PhD in Epidemiology

Charles River Campus, Boston, United States

Shortlist

# 56QS Subject Rankings

MedicineMain Subject Area

Program overview

Main Subject

Medicine

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

The Doctoral Program in Epidemiology provides advanced training to individuals already holding a graduate degree in public health or a related health science. To receive the PhD degree, students must complete and defend a doctoral dissertation based on original research and specific to a selected topic in epidemiology. The goal of the doctoral program is to educate candidates to become independent, productive, and creative research scientists in the field of epidemiology. Graduates of this program will be prepared to assume prominent positions in research, teaching, or health administration and are trained to address some of the most urgent public health issues facing us today. Students complete at least 32 credits (eight courses) beyond the masterâ€™s degree. It is expected that at least 24 of these credits be from the epidemiology and biostatistics course offerings at the School of Public Health. A B must be earned in these courses. Students may also choose from other courses offered at the School and pertinent graduate courses at Boston University. The intent of the coursework is to provide a firm foundation in epidemiologic principles and methods, biostatistical methods, and general public health and medical knowledge. Upon completion of coursework, students must pass a comprehensive written examination to evaluate their readiness to begin dissertation research and are required to develop a written dissertation proposal outlining the nature of the research. The dissertation is prepared and written under the direction of the candidateâ€™s dissertation committee (comprised of the dissertation chair and at least two other members).â€‰The research usually involves collecting, processing, and analyzing original data. When the dissertation is completed, the candidate defends his or her work before the dissertation committee and other faculty. Students must adhere to dissertation submission deadlines and requirements. The post-bachelorâ€™s program must be completed within nine years of the first registration for doctoral study. The post-masterâ€™s program must be completed within seven years of the first registration for the doctoral program.

Program overview

Main Subject

Medicine

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Admission requirements

Exam Scores

IELTS

Tuition fee and scholarships

Scholarships

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

A list of available scholarships around the world

A scholarship application checklist

Download Scholarship Guide

More programs from the university

One of the largest private universities in the country, Boston University educates approximately 16,000 undergraduate students each year. Nearly 3,900 faculty members teach in 250 programs of study at 17 schools and colleges.

In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked BU 37th in the nation and 39th among global universities. The faculty features a Pulitzer Prize winner, a MacArthur fellow, a former US Poet Laureate, and dozens of Guggenheim fellows. The student-faculty ratio is 10:1 and the average class size is 27.
BU is a member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only group of North America’s most prestigious research universities. One of only four Boston-area members, BU boasts particular interdisciplinary breadth and depth of excellence in cloud computing and cyber security; engineering biology; infectious diseases; neuroscience; photonics; urban policy; education; and the humanities. It’s not unusual to find undergraduates in the cutting-edge labs and work spaces of prominent researchers tackling life-changing challenges.

Recognized around the world, the University fields applications for admission from students representing over 150 countries. By the same token, thousands of Terriers get their passports stamped every year for study, research, and internships on all seven continents. Once they graduate, BU students are among the most employable in the country and the world—5th and 6th, respectively, according to Times Higher Education.
BU is implementing a University-wide general education curriculum called the BU Hub, which ensures every graduate will possess the essential knowledge, skills, and habits of mind needed to think deeply, generate new ideas, and put them into action, particularly within the context of a hyper-fast, globally connected world.

On campus, daily life is a swirl of languages, faces, and religions, with 450+ student clubs, countless shows and lectures, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a slew of pubs and restaurants, and 22 varsity athletic teams, including the thrills and spills of Terrier hockey.

The University is nestled in the heart of Boston, a hotbed of high tech and biomedicine, and the birthplace of American history, serving as an extended classroom for students, offering study, internships, and professional opportunities with some of the world’s most influential leaders in fields from art to finance to biotech. It’s no wonder BU is called “Boston’s university.”

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B.A. in Geography - Physical Geography

B.A. in Philosophy and Physics

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Business and Management (6)

B.S. in Advertising

BA/MPH in Health Law, Bioethics and Human Rights

BS/MPH in Health Law, Bioethics and Human Rights

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Accounting

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Finance

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Engineering and Technology (6)

B.A. in Mathematics and Computer Science

BS in Computer Science

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Management Information Systems

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

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Life Sciences and Medicine (6)

B.A. in Anthropology

B.A. in Anthropology - Anthropology and Religion

B.A. in Biology

B.A. in Biology - Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Genetics

B.A. in Biology - Ecology and Conservation Biology

B.A. in Biology - Neurobiology

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Natural Sciences (6)

B.A. in Astronomy and Physics

B.A. in Earth Sciences

B.A. in Earth Sciences - Geophysics and Planetary Sciences

B.A. in Mathematics

B.A. in Mathematics and Philosophy

BA in Astronomy

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Social Sciences and Management (6)

B.A. in Economics and Mathematics

B.A. in Geography - Human Geography

B.A. in Mathematics and Mathematics Education

B.S. in Communication Studies

BA in English

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The largest university in Boston and the fourth-largest private educational institution in the country, Boston University counts some 15,000 graduate students among its student body.

Nearly 3,900 faculty members teach at 17 schools and colleges and when not at the front of the classroom, they can be found at BU’s 125+ research centers and institutes and 2,326 laboratories spread across three city campuses. The faculty features a Pulitzer Prize winner, a MacArthur fellow, a former US Poet Laureate, and dozens of Guggenheim fellows.
BU is a major, global research institution and a member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only group of 62 of North America’s most prestigious research universities. One of only four Boston-area members, BU boasts particular interdisciplinary breadth and depth of excellence in cloud computing and cyber security; engineering biology; infectious diseases; neuroscience; photonics; urban policy; education; and the humanities. Home also to a medical school and teaching hospital, in FY2017 BU landed more than $400M in federal research dollars. In the commercial sector, some 200 companies are developing and selling products based on BU discoveries.

U.S. News & World Report for 2019 ranked numerous BU graduate programs among the country’s top 50: Sargent College’s occupational therapy program (#1), School of Public Health’s program (#10), Business (#42), Education (#34), Law (#22), Engineering (#34), Biomedical Engineering (#12), Medical Research (#29), Medical Primary Care (#26), Social Work (#10), as well as graduate programs in Computer Science, Math, Physics, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology.