Department of Epidemiology

About 

The mission of the Department of Epidemiology is to improve the public’s health by training epidemiologists and by advancing knowledge concerning the causes and prevention of disease and the promotion of health. 

The Goals of the Department are to:

• Provide the highest quality education in epidemiology and thus prepare the next generation of epidemiologists
• Advance the science of epidemiology by developing new methods and applications
• Use epidemiologic methods to investigate the etiology of disease in human populations
• Use epidemiologic methods to evaluate health care delivery, prevention, and health promotion programs
• Develop methodologies for translating epidemiologic research findings into clinical medicine
• Develop approaches for applying the findings of epidemiologic research in the formulation of public policy and participate in formulating and evaluating the effects of such policy

Students gain proficiency in study designs, measurement, and inference to illuminate the distribution and determinants of health states as they identify and evaluate strategies for the prevention and control of disease in human populations. Faculty continue to honor the legacy of excellence set forth in the early days of the Department's founding, bolstering its growth, development, and numerous contributions to the field. A history of the Department, as well as a complete list of affiliated Centers and Institutes, may be found on the Department’s website.

Department Organization and Governance
 

Departmental Offices
 

• Chairs' Office: The Chair and Vice Chairs are responsible for leading the academic and research vision for the Department. Contact:  epichairsoffice@jh.edu
• Epi Academic Core: The Epi Academic Core oversees the advancement of epidemiologic education and research for students, fellows, and faculty through the coordination, management, and dissemination of Departmental courses, programs, and communications. Contact:  BSPH.EpiAcademic@jhu.edu
• Epi Admin: Epidemiology Finance & Administration ("Epi Admin") oversees the Department’s policymaking, financial management, research administration, and human resources and payroll. Contact: EPIADMINAP@jhu.edu. For Epi Human Resources, contact: epihumanresources@jhu.edu

Chairs' Office

Epi Academic Core

Epi Admin

Departmental Committees
 

• Faculty Executive Committee (FEC): The FEC members are elected and appointed by the Chairs and the faculty of the Department. The FEC represents the faculty, advises the Chairs, and works towards formulating solutions and policies at the Department level. 
• Epidemiology Student Organization (ESO): The ESO was established in 1982 to facilitate student-to-student and student-to-faculty communication in the Department and to advocate for student needs. The organization is composed of all students associated with the Department of Epidemiology. It is a forum for planning various student activities, ranging from volunteer opportunities to social activities. The organization is open to new ideas and initiatives from the student body, and all epidemiology students are encouraged to actively participate in ESO activities and monthly meetings
• Epi IDEAS Workgroup: Epi IDEAS is a department-specific workgroup that: Liaises between students, student leaders, and departmental leadership about challenges and opportunities for inclusion, diversity and equity; reviews and offers suggestions for curricular needs on interpreting scientific findings through a lens of diversity and inclusion; designs activities that encourage inclusion, diversity, and equity; and promotes a safe learning environment within the Department. The Epi IDEAS workgroup has Epidemiology students, faculty, fellow, and staff representation. Contact: epi-ideas@jh.edu.
• Curriculum Committee
• Comprehensive Exams (Comps) Committee
• Honors & Awards Committee (H&A)
• Appointments & Promotions (A&P) Committee  
• Admissions & Credentials (A&C) Committee

Certificate Directors

Conduct and Training

All students, staff, and faculty are expected to abide by the academic, behavioral, and research conduct policies of the School and University. 

Academic & Research Ethics (and Avoiding Plagiarism) Course Requirement

All students must complete PH.550.860 Academic & Research Ethics at BSPH prior to or during the first term of enrollment in the School. Students must complete the Avoiding Plagiarism training developed by JHU's Sheridan Libraries, which is an online course. Students must submit the completion certificates as proof of completion of these pieces of training. Registration for subsequent terms can be blocked awaiting the completion of these courses.

Office of Institutional Equity

The Office of Institutional Equity handles many issues, including: Discrimination and Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, ADA Compliance and Disability Accommodations, Religious Accommodations, and Training.  All students must complete Title IX and Harassment Prevention Training. Further, the Department of Epidemiology requires Unconscious Bias Training as well. OIE also defines Confidential Resources and houses the Roadmap to Diversity and Inclusion, the JHU Diversity Leadership Council, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Equity.

Communication

The Johns Hopkins University-hosted email is an official form of Department-related communication. Students are required to activate and monitor their JHU / JHED associated email inbox and respond to requests politely and in a timely fashion. Staff and faculty endeavor to do the same. Students have the responsibility to stay current in this communication while enrolled and recognize that certain communications may be time critical. Failure to check for messages and failure to receive messages due to full mailboxes, spam filtering, lapses in service, or auto-forwarded email, etc., are not acceptable excuses for missing official communications. Graduates are expected to convert their emails through the Alumni Office. 

Academic Policies

The Department of Epidemiology encourages students to identify questions and concerns, research these through this e-catalogue and the School website and bring nuanced questions to the Academic Office, the Director of Graduate Education, or their academic adviser for discussion. All requests for changes in the degree program, research track, advising team, course requirements, and departmental requirements should be submitted in writing with the endorsement of the academic adviser for review by the Admissions and Credentials Committee.

Advising Changes

The adviser has the responsibility of assisting the student in designing an academic program that meets the student’s goals within the framework of the requirements of the Department and School. The adviser guides the student to appropriate resources and research opportunities. The adviser is the first point of contact in resolving academic problems and concerns. For a variety of reasons, a student/faculty member may wish to change adviser/advisee. Student-initiated changes of adviser should be made with the Academic Office, please see Departmental Forms (“Change or Add New Adviser or co-Adviser Form”). It is the student’s responsibility to meet with the current adviser and the intended or additional adviser prior to the request and to obtain the signatures of both faculty members prior to submitting the request. Please note that epidemiology degree-seeking students seeking a primary adviser change must retain a faculty member with a full-time primary appointment in Epidemiology. Faculty wishing to initiate a change should use the same form and will need to submit a report of the student's progress to the Academic Support Core Office at the time of this request.

Enrollment Requirements

Master's and doctoral students are considered full-time students and must maintain a minimum registration of 16 credits per term continuously during Terms 1-4 through completion of all degree requirements. Students wishing to drop below 16 credits must consult with their adviser and the Academic Office. International students must also consult the Office for International Services. For additional guidance regarding registration, please see the BSPH websites:

• Records and Registration
• Tuition and Fees

Course Waivers

The Epidemiologic Methods sequence 340.751-753 or 340.761-764, and the Biostatistics series 140.621-624 or 140.651-654 may not be waived. In the case where students have successfully completed coursework externally as required by their respective Track, the Department may approve course waivers. Graduate students who believe they have passed equivalent graduate-level courses (with a grade of B or higher) at other institutions may apply for a waiver of required courses. Request Forms should be sent to the Academic Program Manager. Requests must include a clear rationale, a course syllabus, and a transcript from the institution where the course was taken. Waiver requests require consent from the adviser, primary instructor, and Track Director. In addition, the waiver requires approval from the Admissions & Credentials Committee.

Leave of Absence

The University offers a formal mechanism for all students who need to take a leave of absence during the program. Students wishing to explore their options should discuss their situations with the Academic Office, review the policy statement, and file the appropriate Leave of Absence form. 

Program Changes

Students are expected to complete the degree program they entered based on the review by the Admissions & Credentials Committee at the time of acceptance to the program. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with the current adviser and the directors of the intended program prior to the request. Transfers from either the MHS or ScM to the PhD program are not permitted. Students enrolled in our master's programs and formally admitted to the PhD program must complete their degree requirements prior to enrolling in the PhD program. 

Departmental Review of Academic Progress

Admissions and Credentials Committee (A&C) 

Students are expected to earn As and Bs in Epidemiology coursework, maintain a minimal cumulative GPA (2.75 for master’s; 3.0 for doctoral) and pass the Departmental comprehensive exams at the designated level. Other grounds for removal from degree candidacy are:

• Any grade of D or F in a required course
• Two grades of C in required courses
• Two grades of D or F or any combination thereof in elective courses
• Failure to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 for master’s and 3.0 for doctoral
• Failure on one or both parts of the Department comprehensive exam
• Failure to maintain progress on dissertation research/thesis projects
• Academic or behavioral ethics violations.

After reviewing the student's performance, the departmental Admissions and Credentials Committee will decide regarding the student's continuation in the program and notify the Department Chair for a final decision. Students may be placed on academic probation within the department prior to dismissal. This time will permit students to attempt to bring their GPA above 2.75 for master’s and 3.0 for doctoral. Conversely, any student whose GPA removes them from academic probation will be notified and reported to the Admissions and Credentials Committee. Students may choose to withdraw from the degree program or School at any time but should consult with their Advisor and Academic Program Manager prior to making this decision. Failure to maintain registration is considered withdrawal from the School.

Academic Probation

• Any grade of D or F in a core course (core =epi 760s (doctoral)/epi 750s (ScM, applied MHS)/epi 720s (applied MHS) and biostats 620s [650s if taking in place of 620])
• ≥2 Cs in any core courses (regardless of whether they are in the same term or different terms)
• ≥1 D or F in any non-core courses (non-core include track-required and elective)
• Failure to maintain ≥3.0 for doctoral and ≥2.75 for masters
• Failure on 1 part of the written comprehensive exams
• Failure to maintain progress on dissertation/thesis
• Academic or behavioral ethics violations

Students who earn a grade below B while on academic probation face review and possible termination from the program.

Policy on C grade or lower in required course 

All students who earn C in any of 761-764, 751-753, 721-723, and 621-624 (or 651-654) must retake the course prior to degree completion except for the following situations:

• Students earn an A in at least one of the subsequent courses (e.g., A in 752 after getting C in 751) without receiving C again.
• Students pass the comprehensive exam (ScM or PhD) or culminating experience course (MHS).

Note that a D or F in any course is potential grounds for dismissal from the program. Students who receive a D or F in any course required for the degree program must retake the course prior to degree completion. Students may apply for a waiver of this policy. Individual requests will be considered but are not guaranteed. 

Student Evaluations

The evaluation of satisfactory academic progress and the individual course letter grades are handled at the School level and tied to federal regulations. Therefore, any student who earns a grade of C or lower or a cumulative grade point average below the minimum for the degree program is automatically reviewed by the Departmental Admissions & Credentials Committee, the Track and Program Directors, and the Schoolwide Committee on Academic Standards (CAS). Students whose grades fall below the minimum standard should submit an explanation and waiver request but should be prepared to retake the course if necessary. For students receiving financial aid, the Office of Financial Aid will also review any C grades or grade point cumulative averages below the minimum for the degree, which may result in a loss of financial aid for the upcoming term. To that end, the Academic Program Managers, along with the Departmental Admissions & Credentials Committee, review mid-term grades for the Epidemiologic Methods series courses, and the Biostatistics series, and contact students whose work may place them in jeopardy. Students are permitted "1 free C" without placement on academic probation. However, students who earn a C in any of 340.751-753, 340.761-764, and/or 140.621-624 or 140.651-654 may be required to retake that course in the following year unless:

• Students obtain an A in at least one of the subsequent courses of the series without receiving another C (or any lower grade).
• Students pass the comprehensive exam at the appropriate level for their degree program prior to the following year.
   

Students are expected to earn As and Bs in Epidemiology coursework (minimum equivalency of 80%), maintain a cumulative GPA (2.75 for master’s; 3.0 for doctoral), and pass the Department Comprehensive exams at the designated level. Other grounds for removal from degree candidacy include:

• Any grade of D or F in a required course;
• Two grades of C in required courses;
• Two grades of D or F or any combination thereof in elective courses;
• Failure to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 for masters and 3.0 for doctoral students;
• Failure on one or both parts of the Department comprehensive exam;
• Failure to maintain progress on dissertation research/thesis projects; or
• Academic or behavioral ethics violations

In such cases, after reviewing the student's performance, the Departmental Admissions & Credentials Committee will make a decision regarding the student's continuation in the program and notify the Department Chair for a final decision.  Occasionally, students may be placed on academic probation within the department prior to dismissal. This time will permit students to attempt to bring their GPA above 2.75 for master's and 3.0 for doctoral programs. Conversely, any student whose GPA removes them from academic probation will be notified and reported to the Admissions & Credentials Committee.

Students may choose to withdraw from the degree program or School at any time but should consult with their adviser and their Academic Program Manager prior to making this decision. Failure to maintain registration is considered a withdrawal from the School.

The Department fully expects that students will be able to handle the course load; however, if students experience being overwhelmed, they are encouraged to contact their adviser(s), the Epi Academic Core (BSPH.EpiAcademic@jhu.edu), the Office of Student Life (410-502- 2487), and/or JHSAP (443-287-7000).

Student Funding

Students registered in the School are eligible for consideration for a number of scholarships, research fellowships, and endowed awards offered by the various departments of the School. In general, notices of funding are announced in 2nd Term.  Applicants should follow the instructions provided by the announcements. These awards are usually made in early spring for the upcoming academic year. A full list of such scholarships can be found on the School's website, which was developed to help students identify and secure outside sources of support for tuition and academic research. The Student Funding Guide is updated annually and serves a critical purpose in outlining support for graduate students. 

Contact Information

• Financial Aid Office, BSPH, (410) 955-3004
• Student Accounts and Business Services, BSPH, (410) 955-5725

Master's Level

The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health (not the Department) provides Master’s Tuition Scholarships to full-time ScM students. Masters students have the option of selecting either a 25% scholarship in year 1 and 50% scholarship in year 2 of training, or alternatively a 75% scholarship in their 2^nd year of training. Scholarships options are selected prior to graduate training and are implemented by the BSPH Office of Financial Aid Services. The Master’s Tuition Scholarship covers four terms only and is only awarded when students have registered for a minimum of 16 credits per term. In addition, Masters Degree candidates may qualify for endowments. Requests for nomination are issued every December, and applications are received and reviewed by the Department’s Honors and Awards Committee. Award recipients are notified in the spring.

Doctoral Level

Funding for the PhD program

Grant Application Assistance

This policy applies to any Department student proposal (for dissertation, fellowship, stipend support, or otherwise) by which an external agency awards monies to the student through the University.

The student must schedule an initial meeting with the Student Funding Manager at least 45-60 days prior to the due date of the proposal to discuss the terms of the application and to be oriented to internal procedures. Any application brought to the Student Funding Manager's attention less than 30 days prior to the due date will not be considered.

The student should send a copy of the PA (Program Announcement) or terms and Conditions to the Student Funding Manager prior to the meeting for review. The Student Funding Manager will assist the student with the cover page, budget, and any administrative or technical questions.

Students must work with their mentors or advisers to develop an acceptable scientific research proposal. The mentor or adviser must acknowledge a draft of the science (aims and research methods), certifying that it has met acceptable standards for submission before it is submitted to the Department Chair for final approval. A copy of the research proposal/science (Specific Aims and Research Strategy only) affirmed by the adviser/mentor must be submitted to the Department Chair no later than 10 business days prior to the due date for review.  The adviser/mentor (not the student) should send this document to their attention certifying that the science has met an acceptable review. The student should immediately schedule a second meeting with the Student Funding Manager to review the final proposal and complete a JHURA internal information/compliance worksheet. This second meeting should take place at least 5-7 business days prior to the due date so the Student Funding Manager has time to coordinate and finalize the internal and sponsored proposal.

The full application must be submitted along with a signed information sheet to Johns Hopkins University Research Administration (JHURA) no later than 5 business days prior to the due date for review.  

Endowed Funds, Current Use Scholarships, NIH Training Grants

Requests for nomination are issued every December, and applications are received and reviewed by the Department’s Honors and Awards Committee. Award recipients are notified in the spring. A full list of Awards, Endowments, and Honors is updated regularly and posted online. 

Departmental Student Travel Support Fund

Students are encouraged to apply for the Departmental Student Travel Support Fund for conferences where they will present a thesis-related poster, abstract, workshop, or oral presentation. Doctoral students may submit two requests for the Departmental Student Travel Support Fund during their graduate tenure. Masters students and postdoctoral fellows may submit one request during their tenure. Email BSPH.EpiAcademic@jh.edu for more information regarding the eligibility criteria and application materials. 

Doctoral Thesis Research Fund

The Department awards research grants each year to enable doctoral students to conduct research in the field of Epidemiology. The grant is designated for start-up funds of up to $5,000 for doctoral thesis research and may be used for basic costs, such as materials and interviews. Application forms should include a statement of whether or not the project could be conducted without the Department funding, the itemized budget, and a 3–5-page thesis proposal. Applications should be submitted to the Student Financial Manager upon the successful completion of the preliminary oral examination and IRB approval. Applications are reviewed by the Honor and Awards Committee. Students must be post-oral doctoral degree candidates in the Department of Epidemiology at the time of support. The application deadlines are October 31^st and March 31^st of each year.

NIH NRSA T32 Training Grants (Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships)

The Department offers a limited number of NIH-supported, pre- and postdoctoral fellowship opportunities for U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents. Decisions regarding the distribution of funds for tuition and stipend support are made by the Steering Committees of each training program. 

Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control Training Program

Cardiovascular Epidemiology Institutional Training Program

Epidemiology and Biostatistics of Aging Training Program

Johns Hopkins HIV Epidemiology Prevention Sciences Training Program

Renal Disease Epidemiology Training Grant (postdoctoral only)

Research in Practice: Translating Infectious Disease Epidemiology (RIP-TIDE) 

Training Awards (Non-NIH)

MD-GEM: The Maryland Genetics, Epidemiology, and Medicine Training Program (predoctoral only):  Drs. Priya Duggal and David Valle
Sponsored by the Burroughs Welcome Fund

Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health:  Drs. Frank Lin and Jennifer Deal
 

Additional training mechanisms available through the Welch Center for Prevention Epidemiology and Clinical Research:

• Graduate Training Programs in Clinical Investigation 
   
• Clinical Research and Epidemiology in Diabetes and Endocrinology 

Upon notification of selection to receive support, the student may direct questions to the Student Funding Manager. Additionally, departmental students may be supported on grants housed in other departments or schools within the University.

NIH F-Level Individual Predoctoral National Research Service Awards (NRSAs)

As a result of the advisory Biomedical Research Workforce Working Group to the NIH Director, nearly all NIH institutes and centers offer individual predoctoral (F30 and F31) NRSA fellowships. The Department encourages each eligible graduate student to apply for individual fellowship grants. Interested students should first talk with their adviser(s) and the Student Financial Manager. Individual institute and center information and guidelines may differ from one another and can be explored at:

•  Parent F31 for predoctoral fellowships

• F31 to Promote Diversity predoctoral fellowships

• Parent F30 for MD/PhD or other dual degree programs

The Department hosts an annual information session at the start of Term 3. Presented by recent successful student applicants to F-level awards, and in partnership with the Student Financial Manager, this is designed to prepare interested applicants to make a decision about applying for an F-level grant.