LSUHSC School of Public Health | Epidemiology PhD Program

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PhD Program in Epidemiology

To advance the public's health and well-being through education, research & service
with a focus on issues affecting Louisiana

Application Form
General Application Instructions
Application Instructions (PhD Program)
Application Deadline
PhD Curriculum

The PhD is a terminal degree representing distinguished scholarly accomplishment in the field of epidemiology. It is designed primarily for those who plan academic or other careers involving teaching and/or research.� The PhD curriculum includes advanced coursework in epidemiologic theory, analytical and statistical methods, study design and data interpretation as well as research and instructional experience. �In addition to a series of core courses, including a formal teaching practicum, students will have the opportunity to take elective courses in epidemiology and other disciplines relevant to their chosen area of emphasis. �The curriculum will culminate in the development and completion of a dissertation generating new knowledge in the field of epidemiology based on independent research.

Why Choose LSUHSC School of Public Health for a PhD in Epidemiology?
It's affordable tuition, high faculty to student ratio, nationally and internationally recognized faculty, and high quality service programs make the School of Public Health an ideal environment in which to pursue a PhD in Epidemiology. Moreover, Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.

Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region have distinctive needs with regard to epidemiology due to our unique population and post-Katrina environment. �For example, at both the national and state level there is a growing appreciation of the need to reduce health disparities in an environment where there is increasing ethnic diversity. �Statistics have shown that not only do Louisiana residents rank among the highest in the nation for the prevalence of major diseases, but they also experience substantial racial disparities in disease risk, severity, and mortality. �The limited availability of preventive risk reduction programs as well as limited access to health care and poor insurance coverage are key obstacles in achieving improved health outcomes and reducing disparities. �Doctoral level epidemiologists, public health practitioners and researchers as well as academic faculty in Louisiana are critically needed if we are to address the issue of health disparities among medically underserved populations. �The academic curriculum and training at LSUHSC School of Public Health will include a focus on the effect of racial and ethnic diversity on public health, epidemiologic theory and methodology, designing innovative research projects, the study of effective responses to emergent diseases through research, education, prevention, and control, and the effective management of risk reduction in the epidemics of non-communicable health threats such as obesity and diabetes.

Application deadline
All applications must be sent to the School of Public Health (address below).

Application Checklist:

	Completed�application form
	Admissions Fee $30 check or money order payable to “LSU Health Sciences Center” and sent to the School of Public Health
	Official Report of GRE scores Request that the�Educational Testing Service�send this to the LSUHSC School of Public Health (code 1316, department code 0616). Scores must be from within the last five years. Scores sometimes take 6 weeks or longer to reach the School of Public Health; you may submit a “student copy” of the scores in the meantime. Other standardized exam scores may be accepted; please contact the Director of the Epidemiology Program for more information.
	Official Transcripts from each college or university attended (including other institutions in the LSU system) 2 copies of each transcript must be sent directly to the School of Public Health
	3 Letters of Recommendation Recommendations must come from faculty or equivalent professionals who have taught or worked with the applicant and can evaluate their qualifications and suitability as a doctoral candidate. Applicants must use the School of Public Health's�Recommendation Form Applicants must also request that an actual letter accompany the form. All letters should be sent directly to the School of Public Health.
	Personal statement Approximately 1000 words describing applicant’s interest in Epidemiology qualifications for the program, future goals and objectives, and the reason for selection of the LSUHSC School of Public Health Epidemiology Program
	Resume or CV
	International students must also submit: World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) evaluation report of all courses listed on transcripts, providing equivalency on a four-point grading scale; Official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) report. Send to LSUHSC School of Public Health (code 1316, department code 50)
	Applicants may be asked to participate in an interview�(in-person or by teleconference)

All items must be send to the following address:

LSU Health Sciences Center
School of Public Health
2020 Gravier Street, 3rd Floor
New Orleans, LA 70112

Upon receipt, the completed application package will be sent to the Epidemiology PhD program for review and recommendation.� Students will be notified of acceptance into the Epidemiology PhD program by the LSUHSC School of Public Health.

Applications will be evaluated in their entirety.� Successful applicants will be expected to show academic rigor and potential to perform at a high level of achievement in epidemiology based on past academic and work experience as well as test scores.

Funding.� A limited number of assistantships are available to full-time students pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology.� Assistantships entail a commitment of up to twenty hours per week working with faculty on research projects or in a teaching capacity.

For more information about the PhD in Epidemiology at the LSUHSC, contact:�

Coordinator for Epidemiology Admissions: Ariane Rung, PhD, MPH,�abedim@lsuhsc.edu

Director of Epidemiology Program: Edward Peters, DMD, SM, ScD,�epete1@lsuhsc.edu