BA/MHS Program

Department of Epidemiology

Presentation Outline

  Brief Introduction to Epidemiology About the JHSPH Department of Epidemiology   BA/MHS Program Selection Criteria BA/MHS Program Requirements/Logistics  As an undergraduate senior  As a full-time Master’s student   Common Questions (and Answers!) Important Contact Information  Helpful Online Resources

What is Epidemiology?

 The study of the distribution and determinants (causes) of disease in populations  Largely an observational science, with the exception of clinical trials  Requires significant use of statistics

What can Epidemiology do?

 Identify and confirm risk factors for disease  Evaluate intervention strategies, new drugs and therapies  Aid in developing effective disease control and prevention efforts  Build a scientific foundation for public policy and clinical guidelines

Epidemiology in the Real World

JHSPH Department of Epidemiology



The largest and one of the oldest Departments of Epidemiology in the world!

  107 faculty members 75 Master’s students; 78 PhD students; 37 post-doctoral fellows; and 4 BA/MHS students 

Average time to complete MHS

: 21 months 

Eight Academic Tracks

:  Clinical & Cardiovascular Epi, Cancer Epi, Clinical Trials & Evidence Synthesis, Environmental Epi, Epidemiology of Aging, General Epi Methods, Genetic Epi, and Infectious Disease Epi

JHSPH Faculty Research Interests

 HIV/AIDS & STI: large cohort studies of at-risk groups  Cardiovascular Disease: cohort and case-control studies of CVD  Cancer: Community-based cohorts, hospital-based studies of prostate, breast, colon and other cancers  Genetics: Autism, birth defects, asthma, kidney disease, eye diseases, etc.

 Clinical trials and systematic reviews

BA/MHS Program Eligibility

 Johns Hopkins Undergraduate students majoring in Public Health Studies  Must have taken ‘Principles of Epidemiology’ course in Junior year; received a grade of B+ or higher  Strong academic record, including social and natural science coursework, along with mathematics  Interest in Epidemiology and Biostatistics; research experience desirable

Program Requirements, Part 1

As an Undergraduate:

 To fulfill undergraduate requirements, 15 credits must be taken at JHSPH, 8 of which are in a specific concentration of your choosing  Cannot be Pass/Fail  Cannot be internet-based courses or special study  Up to 16 of the credits taken at JHSPH can ALSO be counted towards your MHS degree!

Program Requirements, Part 2

As a Master’s Student:

 The MHS degree program requires a total of 64 credits (16 of which you could already be done with!)  All MHS students must take the following, in addition to other courses depending on your ‘track’:  Biostatistics Sequence (620 or 650 series); Epidemiologic Methods Sequence (750 series); Public Health Perspectives in Research; Research Ethics  Must pass a written, two-part Comprehensive Exam in May of your first year as full-time MHS student  Must submit publishable-quality thesis and present results at JHSPH Poster Session in order to graduate

Common Questions and Answers

Q1: Is this a five year program?

 It CAN be a five-year program, although the MHS degree in Epidemiology independent of the BA degree normally takes two years (21 months)  One way to graduate in one year:  Take Biostatistics sequence in your senior year  Scope out a thesis advisor as a senior, begin researching a thesis topic the summer after you graduate  Take the Epidemiologic Methods sequence during your first year as a full-time MHS student, write the bulk of your thesis during the winter, third and fourth terms

Q2: What are benefits of this program?



Short-Term:

   No GRE or application fee required!

Early notification of graduate school acceptance Potential for a 75% tuition-cut in your second year as a full-time MHS student (if you maintain a 3.0 GPA and pass Comprehensive Exams) 

Long-Term:

   Early exposure to well-known and influential faculty Classmates bring a broad spectrum of experiences (physicians, physicians-in-training, leaders in health departments and non-profit organizations) Head start to the world ahead, whether that’s medical school, a PhD program, or a public-health focused career

Q3: What sorts of classes can I take?

  As a senior, you can:  Take Biostatistics (620 or 650 series)  Cherry-pick classes that seem interesting, and don’t be afraid to branch out of the Department of Epidemiology! Sample courses our department offers:     First Term: Epidemiology and the Public Health Impact of HIV and AIDS, Genetic Epidemiology Second Term: Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Healthcare Epidemiology, Introduction to Clinical Trials, Pharmacoepidemiology Third Term: Epidemiology and Natural History of Human Viral Infections, Introduction to Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology Fourth Term: Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology, Epidemiology of Aging, Epidemiology of Diabetes and Obesity

Q4: What are certificate programs?

   Kind of like a “minor” – a specialized area of study to supplement your Epidemiology training Usually requires 18 credits of coursework  Specifics: http://www.jhsph.edu/academics/programs/certificates Popular Certificates for Epidemiology students:  Adolescent Health   Community-Based Public Health Health Disparities and Health Inequality   Maternal and Child Health Vaccine Science and Policy

Q5: How do I apply?

  

When:

  Application Due: Spring of your Junior Year (by June 1) Decision Notification: Early August

Where:

 Online Application, visit http://www.jhsph.edu/admissions/  Will need to create account

What:

 Transcripts, resume, personal statement, letters of recommendation

Contact Information

   Deputy Department Chair: Dr. Terri H.Beaty

  E-mail: [email protected]

Office: W6513 Academic Program Director: Ms. Fran Burman   E-mail: [email protected]

Office: W6503 Congratulations!

Current BA/MHS Students:    Graduated: Emily Faxon ( [email protected]

), Christi O’Connor ( [email protected]

) Second year: Ruth Ann Burrows ( [email protected]

), Adrian Cotarelo ( [email protected]

), Susan Fallon ( [email protected]

), Alison Simms ( [email protected]

), First year (seniors): Carolyn Drogt ( [email protected]

), Keya Joshi ( [email protected]

), Katarina Matilla ( [email protected]

), Emily Nadelman ( [email protected]

)

Helpful Internet Resources

  o  JHU Program in Public Health Studies (information about senior year requirements and BA/MHS program)  http://krieger.jhu.edu/publichealth/academics/ JHSPH Department of Epidemiology Academic Guide (information about MHS requirements, areas of concentration, etc.) http://www.jhsph.edu/departments/epidemiology/academic guide/2014-2015/ba-mhs-timeline.html

JHSPH Department of Epidemiology Homepage  http://www.jhsph.edu/departments/epidemiology/