Epidemiology, MS

Program Description Admission and Selection Curriculum Summary and (Typical) Sequence Promotion and Graduation

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Program Description

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations. Its role has expanded over the past 20 years to involve all facets of health care, disease prevention, and health promotion. In addition to being the basic science of public health, epidemiology has emerged as an important discipline for nursing, allied health science, and clinical medicine, especially in the managed-care environment. The Master of Science program (35 credit hours minimum) is designed to provide the necessary methodological skills for students to be able to independently pursue epidemiological research in their chosen areas. As part of the program, students receive training in epidemiology, biostatistics, health research methods, and health behavior and promotion. This hybrid program relies on both face-to-face instruction along with online courses to deliver the curriculum.

The program emphasizes training current health professionals to develop and enhance their knowledge of epidemiology, research design, and data analysis skills. Students holding an advanced degree at the master’s or doctoral level may opt for a non-thesis track in which the student prepares a quantitatively based research article, approved by the student’s committee, which must be submitted for publication in a professional epidemiology-related, peer-reviewed journal. Track selection, for clinical investigation or traditional epidemiology, should be made by the end of a student’s first year in the program. Regardless of track, students present their thesis or submitted article in an announced forum with subsequent defense before the student’s committee.

Admission and Selection

The program is offered to qualified applicants holding a baccalaureate, master’s, or professional degree in a variety of disciplines, including physical, biological, and social sciences, health and medical sciences.

Minimum Admission Requirements

Admissions will be determined based on strength of academic credentials, maturity of interest, and fit with faculty interests.

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree with a grade-point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited college or university;
• Official academic transcripts (international applicants must arrange for an independent educational equivalency evaluation company to submit an evaluation of their transcripts to UT at their own expense; the evaluation report should include the grade-point average based on a 4.0 scale);
• An application form including 200-word- minimum essay with goal statement describing the applicant’s area of interest in epidemiology;
• 3 letters of recommendation;
• GRE revised test minimum verbal score of 150, minimum quantitative score of 150, and minimum analytical writing score of 3.5 (physicians licensed in the United States and persons with advanced terminal degrees may petition for waiver of the GRE);

• TOEFL minimum score of 213 on the computer-based exam, or 79 on the Internet-based exam, for applicants whose first language is not English.

Technical Standards and Accommodations

The minimum abilities for eligibility to participate successfully in educational programs and activities by students enrolled in the College of Graduate Health Sciences are listed below. All persons who wish to enter one of the programs in the College should be aware of the minimum abilities required for success. Admission decisions for the College programs do not take disabilities into consideration; students may disclose their disabilities after admission to request accommodations to the UTHSC Office of Student Academic Support Services and Inclusion (SASSI) https://www.uthsc.edu/sassi/.

Minimum abilities are as follows:

1. To make proper assessments and ethical judgments regarding research and professional decisions.
2. To communicate effectively with colleagues and professional staff.
3. To acquire necessary information developed through classroom instruction, laboratory experience, independent learning, and consultation.
4. To search and evaluate articles in the scientific literature.
5. To obtain, interpret, and accurately document research data.
6. To complete computer-based assignments and use computers.
7. To understand and carry out safety rules and precautions in the laboratory.
8. To handle emergencies in the laboratory, including fire, exposure to dangerous agents, and explosions.

These abilities may be accomplished through direct student response, use of prosthetic devices, or personal assistance (e.g., readers, signers, and note takers). Purchase of prosthetic devices to aid the student in meeting these requirements is the responsibility of the student. On a case-by-case basis and upon written request of the student, the College may assist in providing attending services.