Epidemiology

Choose the Path That Is Right for You

TRACK I: Choose this track if you have a Master of Public Health (MPH) or an MS in Public Health.

TRACK II: Choose this track if you hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in an academic discipline other than the public health field.

Track I

Curriculum

Minimum Degree Requirements

• 83 quarter credits
  • Foundation courses (3 cr.)
  • Core courses (40 cr.)
  • Specialization courses (20 cr.)
  • Doctoral Seminars (5 cr.)
  • Dissertation (minimum 15 cr.)
• Four PhD residencies

Walden students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral program unless they petition for an extension.

In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation/doctoral study course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation/doctoral study course shell.

This sequence represents the minimum time to completion. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 855-646-5286.

Courses

Show Course Descriptions

Course Code	Title	Credits
CAEX 6055	Graduate Writing I: Basic Composition Skills Show In this 6-week course, graduate students take the first step in developing their reading and writing skills for scholarly work. Students read a research article and summarize its parts, thus becoming more familiar with the language, structure, and style of the academic conversation. In addition to summary writing, topics include APA citation, scholarly voice, and revision. Students also maintain a journal of writing feedback they've received and apply that feedback to papers for their discipline-specific courses. After completion, students move on to CAEX 6065/6066 - Graduate Writing II: Intermediate Composition Skills.	(0 cr.)
CAEX 6065	Graduate Writing II: Intermediate Composition Skills Show This 6-week course primes graduate students not only to understand a scholarly text but to critically read and form an argument based on it. Topics covered include paraphrasing, APA citation, analysis, academic paragraphs, and revising and editing. Students participate in a robust writing community where they practice writing in discussion forums, keep a feedback journal, and apply their learning to papers for their discipline-specific courses. Through these activities, students should begin to see their place in the scholarly conversation. This course is complementary to CAEX 6055/6056 - Graduate Writing I: Basic Composition Skills, and enhances the skills covered in CAEX 6050. Students in this course are expected to have a familiarity with the skills covered in CAEX 6055/6056 - Graduate Writing I: Basic Composition Skills.	(0 cr.)
PHLT 8006/11	Foundations of Doctoral Success in Public Health Show In this course, students will explore the field of public health and analyze foundational components of the discipline, including philosophies and values, from the viewpoint of what it means to become a scholar-practitioner in the field. They will also examine literature in public health including information on emerging issues and trends and technologies used. Students will learn about the public health doctoral programs and the resources that are available to improve scholarly voice, writing, and communication. In addition, students will examine the skills that are needed to complete a doctoral study program with regards to time management, self-discipline, and academic integrity. -	(5 cr.)
PHLT 8051	Advanced Issues in Global Public Health Show This course provides an in-depth review and analysis of the leading global health problems, and the primary methods used to measure those problems. Students analyze the social and environmental determinants of global health problems, including urbanization, global industrialization, environmental pollution, and their role in health inequalities within and between populations. In addition, students evaluate population-based approaches to improving global public health, including culturally inclusive and sensitive primary health care, and policies that promote health literacy, health equity and positive social change. Emphasis is placed on strategies to advance inclusion, cultural humility and health equity in public health research, policies and programs. The course takes a cross-disciplinary, ecological approach, enabling students to examine the complex inter-relationships between economic, social and environmental factors, and health.	(5 cr.)
PHLT 8402	Applied Leadership and Multicultural Perspectives in Public Health Show In this course, students explore leadership models and theories, the core principles of public health leadership, and the application of systems thinking to public health. They examine how to create strategies and solutions that efficiently utilize public health and healthcare resources. Students also discuss descriptive and prescriptive systems, focusing on the application of these processes to current public health issues and challenges at the organizational and community levels.	(5 cr.)
PHLT 8060	Dissertation Seminar I Show [Under development]	(1 cr.)
RSCH 8110H	Research Theory, Design, and Methods Show In this research course, students are provided with core knowledge and skills for understanding, analyzing, and designing research at the graduate level. Students explore the philosophy of science, the role of theory, and research processes. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research designs and data collection methods are introduced. The alignment of research components is emphasized. Students also explore ethical and social change implications of designing and conducting research. Students demonstrate their knowledge and skills by developing an annotated bibliography. Prerequisites Doctor of Social Work SOCW 8110 or SOCW 8110W PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision COUN 8001 COUN 8110 RESI 8801C PhD in Social Work SOCW 8110 or SOCW 8110W All Other Programs RESI 8401 -	(5 cr.)
PHLT 8062	Dissertation Seminar II Show [Under development] Prerequisites PHLT 8060	(1 cr.)
PHLT 8042	Public Health Ethics Show This course will introduce students to the main values and principles that drive decision-making in public health research and practice. Through a case study approach, students will be exposed to different ethical theories and their application in real-life public health scenarios, such as resource allocation, individual autonomy versus the needs of the community, and protecting vulnerable populations. In addition, principles of research ethics will be discussed and students will be exposed to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) application process.	(3 cr.)
RSCH 8210H	Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis Show In this research course, students are provided with the opportunity to develop core knowledge and skills for designing and carrying out quantitative research at the doctoral level, including the application of statistical concepts and techniques. Students explore classical common statistical tests, the importance of the logic of inference, and social change implications of conducting quantitative research and producing knowledge. Students approach statistics from a problem-solving perspective with emphasis on selecting appropriate statistical tests for a research design. Students use statistical software to derive statistics from quantitative data and interpret and present results. Prerequisites Doctor of Social Work RSCH 8110K or RSCH 8110W PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision RSCH 8110 RESI 8801C PhD in Social Work RSCH 8110K or RSCH 8110W All Other Programs RSCH 8110 or RSCH 7110 or RSCH 6110 RESI 8401 -	(5 cr.)
PHLT 8270	Health Informatics and Surveillance Show [Under development]	(5 cr.)
PHLT 8064	Dissertation Seminar III Show [Under development] Prerequisites PHLT 8060 PHLT 8062 PHLT 8500 RSCH 8110H RSCH 8210H RSCH 8310H	(1 cr.)
PHLT 8500	Advanced Biostatistics Show Students in this course cover the advanced biostatistics methods needed to prepare for conducting future research, as well as for critically reviewing the statistical methods incorporated in public health literature. Students learn to use statistical methodologies such as covariance and repeated measures, longitudinal data analysis, life tables and survival analysis, multiple regression, logistic regression, Poisson regression, and the Cox proportional hazards regression model. In this course, students use SPSS statistical software for advanced data management, manipulation, analysis, and the use of graphical techniques. Prerequisites RSCH 8210H	(5 cr.)
PHLT 8046	Grant Writing and Review for Public Health Research Show In this course, students investigate the multiple funding sources of public health research. Students analyze grant-writing strategies and the advantages and disadvantages of various financing options. Students will be responsible for writing a mock public health grant proposal to support a real-world research topic. In addition, students will be exposed to the grant approval review process and gain experience in grant review and evaluation.	(5 cr.)
PHLT 8520	Advanced Epidemiological Methods Show The principles of epidemiologic design, analysis, and interpretation at an advanced level are integrated in this course. Students discuss data sources, assessment of dependent and independent variables, measurement error, confounding, and bias. They explore methodological issues in epidemiology, including factors critical to public health research, such as missing data, intermediate variables, confounding, complex study designs, meta-analysis, and questionnaire design. The concepts and applications in survival analysis, analysis of incidence rates, life tables, and parametric and nonparametric approaches are covered in this course.	(5 cr.)
PHLT 8522	Epidemiological Investigations Show This course introduces epidemiologic methods used to solve health related problems. Students gain knowledge in field epidemiology, surveillance, traceback studies, environmental health assessments, rapid assessments, and contact tracing through case studies of actual epidemiological investigations. Resources that are critical to epidemiological investigations are presented, such as public health laboratories, incident command system, and geographic information systems. Topics will range from Cyclosporiasis and Salmonella, to HIV and COVID-19.	(5 cr.)
PHLT 8066	Dissertation Seminar IV Show [Under development] Prerequisites RSCH 8110H RSCH 8210H RSCH 8310H PHLT 8060 PHLT 8062 PHLT 8064	(1 cr.)
	Methods Elective
	Choose 1 of 5 below
RSCH 8310	Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis Show Students in this research course are provided with the opportunity to develop basic knowledge and skills for conducting qualitative research at the doctoral level. Students explore the nature of qualitative inquiry, how theory and theoretical and conceptual frameworks uniquely apply to qualitative research, data collection procedures and analysis strategy, and how the role of the researcher is expressed in the ethical and rigorous conduct of qualitative research. Students practice collecting, organizing, analyzing, and presenting data, and they develop a detailed research topic for conducting a qualitative study. Prerequisites Doctor of Social Work RSCH 8110K or RSCH 8110W PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision RSCH 8110 RESI 8801C PhD in Social Work RSCH 8110K or RSCH 8110W All Other Programs RSCH 8110 or RSCH 7110 or RSCH 6110 RESI 8401	(5 cr.)
OR
RSCH 8260	Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis Show Students in this research course build upon knowledge and skills acquired in the prerequisite quantitative reasoning course and are presented with opportunities to apply them. They are provided with more specialized knowledge and skills for conducting quantitative research at the doctoral level, including understanding multivariate data analysis and applying more advanced statistical concepts, such as factorial ANOVA, mediation, moderation, logistic regression, ANCOVA, and MANOVA. Students explore existing datasets and apply suitable statistical tests to answer research questions with social change implications. In this course, they approach statistics from a problem-solving perspective with emphasis on selecting the appropriate statistical tests for more complex research questions and social problems. Students use statistical software to perform analyses and interpret and present results. They will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by carrying out a quantitative research project. Prerequisites Doctor of Social Work RSCH 8210K or RSCH 8310K or RSCH 8210W or RSCH 8310W PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision RSCH 8110 RSCH 8210 CPLB 802L PhD in Social Work RSCH 8210K or RSCH 8210W or RSCH 8310K or RSCH 8310W All Other Programs RESI 8402	(5 cr.)
OR
RSCH 8460	Advanced Mixed-Methods Reasoning and Analysis Show Students build upon knowledge and skills acquired in RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis and RSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis for more specialized knowledge and skills to design mixed-methods research at the doctoral level. Students are provided with more specialized knowledge and skills for designing mixed-methods research at the doctoral level. They gain an understanding of the types of mixed-methods designs and how to select the most appropriate approach for the research question(s). The emphases of this course are on integrating quantitative and qualitative elements into true mixed-methods studies, practice in data analysis, and integration of qualitative and quantitative data within a research write-up. Students will apply and synthesize their knowledge and skills by developing a mixed-methods research plan that incorporates qualitative and quantitative elements appropriately. Prerequisites PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision RSCH 8110 RSCH 8210 RSCH 8310 CPLB 802L PhD in Social Work RSCH 8210K or RSCH 8210W or RSCH 8310K or RSCH 8310W All Other Programs RSCH 8110 or RSCH 7110 or RSCH 6110 RSCH 8210 or RSCH 7210 or RSCH 6210 RSCH 8310 or RSCH 7310 or RSCH 6310 RESI 8402 Note: This course was previously RSCH 8450.	(5 cr.)
OR
PHLT 8076	Fundamentals of Mapping and Geographic Information Systems for Public Health Show This course enables students to acquire, manipulate and effectively display spatial data by introducing principles, methods, and techniques used in public health to help foster decision and policy-making based on the visualization of data.  Students will further understand how public health researchers and practitioners can increase the impact of their work by using geographic information systems (GIS) to convey information and synthesize data from multiple sources. Using basic GIS concepts, such as coordinate systems, layering, buffering, joining, merging, and aggregating spatial data, conducting spatial queries, and appropriate visualization of spatial data, students will be able to visualize, analyze, and interpret data in an accessible and useful way.	(5 cr.)
OR
PHLT 8560	Advanced Analysis of Secondary Data Show Through this course, students develop an advanced understanding of statistical and epidemiological methodology and the use of biomedical and secondary data sources. Students explore how to design research to make appropriate use of available secondary data sources. The strengths and limitations of using secondary data are also addressed in this course.	(5 cr.)
	Specialization Elective
	Choose 1 of 5 below
PHLT 8054	Lifestyle and Chronic Diseases Show In this course, students explore how lifestyle and related risk factors influence chronic diseases, also called noncommunicable diseases. Topics include the role of diet, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and drug use) on the epidemiology of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and asthma. Through development of an evidence-based intervention to improve a lifestyle behavior, students evaluate the use of theories of health behavior change, measurement techniques, screening approaches, and prevention of chronic diseases.	(5 cr.)
OR
PHLT 8072	Communicable Disease Epidemiology Show This course covers principles and methods of communicable disease epidemiology. Topics include infectious disease definitions and terminology, outbreak investigations, disease surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, dynamics of transmission, the epidemiologic triangle, immunity, and vaccines. Case studies are used to investigate health conditions such as acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis, and vector-borne diseases.	(5 cr.)
OR
PHLT 8074	Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology Show This course provides students with the key health effects of environmental and occupational exposures and the epidemiologic methods used to identify and estimate those effects. Students learn about environmental and occupational exposures and key methodological issues relevant for these exposures in population studies, including study design, exposure assessment and biomonitoring, disease clusters, dose-response relationships, susceptibility, geographic analysis, and evidence synthesis. The major health consequences and increased health risks of climate effects will also be discussed.	(5 cr.)
OR
PHLT 8560	Advanced Analysis of Secondary Data Show Through this course, students develop an advanced understanding of statistical and epidemiological methodology and the use of biomedical and secondary data sources. Students explore how to design research to make appropriate use of available secondary data sources. The strengths and limitations of using secondary data are also addressed in this course.	(5 cr.)
OR
PHLT 8076	Fundamentals of Mapping and Geographic Information Systems for Public Health Show This course enables students to acquire, manipulate and effectively display spatial data by introducing principles, methods, and techniques used in public health to help foster decision and policy-making based on the visualization of data.  Students will further understand how public health researchers and practitioners can increase the impact of their work by using geographic information systems (GIS) to convey information and synthesize data from multiple sources. Using basic GIS concepts, such as coordinate systems, layering, buffering, joining, merging, and aggregating spatial data, conducting spatial queries, and appropriate visualization of spatial data, students will be able to visualize, analyze, and interpret data in an accessible and useful way.	(5 cr.)
PHLT 8068	Dissertation Seminar V Show [Under development] Prerequisites RESI 8401 RESI 8402 PHLT 8066 PHLT8064 PHLT 8062 PHLT 8060	(1 cr.)
PHLT 9005	Dissertation Prospectus Show A doctoral capstone (e.g., dissertation, project study, etc.) is required in the final phase of a student's doctoral journey, after meeting the requirements for doctoral candidacy. During the capstone course sequence, students integrate their program of study into an in-depth exploration culminating in the completion of a doctoral research study. Students complete the study independently, with the guidance of a capstone committee, and following the process guidance in the Doctoral Degree Coach.The first stage of capstone development is the prospectus. The doctoral prospectus is a brief document that provides preliminary information about the capstone research. It serves as the tentative plan for developing the proposal and is evaluated to ensure doctoral-level work (e.g., feasibility, alignment, etc.) by the committee chair, second committee member, and a program-level designee. Program-level approval is required to progress to the proposal. Prerequisites All required coursework Residencies 1, 2, and 3 (RESI 8401, and RESI 8402, and RESI 8403)	(5 cr.)
PHLT 9015	Dissertation Proposal Show A doctoral capstone (e.g., dissertation, project study, etc.) is required in the final phase of a student's doctoral journey, after meeting the requirements for doctoral candidacy. During the capstone course sequence, students integrate their program of study into an in-depth exploration culminating in the completion of a doctoral research study. Students complete the study independently, with the guidance of a capstone committee, and following the process guidance in the Doctoral Degree Coach.The second stage of capstone development is the proposal. The doctoral proposal consists of the first few chapters or sections of the capstone and an APA-Style reference list. The proposal presents a detailed plan of the proposed research and describes a specific problem, the related literature, and the intended research methodology. The proposal is evaluated to ensure doctoral-level work (e.g., exhaustive review of literature, alignment, etc.) by the committee chair, second committee member, and a university research reviewer. Students complete an oral defense, and the Proposal Stage culminates with the research ethics review process. IRB approval is required to progress to the final study. Prerequisites Dissertation prospectus (PHLT 9005)	(5 cr.)
PHLT 9025	Dissertation Final Study Show A doctoral capstone (e.g., dissertation, project study, etc.) is required in the final phase of a student's doctoral journey, after meeting the requirements for doctoral candidacy. During the capstone course sequence, students integrate their program of study into an in-depth exploration culminating in the completion of a doctoral research study. Students complete the study independently, with the guidance of a capstone committee, and following the process guidance in the Doctoral Degree Coach.The last stage of capstone development is the final study. After the IRB application has been approved, students conduct their research, collect and analyze data, report findings, and draw conclusions. With the guidance of the committee, students write the remaining chapters or sections of the capstone as well as the document abstract. The final study is evaluated to ensure doctoral-level work (e.g., accurate results, alignment, etc.) by the committee chair, second committee member, and a university research reviewer. Students complete the form and style review process and an oral defense. The final study stage culminates in the chief academic officer (CAO) designee review process and CAO approval is required for capstone completion. Prerequisites Dissertation proposal (PHLT 9015)	(5 cr.)
VIEW ALL COURSES Less Courses

Tuition and Fees

Curriculum	Requirements	Cost	Total *
Tuition-Coursework	68 quarter credits	$590 per quarter hour for coursework credits	$40,120^
Tuition-Dissertation	15–125† quarter credits	$590 per quarter hour for dissertation credits	$8,850–$73,750*
Residency Fee	4 Residencies	$1,375 each (virtual) $1,475 each (in-person: travel, lodging and other expenses are additional)	$5,500–$5,900
Technology Fee		$160 per quarter	$1,760–$5,120*
Estimated Range:			2.75-Year Minimum	8-Year Maximum
			$56,230	$124,890*+

These are ranges of what a student can expect in terms of time and tuition cost to complete a degree. It does not include other fees, nor is it adjusted for tuition increases over time. Walden faculty has concluded that generally students who do not complete their program in eight years are unlikely to complete and only allow students to exceed that time frame when a student petitions for an extension and provides good reason for the delay and assurances that obstacles to completion can be overcome. Time is calculated using the time allowed for each semester or unit that the student completes. Students are encouraged to work continuously during the program so as not to extend the time needed to complete the degree as work can become stale and students lose focus. Students who earn two grades of “Unsatisfactory,” who repeatedly drop a course before a semester or unit has been completed, or are unable to complete in the eight year time frame, should expect that they may be dismissed from the program. Walden believes that it is in the best interest of a student who is unable to complete the degree in the stated ranges to strongly consider withdrawal or obtaining a lesser degree.

Time to completion and cost are not estimates of individual experience and will vary based on individual factors applicable to the student. Factors may be programmatic or academic such as tuition and fee increases and/or the student’s transfer credits accepted by Walden; program or specialization changes; unsuccessful course completion; credit load per term; writing, research and editing skills; use of external data for their doctoral study/dissertation; and/or individual progress in the program. Other factors may include personal issues such as the student’s employment obligations; care giving responsibilities or health issues; part-time vs. full-time enrollment; leaves of absence; and/or other personal circumstances.

Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included. Students may incur additional costs for remedial writing assistance, if necessary.

^This assumes students successfully complete their coursework on the first attempt.

^† Based on a 2.75-year minimum completion requirement and an 8-year maximum timeframe as outlined in Walden academic policy.

*Tuition and fees will be higher if students petition to extend the 8-year maximum timeframe or choose to take more expensive elective courses.

⁺Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships or other tuition discounts. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-642-0198.

Track II

Admission Requirements

General Admission Requirements: Completed online application and transcripts. Please note that the materials you are required to submit may vary depending on the academic program to which you apply. More information for international applicants.