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UF Health University of Florida
College of Public Health & Health Professions University of Florida
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Academics Overview

Curriculum
Epidemiology PhD

The Ph.D. program requires 90 credits, broken down into the following categories:

  • Core coursework, 41 credits
  • Elective coursework, 34 credits
  • Dissertation research, 15 credits

Total: 90 credits

In addition, there are two prerequisite courses that must be completed in the first semester of your program.

Prerequisites
Core Coursework
Elective Coursework
Dissertation Research

Prerequisites

  • PHC 6001: Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health (3 credits)
  • PHC 6600: Foundations of Public Health (0 or 3 credits)
  • PHC 6600: Foundations of Public Health is not required for students who hold a CEPH-accredited MPH degree. Credit taken will count toward general elective credit.
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Core courses (41 credits)

Statistics and data management (9 credits)

  • PHC 6052: Introduction to Biostatistical Methods (3 credits)
  • PHC 6053: Regression Methods for the Health and Life Sciences (3 credits)
  • PHC 7065: Critical Skills in Epidemiological Data Management (3 credits)

Epidemiology methods (12 credits)

  • PHC 6000: Epidemiology Methods I (3 credits)
  • PHC 6011: Epidemiology Methods II (3 credits)
  • PHC 7017: Advanced Epidemiologic Methods III (3 credits)
  • PHC 6711: Measurement in Epidemiology and Outcomes Research (3 credits)

Choose 9 additional credits from the below courses:

  • PHC 6003: Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases and Disability (3 credits)
  • PHC 6016: Social Epidemiology in Public Health (3 credits)
  • PHC 6194: Spatial Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PHC 6517: Public Health Concepts in Infectious Diseases (3 credits)
  • PHC 6726: Integrated Mixed Methods Research in Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PHC 7007: Cancer Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PHC 7017: Advanced Epidemiologic Methods III (3 credits)
  • PHC 7038: Psychiatric Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PHC 7083: Computational Epidemiology in Population Science (3 credits)
  • PHC 7199: Topics in Precision Medicine and Public Health Informatics (3 credits)
  • PHC 7594: Genetic Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PHC 7595: Introduction to Molecular Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PHC 7744: Causal Artificial Intelligence for Health Research (3 credits)

Doctoral series (5 credits)

  • PHC 7727: Grant Writing for Population Health Research (3 credits)
  • PHC 7934: Seminar I: Epidemiology Past, Present, and Future (2 credits)

Writing series (4 credits)

  • PHC 7901: Epidemiology Literature Review and Critique (Journal Club) (1 credit)
  • PHC 7902: Scientific Writing for Peer Reviewed Publications for Population Science (3 credit)

Ethics (2 credits)

  • PHC 7427: Ethics in Population Science (2 credits)
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Elective courses (34 credits)

Statistics electives (6 credits)

Choose from the below courses:

  • PHC 6020: Clinical Trial Methods (3 credits)
  • PHC 6059: Introduction to Applied Survival Analysis (3 credits)
  • CLP 6529: Applied Multivariate Methods in Clinical Psychology (3 credits)
  • CLP 7525: Best Methods for Assessing Psychological Change (3 credits)
  • PHC 6089: Public Health Computing (3 credits)
  • PLP: Impact Through Networks (2 credits)
  • Other relevant approved advanced statistics course (VAR credits)

Epidemiology electives (14 credits)

Choose from the below courses. Any core course offering not already taken for credit can also apply to this section.

  • PHC 6009: Biology and Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS (3 credits)
  • PHC 6041: Landmarks in Psychiatric Epidemiology (2 credits)
  • PHC 6441: Understanding Health Disparities in the United States (3 credits)
  • PHC 6591: Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PHC 6598: Foundations in Precision Medicine: Genetic Epidemiology (1 credit)
  • PHC 6932: Psychiatric Epidemiology Online Seminar Series (1 credit)
  • PHC 6939: CPE Psychiatric Grand Rounds (1 credit)
  • PHC 7910: International Field Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PHC 7916: National Field Epidemiology (VAR 1 – 3 credits)
  • PHC 7918: Independent Study (VAR 1 – 3 credits)
  • Choose from these or other courses above that are not already required, or other course with substantial epidemiological content with approval of the Curriculum Committee Chair (VAR credits)

General electives (14 credits)

Choose any course relevant to your research interests or career goals. Any of the above listed courses not already taken for credit can also apply to this section.

Dissertation research (15 credits)

  • PHC 7979: Advanced Research (VAR 1-12 credits; pre-candidacy)
  • PHC 7980: Research for Doctoral Dissertation (VAR 1 – 15 credits; post-candidacy)
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Optional concentrations

Concentrations allow Ph.D. students to focus their elective coursework toward a single content area that interests them. All concentrations are completely optional, and students may enroll in up to two concentrations. All departmental concentrations are 9 credits and require that students submit either 1) dissertation aims, or 2) a first-authored publication, that documents independent research in the area of the concentration.

Cancer epidemiology

  • GMS 6065: Fundamentals of Cancer Biology (3 credits)*
  • PHC 7007: Cancer Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PHC 7595: Introduction to Molecular Epidemiology (3 credits)

*Substitution for course allowed with prior approval from the concentration director

Concentration coordinator

Profile Image Name Title Business Phone Email
Lusine Yaghjyan Lusine Yaghjyan Associate Professor (352) 294-5940 lyaghjyan@ufl.edu

Data science epidemiology

  • PHC 7199: Topics in Precision Medicine and Public Health Informatics (1 credit)
  • PHC 7049: Python Coding for Epidemiology (2 credits)
  • PHC 7083: Artificial Intelligence and Data Science for Epidemiology and Population Health (3 credits)
  • PHC 7744: Causal Artificial Intelligence for Health Research (3 credits)

Notes:

  • Students enrolled from 2025 onwards — No substitutions allowed; exceptions might be discussed on a case-by-case basis with the Concentration Director for approval
  • Students enrolled before 2025 — PHC 7017, PHC 7083 2-credit + PHC 7199 (or later PHC 7083 3-credit with PHC 7199 optional), PHC 7744. One substitution allowed, either “PHC 6097 Statistical Learning with Applications in Health Sciences” for PHC 7083 or “PHC 6937 Causal Inference” for PHC 7744

Concentration coordinator

Profile Image Name Title Business Phone Email
Mattia Prosperi Mattia Prosperi Professor and Associate Dean for AI and Innovation; EPI Chief Research Information Officer (352) 273-5860 m.prosperi@ufl.edu

Genetic epidemiology

  • PHC 7594: Genetic Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PHC 7595: Introduction to Molecular Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • A relevant course from Epidemiology or another department, with preapproval (3 credits)

Concentration coordinator

Profile Image Name Title Business Phone Email
Jinling Liu Jinling Liu Assistant Professor & Co-Director, Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Bioinformatics (352) 294-8576 jinling.liu@ufl.edu

Gero-epidemiology

  • GMS 6099: Research Methods in Gerontology (3 credits)
  • PHC 6016: Social Epidemiology in Public Health (3 credits)
  • GMS 6485: Population Based Research on Aging (3 credits)

Concentration coordinator

Profile Image Name Title Business Phone Email
Catherine L Striley Catherine L Striley Research Associate Professor (352) 273-5359 cstriley@ufl.edu

Infectious disease epidemiology

  • PHC 6517: Public Health Concepts in Infectious Diseases (3 credits)
  • PHC 6002: Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (3 credits)*
  • Choose third relevant course from any department with prior approval of the concentration director.

*Substitution for course allowed with prior approval from the concentration director

Concentration coordinator

Profile Image Name Title Business Phone Email
Volker Mai Volker Mai Associate Professor (352) 273-9398 vmai@ufl.edu

Psychiatric epidemiology

  • PHC 6016: Social Epidemiology in Public Health (3 credits)
  • PHC 6041: Psychiatric Epidemiology (2 credits)
  • PHC 6939: CPE Psychiatric Grand Rounds (1 credit)
  • PHC 7038: Psychiatric Epidemiology (3 credits)

Concentration coordinator

Profile Image Name Title Business Phone Email
Catherine L Striley Catherine L Striley Research Associate Professor (352) 273-5359 cstriley@ufl.edu

Clinical and translational science interdisciplinary concentration

The Department of Epidemiology participates in the Clinical and Translational Science Interdisciplinary Concentration offered by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Students must complete a separate application in order to enroll in this concentration. For more information about the concentration, visit the CTSI website.

  • GMS 6847: Translational Research and Therapeutics: Bench, Bedside, Community, & Policy (3 credits)
  • GMS 6893: Clinical and Translational Science Seminar Series (2 credits)
  • GMS 6895: CTS Journal Club (1 credit)
  • GMS 6945: Team Science (1 credit)
  • GMS 7877: Responsible Conduct of Biomedical Research (1 credit)
  • Choose 6 credits from approved CTS elective courses (Students must complete the required elective credits by choosing courses from the Experimental Design, Quantitative Skills, and Professional Development elective groups).

CTSI Program Administrator

Profile Image Name Title Business Phone Email
Christian A Rodriguez Christian A Rodriguez Academic Program Spec II (352) 273-8945 chrisar94@ufl.edu
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