Epidemiology combines concepts and methods of human and veterinary medicine, biology, mathematics, statistics, and economics to investigate distributions and determinants of health, disease, injury, and impaired productivity in populations, and to recommend actions for prevention or control measures. The Graduate Group in Epidemiology (GGE) at the University of California, Davis is a multidisciplinary program leading to either a Master of Science in Epidemiology or a Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology degree (strong preference given to doctoral applicants).

   The GGE curriculum offers graduate level courses and seminars in epidemiologic principles, study design and modeling, economics, and mathematical and medical statistics (applied and theoretical).  Faculty interests include environmental and occupational health, veterinary medicine (livestock, wildlife, laboratory animals, companion animals), biostatistics, economics, nutrition, international nutrition, infectious diseases, community health, entomology and other fields.  Faculty and graduate students are united by their common interest in the application of epidemiological methods to solving research problems in a variety of fields.

    Applicants to the MS in Epidemiology and PhD in Epidemiology degree programs must have a strong background in the biological sciences including at least four upper division and/or graduate courses in a relevant biomedical science.  In addition to epidemiology course work, students matriculating without prior medical training are expected to acquire further knowledge in a field or fields of application.  The Graduate Group in Epidemiology coursework emphasizes quantitative methods in epidemiology; the GGE does not offer a course of study consistant with that which would be obtained in a MS or PhD of Public Health curriculum.

Master's and Doctoral Programs

    The M.S. and Ph.D. programs differ in that the doctoral program requires a qualifying examination and a dissertation of greater complexity and difficulty. Students who complete a M.P.H., M.P.V.M., or M.S. program in epidemiology subsequently may be admitted to the Ph.D. program if they possess the necessary qualifications for the doctoral program, if it is compatible with their interests and goals, and if the admission quota and resources of the program permit.  A full-time student with no deficiencies would normally graduate within two years in the M.S. program and five to six years in the Ph.D. program.  Ph.D. students take a pre-qualifying written examination usually in the fall quarter of their second or third year, depending on their coursework plan. The Ph.D. qualifying examination will in most cases be taken at the end of the second or third year of the Ph.D. program.

    As part of both the M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs, students elect an Area of Emphasis, a field of study within epidemiology.  The Areas of Emphasis include:

        • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
        • Health Services and Economics
        • Epidemiologic and Biostatistic Methods
        • Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology
        • Nutritional Epidemiology
        • Reproductive, Perinatal, Developmental & Pediatric Epidemiology
        • Wildlife Epidemiology
 
       

As part of the Ph.D. degree, there is also an opportunity to achieve recognition by having a designated emphasis in International Nutrition or Reproductive Biology. For additional information about these programs, please visit the following websites:
International Nutrition - http://nutrition.ucdavis.edu/pin/DESEMPH.HTM
Reproductive Biology - http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/DERB/files/program.htm

   Students must, in concert with their guidance committee and graduate advisor, select and complete a minimum number of units from elective courses within their proposed Area of Emphasis.  In addition to the Area of Emphasis, students will select or develop a Special Topic, which will be their specific research focus.  Special Topics, regardless of students' Areas of Emphasis tend to focus on specific diseases (Johne's, AIDS, tuberculosis, etc), specific species (dairy cattle, sturgeon, sea otters, etc), or specific environmental conditions (oil spills, silicon implants, homelessness).

General Requirements

General requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are established by UCD Graduate Studies.  Specific requirements and course requirements for degree programs administered by the Group are described under Master of Science in Epidemiology degree requirements or Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology degree requirements.

View the Requirements and Guidelines for the Graduate Group in Epidemiology.  Students should refer to this document for specific degree reguirements.