I often tell people that my decision to go to YSPH is probably the best decision of my career.
Chronic Disease Epidemiology MPH
The Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology advances the health of the public by promoting a research-based approach to the prevention and management of chronic diseases while educating future leaders of the field. The department aims to enhance understanding about the determinants of chronic diseases in populations and how to intervene most effectively to reduce morbidity and mortality due to chronic diseases. Research is focused on the fields of cancer, psychosocial epidemiology, HIV/AIDS, aging and genetic epidemiology.
How to Apply
For more information on how to apply visit the YSPH Admissions website.
Apply through SOPHAS.
What are the program's areas of expertise?
In addition to experts in epidemiological, biostatistical, and implementation science methods, our faculty are leading researchers in:
- Cancer
- Heart Disease and Stroke
- Genetics
- Nutrition, Diabetes and Obesity
- Global Health
- Maternal Child Health
- Outcomes Research
- Women's Health
- Aging
What makes us different?
- CDE is unique in that we have specific expertise in and a whole department focused exclusively on chronic disease epidemiology.
- We are a department of epidemiology with a deep focus on outcomes research
- We have research and teaching depth in global non-communicable diseases
- Students have many opportunities to work on the CDE faculty and other university researchers on grants
- Our students develop strong research and analytical skills through their theses and often have peer reviewed publications to their name as they enter the workforce of doctoral programs.
Department Requirements
The MPH degree requires a total of 20 course units. The MPH in Chronic Disease Epidemiology (CDE) requires the student to complete or acquire an exemption from MPH core courses and CDE department required courses. Full time students must carry a minimum of 4 course units each semester. If a course is waived, a substitute course must be identified. In addition, all 2-year MPH students are required to complete an Applied Practice Experience (APE). Please refer to the Applied Practice Experience Guidelines for more information.
MPH Core Courses (5 course units)
- EPH 505 - Biostatistics in Public Health - 1 unit
- EPH 507 - Social Justice and Health Equity - 1 unit
- EPH 508 - Foundations of Epidemiology for Public Health - 1 unit
- EPH 510 - Health Policy and Health Care Systems - 1 unit
- EPH 513 - Major Health Threats: Determinants and Solutions - 1 unit
- EPH 100/EPH 101 - Professional Skills Series - 0 units
- EPH 521 - Applied Practice Experience (Please note: APE workplans must first be approved by the Office of Public Health Practice. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the APE in the summer before their 2nd year. If not, students will have opportunity to complete the APE requirement in fall or spring terms using the APE course (internship or independent project), or a practicum course.) 0 units
Department Required Courses (7-8 course units)
The number of course units for CDE department requirements (i.e., 7 or 8) depends on whether a student chooses to take EPH 525 (which gives two course units) or one of the other options (which gives one course unit) to meet their ILE requirement.
- BIS 505 Biostatistics in Public Health II - 1 unit (spring)
- CDE 516 Principles of Epidemiology II - 1 unit (spring)
- CDE 525/CDE 526 Seminar in Chronic Disease Epidemiology - 0 units (fall/spring)
- CDE 534 Applied Analytic Methods in Epidemiology - 1 unit (spring)
- BIS 540 Fundamentals of Clinical Trials - 1 unit (fall)
- BIS 621 Regression Models - 1 unit (fall)
- BIS 623 Applied Regression Analysis - 1 unit (fall)
- BIS 628 Longitudinal and Multilevel Data Analysis - 1 unit (spring)
- BIS 630 Applied Survival Analysis - 1 unit (spring)
- CDE 572 Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle Interventions - 1 unit (fall)
- CDE 617 Developing a Research Proposal - 1 unit (fall)
- CDE 650 Introduction to Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Care - 1 unit (fall)
- CDE 535 Epidemiology of Heart Disease and Stroke - 1 unit (spring)
- EMD 625 How to Develop, Write, and Evaluate an NIH Proposal - 1 unit (spring)
- SBS 574 Developing a Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Intervention - 1 unit (spring)
- EPH 525 Thesis - 2 units (spring)
Elective Courses (7-8 course units)
CDE students are strongly recommended to take one additional CDE course as one of the electives.