a) Credit Requirements

The curriculum will include a minimum of 41 credits in course work in addition to written and oral comprehensive examinations, completion of a research project/ dissertation and an oral defense.  The course work will include six core courses, seven electives and attendance at a biweekly journal club for a minimum of two semesters.  No course can be used for both a MPH and Ph.D. degree.  Additional information regarding the curriculum is found in Section 3.

b) Advisor

Incoming students will be advised by the Program Director initially.  During the first year of study, students will begin to identify a Department-affiliated research scientist who is conducting studies in the students’ area of interest.  It will be the responsibility of the student to approach this scientist and discuss the possibility of working together if the student is accepted into the program. 

This advisor will be responsible for guiding the student to ensure that required courses are taken and the written and oral examinations are completed so that the student can become a doctoral candidate within an appropriate period of time.  The advisor, together with the student, shall develop a plan for the student’s didactic and scholarly program and the advisor shall help the student identify members of the faculty to serve on the student’s advisory committee.  The advisor shall also supervise the student’s research work and thesis preparation and be one of the examiners of the dissertation (Ph.D.).

Appointment of the advisor by the chair of the MCV Campus Graduate Committee, upon recommendation of the chair of the EPID, should be made no later than the end of the spring semester of the first year of study. 

 

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