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EPID: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD Residential) Details

UNC Gillings Program Details
EPID: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD Residential)

Overview of EPID Doctor of Philosophy (PhD Residential)

Program Focus

Students develop research and teaching skills in epidemiology through coursework, doctoral research, practice opportunities, and preliminary doctoral examinations.

General Information

Minimum Credit Hours:
37.5
Graduate School requires minimum of 4 semesters of full-time residency credit.
Expected Duration:
4-6 yrs
Learning Environment:
Residential
Dual Degree Options Available:
No
Application Cycle:
Fall
Spring rarely, pending department approval. See application details page for more info.
Application Deadline 1:
December 12, 2017
Spring rarely, pending department approval. See application details page for more info.

Applicant Information

Who Should Apply:
Persons planning a career as a principal investigator who will assume leadership roles in research and teaching projects and research teams.
Applications Received:
~218
Applicants Admitted:
~56
Enrolled Student Demographics:
  • 79% / 21% female to male
  • 37% minority, including 20% underrepresented minorities (defined as Black or African American, Hispanic of any race, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander)
  • 9% international
  • mean age of 31
Our School is committed to diversity and inclusion.
Total Students Enrolled:
~180
Incoming Class Size:
Matriculating class size for the program: 29

Program Costs & Funding

Estimated In-State Tuition & Fees:
~12,800 per year
Estimates for this academic year only. Does not include summer tuition and fees. Additional special School/course/course overload/program/other fees may apply. See the UNC Finance Division's website for the most current data.
Estimated Out-of-State Tuition & Fees:
~$29,300 per year
Estimates for this academic year only. Does not include summer tuition and fees. Additional special School/course/course overload/program/other fees may apply. See the UNC Finance Division's website for the most current data.
Funding:
Most PhD students who seek funding are covered from diverse sources during their time in the program. For 2016-2017 students in this program received funding from various UNC sources, including department, School and University. Data below include only funding administered by UNC. Categories are not mutually exclusive.

  • 85% of students received some tuition support.
  • 18% of students received some loans.
  • 16% of students received non-service awards.
  • 85% received some teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or other temporary compensation.

Admissions Information

Prior Degree Required:
Relevant master's or professional degree. Students who have not earned a relevant master's or professional degree may still be admitted to the doctoral program; however, these students are required to complete the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in the Department of Epidemiology before beginning doctoral coursework.
Required Prerequisites:
Strong quantitative and biological preparation.
Standardized Test(s) Accepted:
GRE
No substitutions. Waived only for applicants who have a prior doctoral degree from a U.S. institution. Standardized test scores are one of many factors we consider in making admissions decisions.
Standardized Test(s) Scores:
On average, incoming students had 85th percentile verbal and 79th percentile quantitative. Standardized test scores are one of many factors we consider in making admissions decisions. If you have concerns about your scores, please talk with us.
Undergrad G.P.A.:
Incoming students had a mean undergraduate GPA of 3.6
Letters of Recommendation Required:
3 (academic and/or professional)
Faculty-Student Match Required:
Not required
Interviews Required:
Interviews are not required. However, they can be helpful to the admissions committee if you're in the area. Contact us to schedule a visit.
Work Experience Required:
Preferred
Competitive applicants have prior relevant work experience that supports a research focus.
Visit Opportunities:

Visit our website for instructions on how to schedule a visit. Click the Scheduling a Visit tab.

During the Program

Required Courses:
For a detailed description of all the requirements for this degree program please click here for the Student Handbook.
Comprehensive Exam Type(s):
Written doctoral qualifying exam, oral exam on dissertation proposal required, final oral defense of dissertation
Capstone, Thesis or Dissertation:
Dissertation (EPID 994 Doctoral Dissertation, 6 credits minimum)
Practicum, Internships & Fieldwork:
Two research practicum experiences in the practical conduct of studies, as determined with advisor (may not be waived)
Global Options Available:

The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health strives to integrate global content and approaches across the School’s courses, programs and degrees. We believe that every student should emerge from our School with an understanding of global health issues. Some courses are focused largely on global issues, others are designed so that global and local issues are intertwined and some still are evolving. Learn more about these options.

Many enrolled students will have the opportunity to pursue our graduate global health certificate, while others may choose global health courses, internships or independent study with global focus.

After the Program

Employment Opportunities:
Faculty position in a school of public health or medical school; principal investigator for research facility (for ex. government, Industry, NGO)
Example Job Responsibilities:
Academic research
Additional Career Information:
Career paths, job titles, employers, and destinations of our graduates.
The Gillings Program Search is a tool for exploring academic programs at the School. It is a prospectus for the current year to be used in consultation with an academic adviser and does not constitute the complete degree or program requirements for graduation or program completion.

How To Apply

Click the button below for details on applying to this program. Application Details

Department Information

School Handbook More Program Information/FAQ's Student Handbook

Program Contact:

Questions?

EPID Admissions
919-966-7458
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