With its emphases on translational research and emerging public health issues, the PhD program in Epidemiology and Biostatistics offers a cutting-edge, advanced training to prepare individuals for academic and research careers. The program has two concentrations, Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Main areas of research include cardiovascular disease risk factors, allergic diseases and underlying genetic/epigenetic mechanisms, sickle cell disease, smoking, cancer, and childhood obesity, along with biostatistical methods originated from these public health studies. Students work closely with faculty mentors in these research areas. The PhD program is designed to be completed in three to four years for students with a master's degree in Biostatistics or a related field. For each concentration, requirements include the equivalent of two years of full-time coursework, written and oral comprehensive examinations, and the completion an oral defense of an independent, original dissertation in the concentration area. Eligible full-time students may receive graduate assistantships to cover tuition and/or stipends.
Concentrations
| Biostatistics | The Biostatistics concentration will build strong theoretical background in advanced biostatistical methods and provide a solid foundation for original biostatistical research. This concentration will train students with the quantitative expertise needed for research-related positions in government and private health agencies, industry, and research institutes, and will prepare students to seek positions in academia as professors. View Curriculum > |
| Epidemiology | The Epidemiology concentration is designed to teach students advanced methods in epidemiologic research, combined with a strong core of biostatistics analytical methods. The overarching objective of the concentration is to prepare the students to be expert, independent researchers in public health, who are responsive to health needs of the community and able to address them efficiently. View Curriculum > |
Degree Requirements
- To qualify for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, the student must complete a minimum of 54 semester hours of graduate coursework beyond the Master's degree.
- No more than seven 7 credit hours in which a grade of C or below was earned will be counted toward degree requirements.
- Students must maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale.
Tuition and Fees
For the most current information regarding tuition, visit the University & Student Business Services' Fee Chart.
Contact Us
For frequently asked questions about the this program, please visit ourDoctoral Degrees FAQ
Briana McNeil
Coordinator, Recruitment and Admissions
sphadmissions@memphis.edu
(901) 678-3740
Shirl Sharpe, MS
Academic Services Coordinator II
ssharpe@memphis.edu
(901) 678.1710
Xinhua Yu, MD, PhD, MS
Epidemiology PhD Program Director
xyu2@memphis.edu