Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Epidemiology
The Ph.D. in Epidemiology, housed in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, is designed for students who want to become researchers, scholars, faculty members and public health leaders who study the patterns, causes and prevention of disease and other health outcomes in human populations.
This doctoral program is a strong fit for students who want to pursue independent research, teach at the university level and use data to answer complex questions about public health. Students learn advanced epidemiologic theory, methods and analytic approaches while developing the skills to design studies, test hypotheses, communicate findings and translate evidence into action.
Graduates pursue a variety of career paths, including fellowships and professorships in academic institutions, and research positions in pharmaceutical companies, hospital systems, nonprofit organizations, insurance companies, and state and federal health departments.
Curriculum
The Ph.D. in Epidemiology is an advanced graduate degree focused on original epidemiologic investigation and preparation for university-level teaching and independent research.
Students complete coursework in public health, epidemiologic theory, advanced analytic methods, study design, biostatistics, professional development and dissertation research. Students also develop expertise in formulating research questions, creating evidence-based hypotheses, grant writing, effective instruction, and communicating epidemiologic findings.
Doctoral students complete a dissertation that demonstrates advanced epidemiologic research and the ability to apply epidemiologic principles and methods to public health questions.
View the Academic Bulletin for the full curriculum.
Admissions Requirements
Learn about the complete admission requirements and application process for the Ph.D. in Epidemiology.
Applicants to the Epidemiology Ph.D. program must apply through the Centralized Application Service for Public Health, SOPHAS. Admissions decisions are based on the full application, including academic record, previous coursework, letters of recommendation and relevant work or life experience.
View the Epidemiology and Biostatistics application requirements, Graduate School application requirements and Academic Bulletin for full details.
Where Our Grads Work
Graduates of the Ph.D. in Epidemiology are prepared for research, teaching, data science and public health leadership roles across a wide range of settings, including universities and colleges, state and federal health departments, hospital systems, pharmaceutical companies, insurance organizations, nonprofit organizations, research institutes and postdoctoral fellowship programs.
Alumni have gone on to work as epidemiologists, faculty members, scientists, research associates, data analysts and disease prevention and control professionals. Their employers include the South Carolina Department of Public Health, Merck and other industry employers, the National Institutes of Health, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Optum, universities and academic research institutions.
I’ve found USC to be a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment,” Addo says. “The student culture is collaborative, and I’ve had the chance to connect with peers from diverse backgrounds who share a commitment to public health and community impact. Overall, USC has provided me with the academic resources, mentorship, and community connections to grow as a public health researcher and practitioner. It has truly become a place where I’ve been able to thrive both personally and professionally.
Prince Addo used his doctoral training in epidemiology to study the overlapping factors that shape public health. In addition to participating in USC’s Grace Jordan McFadden Professors Program and the South Carolina SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality’s Junior Scholars Program, Addo gained both teaching and research experience. At the Institute for Families in Society, he served as a Maternal and Child Health Data Analyst. As a graduate research assistant within the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, he contributed to Dr. Monique Brown’s National Institute of Mental Health-funded project developing a trauma-focused intervention for older adults living with HIV.
Graduate Assistantships in Epidemiology
A graduate assistantship is a part-time position that allows graduate students to work in a variety of roles while completing their degree.
Graduate assistants may support faculty research, assist with grant-funded projects, contribute to data collection or analysis, help with teaching, or support departmental, administrative or program-related work.
Graduate assistants must be admitted to a degree program and enrolled as full-time students. At the Arnold School, graduate assistantships typically require 10 to 20 hours of work per week, depending on the position.
All Ph.D. students in Epidemiology and Biostatistics are offered an assistantship for three or four years and in-state tuition. Doctoral applicants may also be eligible for competitive fellowships, including Arnold School Doctoral Fellowships, USC Presidential Fellowships, the Behavioral-Biomedical Interface Program training grant for eligible epidemiology students and other doctoral funding opportunities.
Students interested in assistantships should contact the program to which they are applying and talk with potential faculty mentors about available research funding. Applicants should also review departmental funding and fellowship information during the admissions process.
Learn more about Epidemiology and Biostatistics funding opportunities and Arnold School graduate financial aid and assistantships.
Tuition
Tuition and fees are subject to change and vary based on enrollment status, residency and assistantship eligibility. Students are encouraged to explore financial aid options, scholarships, fellowships and assistantships to help support their education.
Learn more from the Arnold School’s financial aid information and USC’s Tuition and Fees resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ph.D. in Epidemiology prepares students for teaching and independent research careers. Graduates pursue careers in universities, postdoctoral fellowships, pharmaceutical companies, hospital systems, nonprofit organizations, insurance companies, and state and federal health departments.
Students may conduct research in infectious disease, chronic disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, aging, maternal and child health, mental health, nutrition, substance use, social determinants of health, health disparities, environmental epidemiology, clinical research and population health.
Information related to application deadlines can be found at our deadlines and degrees page.
All Ph.D. students in Epidemiology are offered an assistantship for three or four years and in-state tuition. Additional competitive fellowship opportunities may also be available.
All transcripts should be mailed to SOPHAS. Information on how to send transcripts to SOPHAS can be found at this SOPHAS applicant help center page.
No, GRE scores are not required and will not be reviewed.
With Graduate Director/Program Director and Academic Advisor approval, doctoral students can transfer up to 12 credits from courses that were NOT part of a completed master's degree program. For doctoral students, a limited number of graduate course work from a graduate program may be applied toward the PhD with Academic Advisor and Graduate Director approval. Contact the Graduate Director for more information.
The Ph.D. program takes approximately four years.
All International students must have their transcripts verified by World Educational Services (WES) and must demonstrate their English language proficiency using TOEFL, IELTS, or another accepted test. Those who have an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution that uses English as their primary language of instruction may ask to have this requirement waived.
Epidemiology PhD students are required to find a faculty mentor before they can be accepted into the program.
Epidemiology doctoral students are strongly encouraged to have research experience.
You will receive a letter from the department indicating our recommendation to the Graduate School regarding admission. A letter from the Graduate School will follow, which will provide you official word of your acceptance.
Yes, you can defer your admission for up to one year after acceptance.
Follow the links for information about funding in our program and to see tuition & fees for graduate students.
Yes. View our student health insurance plan page for more information.
Yes. Doctoral students can attend classes on a part-time basis; however, it’s important to know that most classes are offered Monday through Thursday during the day. We have very few evening classes and no classes on the weekend. Doctoral students must fulfill the Graduate School’s residency requirement which is 6-9 credit hours in two consecutive semesters.
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