PhD Epidemiology

Doctoral students successfully completing a program of study in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics will possess a defined set of competencies. These competencies should be used to guide the student and the student’s Doctoral Program committee in planning a program of study. Competencies can be met through previous academic or work experience, or through a combination of planned course work and other scholarly experiences. Download the College PhD Student Competency Form at: http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/academicaffairs/For%20Faculty/COPH%20College-wide%20PhD%20competencies.pdf. 

In addition to the overall Doctor of Philosophy degree competencies, graduates with a concentration in Epidemiology will be able to:

1. Synthesize Scientific Literature: Critically review and evaluate the scientific literature, synthesizing the findings across studies, and developing an informed judgment on the state of knowledge in that area, presenting appropriate implications for public health practice, public policy, and implications for further research.
2. Master Knowledge in a Substantive Area: Demonstrate mastery of a substantive area, including knowledge and application of that knowledge in conducting original research related to a specific topic, including the descriptive and analytic epidemiological literature, pathophysiology of disease, policy and public health implications of research
3. Ethically Conduct of Human Research:Understand and implement the concepts of ethical conduct of research which involves human subjects, issues of confidentiality, and awareness of particular issues relevant to the conduct of epidemiological studies in special and vulnerable populations.
4. Formulate Study Hypotheses: Formulate an original hypothesis or statement of the research problem that will advance scientific knowledge about a topic of public health importance.
5. Design Epidemiological Studies: Design epidemiological studies to address questions of public health importance.  Understand the advantages and limitations of each design for addressing specific problems, as well as the practical aspects of their uses, including trade-offs.
6. Develop Epidemiologic Proposals: Develop an epidemiology research proposal to address a study question (or questions), which includes a scientific and public health rationale for the significance of the study, and detailed methodology to conduct the epidemiological study to answer the question (or questions).
7. Collect Data and Manage Epidemiologic Studies: Demonstrate mastery in the implementation and conduct of data collection, for epidemiological studies in a clinical and/or community setting.  Develop, implement and assess quality assurance and control measures.
8. Apply Statistical Concepts and Analyses: Be a skilled data analyst able to use state-of-the art statistical methods appropriate for the major epidemiology study designs and able to manage various types of variables, including examination of data for the presence of confounding and/or effect modification.
9. Interpret Epidemiological Data: Interpret research results from statistical analyses of epidemiological studies, make appropriate inferences based on results, and understand implications of the results in the context of findings from other studies and relevant information and theories from other sciences such as, biology, physics and the social sciences. 
10. Effectively Communicate Epidemiological Findings: Present the findings from epidemiological investigation in writing and orally to scientific and lay audiences.  Including, presentation of findings from epidemiological investigations at national and international meetings in epidemiology and/or in their substantive area.
11. Write Peer-Reviewed Publications: Submit the findings of epidemiological research in manuscript form for publication to an external, peer-reviewed journal.
12. Critically Evaluate Completed and Proposed Epidemiological Research: Critically review and evaluate scientific manuscripts and epidemiological research proposals.
13. Effectively Teach Epidemiological Concepts and Methods: Demonstrate proficiency in explaining fundamental and complex epidemiological concepts and methods, and fundamental concepts and methods in their substantive/focus area in the classroom to undergraduate and/or graduate students.

Major Focus Areas of the PhD Program in Epidemiology

Students can choose to focus their Doctoral Program in Epidemiology in a specific focus area, for example: Cancer Epidemiology, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Maternal and Child Health or Perinatal/ Reproductive Epidemiology, or Neuroepidemiology.  Examples of possible plans of study for each focus area are available on the Department website and the Department Doctoral Student Handbook.  The major focus area is identified and developed jointly by the student and the student's Doctoral Program Committee.

Overview of Requirements for Doctoral Program in Epidemiology

The Doctoral Program in Epidemiology usually involves two-three years of course work, based upon a student’s previous Epidemiology training, followed by a doctoral dissertation project (average time required for dissertation project is two to three years).   An overview of the requirements for the doctoral program in Epidemiology is as follows:

**recommended not required

 Coursework

The USF Graduate School requires a minimum of 90 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree for the doctoral degree. In order to meet the college requirement of "90 credits beyond the baccalaureate," most students will need to complete a total of 50-57 credit hours beyond the master’s degree including 18 hours of coursework in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. The remaining credits are made up of course electives, which may or may not be within the department and a minimum of 18 credits of dissertation. Coursework in other departments or colleges may be required by the individual's doctoral committee. In addition, the overall coursework must include a minimum of 13 hours at the 7000 level and three Advanced Interdisciplinary Doctoral Seminars.

For a listing of the courses offered by the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, see the COPH website.  More information about doctoral program coursework is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and program requirements for the Doctoral Program in Epidemiology are provided below.

Table 1. Requirements for Doctoral Program in Epidemiology   

Students are required to complete and submit the Department Doctoral Plan of Study Form by the end of the second semester after enrollment into the program.  The student should meet with their Major Professor and Doctoral Program Committee to select courses and complete the Plan of Study form.  The Department Plan of Study outlines the Department and College requirements for successful completion of the doctoral program including required coursework and other requirements. A signed copy of the Department Plan of Study Form should be submitted to the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs and the Department Academic Coordinator by the last day of classes in the Spring semester.  The student should retain a copy for his/her records.  After initially completing the Department Doctoral Plan of Study Form, the student should meet with his/her Major Professor at least annually to review the Plan of Study and update it as needed.  Each time the Plan of Study is revised, a copy of the revised Form should be submitted the COPH Office of Academic & Student Affairs as well as the Department.  At the conclusion of the student’s doctoral program, a final version of the completed Department Plan of Study Form should be submitted to the COPH Office of Academic & Student Affairs and the Department.  More information about doctoral program coursework is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook.

Advanced Interdisciplinary Seminars in Public Health

In addition to coursework, the College requires that each doctoral student successfully complete three Advanced Interdisciplinary Seminars during their plan of study.  These seminars are offered at various times throughout the academic year.  Students should consult the COPH Course Schedule and their Major Professor each semester to determine which seminars will fulfill this requirement.

Teaching

In addition to coursework, each doctoral student is required to demonstrate proficiency in teaching by serving as TAs for graduate and/or undergraduate level courses and/or other relevant teaching experiences and coursework. The purpose of the teaching requirement is to equip students with experience and proficiency in effective communication in a classroom setting as well opportunities to develop skills necessary for effective classroom management and student mentoring.  TAs should maintain responsible and professional conduct during all interactions with faculty and students.  The TA should not meet with students in their homes, isolated locations, or late nights for their own personal safety.  The TA should promptly report any suspicious or dangerous student behavior to the course instructor and campus police, if necessary.  More information about the teaching requirement for the doctoral program is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook.

Other Departmental Requirements

Public Health Seminars

Departmental, College and USF Health seminars, guest lectures (e.g., Dean’s Lecture Series) are held throughout the academic year and these seminars are an important part of a student's academic training and professional development.  Each doctoral student is expected to attend all seminars but is required to attend at least two seminars per semester.  Students should include documentation of attendance at the seminars with the Department Annual Student Progress Report.

Other Department Activities

Doctoral students are also expected to attend Dissertation Concept Presentations, Proposal Defenses, and Dissertation Defenses of other doctoral students in the Department to provide encouragement and support.  Students should also attend other Department and College events and activities as their work schedules permit.

Annual Student Progress Report

All doctoral students will submit an annual progress report to the Department Doctoral Program Director(s) that will be reviewed by the Department faculty. The report will be used to assess the student’s progress through the program.  The report should be submitted to the Department by June 30th of each year.  An overall assessment and recommendations for modifications to the student’s plan of study from the Department faculty may be given to the student’s Major Professor and the student. 

The Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics Annual Student Progress Report and more information about the Annual Student Progress Report can be obtained from the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and the Department website. 

Primary Data Collection Experience

The conduct of epidemiological studies in clinical and community settings is an integral part of the responsibilities and expectations of a doctoral level epidemiologist.  Therefore, the Department strongly encourages all doctoral students in the Department to have direct involvement in at least two adequate practical hands-on experiences in the implementation of epidemiological studies during their course of study.  An adequate practical experience is defined as a meaningful experience in study implementation activities during one semester.  The student’s Major Professor and Doctoral Program Committee will assist with the selection of eligible and relevant activities, the time and effort required and provides final approval.  Students are responsible for making the arrangements and for providing acceptable documentation that this experience has been attempted or exempted. 

Students with previous experience in data collection are strongly encouraged to engage in activities not performed in the past.  If possible, students should complete primary data collection experiences prior to scheduling the final Dissertation Defense.  Students should complete and submit the Primary Data Collection Experience Form for each activity completed with their Annual Progress Report to their Major Professor and the Department Academic Coordinator. 

Time Limits for Completion of Doctoral Program

On average, the doctoral program requires four to five years for completion following the Master’s or other advanced degree.  The USF Graduate School requires completion of all requirements for the doctoral degree within a specified period of time from the date of enrollment into the program.  Students should consult the USF Graduate School catalog for the specific time limits which apply to them.  In addition, the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics reserves the right to dismiss a student at any time because of failure to make satisfactory, continuous progress toward completion of the degree.

Advising and mentor-ship of doctoral students is a comprehensive process that evolves throughout the Doctoral Program.  Upon admission, an initial advisor is appointed for each student.  The student then selects a Major Professor and assembles a Doctoral Program Committee which will provide guidance and oversight for the coursework phase of the Doctoral Program.  After the Qualifying Examination is successfully passed, the student will have a Doctoral Dissertation Committee which will provide expertise and guidance for the dissertation project. More information about each aspect of the advising process is provided in the sections below.

The Advisor

Upon admission an advisor is appointed by the Department for each doctoral student.  The Advisor will provide general orientation to the doctoral program and guidance in the initial selection of classes.  Each Program Advisor will serve in this capacity for a maximum of two semesters from the date of entry into the doctoral program.  By that time (end of second semester), doctoral students are expected to select a Major Professor and form a Doctoral Program Committee.

The Major Professor

As the student's research interest develops, usually by the end of the second semester, the student will select a Major Professor. If the Program Advisor is in agreement, s/he may become the Major Professor if appropriate, or the student may ask another full-time Epidemiology faculty member from the Department faculty to serve as their Major Professor.  Students must have a Major Professor in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress in the doctoral program.  If a student is unable to identify a full-time Epidemiology faculty member from the Department faculty who is willing to serve as their Major Professor by the end of one year from the date in which they entered the doctoral program, or anytime thereafter, the student may not be permitted to continue in the doctoral program. 

The Major Professor must be fully credentialed by the College of Public Health. The Major Professor will assist in identifying any specific deficiencies and provide guidance in the choice of the Plan of Study which when completed will satisfy the department degree requirements, the Doctoral Program Committee and the area of research.  Students should consult the USF Graduate School Catalog for more information.

The Doctoral Program Committee

By the end of the second academic semester, in collaboration with the Program Advisor (or Major Professor if selected), the student will assemble a Doctoral Program Committee.  Students should follow the steps for forming a committee as outlined in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and by the COPH.  In addition to the requirements of the USF Graduate School the specific Department requirements for the composition of the Doctoral Program Committee are as follows:

• The committee must consist of at least four graduate faculty
• The Chair of the committee must be fully credentialed by the College of Public Health and be a full-time member of the Epidemiology faculty in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics
• A minimum of two committee members (including the Chair) must be from the Epidemiology faculty from the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics.  All members must be credentialed by the College of Public Health
• A minimum of one committee member of the committee should be a trained, doctoral – level Biostatistician who is a full-time member of the Department faculty
• Other members of the committee can be from outside the Department
• Exceptions to committee membership or changes in membership must be approved in writing by the Major Professor, Department Chair, and Dean of COPH.

The Doctoral Program Committee will approve the student's Plan of Study and provide guidance for the student as they take classes and prepare for the qualifying examination.  The Doctoral Program Committee must be formed by the end of the second semester after enrollment into the program. The signed Department Plan of Study Form should be submitted to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs.

The Doctoral Program Committee may meet at any time to discuss or evaluate the student's progress or to suggest changes in the plan of study but should ideally meet once per semester but at least once per academic year to review the student’s progress. The student also may request a committee meeting at any time. The Major Professor (Doctoral Committee Chair) may be asked to provide the Department Chair, the Department faculty, or the student with an evaluation of the student's progress toward the degree. More detailed information about the advising process for doctoral students is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook.

The Doctoral Dissertation Committee

After the successful completion of the Doctoral Qualifying Examination but before the student reaches the dissertation stage, the membership of the student’s Doctoral Program Committee should be assessed for suitability for the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. The membership of the Dissertation Committee may be the same as that of the Doctoral Program Committee if the student and/or Major Professor so desires.  Students must have a Doctoral Dissertation Committee in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress in the doctoral program.  If a student is unable to assemble a Doctoral Dissertation Committee within one year of successfully passing the Qualifying Exam, the student may not be permitted to continue in the doctoral program. 

Requirements for Composition of Doctoral Dissertation Committee

In addition to the requirements of the USF Graduate School, the specific Department requirements for the composition of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee are as follows:

• The committee must consist of at least four graduate faculty
• The Chair of the committee must be fully credentialed by the College of Public Health and be a full-time member of the Epidemiology faculty in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics
• A minimum of two committee members (including the Chair) must be from the full-time Epidemiology faculty from the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics.  All members must be credentialed by the College of Public Health
• A minimum of one committee member of the committee should be a doctoral-level trained Statistician/Bio-statistician with an appointment in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics
• Other members of the committee can be from outside the Department
• Exceptions to committee membership or changes in membership must be approved in writing by the Department Chair

Changes in Doctoral Committee Membership

In addition to changing the composition of the committee to better suit the needs of the student’s research for the dissertation phase, it may become necessary to change the membership of the Doctoral Program or Dissertation Committees for a variety of reasons. 

In the event a Major Professor is unable or unwilling to continue serving on the student’s committee, the student is responsible for finding another Major Professor.  If after a Doctoral Program Committee has been formed the Major Professor is unable or unwilling to continue serving in that capacity, the Committee will remain in place if the other faculty members are willing to remain on the committee.  Students who are unable to find a replacement Major Professor who meets the Department requirements should confer with the Department Chairperson for available options.  If no other options exist, the student may be requested to voluntarily withdraw from the program or may be honorably withdrawn in good academic standing.

Members of the Doctoral Program Committee may decide not to serve on the Dissertation Committee if s/he so chooses. In the event a Major Professor is unable or unwilling to continue serving on the student’s committee, the student is responsible for finding another Major Professor.  If after a Doctoral Dissertation Committee has been formed the Major Professor is unable or unwilling to continue serving in that capacity, the Committee will remain in place if faculty members elect to remain.  Students who are unable to find a replacement Major Professor who meets the Department requirements should confer with the Department Chairperson for available options.  If no other options exist, the student may be requested to voluntarily withdraw from the program or may be honorably withdrawn in good academic standing.

The PhD candidate or Major Professor can also recommend changes, however the Major Professor and the Department Chair must approve all changes in committee membership.

Changing the Membership of Doctoral Committees

In order to change the membership of a Doctoral Committee, students are required to submit the PhD Change of Committee Form which is available at http://www.publichealth.usf.edu/forms to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs.  All changes in committee membership must be approved by the Major Professor and the Department Chair.  Students should consult the Department Doctoral Student Handbook, the College of Public Health Office of Academic and Student Affairs, and the USF Graduate School Catalog and website for specific information about the process to change Doctoral Committee membership.

Purpose of the Examination

The doctoral Qualifying Examination is an assessment designed to indicate to the Department whether the student has the substantive knowledge and methodological skills to engage in doctoral level research and is ready to proceed to the next phase of the doctoral program.  The student must demonstrate written knowledge and skills in Epidemiology and the ability to synthesize and use the professional literature for grant writing and problem-solving situations.  Moreover, the examination is a formal assessment of the student’s mastery of doctoral competencies considered necessary for doctoral research.

Timing of the Examination

The doctoral Qualifying Examination is offered annually in September/October.  In general, most students take the exam approximately two years after beginning the program of study, if full-time.  Students may take the qualifying examination when there is a general consensus of the Doctoral Program Committee and the Major Professor that the student has completed the necessary coursework and is ready to take the exam.  A student is eligible to sit for the qualifying examination when the following minimum criteria have been met.

• The student has successfully completed all or most course work;
• There is an agreement between the student and all members of the doctoral committee that the student is prepared to take the qualifying examination; and
• The student must be registered for a minimum of 2 credit hours for the semester in which the qualifying examination is taken.
• The student must submit the Application for the PhD Qualifying Exam Form to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs

Format of the Examination

The doctoral Qualifying Examination in Epidemiology is administered in two independently graded sections. Part 1 is an 8-hour, in-class, closed-book examination and Part 2 is a 2-week written examination. A brief description of the sections of the examination is outlined below.

1. The first section is an 8-hour general, closed-book examination, which focuses on the synthesis and application of epidemiologic knowledge to specific problems covered in the Core Competencies for the PhD program in Epidemiology.
2. The second section is a two-week written examination in which the student will be given an epidemiologic research question (such as an association between an etiologic exposure and an outcome) and asked to fully review the literature and write an epidemiologic research proposal which addresses the question using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant format.

Students should be prepared to block out two weeks in their schedules for the completion of Part 2 of the examination since it will require dedicated time to successfully complete the examination.  Submission of both parts of the exam by the student to the Department is final, therefore; students should review their exams carefully prior to submission.  Revisions/corrections to the examination after it has been submitted will not be permitted.  Qualifying Examinations will not be accepted after the stated deadline.

Taking the Examination

Students should arrive on time to take the examination and those who arrive late will not be granted extra time to complete the examination unless the lateness is due to personal/family illness or medical emergency, etc.  Student should bring a basic pocket scientific calculator and writing instruments for use during the examination.  Student’s whose primary language is not English may bring a foreign language dictionary.  However, it may not contain notes or any other markings that may assist the student during the exam.  Students are not permitted to use any other unauthorized electronic device (including mobile phones, smartphones, pagers, tablets, etc.) during the examination.

Evaluation and Grading of the Qualifying Examination

To “pass” the doctoral Qualifying Examination, students must demonstrate mastery of and ability to apply the epidemiologic concepts and methods covered in the core epidemiology curriculum and the relevant doctoral competencies.  A passing total score of at least 80 (out of 100) is required in order to pass each section. Students are allowed to take each section of the examination (Part 1 and 2) a total of two times each and must pass both sections to continue in the doctoral program in Epidemiology. If a score of 80 is not achieved, the entire failed section (Part 1 or 2) must be re-taken.  If the student fails one of the two sections, s/he must re-take the failed section the next time the examination is offered. If the student fails to pass a second time, the student cannot continue in the doctoral program, but may apply to transfer to other degree programs.

Students who fail a section or both sections of the examination may be required to take additional coursework, Independent Studies or workshops/seminars in order to appropriately prepare for the next offering of the Qualifying Examination.  More detailed information about the Department doctoral Qualifying Examination is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook.

ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY

Admission to candidacy in the doctoral program in Epidemiology is certification that the student has successfully:

1. Appointed a Doctoral Program Committee;
2. Attained an overall and degree program GPA of 3.00 at USF at the time of candidacy; and
3. Successfully completed the Doctoral Qualifying Exam.

The Graduate School Admission to Candidacy Form should be submitted for approval during the semester that the qualifying exams were successfully completed.

Doctoral students admitted to candidacy, are required to register for a minimum of 2 credit hours every semester following admission to candidacy, until the degree is granted. However, students may NOT enroll in dissertation hours prior to admittance to doctoral candidacy.  More detailed information about admission to candidacy is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and the USF Graduate School Catalog and website.

The Dissertation

The Department expects that the Doctoral Dissertation will have the scope, independence, and skillful presentation that demonstrate that the candidate has acquired a command of epidemiological concepts and principles, the ability to contribute fresh knowledge or a fresh outlook to the subject, and has mastered epidemiological methods. 

Human Subjects Approval

All proposed dissertation research which involves human subjects, even if it involves secondary data, must be submitted to the USF Institution Review Board.  Information can be obtained at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/officeresearch/humansubjects.html. This applies to all proposals whether the research is funded or unfunded.  All doctoral students at USF are responsible for following all guidelines of the USF Graduate School, Human Subjects Regulations, Data Use Agreements (if applicable) and HIPAA regulations (if applicable).  Students who fail to comply with these requirements may be subject to disciplinary action or dismissed from the program.  Students should consult the USF Office of Research, Division of Integrity and Compliance website to obtain guidance about research involving human subjects as defined in the USF Human Research Protection Program Investigator Guide, available online at http://www3.research.usf.edu/dric/hrpp/resources.asp. Aspects of the dissertation research that involve contact with study subjects or data containing personal identifiers cannot proceed until IRB approval has been obtained. More detailed information about is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook.

Data Use Agreements

Doctoral students who plan to use existing data that is not a public use data set should complete a Dissertation Data Use Agreement Form which outlines the terms of use, authorship, student rights, acknowledgements, etc.  This form should be signed by the student, owner of the data set and the Major Professor.  A copy of the form is available on the Department website and should be maintained in the student’s file.  Students should consult the Department Doctoral Student Handbook for more information.

Dissertation Requirements

The research question for a dissertation should have a demonstrable potential for advancing the state of knowledge or practice in epidemiology or public health.  The requirements for dissertation are as follows.  Dissertations should have a high level of achievement in: (1) originality - innovation in theory, methods, substantive content, or creative application of existing theory or knowledge to a new problem, (2) depth - technical competence and intellectual sophistication which is assessed by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee against standards of work publishable in peer-reviewed publications; (3) scholarship; and (4) scientific writing – demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written form.  Dissertation topics must be selected in subject areas in which there is sufficient faculty expertise within the full-time faculty of the department to provide appropriate guidance for the student's dissertation research. More detailed information about Department Dissertation requirements is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook.

Dissertation Format

The doctoral dissertation can be prepared in one of two formats: traditional format or the collection of articles (manuscript) format.  The first, the traditional format, has at least four sections, including at least five chapters.   The second option is the manuscript format which has at least four sections. The Department expects that regardless of the dissertation format selected, a minimum of two manuscripts intended for peer-reviewed publication must be proposed for all doctoral dissertations.  The scope and content of each manuscript will be decided upon by the student in consultation with their Major Professor and approved by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee.  The student’s Doctoral Dissertation Committee approves the refereed journals that will be targeted for submission and the number of manuscripts that will be included in the dissertation.  These manuscripts should be of sufficient quality to be potentially published in a first rate, peer-reviewed journal.  The Department prefers that one paper be accepted by a peer-reviewed journal, and the other one or two are submitted to peer-reviewed journals by the time of graduation. However, if the dissertation only results in two publishable manuscripts, this is also acceptable if approved by the candidate’s Doctoral Dissertation Committee.

There may be situations in which the original publication plan or manuscript structure is not well suited to the dissertation findings. In those cases, students can work with their Major Professor and committee to modify the publication plan prior to the dissertation defense or use the traditional dissertation format.

The acceptance of any of the manuscripts for publication is not a requirement for graduation although all manuscripts must be submitted for publication before graduation. In the unlikely situation that a manuscript needs to be published before the dissertation is submitted (e.g., there is a submission deadline for a special issue), the committee must review and approve in writing that the manuscript is ready for publication.

Completion of the doctoral program requires that at least one manuscript be submitted to an external scientific, peer-reviewed journal (approved by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee) prior to the Final Dissertation Defense.  Acceptance of the manuscript for publication IS NOT a requirement for graduation from the doctoral program.  Rejection of a manuscript by a journal (or equivalent external peer-review process) DOES NOT preclude successful completion of the doctoral program in Epidemiology or graduation. 

Although co-authors will need to be identified for manuscript submission, co-author’s names should not be included in the dissertation itself. In general, it is understood that all doctoral committee members will co-author the manuscripts, with the doctoral student being first author and comply with individual journal requirements. The doctoral committee shall decide, in collaboration with the student, in what order the co-authors should be listed for each manuscript. The student and committee should agree to general authorship of the publications before the defense of the doctoral proposal and reconfirm and prioritize order of the co-authors prior to the dissertation defense. 

The dissertation must conform to the specifications outlined in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and the USF Graduate School Catalog and website.

Dissertation Concept Presentation

All doctoral students are required to present their dissertation research idea in a formal oral presentation to the Department as a Departmental Seminar by the end of the Spring semester immediately following the Qualifying Examination and prior to writing the dissertation proposal.  The student should present their ideas for a dissertation topic during the mid-stages of dissertation development so that they can incorporate any input they receive from Department faculty and other doctoral students during the seminar.

When the Major Professor and Doctoral Dissertation Committee agree that the student is ready to present their dissertation idea to the Department and have selected potential dates for presentation, a Department Seminar will be scheduled.  Students should contact the Department Academic Coordinator to schedule the seminar.  The seminar will be announced via flyers and email at least two-weeks prior to the date selected, therefore the student should contact the Department Academic Coordinator at least 3 weeks prior to the desired seminar date.

For the Concept Presentation, the student should prepare a 35 to 40-minute presentation with slides (e.g., PowerPoint) which includes: the rationale for the proposed study, the research question and proposed hypotheses, study design, and research methods.  At the conclusion of the presentation, there will be a 15-20 minute Q&A session which will be moderated by the student.  More information about the dissertation concept presentation is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook.

Dissertation Research Proposal

The student will write his/her proposal and will orally defend the proposal in a public defense in which the Doctoral Committee and other interested parties are present.

The proposal is presented in a formal presentation to the student’s Doctoral Dissertation Committee. This presentation is open to other faculty, other students, and the general public. The Dissertation Proposal Defense date will be scheduled by agreement between the student and members of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, and approved by the Department Chairperson.

Summary of Steps in the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Defense Process

1. The student may schedule a final Dissertation Committee meeting prior to distributing the version of the Dissertation Proposal that will be presented at the oral defense. At this meeting, the student and Committee should finalize any additional changes needed to be made prior to the Dissertation Proposal Defense. 
2. After this meeting, the student will make the recommended changes. If a meeting is not scheduled, the draft of the Dissertation proposal that will be defended must be received by all committee members at least four weeks prior to the anticipated defense date. Committee members should review the proposal and discuss changes prior to signing the Department Request for Dissertation Proposal Defense Form.
3. All Dissertation Committee members must sign the Department Request for Dissertation Proposal Defense form indicating that they have read the proposal and approve it for presentation. This form is available from the Department's Academic Coordinator or on the Department web page.
4. The Dissertation Proposal Defense Announcement Form must be posted at least 14 days prior to the Dissertation Proposal Defense. Once approved, the Department Academic Coordinator will post and distribute the announcement to Department.  Flyers will be posted throughout the College, placed on the COPH listservs and USF-NEWS.
5. A final copy of the Dissertation Proposal must be given to the Dissertation Committee members and the Department Chairperson 7 days prior to the defense. No further changes may be made to the research proposal until after the defense.
6. Submit the Department Request for Dissertation Proposal Defense form and a copy of the announcement (Dissertation Proposal Defense Announcement Form) to the Department Chairperson at least 21 days prior to the presentation.

Format of Proposal Presentation

The purpose of the Dissertation Proposal defense is to provide students with the opportunity to present their plans for dissertation research, and refine the methods based on recommendations and suggestions from the audience at-large.   The student will make a formal oral presentation with slides (e.g., PowerPoint) of the dissertation proposal by student not to exceed 35 minutes. The presentation should include: the rationale for the proposed study, the research question and proposed hypotheses, study design, research methods and proposed statistical analyses. 

The Dissertation Proposal Defense

The student, in consultation with the Major Professor, selects an “Outside Chair of the Dissertation Proposal Defense” (moderator) for the Dissertation Proposal Defense.  The moderator must be a fully credentialed member of the USF graduate faculty.  The moderator cannot be a member of the doctoral committee or a faculty member within the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. 

Following the Dissertation Proposal Defense, the Dissertation Committee members will convene in a private meeting to determine the appropriateness of the proposed dissertation research and to discuss recommendations for additional changes in the proposal.  Committee members sign the Department Approval of Dissertation Proposal Defense Form only after the corrections, additions or changes have been made in writing and the corrected final copy has been distributed to the committee and Department Chairperson.  

Approval of Dissertation Proposal Defense is not an endorsement of the proposal as a completed research plan.  This acceptance also does not preclude the committee from requiring modifications to the data analysis plan or review of literature at a later date.  The committee may require that a proposal be presented for a second time before being approved, if actions after the initial proposal meeting indicate that substantive modifications in the proposal are necessary.  Final approval of the Dissertation Proposal document only occurs after the proposal defense and the corrections, additions or changes have been made in writing and the corrected final copy has been distributed to the Dissertation Committee and Department Chairperson.

The proposal must be successfully defended for the student to continue in the Doctoral Program in Epidemiology.  Acceptance of the dissertation proposal by the student’s Dissertation Committee does not preclude the committee from making modifications in the data analysis plan or review of literature at a later date.  Upon successful completion of the oral defense, the student is given permission to begin the dissertation. More information about the dissertation proposal defense is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook.

Doctoral Dissertation Defense

At the completion of the dissertation research project, the student will defend his/her work in a public defense attended by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, faculty, students and any interested individuals who wish to attend. The doctoral student must have met regularly with his/her committee such that the defense is a pro forma event and the committee is apprised well in advance on the progress of the student toward completion of the degree.

The student must provide all Doctoral Dissertation Committee members a final draft of the dissertation document at least four weeks before the desired defense date.  Committee members must be given at least two weeks to read the dissertation and provide feedback prior to signing the form.  A final draft copy of the dissertation must be provided to the Department Chair for review by any interested college faculty member.

Summary of Steps for the Final Oral Presentation of the Dissertation

1. The student may schedule a final Dissertation Committee meeting prior to distributing the dissertation that will be presented.   During this meeting, the student and committee should finalize any changes needed to prepare the dissertation for presentation. After the meeting, the student will make the recommended changes. If a meeting is not scheduled, the draft proposal must be received by committee members at least four weeks prior to the anticipated defense date. Committee members should review the proposal and discuss changes prior to signing the PhD Request for Dissertation Defense Form.
2. All committee members must sign the PhD Request for Dissertation Defense Form indicating that they have read the proposal and approve it for presentation. These forms are available from the College of Public Health Office of Academic and Student Affairs and online.
3. The PhD Request for Dissertation Defense Form and a copy of the announcement (Dissertation Proposal Defense Announcement Form) must be submitted to the Department Chairperson for approval at least 21 days prior to the presentation. Once approved, the Academic Coordinator will post and distribute the announcement to the faculty and to students. Flyers will be posted throughout the College, placed on the COPH listservs and USF-NEWS.
4. A final copy of the dissertation is given to the committee members, Department Chairperson, and moderator at least 7 days prior to the presentation. No further changes may be made to the research proposal until after the defense. Approval for presentation is not an endorsement of the dissertation as a completed research project.

Scheduling the Dissertation Defense

Scheduling of the oral presentation of the dissertation is by mutual agreement between the student and the Doctoral Dissertation Committee members, and approved by the Department Chairperson. Before the defense can be scheduled, the student must have the PhD Request for Dissertation Defense Form (http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/forms.html) completed and signed by all committee members and given to the Department Academic Coordinator.   Once the form has been approved, a final draft copy of the dissertation must be provided to the Department Chair for review by any interested college faculty member.

Approval of the defense does not preclude changes in the final form of the dissertation, which may be suggested during or after the oral defense. The format for the oral defense is consistent with policies of the College of Public Health and the USF Graduate School, but as much as possible, is governed by the mutual wishes of the student and the Doctoral Dissertation Committee.

The student, in consultation with the Major Professor, will select an “Outside Chair of the Dissertation Defense” (moderator) for the Dissertation Defense.  The moderator must be a fully credentialed member of the USF graduate faculty. In accordance with USF Graduate School policy, the moderator cannot be a member of the doctoral committee or a faculty member within the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. 

Successful completion of the oral defense is the culminating step of the doctoral program. This defense is the student's opportunity to present the dissertation in a public forum where faculty, other students, and guests are invited.

Format of the Dissertation Defense

The student will make a formal oral defense with slides (e.g., PowerPoint) of the dissertation not to exceed 35-45 minutes. The presentation should include: the rationale for the proposed study, the research question and proposed hypotheses, study design, research methods, statistical analyses, results and discussion.  The entire oral examination process normally should not exceed 3 hours in duration. Details of the format of the Dissertation Defense are provided in the Department Doctoral Student handbook. 

The student's Doctoral Dissertation Committee has final approval of the oral defense and the written product. Following the dissertation defense, the Doctoral Committee convenes without the student present to assess the student's performance in presenting the dissertation research. The doctoral committee may require modifications of the dissertation following the examination and before granting its final approval. If the modifications are extensive, the committee may ask the student to undergo another formal defense.

A student is recommended for the doctorate only if ALL members of the committee judge both the dissertation and the performance of the student in oral examination to be satisfactory.  Approval of the dissertation is indicated by signature on the Successful Defense of the PhD Dissertation Form. The student has sole responsibility for assuring that all forms related to the proposal and dissertation are completed, and that all work related to the dissertation conforms to the accepted style and format of the USF Graduate School.

Read the Graduate School website for specific details required by the USF Graduate School regarding dissertation presentation and preparation of the final manuscript: http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis.php.   

After the successful defense of the doctoral dissertation students should submit the Successful Defense of the PhD Dissertation Form signed by Committee members and moderator to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs.  In addition, students should also submit the Certificate of Approval Form for Theses and Dissertations Form to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs after it has been signed by committee members after all corrections and modifications have been completed satisfactorily.

The details of the format of the doctoral dissertation defense are provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and the USF Graduate School Catalog and website.

Submission of Dissertation

It is essential that the dissertation be submitted in an acceptable format. Students are required to attend an Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Workshop sponsored by the USF Graduate School (in person or online) the semester prior to graduation.  Students are required to follow the format given in Graduate Studies Thesis and Dissertation web site at http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis.asp.  Additional information about the dissertation submission process is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and the USF Graduate School Catalog and website.

Each student planning to complete the degree requirements by the end of a term must submit a Graduate Degree Graduation Application (http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/academicaffairs/graduation.html) by the deadline noted in the Academic Calendar for the term in which the student expects to graduate. The student must file an application whether or not the student is participating in the commencement ceremony. Completed forms should be turned in to the College of Public Health Office of Academic and Student Affairs. Note that students must be enrolled for at least 2 credit hours in the semester they wish to graduate.  Students should consult the College of Public Health Office of Academic and Student Affairs, the USF Graduate School Catalog and website for more information.