In addition to the core courses, scholars are expected to attend scheduled group meetings, including the new-scholar orientation during the summer prior to the first semester of coursework. They also are encouraged to attend seminars and workshops offered throughout the year.

Core Courses
The six core courses, which are offered through the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, comprise biostatistics, epidemiology, bioethics, grant/scientific writing, federal regulatory guidelines and one elective.. To view a master schedule of courses and seminars, click here .

Course Descriptions
Biostatistics in Public Health(CPH 576A), 3 credits  
This course introduces biostatistical methods and applications, and will cover descriptive statistics, probability theory, and a wide variety of inferential statistical techniques that can be used to make practical conclusions about empirical data. Students will also be learning to use a statistical software package (STATA). Prerequisite: one year of college-level mathematics.
Identical to EPI 576A; EPI is home department.

Biostatistics for Research (CPH 576B), 3 credits
Descriptive statistics and statistical inference relevant to biomedical research, including data analysis, regression and correlation analysis, analysis of variance, survival analysis, biological assay, statistical methods for epidemiology and statistical evaluation of clinical literature. Prerequisites: EPI 576A, EPI 573A. Identical to EPI 576B; EPI is home department. 

Basic Principles of Epidemiology (CPH 573A), 3 credits
Introduces students to the basic concepts and principles of epidemiology and how these concepts are applicable for their own particular interests and careers in epi-related fields. Prerequisites: EPI major or minor, MPH major, or consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit 1 time (maximum 2 enrollments). Identical to EPI 573A; EPI is home department.

Bioethics, Regulations, and Repercussions in Research(CPH 651), 2 credits
Presents history of research ethics including basic bioethics concepts in clinical research; informed consent, confidentiality, the role of the IRB; social versus individual concerns; vulnerable populations; animals in research; ethical, legal, social implications of genetic research; special issues of epidemiological and stored-tissue research; responsible conduct-of-research issues promulgated by the NIH, FDA, and Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP). 

Grantsmanship for a Winning Proposal (CPH 652), 2 credits
Provides information pertinent to grant writing, career development, and funding opportunities; uses NIH PHS 398 as guideline for proposal development, explaining review process, and revising/resubmitting proposals; requires students to write proposals that will undergo peer review; includes elements of style, basic concepts of scientific writing, effective graphic presentations for publication and presentation, and how to respond to reviewer comments.