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.

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

• 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.

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.

• 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
  

Required Courses for CDE (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.

Elective Courses (7-8 course units)

CDE students are strongly recommended to take one additional CDE course as one of the electives.

When you graduate from YSPH, you have options! Our curriculum is closely mapped to the core and departmental competencies so that you will have a foundation in the skills you need for a successful career in public health. See our Career Management Center pages to see where our alumni live and work after completing their MPH studies.

The core curriculum of the MPH program focuses on competencies in evidence-based approaches to public health (1–4), public health and health care systems (5–6), planning and management to promote health (7–11), policy in public health (12–15), leadership (16–17), communication (18–20), interprofessional practice (21), and systems thinking (22).

Upon completing the core curriculum, the student will be able to:

1. Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.
4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy, or practice.
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5. Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
6. Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities, and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community, and societal levels.
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7. Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ health.
8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
9. Design a population-based policy, program, project, or intervention.
10. Explain the basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
11. Select methods to evaluate public health programs.
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12. Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
13. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
14. Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
15. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
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16. Apply principles of leadership, governance, and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration, and guiding decision-making.
17. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
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18. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
19. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
20. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.
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21. Perform effectively on interprofessional teams.
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22. Apply systems-thinking tools to a public health issue.

Upon receiving an MPH degree with a concentration in Chronic Disease Epidemiology, the student will be able to:

• Create and manipulate data sets and variables to evaluate epidemiologic associations
• Conduct and interpret a multivariable linear regression analysis to evaluate epidemiologic associations
• Conduct and interpret a multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate epidemiologic associations
• Understand the application and interpretation of survival analysis in epidemiologic studies
• Understand the principles of meta-analysis and interpret a meta-analysis study