Rima Afifi | Marian Abouzeid
|
Historical Background
The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) was established in 1954 as an independent School of Public Health, the first of its kind in the region. The name of the school was changed to the Faculty of Health Sciences in 1978 to accommodate programs in allied health.
FHS serves to educate and train professionals and competent leaders to help meet the health needs of Lebanon and the region. Currently, FHS hosts four departments which are Epidemiology and Population Health (EPH), Environmental Health (EH), Health Promotion and Community Health (HPCH), Health Management and Policy (HMP), and a Division of Health Professions. It also hosts programs in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine, which include programs in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Medical Audiology Sciences and Medical Imaging Sciences. FHS offers a BS degree in Environmental Health, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Medical Imaging Sciences and Medical Audiology Sciences1, a BA degree in Health Communication, as well as a Graduate Public Health Program including an MS degree in Public Health (MPH) (concentrations in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Promotion and Community Health, and Health Management and Policy), an MS in Epidemiology. FHS also offers an MS in Environmental Sciences, major: Environmental Health (as part of an Interfaculty Graduate Environmental Sciences Program), an Executive Master in Health Care Leadership and a PhD in Epidemiology. In addition, FHS provides courses in public health to students in the Faculty of Medicine.
Accreditation
In October 2006, the Public Health Program (PHP) of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) became accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and was reaccredited in 2012 for seven years term extending to 2019. In December 2019, the CEPH Board voted to renew the accreditation of the program for another seven-year term ending in 2026. The PHP includes the Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Epidemiology, Master of Science in Environmental Health, and the PhD in Epidemiology, as well as the newly launched Bachelor of Arts in Health Communication. CEPH is an independent agency in the United States, which is recognized to accredit schools and programs of public health. The PHP at FHS was the first graduate public health program to be accredited by CEPH outside the Americas and remains the only program in the Arab region. Accreditation indicates that the PHP of the FHS meets standards for Public Health Education of leading schools of public health in the world.
Mission
To improve the health of populations and advance the public health discipline and field of health professions in the region and beyond, through excellence in education, research, and community engagement.
Vision
The leading academic voice and driver for equity, justice, and better health in the Arab region and beyond.
Graduate Public Health Program (GPHP)
Mission Statement
To build the next generation of public health leaders to advance knowledge, and impact practice and policy.
GPHP Value Statement
Our teaching, research, and service are guided by core values. These values derive from our context as a leading graduate program of public health in a middle-income regional setting that has suffered from intermittent political conflict and unrest and from our adherence to basic principles of professional conduct, human rights, and service to underprivileged communities.
-
Equality & Social Justice: We believe in equality among people; our work is oriented to enhance health equity and social justice by focusing on underserved communities.
-
Civic Responsibility: We believe that each of us has a role to play in advancing knowledge and improving health, and we work to instill a sense of civic responsibility among students and partners organizations with whom we collaborate.
-
Integrity & Professional Ethics: We bring a commitment to integrity and professional ethics in all our efforts.
-
Diversity: We believe that diversity in our faculty, students, and in our practice sites enhances our ability to understand the perspectives and the circumstances that influence health.
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Excellence: We are committed to excel in all that we do, and believe that our faculty and alumni provide leadership and vision to improve the health of people and communities.
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Peace: We research and mitigate the public health effects of conflicts on population and systems as a contribution to achieving peace and justice.
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Admission Requirements
Applicants for graduate study in the MPH program may be considered for admission in one of the following categories:
Graduate
A candidate qualifies for this category if he/she holds a bachelor’s degree from AUB or an equivalent degree from another recognized institution with an undergraduate major and cumulative GPA between 3.0 and 3.3.
When only a cumulative GPA is available, the applicant will qualify for this category if his/her average is between 3.0 and 3.3.
Special Student Not Working for a Degree
On exceptional basis either upon the recommendation of the Department or based on the public health experience of the applicant, those with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 can be considered for admission as a non-degree graduate student. The concerned department has to provide the GSC with a clear justification for its recommendation. However, applicants who are considering admission to the MPH program should also have a relevant and sufficient work experience to be considered for admission as special students.
A student registered as a special not working for a -degree graduate student can register for a minimum of 7 and a maximum of 12 core and concentration credits in the relevant department and must obtain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.7 in the registered courses to be considered for admission to the MPH program. The average of all completed courses will be evaluated for admission into the MPH along with the undergraduate average and public health experience.
Spring/Mid-year admissions are accepted on a case-by-case basis if places are available. Students admitted at mid-year may only register as part-timers.
Students who have had significant prior experience in a health-related field may be granted a partial waiver of practicum hours. Applications for partial waiver of practicum hours are assessed on a case-by-case basis (see policy on Partial Practicum waiver). In the case in which waiver is granted, the waived practicum credit should be replaced with a one credit elective.
Selection Criteria
Applicants to the MPH program must specify the area of concentration of their choice by priority on the application form. Admission into the concentration areas within the MPH program is based on the following criteria:
-
Choice of Faculty: Priority for consideration for admission goes to applicants who indicate FHS as their first choice.
-
Choice of Concentration: Priority for consideration for admission in a concentration area goes to applicants indicating that concentration as their first choice.
-
Grade Point Average: Normally, priority for consideration for admission goes to applicants with a higher grade point average.
Other factors taken into consideration include background diversity (prior degree and previous academic institution), geographic diversity, years and type of work experience, personal statement, recommendation letters and interview when applicable.
Graduation Requirements
MPH is a competency-based program where students are assessed on each foundational and concentration knowledge component and competency at least once.
Students must demonstrate that they have satisfied the minimum level of requirements in order to graduate from the program.
All recommendations for graduation are made by vote of the faculty on the recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee. To be eligible for graduation in the MPH program, a student must accomplish the following:
- pass all required courses with a minimum grade of C+
- earn an overall GPA of at least 3.3
- and successfully complete a minimum of 42 credit hours.
Credit requirements for the MPH program are tabulated below:
Course Type
|
Credits
|
Required core | 23 |
Required concentration | 10 - 11 |
Required public health experience | 5 |
Electives | 3 - 4 |
Total number of credits required for graduation |
42 |
Credit Load
A full-time student must carry a minimum load of 12 credits per term. Students can register for up to 18 credits per term. Students who wish to register for more than 18 credits must petition the Graduate Studies Committee for approval. A part-time student must carry a minimum load of 5 credits per term. Students who wish to register for less than 5 credits must petition the Graduate Studies Committee for approval.
Policy on Practicum Registration
All MPH students are required to satisfactorily complete a 300-hour practical experience as part of the MPH program. The Practicum consists of 2-credit-hours of public health practice which students are expected to register for upon completion of all core and concentration courses. In exceptional circumstances, part-time students working full-time who wish to complete their practicum hours over two semesters may petition to do so. Students are allowed to register for the Practicum in the same semester with only one core and/or concentration course along with the Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) II course (as long as the course not yet taken does not consist of material needed to effectively undertake the activities of the practicum). To be allowed to register a concentration course along with the practicum, the student needs to seek the approval of the concerned department. The student needs to seek approval to be allowed to register a concentration course along with the practicum.
Policy on Transferring to another Concentration
The MPH program has three options for concentration, which are Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EPBS), Health Promotion and Community Health (HPCH), and Health Management and Policy (HMP). Every year, a quota for admissions is set for each. Students are accepted into the program in a particular concentration area. Students may petition to transfer to another area of concentration. Petitions are reviewed in current and prospective departments in light of student academic performance, justification for transfer and implications on the quota. The final decision is made by the Graduate Studies Committee. Students cannot transfer to another concentration before the grades of the first term of enrolment in the current concentration are released.
Policy on Course Exemption
Some graduate courses may be exempted for students, if the student has acquired the relevant knowledge components and satisfactorily completed the requirements of every competency.
- Exemption from a required FHS graduate course may only be considered when the student has proof that s/he has satisfactorily completed a comparable graduate level course in a recognized university normally with a minimum grade of B+ or the equivalent.
- Course exemption is possible if the course was taken in a period not exceeding the last 5 years.
- Graduate students are allowed to be exempted from courses totally to a maximum of 6 graduate credits.
- The requirement of this particular exempted course is waived but not its credits (i.e., the candidate has to replace the exempted course credits with other course(s) having the same number of credits). Students are still expected to complete the minimum number of credits required for graduation (MPH 42 credits; MS 30 credits).
- The course instructor assesses the equivalence of courses through comparison of course description and learning objectives. The course instructor may require that the petitioning student take an exam in order to demonstrate proficiency in the subject prior to the official registration period for the required course or before the deadline of the drop and add period.
- In cases where students want to equate a course offered in another faculty for a required graduate course in the MPH/MS program, the course instructor (or relevant department chairperson) must approve the petition for equating courses prior to the student registering for the course. This could only happen when the required course is not offered during the term in which the student needs to complete the degree requirements.
- HMPD 306 course exemption policy: Students enrolled in the MPH-HMP program and who took in their undergraduate studies a microeconomics course, such as ECON 211 or AGSC 212 or their equivalent from other recognized universities, can petition to be exempt from the workshop course HMPD 306. The instructor of the HMPD 306 course or Chairperson of the HMP department reviews the petition for possible approval.
Procedure for exemption:
- The student submits a petition for course exemption attaching the syllabus and official university transcript from the other university/program.
- The course instructor decides if the course can be exempted based on the course syllabus and/or a test.
- If an exam is required, the student is asked by the Graduate officer to sit for the exam either prior to the start of the term when the course is offered or before the deadline of the drop and add period.
- As per the course instructor’s decision, the petition is approved/rejected and forwarded to the Graduate Studies Committee then the Registrar’s Office at AUB.
Policy on Partial Practicum Waiver
No exemption is granted from the Practicum experience. The Practicum must be completed while a student is enrolled in the MPH program with no exceptions. However, a partial waiver of hours can be granted on a case-by-case basis. Students with the required level of experience prior to joining the MPH program may request a partial waiver to complete 150 hours of practicum work (instead of 300 hours), if they offer enough evidence of fulfilment of the practicum waiver criteria*.
Students granted partial waiver register for a 1-credit practicum course (HMPD/HPCH/EPBS 366). The waived practicum credit should be replaced with a one-credit elective.
Policy on Transfer of Credits
For courses taken outside FHS or outside AUB
A transfer of credits may be considered when the student has satisfactorily completed a graduate course with a minimum grade of B+ or equivalent at a recognized university*. Credits counted toward another graduate degree at AUB or another institution cannot be transferred if they have already been used to satisfy requirements for another awarded graduate degree. In this case, students might be considered for exemption from course not credits.
The transferred credits are accepted after seeking approval of the course instructor
Transfer of course credits from graduate academic and professional diploma programs at AUB to a graduate degree program is allowed following the academic rules and regulations specified by the American university of Beirut. However, the number of course credits that can be transferred is up to 12 credits for graduate academic diplomas and up to 6 credits for graduate professional diplomas (in reference to AUB policy on transfer of credits).
Transfer of credits from graduate programs that are jointly offered with FHS at AUB is possible before the completion of the degree in the event that the student wants to change major. The number of credits that can be transferred from joint programs cannot exceed 12 credits of comparable courses at FHS. However, the maximum number of transferrable credits from non-CEPH accredited programs is 6 core or concentration credits.
Request for transfer of credits for MPH/MS students is only possible if the student has completed the course within the previous 5 years of the transfer request date.
Procedure for transferring credits:
To transfer credits, the candidate submits a course equivalence petition through the online petition system and attaches the following official documents after consulting with the academic and registration advisors:
- a detailed description of course content and syllabus
- an official statement of records/grades earned for the course(s)
For transfer of credits, the Graduate Officer verifies that the transferring university has comparable academic standards* to those of the American university of Beirut.
The instructor of the specific course reviews the syllabus and recommends on the equivalence of the course.
The online petition passes through a chain of approvals until the final decision is taken by the Graduate Studies Committee.
Probation
Placement on Probation
A student is placed on probation if one of the following occurs:
- s/he fails in any graduate course taken for credit (passing grade is C+)
- s/he fails to obtain a minimum overall GPA of 3.3 in graduate courses
Part-timers can only be evaluated after completion of at least 10 credits. Their cumulative average is evaluated every term thereafter.
A student with an admission score (major and cumulative GPA) of at least 3.0, but less than 3.3 will be admitted on probation.
Removal of Probation
A full-time student will be removed from probation at the end of a term if s/he has passed all courses and attained an overall GPA of 3.3.
Part-timers are first evaluated after completion of at least 10 credits. Their overall GPA is evaluated every term thereafter.
Dismissal from the Program
A student on probation may be dismissed upon the recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee if one of the following occurs:
- s/he fails to be removed from probation after one term or its equivalent for part–timers (10 credit hours)
- placement on probation more than once (not counting the probation at admission time)
- The student attains a cumulative average of less than GPA 2.3 after completion of 10 credits or fails two courses in one term.
- The student attains a cumulative average of GPA 2.3 or above but less than GPA 3.3 in any term, and fails one course in that term (This rule does not apply to the first term of study).
- In the judgment of the GSC, is not making satisfactory academic progress, or has behaved in contempt of the norms and values upheld by the Faculty. Additional information about personal circumstances and general academic performance will be sought. GSC will make their decisions based on all the above points.
Responsible Code of Conduct (RCR) Requirements
All newly admitted graduate students are required to successfully complete an online course on Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) from the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program). The course “covers core norms, principles, regulations, and rules governing the practice of research.” It consists of the following modules: Research Misconduct, Data Management, Authorship, Peer Review, Mentoring, Using Animal Subjects in Research, Conflicts of Interest, Collaborative Research and Research Involving Human Subjects. FHS requires the completion of the following additional two modules, Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research Course, as well as Students - Class Projects.
Curriculum
The Master of Public Health (MPH) curriculum is composed of three principal elements which include core courses, concentration courses and public health experience courses. Core courses emphasize critical public health competencies. Concentration courses provide students with an opportunity to specialize in a chosen discipline of public health. The public health experience courses provide an opportunity to practice the knowledge and skills acquired from the coursework (core and concentration courses) into hands-on experience that is then synthesized and linked to core and concentration competencies.
Students enrolled in the MPH program may choose to specialize in one of three different disciplines of Public Health which are Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Promotion and Community Health, and Health Management and Policy.
I. Core Courses (Required of all MPH Students)
|
Lecture Hrs./ Week |
Lab Hrs./ Week |
Credits Hrs. |
PBHL 312
| Foundations of Public Health
| 1.5 | 0.5 | 2 |
ENHL 301
|
Environmental Health and Sustainable Development
| 1 | 0 | 1 |
PBHL 310
|
Research Methods in Public Health
| 2 | 2 | 3 |
EPHD 300
|
Principles of Epidemiology
| 1.5 | 0.5 | 2 |
EPHD 310
|
Basic Biostatistics
| 2 | 2 | 3 |
HMPD 300 | Health Systems Management | 3 | 0 | 3 |
HPCH 301 | Health Communication | 2 | 0 | 2 |
IPEC 300 | Inter-professional Education | 0 | 2 | 1 |
PBHL 303 | Design and Evaluation of Public Health Programs | 2 | 2 | 3 |
PBHL 304 | Public Health Policy and Advocacy | 3 | 0 | 3 |
PBHL 305 | Contemporary issues in Public Health | 0 | 1 | 0 |
PBHL 306A | Workshop Series: Library and Literature Search Skills | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PBHL 306B |
Workshop Series: Proposal Writing and Literature Synthesis for Public Health Research and Practice | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PBHL 306C | Workshop Series: Conflict Resolution, Mediation and Negotiation Skills | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Public Health Experience Courses
|
PBHL 399A
| Integrative Learning Experience I
| 0 | 0 | 1 |
II. Concentration Courses
A. Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EPBS)
|
Lecture Hrs./ Week |
Lab Hrs./ Week |
Credits Hrs. |
Required Concentration Courses |
EPHD 312
|
Analysis of Continuous Data
| 1.5 | 0.5 | 2 |
EPHD 313
|
Analysis of Categorical Data
| 2 | 2 | 3 |
EPHD 316
|
Epidemiology, Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases
| 2 | 0 | 2 |
EPHD 317
|
Epidemiology of NonCommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Disorders
| 1.5 | 0.5 | 2 |
EPHD 320
|
Epidemiology Beyond the Basics
|
1.5 |
0.5 | 2 |
| 0 |
Required Public Health Experience Courses
|
340 | |
EPHD 365
| Practicum
| 0 | 30 | 2 |
B. Health Promotion and Community Health (HPCH)
|
Lecture Hrs./ Week |
Lab Hrs./ Week |
Credits Hrs. |
Required Concentration Courses |
HPCH 331
| Theories in Health Promotion
| 2 | 0 | 2 |
HPCH 332
|
Community Health Promotion, Mobilization and Advocacy
| 2 | 0 | 2 |
HPCH 333
|
Social Marketing for Health Promotion
| 2 | 0 | 2 |
HPCH 334
|
Qualitative Research in Health Promotion
| 3 | 0 | 3 |
HPCH 335
|
Implementation Research for Public Health
|
2 |
0 | 2 |
Required Public Health Experience Courses
|
HPCH 365
| Practicum
| 0 | 30 | 2 |
C. Health Management and Policy (HMP) Health Service Management Track
|
Lecture Hrs./ Week |
Lab Hrs./ Week |
Credits Hrs. |
Required Concentration Courses |
HMPD 306
| A Workshop on Microeconomics for Healthcare
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
HMPD 315
|
Performance Improvement
| 3 | 0 | 3 |
HMPD 318
|
Policy and Decision Making in Health Systems
| 2 | 0 | 2 |
HMPD 342
|
Financial Management and Accounting in Health Care Organizations
| 3 | 0 | 3 |
HMPD 351
|
Health Economics
|
2 |
0 | 2 |
Required Public Health Experience Courses
|
HPCH 365
| Practicum
| 0 | 30 | 2 |
Master of Science in Epidemiology (MS-EPID)
Admission Requirements
For full details on admission requirements to the Master of Science in Epidemiology, see the Admissions section of this catalogue. Mid-year admissions are only accepted for part-time students.
Graduation Requirements
For information regarding graduation requirements, refer to the General University Requirements in this catalogue.
Credit requirements for the MS in Epidemiology are tabulated below:
Course Type
|
Credits
|
Required | 21 |
Electives | 3 |
Thesis | 6 |
Total number of credits required for graduation |
30 |
Credit Load
A full-time student must carry a minimum load of 9 credits per term. Students can register for up to 12 credits per term. Students who wish to register for more than 12 credits must petition the Graduate Studies Committee for approval.
For full information on academic rules and regulations and general requirements for the Master of Science in Epidemiology and Master of Science in Environmental Sciences (Major: Environmental Health), refer to the General University Policy section in this catalogue.
Responsible Code of Conduct (RCR) Requirements
All newly admitted graduate students are required to successfully complete an online course on Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) from the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program). The course “covers core norms, principles, regulations, and rules governing the practice of research.” It consists of the following modules: Research Misconduct, Data Management, Authorship, Peer Review, Mentoring, Using Animal Subjects in Research, Conflicts of Interest, Collaborative Research and Research Involving Human Subjects. FHS requires the completion of the following additional two modules, Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research Course, as well as Students - Class Projects.
Curriculum
|
Lecture Hrs./ Week |
Lab Hrs./ Week |
Credits Hrs. |
PBHL 306A
| Workshop Series: Library and Literature Search Skills
| – | – | 0 |
PBHL 306B
| Workshop Series: Proposal Writing and Literature Synthesis for Public Health Research and Practice
| – | – | 0 |
PBHL 312
| Foundations of Public Health
|
1.5 |
0.5 | 2 |
PBHL 305
|
Contemporary issues in Public Health
| 0 | 1 | 0 |
PBHL 310
|
Research Methods in Public Health
|
2 |
2 | 3 |
EPHD 300
|
Principles of Epidemiology
|
1.5 |
0.5 |
2 |
EPHD 310 | Basic Biostatistics | 2 | 2 | 3 |
EPHD 312 | Analysis of Continuous Data |
1.5 | 0.5 | 2 |
EPHD 313 | Analysis of Categorical Data |
2 | 2 | 3 |
EPHD 316 or | Epidemiology, Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases
| 2 | 0 | 2 |
EPHD 317 | Epidemiology of Non Communicable Diseases and Mental Health Disorders
| 1.5 |
0.5 | 2 |
EPHD 319 | Advanced Quantitative Methods of Epidemiology | 1 | 0 | 1 |
EPHD 320 | Epidemiology Beyond the Basics
| 1.5 |
0.5 | 2 |
EPHD 320A | Epidemiology Beyond the Basics2
| 0.5
| 1.5
| 1 |
EPHD 395 | Comprehensive Exam | – | – | 0 |
Electives
|
EPHD 314
| Data management and manipulation
| 1
| 2
| 1
|
EPHD 318
| Introduction to Mathematical Modeling for Infectious Diseases
| 1.5
| 1.5
| 2
|
EPHD 321
| Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials
| 1
| 2
| 2
|
EPHD 322 | Special Topics in Epidemiology | 2 | 0 | 2 |
EPHD 324 | Special Topics in Biostatistics | – | – | 1-3 |
Students should take at least 3 credits of electives. |
Thesis
|
Master of Science in Environmental Sciences
(Major: Environmental Health)
Admission Requirements
For full details on the admission requirements for this interfaculty program, see the Admissions section of this catalogue and the admission policies for the Interfaculty Graduate Environmental Sciences Program IGESP (page
39).
Graduation Requirements
For information regarding graduation requirements, refer to the General University Requirements in this catalogue.
Credit requirements are tabulated below:
Course Type
|
Credits
|
Core |
15 |
Directed Electives |
6 |
Free Electives |
3-6 |
Project/Thesis |
3/6 |
Total number of credits required for graduation |
30 |
Credit Load
A full-time student must carry a minimum load of 9 credits per term. Students can register for up to 12 credits per term. Students who wish to register for more than 12 credits must petition the Graduate Studies Committee for approval.
For full information on academic rules and regulations and general requirements for the Master of Science in Epidemiology and Master of Science in Environmental Sciences (Major: Environmental Health), refer to the General University Policy section in this catalogue.
Responsible Code of Conduct (RCR) Requirements
All newly admitted graduate students are required to successfully complete an online course on Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) from the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program). The course “covers core norms, principles, regulations, and rules governing the practice of research.” It consists of the following modules: Research Misconduct, Data Management, Authorship, Peer Review, Mentoring, Using Animal Subjects in Research, Conflicts of Interest, Collaborative Research and Research Involving Human Subjects. FHS requires the completion of the following additional two modules, Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research Course, as well as Students - Class Projects.
Curriculum
Course Type
|
Credits
|
A. Core Courses
|
15 |
PBHL 306A
|
Library and Literature Search Skills 0 credit
| 0 |
PBHL 306B |
Proposal Writing and Literature Synthesis for Public Health Research and Practice
| 0 |
ENSC 640 |
Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards
| 3 |
PBHL 310 |
Research Methods in Public Health
| 3 |
PBHL 312 |
Foundations of Public Health
| 2 |
ENHL 301 |
Environmental Health and Sustainable Development
| 1
|
ENHL 312 |
Occupational Health
| 3 |
ENHL 314 |
Environmental Management Systems
| 3 |
ENSC 695 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
B. Electives |
9-12
|
Directed Electives
| 6 |
Free Electives | 3-6 |
C. Thesis or Project |
3-6
|
ENSC 699 | Thesis
| 6 |
ENSC 697 | Project | 3 |
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Epidemiology
Mission
The mission of the PhD Program in Epidemiology is to provide advanced training in epidemiology, statistical skills and cutting-edge research methods. Graduates of the program acquire competencies to undertake high quality independent research, to assume professorial positions at universities, and to obtain leadership positions in research units in Ministries of Health and health care institutions in Lebanon, the region and beyond.
Program Goals
The PhD in Epidemiology aims to:
- graduate epidemiologists with advanced training that allows them to teach advanced courses and lead independent epidemiological research.
- fill a major gap in the Arab region where there is limited production and dissemination of regional evidence to address major public health challenges.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission to the PhD program, a candidate must:
- Hold a master’s degree in Epidemiology or a relevant discipline such as public health, nursing, statistics and health informatics, pharmacy, biological sciences and others, from AUB or other recognized institution of higher learning. A minimum cumulative course GPA of 3.7 or its equivalent, is required for admission.
- Have achieved an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general component taken in the last five years, with a minimum score of 152 in Quantitative and 151 in Verbal.
- Demonstrate English proficiency as stipulated in the university Graduate Catalogue for requirement for admission into PhD studies, check AUB’s English requirements here.
- Submit a complete application to the Office of Admissions that includes the following items: (1) Official transcripts and certified copies of degrees and certificates from previous universities, (2) official GRE scores on the general component, (3) letters of recommendation (a minimum of three letters), (4) personal statement outlining interest in the program of study focusing on research interests and experience, and (5) an updated CV.
Following the review of applications, shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.
Financial Support
The department offers, on a selective basis, substantial support which fully covers tuition and includes a monthly stipend. There are also some funds available to support participation in international conferences; these funds are awarded on a competitive basis. In return, students help in teaching (preparing and delivering) introductory courses, proctoring, and correcting exams among other related tasks.
Program Requirements
The PhD in Epidemiology Program requires the completion of 27.5 credit hours of coursework beyond the master’s degree and 24 credit hours of thesis work. The coursework consists of 5-4 credits of pre-specified masters level courses in epidemiology and biostatistics, 16 credits of core PhD-level epidemiology and biostatistics courses, 1.5 credit course of research ethics, and 6-5 credits of pre-approved elective courses. For the Thesis, primary data collection is highly encouraged.
Course |
Course Name |
Credit Hours |
Epidemiology/ Biostatistics core courses (16 cr.)
|
EPHD 403
| Advanced Epidemiology Methods: Case Control and Cohort Studies
| 3 |
EPHD 404 | Introduction to Causal Inference Methods | 2 |
EPHD 405 | Social and Behavioral Factors in Epidemiology | 2 |
EPHD 406 | Epidemiology in Action | 3 |
EPHD 410 | Applied Multivariate and Longitudinal Methods in Health Sciences | 3 |
EPHD 411 | Statistics for Psychosocial Research Psychometrics and measurement of Latent Constructs | 3 |
Research related core courses (1.5 cr.) |
EPHD 440
| Doctoral Seminar
| 0 |
EPHD 445 | Writing Research Grants | 0 |
SHARP 315 | Introduction to Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research | 1.5 |
Specified set of Epidemiology/Biostatistics courses (4-5 cr.) |
EPHD 312
| Analysis of Continuous Data
| 2 |
EPHD 313
| Analysis of Categorical Data
| 3
|
EPHD 314
| Data Management and Manipulation
| 1
|
EPHD 315 | Nonparametric Data Analysis | 2 |
EPHD 319 | Advanced Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology
| 1
|
EPHD 321 | Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials
| 2
|
EPHD 322 | Special Topics in Epidemiology
|
2-3 |
EPHD 328 | Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
| 3
|
SHARP 345
| Survival Analysis | 1
|
Elective courses
| 5-6
|
Thesis courses | 24 |
EPHD 480 | Qualifying Exam Part I: Comprehensive Exam
| 0 |
EPHD 481 | Qualifying Exam Part II: Defense of Thesis Proposal | 0 |
EPHD 482 (3), EPHD 483 (6), EPHD 483A (6), EPHD 484 (9), EPHD486 (0):PhD Thesis |
Teaching Requirement Courses
|
EDUC 401 | C-THE I: Teaching in Higher Education – Theory
| 0 |
EDUC 402 | C-THE II: Teaching in Higher Education – Theory II & Practicum
| 0 |
Thesis Qualifying Exam: Parts 1 and 2
After taking and passing all core and required courses, students should register in two zero credit courses, the thesis proposal preparation and the comprehensive exam. They should pass both parts of the PhD Qualifying Exam: Part 1 which is the written comprehensive exam, administered by the department; and Part 2 which is the oral exam involving defense of the thesis proposal, administered by the thesis committee (please refer to the AUB Graduate Studies catalogue for details about the PhD Qualifying Exam).
Thesis Defense
Students have to defend their thesis within at most three years following passing Part 2 of the PhD Qualifying Exam.
Teaching Requirements
One of the competencies of the PhD program is for doctoral students to develop experience in teaching. This is accomplished by: (a) serving as a Teaching Assistant in one or more courses (minimum of 3 credits in total) taught by departmental faculty, and (b) registering, and successfully completing the requirements of two zero-credit courses-EDUC 401 and EDUC 402, as required by the Graduate Council.
Residency Requirements
The program completion time frame for the regular track is 3 to 5 based on AUB residency requirements. Extension requires Graduate Council approval upon recommendation by the faculty Graduate Studies Committee. Authorized leaves of absence, approved by the PhD Program Committee/Department are the only means of waiving the residency and registration requirements. Policies concerning statute of limitations (for program completion) and leaves of absence are identified in the General Policies and Procedures section of the AUB Graduate Studies catalogue.
Core courses of the program should be taken at AUB, while further required or elective courses could be taken at a recognized institution of higher learning, preferably CEPH accredited, amounting to at most 12 credits that are transferable upon departmental approval. Courses are eligible for transfer only if they are taken beyond master’s degree requirements and fulfill the criteria for type of eligible courses as outlined in the General University Academic Information section of the catalogue for PhD transfer of credits. Students will be encouraged to spend a full term or a shorter duration in a School of Public Health in the US, Canada or Europe to take courses or engage in research.
To fulfill the minimum residence requirements for the PhD degree, a student must register for at least six terms beyond the completion of the master’s degree.
Interdisciplinary Courses
Interdepartmental Courses