design
Classifier development and validation
Cancer biomarkers
Causal modeling
Stephen Rathbun, Ph.D., Professor and Point process models for event history data
Associate Head
Spatial epidemiology
Phone: 706-542-6302
Spatial statistics
Email: rathbun@uga.edu
Environmental statistics
Office: B.S. Miller Hall rm 206
Xiao Song, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Phone: 706-542-1540
Email: xsong@uga.edu
Office: B.S. Miller Hall rm 213
Survival analysis
Joint modeling of survival and longitudinal data
Covariate measurement error models
Medical diagnostic testing
ROC curve
Biomarker data
Nonparametric and semiparametric methods
Ye Shen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Phone: 706-542-2754
Email: ryeshen@uga.edu
Office: B.S. Miller Hall rm 211
Joint modeling of longitudinal recurrent event
data
Spatial Statistics
Epidemiology
Mark Ebell, M.D., M.S. , Associate Professor
Phone: 706-542-1585
Email: ebell@uga.edu
Office: B.S. Miller Hall rm 233
Clinical epidemiology
Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
Cost-effectiveness analysis
Evidence-based medicine
Point of care decision support
Diagnosis of common medical problems
Amara Ezeamama, Ph.D. , Assistant
Professor
Phone: pending
Email: pending
Office: B.S. Miller Hall rm pending
Andreas Handel, Ph.D. , Assistant Professor
Phone: 706-542-5006
Email: ahandel@uga.edu
Office: B.S. Miller Hall rm 124
HIV infection
International Health
Clinical Trials
Nutritional epidemiology
Toni Miles, M.D., Ph.D. , Professor
Phone: 706-425-3222
Email: tonimile@uga.edu
Office: 255 E. Hancock Ave.
Gerontology
Health Care Policy
Infectious Disease Modeling
Influenza
Vaccine modeling
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James Oloya, D.V.M., Ph.D. , Assistant Infectious disease epidemiology/Epidemiology
Professor
of zoonoses
Phone: 706-583-0918
Antimicrobial drug resistance of food borne
Email: joloya@uga.edu
pathogens
Office: B.S. Miller Hall rm 120
Study designs in clinical trials
Epidemiology of mycobacterial infections
Food safety Epidemiology
John Vena, Ph.D. , Professor and Head
Phone: 706-583-8202
Email: jvena@uga.edu
Office: B.S. Miller Hall rm 105
Cancer Epidemiology
Community-Based Research
Environmental Health
Occupational Health
Reproductive and Developmental Health
Sara Wagner, Ph.D. , Assistant Professor
Phone: 706-583-8149
Email: swagner@uga.edu
Office: B.S. Miller Hall rm 107
Cancer Epidemiology
Environmental Health
Geographic Information Systems
Spatial Epidemiology
Christopher C. Whalen, M.D.,
Professor and Program Coordinator
Phone: 706-452-0468
Email: ccwhalen@uga.edu
Office: B.S. Miller Hall rm 130
M.S., Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Methods for Tuberculosis Control
Epidemiological methods and analysis
Causality
Global Health
Ming Zhang Ph.D. , Assistant Professor
Phone: 706-542-2194
Email: mzhang01@uga.edu
Office: B.S. Miller Hall rm 226
Molecular Epidemiology
Bioinformatics
Adjunct or Emeritus Faculty
Alex Kojo Anderson,Ph.D.,Adjunct Assistant professor
Roy Berghaus, Ph. D., Adjunct Associate Professor
Roger Bernier, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor
Claude Burnett, M.D., Adjunct Associate Professor
Robert Galen, M.D., M.P.H., Emeritus Professor
R. Alan Langford, M.D., Adjunct Professor
Kristina Kintziger, Adjunct Assistant Professor
Michael Schmidt, Adjunct Assistant Professor
Departmental Staff and Support Personnel
Sonia McQuarters, Director of Finance and Administration
Molly Seawright, Coordinator for Faculty Support and Instructional Services
Robert Kakaire, M.P.H., International Project Coordinator
Xiaoping, Yin, M.S., Statistical Analyst
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Mission Statement
The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics trains public health professionals and
researchers in the use of epidemiological principles and biostatistical methods and conducts
innovative research to address existing and emerging public health issues.
We are a community of scholars dedicated to integrating epidemiological and biostatistical
research, teaching, and service by collaborating with one another and colleagues in other
disciplines, students, and community partners. We are committed to examining and evaluating
our actions as we express our commitment to the larger population we serve, who look to us for
technical expertise and advocacy, and who support us in conducting our work.
In all of our work, we strive to express the values we hold to be at the heart of our professional
commitment including: honesty, compassion, quality, impact, diversity, and social justice and we
strive to balance and to act as role models for one another, our students and colleagues, and to
the community at large.
Goals of the Program
The goals of our proposed programs in Epidemiology are to:
1. Improve public health through the application of methods and approaches in Epidemiology
2. Create new knowledge in the field of Epidemiology, with a special emphasis on identifying
emerging areas of enquiry, especially those that cross disciplinary boundaries
3. Translate new knowledge in Epidemiology so that it may be implemented and used to
improve public health
4. Create the next generation of epidemiologists who can respond to the challenges in public
health in the future, educate future students in the field, and provide service to the
community
5. Serve the larger communities in which we live and work, by using our special skills and
knowledge.
Departmental Governance
Graduate School Policies
The University of Georgia Graduate School policies govern the administration of the Ph.D.
degree program. See http://www.grad.uga.edu/ for information on specific academic procedures
and regulations. This information is summarized in the College of Public Health (CPH)
Handbook. Any changes in University polices will override the requirements stated in this and
the CPH handbooks.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics By-Laws
The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics is governed by a set of By-Laws that were
written and approved by faculty in the department. These By-Laws specify internal policies and
procedures that apply to faculty and comport with UGA guidelines.
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Curriculum
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology will be awarded in recognition of in-depth
knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of the field of Epidemiology together with a
demonstrated ability to perform independent research and to communicate clearly the results of
such research. In this program, a student will acquire advanced knowledge and expertise in
epidemiology by taking and passing a series of core and elective courses and by completing an
independent research project under the direction of a faculty mentor. Advanced knowledge will
be demonstrated by meeting the requirements of each required and elective course and by
passing a written and oral comprehensive examination. Research expertise will be
demonstrated through the successful completion and defense of a dissertation research project.
As part of this requirement, students will form a dissertation committee, write and defend a
dissertation prospectus (i.e., proposal) for the committee, complete the dissertation research
project, and write and defend the final dissertation for the committee and other members of the
academic community at the University. The student is guided through the experience by a
research advisor (mentor) and Advisory Committee.
The proposed program requires 55 credits to complete the Ph.D. degree in Epidemiology. This
program will include 30 credits of advanced coursework in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 12
credits of approved electives, a minimum of 10 credits of dissertation research, and 3 credits of
dissertation writing.
The Ph.D. Epidemiology degree will be granted in recognition of proficiency in research, breadth
and soundness of scholarship, and thorough knowledge of field of Epidemiology, as assessed
by the faculty of the Department and not upon completion of any definite amount of work
prescribed in advance.
Ph.D. Competencies
The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics embraces the discipline-specific core
competencies and cross-cutting/interdisciplinary competencies set forth by the Association of
Schools of Public Health (Version 2.3, August 2006). Overall competencies for the Ph.D. in
Epidemiology are based on the workshop summary on doctoral education in epidemiology
sponsored by the American College of Epidemiology and the Association of Schools of Public
Health held in Baltimore, MD, December 9-11, 2002.
For Epidemiology there are 10 Core Competencies: 1) Identify key sources of data for
epidemiologic purposes; 2) Identify the principles and limitations of public health screening
programs; 3) Describe a public health problem in terms of magnitude, person, time, and place;
4) Explain the importance of epidemiology for informing scientific, ethical, economic, and
political discussion of health issues; 5) Comprehend basic ethical and legal principles pertaining
to the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of epidemiologic data; 6) Apply the basic
terminology and definitions of epidemiology; 7) Calculate epidemiology measures; 8)
Communicate epidemiologic information to professional and lay audiences; 9) Draw appropriate
inferences from epidemiologic data; 10) Evaluate the strengths and limitations of epidemiologic
reports.
In addition to these core competencies in Epidemiology, there is a set of interdisciplinary and
cross-cutting competencies that form the basis for the doctoral level training. These
interdisciplinary competencies are: Communications and Informatics; Diversity and Culture;
Leadership; Public Health Biology; Professionalism; Program Planning; Systems Thinking.
Students are expected to become proficient in the following areas: descriptive epidemiology,
biology (a human physiology equivalent with competence in the dissertation disease topic),
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basic knowledge of the leading public health problems and the history of the discipline, problem
conceptualization, study design, data collection and monitoring, data management, data
analysis, interpretation, communication, ethics, a substantive area of original research and
project management.
Pre-Requisites
All students entering the program must have taken courses at the undergraduate or graduate
level in mathematics (including calculus) plus one or more courses in biology, biomedical
sciences, or social sciences.
For students already holding an MPH degree, or a related degree (e.g., M.S. Epidemiology,
M.S. Biostatistics, M.S.P.H.), the student must show proficiency in the content and material
offered in the following basic courses as taught in the College of Public Health: Introduction to
Epidemiology (EPID 7010), Epidemiologic Methods (EPID 7020), Introduction to Biostatistics
(BIOS 7010), Linear Regression Analysis (BIOS 7020), and at least one other course in
Epidemiology (e.g., chronic disease epidemiology, infectious disease epidemiology,
environmental epidemiology). The student must complete these courses with a grade of B or
higher, as indicated on their official transcript. The faculty advisor will decide whether courses
taken at other institutions are equivalent to waive the pre-requisite requirement. If a student has
not completed these pre-requisite courses, the student will be required to take them and must
include them as part of the Plan of Study.
For students admitted with only a Bachelor’s degree a more detailed and lengthy course of
study including the basic courses above must be completed as noted below. For students
without an MPH degree, with a Master’s or doctoral degree in a discipline other than Public
Health or Epidemiology, or for students admitted from programs other than an accredited
College of Public Health (or accredited MPH program), or for applicants with master’s level
training more than five years prior to matriculation, a placement examination will be required at
the time of entry into the program to assess the need for remedial coursework in the core
courses in Epidemiology. These refresher course requirements will be taken as soon as
possible during the student’s program and will not be applied after the Plan of Study is
developed. These courses will not count toward the Ph.D. degree but are taken in addition to
the required hours for the degree. The departmental faculty also may require other extra
courses on a case-by-case basis.
Ph.D. Requirements
In the course of completing the requirements for the doctoral degree in Epidemiology, the
student will fulfill the requirements as stipulated by the Graduate School
(http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/academics/PhD_req.html).
Coursework
To complete the Ph.D. in Epidemiology the student will complete a total of 55 credits (Table 1)
beyond the requirements of a master’s degree. The student must complete 30 credit hours of
core courses, 12 credit hours of elective courses, a minimum of 10 credit hours of dissertation
research (EPID 9000) and 3 credit hours of dissertation writing (EPID 9300). This program
represents the minimum number of credits needed to graduate; for all students who have
enrolled for at least 12 credits, you are advised to register for a full 18 credit hours, either by
taking additional courses or by signing up for research or teaching assistant credits (EPID
9005).
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Table 1. Summary of credit hours required
Epidemiology
Requirements
Course
Core Courses
Table 2
EPID
BIOS
Seminar
Teaching Practicum
Elective Courses
Table 3
Dissertation Research
EPID 9000
Dissertation Writing
EPID 9300
Total
for Ph.D. in
Credit Hours
30
15
9
3
3
12
10 (minimum)
3
55
Required Courses
The required core coursework (Table 2) will strengthen the foundations in epidemiology and
provide substantial depth in study design and analysis. It also includes at least three graduate
level courses (9 credit hours) in biostatistics (Table 1), and an ethics course (3 credit hours).
Table 2. Required Core courses for Ph.D. in Epidemiology (total 30 credit hours)
Course
Credit
Description
Hours
EPID 8010
3
Cohort Study Design, Implementation, and Analysis
EPID 8020
3
Case Control Designs, Implementation, and Analysis
EPID 7100
3
Seminar in Epidemiology (3 semesters)
EPID 8030
3
Teaching Practicum
EPID 8040
3
Clinical Trial Designs, Implementation, and Analysis
EPID 8050
3
Integrating Research Designs
EPID 7700
3
Biomedical Ethics and Research Integrity in Epidemiology†
BIOS
9
At least three of the following*:
Statistical Analysis of Clinical Trials (BIOS 8220)
Survival Analysis (BIOS 6380)
Categorical Data Analysis (BIOS 8110)
Longitudinal Data Analysis (BIOS number to be assigned)
Total
30
* As new Biostatistics courses are developed and offered, the list of selective courses will be
expanded accordingly.
† or equivalent course
Elective Courses
The program will include 12 credits of elective courses (Table X) that will allow the student to
pursue specialized interests and add depth or breadth to their experience. Students may choose
from elective courses (Table XX) in specialty areas of Epidemiology or from courses outside of
the Department, as long as the course is approved by the academic advisor and is included in
the Plan of Study. As relevant courses are developed in the Department, College and
University, they will be made available to the students for electives.
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Table 3. Current Elective Courses offered through the College of Public Health for Ph.D. in
Epidemiology. Twelve credits of electives are required to complete the degree*.
Course
Credit
Description
Hours
EPID 8070
3
Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
EPID 8100
3
Clinical Epidemiology
EPID 8200
3
Molecular Epidemiology
EPID 8250
3
Biomarkers: Public Health, Clinical and Env. Tox Apps
EPID 8300
3
Epidemiology of Ageing
EPID 8400
3
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
EPID 8410
3
Cancer Epidemiology
EPID 8500
3
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
EPID 8515
3
Modeling of Infectious Diseases
EPID 8520
3
Food Safety Epidemiology
EPID 8540
3
Microbial Quantitative Risk Assessment
EPID 8540L
1
Microbial Quantitative Risk Assessment Laboratory
EPID 8559
3
HIV Epidemic: A Global Perspective
EPID 8600
3
Social Epidemiology
EPID 8610
3
Global Health
EPID 8900
3
Selected Topics in Epidemiology
EPID 8910
3
Special Problems in Epidemiology
EPID 9005
3
Graduate Student Seminar
* This list of electives will expand and change with time as the faculty develop and offer new
courses and when new faculty members develop their courses.
Qualifying Exam
The doctoral Qualifying Examination will be taken after completing the core doctoral level
courses (EPID 8010, EPID 8020, EPID 8030, EPID 8040, EPID 8050), usually at the end of the
second year in the program. The intent of the Qualifying Exam is to measure potential for
doctoral research and to assess the student’s basic technical and professional knowledge. The
Qualifying Exam will consist of three parts. The first two parts will be written and the third oral.
Part I will consist of an in-class multiple choice and short-answer test consisting of
approximately 100 questions. Part II will consist of a one week long, take-home test in which the
student will write a substantive expository essay addressing topic(s) assigned by the faculty.
Part III will consist of an oral examination which will take place before (or at the time of) the
Ph.D. Prospectus defense.
Students must pass all three parts to pass the entire examination and proceed to candidacy
(see below). The examination will be offered sequentially so that a student who fails one part
may re-take that part of the examination before proceeding. If the student fails one part on two
occasions, or more than one part in the sequence of examinations, the student will be given a
failing grade for the examination.
Written Exam
Part I: In-class
Part I of the General Examination will cover study design, research methods, statistical analysis
of epidemiologic data, and other advanced topics. The examination will require a full
understanding of the basic material taught in the pre-requisite courses (EPID 7010, EPID 7020,
BIOS 7010), and all required advanced courses in Epidemiology (e.g., EPID 8010, EPID 8020,
11
EPID 8030, EPID 8040, EPID 8050). The exam will consist of approximately 100 multiplechoice, matching, or short answer questions. It will be closed-book and closed-notes.
Part II: Take Home
Part II of the General Examination may be taken only after passing Part I. Part II of the
Qualifying Examination tests the student’s ability to synthesize their knowledge of epidemiology
and to deal with real-world medical and public health problems. This examination may cover all
aspects of epidemiology, including questions on topics not specifically taught in the program. It
is expected that students have acquired the skills to evaluate and respond to a broad range of
epidemiologic problems - not just those topics covered by formal courses or problems within
their discipline. Part II may cover, but not be limited to, the following areas: cardiovascular
disease, cancer, infectious diseases, neuro-psychiatric disease, pharmaco-epidemiology,
maternal child health, environmental epidemiology, international health, theoretical
epidemiology. We expect the student to have comprehensive knowledge of study design,
epidemiologic methods, and biostatistics including topics such as survey design, measurement,
clinical trials, data analysis, and ethics. We also expect students to demonstrate the ability to
integrate advanced epidemiologic content to create a cohesive document on questions relating
to these topics. Part II will be a take home test, given over 1 week.
Oral Exam
After passing parts I and II of the Qualifying Examination, the student will be required to
complete an oral examination administered by the student’s Dissertation Committee. This oral
examination will test the student’s understanding of complex epidemiologic concepts and how
they are applied to solve real-world problems. This part of the exam will be scheduled after the
written exams and before, or at the time of, the defense of the Ph.D. prospectus.
Dissertation Research
To complete the degree requirements, students must demonstrate expertise in epidemiological
methods and research. Students must take at least 10 credit hours of dissertation research
(EPID 9000) after admission to candidacy AND 3 credit hours of Dissertation Writing (EPID
9300) in the semester of graduation. NOTE: It is likely that more than 10 hours of Dissertation
Research will be needed to complete the research project.
The Ph.D. dissertation consists of four distinct steps: writing and defending a research
prospectus, performing the proposed research, and writing a dissertation document, and
defending the Ph.D. dissertation. Each step is described briefly below. The Research Advisor
and the Dissertation Committee are responsible for guidance through these steps, supervision
of research, and assessment of performance.
Dissertation Proposal Defense
The spectrum of possible research projects is broad, and may consist of primary data collection
or use of existing databases. The choice of research topic will be determined by the student’s
scientific interests, availability and content of research opportunities, availability of research
funding, and the influence of her/his research advisor and Dissertation Committee.
The Dissertation Prospectus is a proposal of the research that will be performed in partial
fulfillment of the graduation requirements. In consultation with the Research Advisor and
Committee, the student will identify an area of research and prepare a written proposal. This
proposal will include research goals and aims, background and rationale, literature review,
detailed description of methods proposed, and an analytic strategy. The prospectus must also
include consideration of ethical issues involved in the research. Once the prospectus has been
read and approved by the Dissertation Committee, the student will notify the graduate
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coordinator of his or her plans to present the prospectus in a public setting. All the committee
members must approve the final version of the proposal in writing.
Dissertation Research
Once the prospectus has been presented and approved, the student should complete the
research under the supervision of the Research Advisor. The Research Advisor is responsible
for mentoring the student through the steps and procedures of the research project. Other
members of the Dissertation Committee should be engaged by the student as the need arises.
In any case, the student should arrange to meet regularly (at least twice a year) with the
Dissertation Committee members during the conduct of the research project to provide an
update on progress.
Dissertation
After the student has completed the proposed research project, the student must write and
submit the Ph.D. dissertation to the Research Advisor for approval. Students are expected to
write a dissertation that represents a significant contribution of new knowledge to the field.
Specific dissertation requirements may be dictated by the Dissertation Committee, including
format and content. The dissertation document must contain an Introduction, Literature Review,
description of methods, Results, Discussion and Conclusion. Whether the dissertation is
formatted as a single document or multiple journal-style manuscripts will be left to the discretion
of the Dissertation Committee. At least a portion of the dissertation must be suitable for
publication.
The dissertation must be of sufficient scope and depth to meet the expectations of Dissertation
Committee. When the Research Advisor is satisfied with the completed dissertation, he or she
will certify its approval and ask the student to distribute copies of the dissertation to the
remaining members of the Dissertation Committee. The committee members must have three
weeks to read and evaluate the completed dissertation. Written assent of the committee
members (other than the major professor) will be required before a dissertation will be approved
as ready for a final defense. No more than one dissenting vote may be allowed for the approval
of the dissertation. If the advisory committee declines to approve the dissertation as ready for
the final defense, the Research Advisor will notify the student and advise regarding further
research and/or corrections.
Dissertation Final Defense
Once the Dissertation Committee has approved the dissertation, the Research Advisor will
notify the student and schedule a final oral defense. The date and time of the oral defense will
be set by the Research Advisor and the committee members, in consultation with the student.
The student must notify the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the defense; the
graduate coordinator will assist with this notice, if needed. Subsequently, the Graduate School
will announce the time and place of the defense of the dissertation to the University community.
The student must give an oral presentation that summarizes the major findings of the research
project and respond to questions from the public audience and the committee members. The
defense of the dissertation will be chaired by the student's Research Advisor and attended by all
members of the Dissertation Committee simultaneously for the entire examination period. The
public portion of the defense is open to all members of the University community.
To pass the dissertation defense, the Research Advisor must approve the defense and other
committee members must agree to pass the student. One dissenting vote in the committee is
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allowed, as long as the dissenting vote is not cast by the Research Advisor. The committee will
indicate approval in writing with signatures on all appropriate forms provided by the University.
Once the written dissertation has been approved by the Dissertation Committee, the dissertation
must be submitted to the Graduate School for final approval no later than two weeks prior to
graduation of the following semester. Dissertations which are not submitted by this deadline
must be defended again and approved by the advisory committee before they will be considered
by the Graduate School for final approval.
Program of Study – Examples
The signed Preliminary Doctoral Program of Study (PDPS) must be submitted to the Graduate
Coordinator when the student has completed 20 semester credit hours and no later than 3
semesters after starting the program. In general, full-time students will submit the PDPS by the
end of their first year of residence (e.g., students who started in the fall semester, should submit
this form by either the end of the spring semester or by the beginning of the following fall
semester). Although the PDPS is a university form, it is for departmental use only and should
NOT be sent to the Graduate School.
The Final Doctoral Program of Study must be completed and submitted to the Ph.D. Graduate
Coordinator at least two weeks prior to applying for admission to candidacy and be approved by
the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. This Final Doctoral Program of Study must be submitted
on the proper form for approval by the Dissertation Committee, the Graduate Coordinator, and
the Dean of the Graduate School. The Final Doctoral Program of Study must show all graduate
courses relevant to the doctoral program (including master-level courses and courses approved
from other universities), in addition to courses satisfying the minimum degree requirement. It
should not include assistantship hours (EPID 9005).
To assist in planning the courses, two example Plans of Study are provided, one for students
who enter with an MPH degree or equivalent, and another for student who enter with a
Bachelors degree or a Masters degree in a discipline unrelated to Epidemiology. The plans are
intended to serve as examples and may change depending on the timing of course offerings.
Table 4. Sample program of study for Ph.D. Epidemiology for students entering with an
MPH or equivalent degree and no remedial requirements (4 years)
Year Fall Semester
Spring Semester
1
Cohort Study EPID 8010 (3)
Case Control EPID 8020 (3)
BIOS Selective 1 (3)
Epidemiology Elective 2 (3)
Seminar EPID 7100 (1)
Seminar EPID 7100 (1)
Epidemiology Elective 1 (3)
Teaching Practicum 8030 (3)
Grad Student Seminar EPID 9005 (8)
Grad Student Seminar EPID 9005 (8)
2
Randomized Trials EPID 8040 (3)
Integrating Designs EPID 8050 (3)
BIOS Selective 2 (3)
Epidemiology Elective 4 (3)
Epidemiology Elective 3 (3)
BIOS Selective 3 (3)
Seminar EPID 7100 (1)
Ethics Course (3)
Grad Student Seminar EPID 9005 (8)
Grad Student Seminar EPID 9005 (6)
3
Dissertation Research EPID 9000 (18)
Dissertation Research EPID 9000 (18)
4
Dissertation Research EPID 9000 (18)
Dissertation Research EPID 9000 (15)
Dissertation Writing EPID 9300 (3)
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Table 5. Sample program of study for Ph.D. Epidemiology for students entering with an
Bachelors degree (5 years)
Year Fall Semester
Spring Semester
1
Introduction to Epidemiology EPID 7010 Epidemiology EPID 7020
Introduction to Biostatistics BIOS 7010
Biostatistics BIOS 7020
Seminar EPID 7100 (1)
Seminar EPID 7100 (1)
Topics in Epidemiology EPID 8900
Epidemiology Elective 1 (3)
2
Case Control EPID 8020 (3)
Randomized Trials EPID 8040 (3)
BIOS Selective 1 (3)
Epidemiology Elective 2 (3)
Seminar EPID 7100 (1)
Grad Student Seminar EPID 9005 (5)
4
Chronic Disease Epidemiology EPID
8400 (3)
Infectious Disease Epidemiology EPID
8500 (3)
Ethics EPID 7700 (3)
Seminar EPID 7100 (1)
Grad Student Seminar EPID 9005 (8)
Cohort Study EPID 8010 (3)
Teaching Practicum 8030 (3)
Epidemiology Elective 3 (3)
BIOS Selective 2 (3)
Seminar EPID 7100 (1)
Grad Student Seminar EPID 9005 (5)
Dissertation Research EPID 9000 (18)
5
Dissertation Research EPID 9000 (18)
Dissertation Research EPID 9000 (18)
Dissertation Writing EPID 9300 (3)
Graduation
3
Epidemiology Elective 4 (3)
BIOS Selective 3 (3)
Integrating Designs EPID 8050 (3)
Grad Student Seminar EPID 9005 (9)
Dissertation Research EPID 9000 (18)
Advancement to Candidacy
The student is responsible for initiating an application for admission to candidacy so that it is
filed with the dean of the Graduate School within one semester of successfully defending the
dissertation prospectus and at least one full semester before the date of graduation. This
application is a certification by the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics that the student
has demonstrated the ability to do acceptable graduate work in the chosen field of study and
that:








All prerequisites set as a condition to admission have been satisfactorily completed;
Research skills requirements have been met;
The final program of study has been approved by the advisory committee, the graduate
coordinator, and the dean of the Graduate School;
An average of 3.0 (B) has been maintained on all graduate courses taken and on all
completed courses on the program of study (no course with a grade below C may be placed
on the final program of study);
Written and oral comprehensive examinations have been passed and reported to the
Graduate School;
The advisory committee, including any necessary changes in the membership, is confirmed
and all its members have been notified of their appointment;
A dissertation prospectus has been approved (if required for candidacy);
The residence requirement has been met.
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After admission to candidacy, a student must register for a minimum combined total of 10 hours
of dissertation or other appropriate graduate credit during the completion of the degree program.
The student must also meet all other deadlines for graduation in that semester.
Once a student has been admitted to candidacy, the Department has an ethical responsibility to
ensure that appropriate faculty mentorship is provided to the candidate for completion of the
degree.
After completing the required coursework and as a prerequisite to admission to candidacy, the
student must pass the comprehensive doctoral examination (written and oral).
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Program Administration
Advising
Major Professor
The student’s Major Professor serves to advise and mentor the student throughout the program.
The Major Professor will assist the student in choosing courses, signing off on official Graduate
School documents and chairing the students’ Dissertation committee.
Doctoral Dissertation Committee
During the first year of residence, upon recommendation of the departmental Graduate
Coordinator, the Dean of the Graduate School appoints a Doctoral Advisory Committee (i.e.,
Dissertation Committee) that consists of the Major Professor and three other faculty members.
The composition of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee is decided by the Major Professor and
the doctoral student. The Dissertation Committee consists of a Major Professor (generally, this
person is also the advisor and the chair of the committee) plus at least three other members.
The composition of the committee has the following restrictions:





At least three members of the Advisory Committee must have graduate faculty status,
including the chair.
At least three members must be from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
At least one member's primary affiliation must be from outside of the Department.
No more than one committee member can be a non-UGA faculty, who holds a terminal
degree in their field of study. This person must be nominated by the Graduate Coordinator
and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The person’s vita and a letter of
justification must be sent to the Dean.
If the student decides to have a five-member committee, at least three of them should be
from the department and at least three must have graduate status.
Once the student has settled on the committee members, the student should file the Doctoral
Advisory Committee form with the Graduate Coordinator who will forward it to the Graduate
School. The Doctoral Advisory Committee form can be submitted as early as the end of the first
year in residence and no later than the end of the second year of residence.
Annual Review of Doctoral Students
The Graduate Faculty of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics will meet annually to
evaluate the progress of doctoral students toward completion of their degrees. This review will
include course grades, performance on qualifying exams, progress with dissertation research,
and participation in the program activities. The faculty will determine whether progress with
satisfactory or not satisfactory based on performance. Students will receive faculty assessment
and feedback from the review through the Major Professor. If progress is unsatisfactory, the
student will plan a course of action with their advisor and Graduate Coordinator to improve their
progress. If the student demonstrates unsatisfactory progress a second year, he/she may be
withdrawn from the program.
Policies and Procedures
Academic Calendar
The academic calendar is available on the UGA website. Please consult the academic calendar
for important dates during the year including the start of school, add-drop dates, dates for early
registration, examination periods, graduation dates, etc.
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Registration
Students may register via computer using OASIS (On-Line Access to the Student Information
System). Computers are available in labs across campus, and students may register at any
location (on or off campus) where they can link into the Internet. Students are limited to a total of
90
minutes
of
registration
time
per
day.
For
details
check:
http://www.reg.uga.edu/or.nsf/html/overview.
OASIS registration has three phases: Phase IA (Pre-registration) and IB (a continuation of
Phase I which follows the original fee payment deadline); Phase II (Late Registration); and
Phase III (Drop/Add). The exact dates and times for these phases for the current term are noted
in the Key Dates within the Schedule of Classes. Generally, pre-registration for spring semester
is mid-October and pre-registration for summer and fall is the end of March.
Graduate students must register for at least 3 credit hours for two of the three semesters during
the academic year, with some exceptions for some UGA employees. If you cannot enroll for two
of three semesters, you should seek a leave of absence. If you seek a leave of absence from
the program, such a request must be approved by the MPH graduate coordinator and the
Graduate School Dean on or before the last day of classes for the semester for which the leave
is to begin. A leave of absence cannot be more than 12 months. If leave of absence is not taken
without approval, you must pay a reinstatement fee equivalent to registering for 3 credits at the
current in-state tuition rate for each term missed since last semester of enrollment, including
summer.
Transfer of Credit
No courses taken prior to a doctoral student’s admission to their degree program at The
University of Georgia are eligible for transfer.
Doctoral students who have matriculated as prospective candidates into the degree program
may take courses at other accredited institutions and have up to nine semester hours of credit
transferred to the UGA program of study. These courses must constitute a logical part of the
student’s program and must be recommended by the student’s Major Professor and graduate
coordinator for approval by the dean of the Graduate School. No grade below a “B” may be
transferred and the courses to be transferred may not have been used in a degree program at
another institution. All requests for transfer of credit, with accompanying official transcripts,
must be in the Graduate School at least 30 days prior to the time the student plans to graduate.
Courses transferred for the doctoral degree may not be used in fulfilling the requirement that a
minimum of 16 hours of 8000/9000-level courses be included on the program of study or the
university’s residency requirement.
Time Limitations
All requirements except the dissertation and final oral examination must be completed within a
period of 6 years. This time requirement dates from the first registration for graduate courses on
a student's program of study. Coursework will start to expire at the end of these 6 years if the
student is not admitted into candidacy. A doctoral candidate, who fails to complete the final
dissertation defense within 5 years after passing comprehensive examinations and admission to
candidacy, will be required to take the comprehensive examinations again and be admitted to
candidacy a second time.
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Residency Requirement
Residence, a UGA requirement, is defined as completing at least 30 semester hours of
consecutive coursework. This requirement can be obtained through a number of combinations,
such as 15 credit hours over 2 semesters or 3 credit hours over 10 semesters. Summers can
be counted toward residence. However, if the student does not enroll in summer classes,
summer semester is not counted against the residence requirement.
Graduate School Deadlines
You are responsible for meeting a large number of deadlines for the Graduate School and the
University. If you do not make a deadline, you may not receive your degree on time. See the
following website for details: http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/academics/deadlines.html
You are responsible for downloading, completing, and printing these forms. You are also
responsible for obtaining appropriate approval from your advisor, as needed. After you have
obtained appropriate signatures, please submit forms to the Graduate School. It is always a
good idea to make a copy of any form once all signatures have been obtained, in case any
paperwork gets misplaced.
Health Insurance
A student health insurance policy is available for all UGA students; however, the following
groups of UGA students are REQUIRED to have health insurance:
 Undergraduate and Graduate International Students holding "F" or "J" visa status.
 Undergraduate and Graduate Students enrolled in programs that require proof of health
insurance.
 Graduate Students receiving Qualified Graduate Assistantships.
 Graduate Students receiving Qualified Fellowships.
 Graduate Students receiving Qualified Training Grants.
Students who have health insurance can opt out of UGA Health Insurance; this process must be
done every semester. Visit http://www.uhs.uga.edu/ for more information regarding policies and
coverage.
University Policies and Resources
Academic Honesty Policy
Every student must agree to abide by UGA's academic honesty policy and procedures known
as A Culture of Honesty, when applying for admission to the University of Georgia. A Culture of
Honesty and the University of Georgia Student Honor Code together define a climate of
academic honesty and integrity at the University.
All members of the University community have a responsibility to uphold and maintain an honest
academic environment and to report when dishonesty occurs. Where suspected violations of the
academic honesty policy occur, appropriate procedures are designed to protect the integrity of
the academic process while ensuring due process. The University's academic honesty system is
an academic process founded on educational opportunities.
Students at UGA are responsible for maintaining and adhering to the strictest standards of
honesty and integrity in every aspect of their lives. Honesty in academic matters is a large part
of this obligation. As such, you should familiarize yourself with UGA's Academic Honesty Policy.
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Students and faculty who suspect that an act of academic dishonesty has taken place should
follow the procedures for reporting outlined by the Office of the Vice President for Instruction.
UGA Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights
with respect to their education records. They include the following:
1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records, subject to certain specific
exceptions. A student wishing to review his/her education records should submit to the
registrar, academic dean or other appropriate official a written request that identifies the
records he/she wishes to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access
and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the
records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that
official will advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be
addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records. A student may ask
the University to amend a record that he/she believes is inaccurate or misleading. The
student should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identifying the
part of the record he/she wants changed and specifying how it is inaccurate or misleading. If
the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University
will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his/her right to a hearing as
well as the hearing procedures.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the
student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without
the student's consent. One exception is disclosure to other University officials who have
been determined to have a legitimate educational interest in the information. A University
official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic,
research, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the University has
contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board
of Regents of the University System of Georgia; or a student serving on an official
committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another University
official in performing his/her duties. A University official has a legitimate educational interest
if the official needs to review an education record in order to perform his/her official duties.
Upon request, the University also discloses education records without the student's consent
to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. In addition,
directory information may be disclosed without a student's consent unless the student has
advised the registrar in writing that he/she wishes to restrict access to this information.
"Directory Information" includes the student's name, address, telephone listing, e- mail
address, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized
activities and sports, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received and the most
recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, as well as the
weight and height of members of athletic teams.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning the
University's alleged failure to comply with FERPA. The name and address of the office that
administers FERPA is Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202- 4605.
Mental Health and Stress Control
The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) http://www.uhs.uga.edu/caps/ is located
at the University Health Center. Students who wish to meet with a counselor for the first time
may walk-in, or call 542-2273 to schedule an appointment. CAPS also provides stress
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management programs such as mediation and massage therapy. CAPS is located on the third
floor of the University Health Center, on the corner of College Station and East Campus Roads.
All students registered for credit at The University of Georgia are eligible to use the CAPS
services.
Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
The University of Georgia (“the University”) is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful
environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state
law, Board of Regents’ policy, and University policy, the University prohibits any member of the
faculty, staff, administration, student body, or visitors to campus, whether they be guests,
patrons, independent contractors, or clients, from harassing and/or discriminating against any
other member of the University community because of that person’s race, sex (including sexual
harassment), sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin, religion, age, disabled status, or status
as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era. Incidents of harassment and discrimination
will be met with appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.
The University of Georgia LGBT Resource Center, in partnership with the University of Georgia
Health Center, offers Safe Space Training. The mission of the UGA Safe Space program is to
support and empower members of the UGA community through education, engagement, and
deliberate dialogue in order to provide an affirming and inclusive environment for all LGBT
students, faculty, and staff.
Campus Emergencies – UGA Alert
UGA is committed to keeping you as safe as possible through effective communication prior to,
during, and following emergencies. UGA Alert allows you to receive emergency messages on
multiple devices. You may identify as many as three phone numbers and two email addresses
for receiving emergency notifications. To register, opt in/out, or update your information,
you must have a valid UGA MyID. Proceed to registration/update your information on the MYID
homepage to register.
Source for UGA Policies and Procedures
For a comprehensive list of all University policies and procedures go to
http://www.uga.edu/inside/policies.html
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