Program Overview

The PhD in Public Health Sciences is a four-year, full-time, in-person program, offering three streams: Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and General.

Independent and original research and the preparation of a thesis are essential core elements of doctoral studies. All PhD students must complete a research project that culminates in a thesis based on original research of publishable quality. The breadth and depth of the thesis must meet normative expectations of a PhD in the student’s research area. The design choices and analytic methods that can be used are wide in scope reflecting the diverse nature of the disciplines covered by this PhD program. The thesis process emulates the conventional process of a grant submission and involves three major components:

Thesis Outline and Presentation
Thesis Proposal and Proposal Defense
Thesis Defense and Final Submission

Through the dissertation process, students demonstrate the ability to undertake independent research including the ability to:

Critically appraise and synthesize relevant academic literature;
Develop novel hypotheses or important, researchable questions;
Design practical research studies aimed at testing these hypotheses and/or answering these research questions;
Write scientific protocols that summarize research plans and demonstrate an understanding of key methodological issues;
Collect primary or process secondary data, where the latter are not ‘research ready’ at the outset;
Analyze and interpret data; andUnderstand the implications of findings within appropriate population health, health services/health policy, or clinical contexts

Students also have opportunities to present their research in seminars and scholarly academic meetings. Students gain an ability to communicate scientifically, both in terms of publishing research findings in reputable biomedical journals, and by presenting research findings to their respective research communities.

Public Health Sciences Epidemiology Specialization	Public Health Sciences Biostatistics Specialization	Public Health Sciences
Year 1 - Fall Advanced Epidemiology (EPID 901) Advanced Public Health Sciences Research (EPID 902)	Year 1 - Fall One Elective Advanced Public Health Sciences Research (EPID 902)	Year 1 - Fall One Elective Advanced Public Health Sciences Research (EPID 902)
Year 1 - Winter Advanced Methods in Biostatistics (EPID 823) One Elective	Year 1 - Winter Two Electives	Year 1 - Winter Two Electives
Year 1 - Spring/Summer Comprehensive Examination	Year 1 - Spring/Summer Comprehensive Examination	Year 1 - Spring/Summer Comprehensive Examination
Year 2 - Fall Submit Thesis Outline	Year 2 - Fall Complete thesis research in preparation for proposal	Year 2 - Fall Submit Thesis Outline Complete thesis research in preparation for proposal
Year 2 - Winter Complete thesis research in preparation for proposal	Year 2 - Winter Submit and present thesis proposal	Year 2 - Winter Submit and present thesis proposal
Year 2 - Spring/Summer Submit and Present Thesis Proposal	Year 2 - Spring/Summer Thesis Research	Year 2 - Spring/Summer Thesis Research
Year 3 - Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer Thesis Research	Year 3 - Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer Thesis Research	Year 3 - Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer Thesis Research
Year 4 - Fall/Winter Thesis Research	Year 4 - Fall/Winter Thesis Research	Year 4 - Fall/Winter Thesis Research
Year 4 - Spring/Summer Submit and defend thesis	Year 4 - Spring/Summer Submit and defend thesis	Year 4 - Spring/Summer Submit and defend thesis

Completing Your Degree

* In addition to required courses, students are encouraged to take additional elective courses, as deemed appropriate by their Supervisor(s).

PhD Courses offered by the Department

Comprehensive Exam

PhD Thesis Research

Program Contacts

Affiliated Research Groups