PhD in Epidemiology and Clinical Research

PhD students will be required to complete a minimum of 135 units (as per university requirements), including 45 course units exclusive of EPI 236 (Epidemiology Research Seminar), EPI 299 (Directed Reading), and EPI 399 (Graduate Research).

Graduate education at Stanford is a full-time commitment requiring full-time enrollment, typically at least 8 units during Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters. For PhD students, we require enrollment in 10 units per quarter. Please note that enrolling in more than 10 units in a quarter will lead to fee increases. 

*All courses info can be found from the Stanford Bulletin Explore Courses website. Sample schedules are  provided in appendix A.

Note: All PhD program core courses except EPI 251 (EPI 225/226/227/259/261/262/264) must be taken for a letter grade.

• EPI 225: Introduction to Epidemiologic and Clinical Research Methods (3 units)
• EPI 226: Intermediate Epidemiologic and Clinical Research Methods (3 units)
• EPI 227: Advanced Epidemiologic Methods (3 units)
• EPI 2xx: Classics and Controversies in Epidemiology (TBD for 2021-22 onwards)
• EPI/ STATS 264: Foundations of Statistical and Scientific Inference (1 unit)

• EPI 259: Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Epidemiology (3 units)
• EPI/STATS 261: Intermediate Biostatistics: Analysis of Discrete Data (3 units)
• EPI 262: Intermediate Biostatistics: Regression, Prediction, Survival Analysis (3 units)

• Any 200 level STATS class (other than STATS 260)
• CS 106A: Programming Methodologies
• STATS 116: Theory of Probability
• STATS 166/STATS 345/GENE245: Computational Algorithms for Statistical Genetics
• STATS 202: Data Mining and Analysis
• BIOMEDIN 215: Data Science for Medicine
• EPI 216: Analytical and Practical Issues in the Conduct of Clinical and Epidemiologic Research
• BIOMEDIN 217/ CS 275: Translational Bioinformatics
• CS 246: Mining Massive Data Sets
• HRP 252: Outcomes Analysis
• EPI 206: Meta-research: Appraising Research Findings, Bias, and Meta-analysis (CHPR 206, MED 206, STATS 211)
• GENE 210/ BMIO 220: Genomics and Personalized Medicine
• BIOMEDIN 224: Principles of Pharmacogenomics (GENE 224)
• CS 229: Machine Learning
• GENE 244: Introduction to Statistical Genetics
• BIOMEDIN 258: Genomics, Bioinformatics and Medicine
• EPI 270: Big Data Methods for Behavioral, Social, and Population Health Research  
• BIOMEDIN/ DBIO/ CS 273A: The Human Genome Source Code
• COMM 382: Big Data and Causal Inference
• HRP 392: Analysis of Costs, Risks, and Benefits of Health Care

Note: If you are interested in another course, please check with the PhD program director or advisor to make sure that it is compatible with this requirement.

Infectious Disease Epidemiology

• HRP 204: Models for Understanding and Controlling Global Infectious Diseases
• EPI 231: Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
• EPI 237: Practical Approaches to Global Health Research
• EPI 247: Epidemic Intelligence (HUMBIO 57)
•  

Global Health

• HRP 204: Models for Understanding and Controlling Global Infectious Diseases
• EPI 235: Designing Research-Based Interventions to Solve Global Health Problems (AFRICAST 135, AFRICAST 235, EDUC 135, EDUC 335, HUMBIO 26, MED 235)
• EPI 237: Practical Approaches to Global Health Research (IPS 290, MED 226)
•  

Genetic Epidemiology

• EPI 224: Genetic Epidemiology
• BIO 247: Genomic Approaches to the Study of Human Disease
•  

Social and Behavioral Epidemiology

• EPI 267: Life Course Epidemiology
• EPI 263: Social Epidemiology
•  

Community-based participatory research

•  CHPR 227/EPI 272: The Science of Community Engagement in Health Research
•  CHPR 247/MED 247: Methods in Community Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
•  

Cancer Epidemiology

• EPI 253: Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention
•  

Clinical Research

• EPI/MED 206/STATS 211: Meta-research: Appraising Research Findings, Bias, and Meta-analysis
• EPI 219: Evaluation of Technologies for Diagnosis, Prediction and Screening (3 Units)
• EPI 251: Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials (3 units)
• Epi 2xx: Clinical Trials Observatory (to be offered in 2021-2022)

Note: If you are interested in another course, please check with the PhD program director or advisor to make sure that it is compatible with this requirement.

• EPI 236: Epidemiology Research Seminar. Weekly forum for ongoing epidemiologic research by faculty, staff, guests, and students, emphasizing research issues relevant to disease causation, prevention, and treatment. May be repeated for credit. Students should take EPI 236 at least 3 quarters (3 units) but are encouraged to attend more.
• Med 255/ 255C: Responsible Conduct of Research/ The Responsible Conduct of Research for Clinical and Community Researchers (either of these will satisfy the requirement) (1 unit)
• Attendance at Epi Supper Club. The epidemiology supper club is a vital aspect of the PhD program. Meeting for supper and discussion of specific research topics and published epidemiology papers several times per quarter,  the supper club provides a sense of comradery amongst the students and spurs intellectual curiosity and debate in an informal setting.

*Milestones: Preliminary examination given after spring quarter of year 1.

*Milestones: Qualifying examination given after fall quarter of year 2 (with some flexibility in timing if needed for individual students)

*Milestones: R programming proficiency will be required by the end of year 2.

*Milestones: TGR 135 units.