Program Overview

Program Overview

MPH Academic Program

The 2-year MPH program in ither EHS or Epidemiology requires 48 units plus a full-time summer internship. MPH students are required to complete a capstone project. MPH students must take the EHS Capstone seminar both semesters in the second year. 

Sample Curricular Plan for the Master of Public Health Training Program

MS Academic Program

Upon completion of the MS Training Program in Occupational Epidemiology, students will have an adequate foundation and experience in the areas of epidemiologic methods, occupational health hazards, and biostatistical methods. The most typical MS applicant applies to the program as the entry point to a MS/PhD program.

Thus, a MS graduate should be competitive for a PhD training program, or for an epidemiologist position in a public health agency, private industry, or research institution, conducting epidemiologic research focused on occupational populations and hazards. MS students are required to complete a Master’s thesis at the end of the second year, that includes either a full literature review or a research paper based on existing data.  The faculty mentor must approve elective courses, advise the student in the development of a proposed MS project, and serve as the academic advisor for the project. To complete this research project, MS students are required to take three units of research credit in each semester of their second year and to meet regularly with their advisor during this year. Trainees are encouraged to begin their research projects in the summer between the two years. 

Sample Curricular Plan for the Master of Science Training Program

PhD Academic Program

Most PhD students are admitted directly from a MS program. In their second year, doctoral students identify a thesis topic and begin work on the research that will continue until completion of the doctoral degree. The total time in doctoral training at UCB is typically four years. All first-year doctoral trainees will be assigned a prethesis faculty advisor upon admission. Other significant contributing faculty will be available to serve on oral examination and dissertation committees for trainees but will not be eligible to chair research committees. The faculty advisor will guide the trainees in planning their coursework and over the following two years, in preparing for the Qualifying Examination.

Doctoral students are expected to carry a full course load of 12-13 units every semester, including at least 3 units of research credit in the first two years, with more in later years. All doctoral students are required to have a major and two minor fields. Students supported on this training grant will be further required to have either EHS, Biostatistics or Epidemiology as their major area, and the other as one of their two minor fields. The second minor may be biostatistics, ergonomics, industrial hygiene, epigenetics, molecular and cell biology, or occupational health policy, for example. The goal of the PhD program is to prepare students for careers as independent public health research scientists who will contribute to the knowledge development in the field of occupational epidemiology. Emphasis is placed on development and formulation of research hypotheses and the application of state-of-the-art epidemiologic methods.      

Sample Curricular Plan for the Doctoral Training Program