1. Time Frame for Completion of the Academic Program

A student will be allowed a maximum time frame of five (5) years of enrollment beyond the standard of eight (8) years required for the completion of the Program.

The total credits for completion of a degree include those graduate courses accredited on admission to the Program.

Time Frame for Completion of the Academic Program

 

Program	Standard	Maximum
Doctoral Program in Public Health in Epidemiology	5 years	8 years

Definition of Full Time

Students with an academic load of six credits or more per trimester will be considered a full time doctoral student.  Student solely enrolled in the Doctoral Dissertation will also be considered a full-time student.

Definition of Part Time

Students with an academic load of less than six credits per trimester will be considered a part time doctoral student.

1. Completion of the Dr.PH Requirements
   1. Course Requirement: Students must complete all courses within the established time frame. The Program requires a minimum of 61 credits.
   2. Performance Requirement:
      3. A student must complete each academic year with a minimum grade point average of 3.00. Any student failing to meet 3.00-point GPA standard of performance or failing any course will be placed on probation and referred to the PHSU Student Promotion Committee.
      4. A minimum grade of B may be obtained in required and selective courses.

• A minimum grade of C could be obtained in elective courses.

 

3. Comprensive Examination Requirement:

A Comprensive Examination (Comprehensive Exams) must be taken upon completion of the second academic year. If the student fails to approve the  Examination, the student must enroll in independent study courses during the next trimester. Independent courses are offered to give the students the opportunity to achieve the competences in the areas failed in the  Examination. Independent courses should be approved entirely during the next trimester. A maximum of 6 credits will be allowed to be taken as independent studies. Any student failing to meet this standard performance will be referred to the Student Promotion Committee.

4. Doctoral Dissertation Requirement:

A Doctoral Dissertation according to the established guidelines with a research proposal defense and Oral Dissertation Defense is required to obtain the Degree of Doctor in Public Health with specialty in epidemiology.

In order to graduate, the student must complete all requirements and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.00 GPA in scale of 4.00 point. Satisfactory Academic Progress is required for financial aid eligibility and will be reviewed on a yearly basis, at the end of each academic year.

 

3. One “F” or one “NP” in any of the courses, or a cumulative GPA less than 3.00 in the academic year is not allowed. A grade of “F” in any course will be referred to the Student Promotion Committee, to be considered for dismissal from the academic program.
4. The student may have a maximum of two elective courses with C in record.
5. A student repeating a course or with a GPA less than 3.00 will be considered in academic probation.
6. If the student fails to obtain a grade of B or more in a repeated course, he/she will be referred to the Students Promotion Committee for a consideration of dismissal from the academic program.
7. Courses with “F” grade will remain on record after they are successfully repeated, but only the new grade (s) will be used to compute the grade point average.
8. Grades of “P” (Pass) or “NP” (No Pass) are applicable to the qualifying examination. Grades of “IP” (In Progress), “P” (Pass) or “NP” (No Pass) are applicable to the research proposal defense and dissertation.
9. When the research/dissertation activity requires more than one trimester for its completion, the student will receive a grade of “In Progress” (IP) for each trimester and until the research/dissertation is completed.
10. A grade of “I” (Incomplete) will only be allowed under very special circumstances as determined by the faculty member teaching that particular course. The student must remove the “I” (Incomplete) by the end of the following trimester or an administrative “F” will replace it.
11. Graduate courses not offered at PHSU could be taken at other institution only with permission and approval of the Dr. PH Coordinator, Associate Dean for Public Health and the Dean for Health Sciences.
12. If the student obtained a reversed dismissal, he/she won’t be in satisfactory academic progress and is considered both on academic and financial aid probation.

A student failing to meet the program requirements will be dismissed. Students notified that they are to be dismissed from program, have the right to appeal the case in writing to the University President within seven working days after receiving the notification.

Students who are notified by the Program’s Academic Dean a decision of the Students Promotion Committee that he/she must repeat failed courses during the next academic year or to be dismissed from the program, have the right to appeal the decision within seven working days after receiving the notification.

The appeal or due process presented below must be followed.

The student will appeal in writing to the Students Promotion Committee (SPC) and include all relevant documentation to support the request.  The Committee will evaluate the reasons and evidence submitted to determine if they change their initial decision.  After the meeting, the SPC has 48 hours to submit its decision to the Program’s Academic Dean, who will notify the decision to the student.

If the SPC sustains the adverse decision, the student has the right to appeal to the Dean of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (SBBS). The appeal must be submitted in writing within seven working days after receiving the notification.  The SBBS’ Dean will evaluate the appeal and the student’s academic record. The SBBS’ Dean can appoint a three-member Ad-Hoc Committee to re-evaluate all evidence. Rejection of the appeal by the Dean is final.

If an Ad-Hoc Committee is appointed, they will notify the student in writing of the date and the time when the appeal will be evaluated. After the meeting, the Ad-Hoc Committee has forty-eight (48) hours to submit a recommendation to the SBBS’Dean. The Dean will consider the Ad-Hoc Committee recommendation and make the final decision within forty-eight (48) hours.

Any decision will be reported to the student in writing. The decision made by the Dean of the SBBS is final.

The same process described above will be followed in the case that the adverse decision made by the Committee is for non-academic reasons, such as unacceptable professional behavior. The SBBS’  Dean,  or the VP for Student Affairs will refer the case to the SPC. If the recommendation of the SPC is to dismiss the student, the appeal process described above may be activated.

In the event that an adverse decision is made due to non-academic reasons and the SBBS’s Dean sustains the decision after the appeal process, the student may appeal to the Vice-President for Academic Affair. Any additional appeal should be submitted to the PHSU President.

The students should conduct themselves in accordance with the norms for professional conduct set forth by the Ponce Health Science University at all times.

It is expected that every student be committed to the betterment of our fellow human beings as exposed by the philosophy that governs the Public Health Profession.

Any student failing to meet the grade requirement might be place on academic probation for one trimester, but will be eligible for financial aid. Students that fail to comply with grade requirements after the prescribed probation time will be referred to the Student Promotion Committee for dismissal from the program.

Students notified that the Public Health Students Promotion Committee (SPC) decided to dismiss them from the Dr.PH Program, or that he/she must repeat failed courses during the next academic year, will have the right to appeal the decision within seven working days after receiving the notification.

The appeal or due process presented below must be followed.

The student will appeal in writing to the Public Health Students Promotion Committee (SPC). The letter should include all relevant documentation to support the request. The Committee will evaluate the reasons and evidence submitted to determine if they would change their initial decision. The SPC has 48 hours to submit its decision to the Associate Dean for Public Health, who will notify the decision to the student.

If the SPC sustains the adverse decision, the student has the right to appeal to the Dean of Health Sciences. The appeal must be submitted in writing within seven working days after receiving the last notification. The Dean of Health Sciences will evaluate the appeal and the student’s academic record. The Dean can appoint a three-member Ad-Hoc Committee to re-evaluate all evidence. Rejection of the appeal by the Dean is final.

If an Ad-Hoc Committee is appointed, they will notify the student in writing the date and time set to appealing meeting. The Ad-Hoc Committee has forty-eight (48) hours to submit a recommendation to the Dean of Health Sciences. The Dean of Health Sciences will consider the Ad-Hoc Committee recommendation and make the final decision within forty-eight (48) hours.

Any decision will be reported to the student in writing. The decision made by the Dean of Health Sciences is final.

The same process described above will be followed in the case that the adverse decision made by the Committee is for non-academic reasons, such as unacceptable professional behavior. The Associate Dean for Health Sciences or the VP for Student Affairs will refer the case to the SPC. If the recommendation of the SPC is to dismiss the student, the appeal process described above may be activated.

In the event that an adverse decision is made due to non-academic reasons and the Dean of Health Sciences sustains the decision after the appealing process, the student may appeal to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and then to the President.

Financial Aid eligibility is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress. It is the student’s responsibility to request reinstatement of financial aid.

The President, the Dean for Academic Affairs and the Dean for Student Affairs, the Registrar and the Financial Aid Director will receive all pertinent data to ensure proper enforcement of the policies set forth.

 

Created and Revise by V. Green & M. Roubert August 5, 2016

DPH 6010 Epi Research Methods

The course will cover the principles of research methodology by describing methods used in the assessment of public health problems and clinical research. The students learn setting up the rationale for a research, selecting an appropriate methodology, collecting data, analyzing data, interpreting the results and then, communicating the results.

 

DPH 6253 Theory and Survey Questionnaire

The course tries to provide the student the fundamental knowledge of the construction of tests. They will be examined and practice on him across a series of exercises the methods to determine the validity and reliability of the tests. The measurement scales will be studied, for example the Likert scale, with emphasis on their role on the measurement of epidemiological data.

 

DPH 6203 Clinical Trials

The course is intended as an introduction to the rationale, design, conduct, analysis and presentation of clinical trials. Clinical trial designs will be reviewed, including topics such as Randomization, Blinding, Sample size, Cross-over designs, Funding, Organization, Protocol development, Ethical considerations, Outcomes’ measurement, Data management, Development of Data collection forms, Adherence and compliance, Recruitment, Monitoring of adverse events, Analysis of data and Publication procedures.

 

DPH 7015 Biostatistics for Epidemiology

The course covers the main biostatistics procedures used by epidemiologists as they apply to specific public health problems. A number of topics in the biostatistics analysis of epidemiological data are included such as analysis of categorical data by using cross-tabulation, stratified analysis, multiple linear regression, logistic regression, survival curves and the Cox’s proportional hazards regression analysis. The identification and adjustment of confounding and how to handle and interpret interactions between variables by using multiple adjustment procedures are integral part of this course. This class includes lectures and a large proportion of practical sessions such as in-class computer exercises and homework. The first part of the course includes a review of basic concepts of epidemiology and biostatistics to update and prepare students for the second part of the course that focuses on multivariate analysis.

 

DPH 7002 Advanced Biostatistical

The class will cover a number of advanced topics in the statistical analysis of bio-medical data: regression, adjustment for covariates, odds ratios, logistic regression, models for count data and survival analysis.

 

DPH 6601 Grants Writing in Epidemiology

This grant writing course is designed to acquaint students with the knowledge and effective grant writing skills involved in grant writing for Federal, State and private competitive funding.

 

DPH 7163 Sampling

This course covers simple random sampling, sampling for proportions, estimation of sample size, sampling with varying probabilities, types of sampling: stratified, systematic, cluster, double, sequential, incomplete.

 

DPH 7201 Meta-Analysis

The course initiates with an introduction to meta-analysis. It discusses the strengths and weaknesses of this type of analysis. It continues with the discussion of the concepts that integrate the meta-analysis. The students will use the statistical program EPIDAT 3.1 of the Pan-American Organization of the Health (OPS) for practical exercises.

 

DPH 5601 Writing Papers in Public Health

This course concentrates on writing a research paper and on the effective presentation of scientific information in text, tables and figures. It emphasizes an approach oriented to the reader, addressing subjects such as: writing tables, abstract introductions, methods, results and discussions. Students will learn about the writing process by drafting and revising a manuscript based on their own research.

 

DPH 7173 Social Epidemiology

This course will provide a systematic and selective overview of conceptual approaches and research findings related to the impact of social context on the health of populations. Among the social processes to be examined are social inequities (including those related to socioeconomic position and race/ethnicity), social integration (including social capital, social networks and support) and the role of residential neighborhood characteristics. Emphasis will be placed on extending the causal chain thought to be associated with patterns of acute and chronic disease to include “upstream” factors that are properties of social context rather than of individuals.

 

DPH 6133 Epidemiology of Work Related Diseases

Discusses principals occupational diseases. Examines the relationship between vulnerable populations, work and health. The aim of this course is to provide the tools needed to identifying hazards in workplace, identify work related diseases and develop a work relative surveillance system.

 

DPH 6153 Epidemiology of Transmissible Diseases

The purpose of this course is learning about Transmissible Diseases epidemiology. Study the research methods, outbreak investigations, Transmissible Diseases surveillance and vaccine. We will study infectious diseases like malaria, foodborne diseases, respiratory diseases and HIV.

 

DPH 7193 Cancer Epidemiology

This course will introduce students to cancer epidemiology research. We will cover biology and cancer, descriptive epidemiology and research methods. The principal aim is to provide basic skills to understand major studies, risk factor and public health problems.

 

DPH 6123 Cardiovascular Epidemiology

This course will cover coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension and end stage renal disease. The students study the natural history of the disease, epidemiology, modifiable and no modifiable risk factors, research methods and the current epidemiological studies in cardiovascular disease.

 

DPH 7113 Mental Health Epidemiology

This course will cover common measures in mental health research, design and analysis of group-randomized trials with applications to mental health epidemiology, major mental disorders and principles of measurement in mental health research.

 

DPH 7103 Genetic Epidemiology

This course will present fundamental concepts and methods in Genetic Epidemiology. It will review basic terminology of genetics and introduce various genetic epidemiology study designs, covering basic analysis, inferences, plus their strengths and limitations.

 

DPH 7153 Epidemiology of Arthritis, Autoimmune and Musculoskeletal

This course includes both clinical and classical epidemiology whose overall goal is to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of arthritis, autoimmune and musculoskeletal diseases. The spectrum of projects ranges from descriptive epidemiologic studies to the identification of etiologic risk factors, or the examination of factors predictive of prognosis and outcome in patients with these diseases.

 

DPH 5734 Pathophysiology and Public Health

Human health problems comprise a wide range of infectious, degenerative, neoplastic and genetically-based disease factors. In addition to these factors, human disease results from a wide range of environmental and socially- caused pathologies.

 

This course presents the fundamentals scientific and biomedical concepts of modern public health problems and explores, in depth, mechanisms and models of the major categories of disease. The biologic principles presented in this course are foundations to developing and implementing public health disease prevention, control, or management programs in the student’s future. The course will include lectures, written homework assignments and individual presentations.

 

DPH 7133 Environmental Problems & Solutions in Epidemiology

This course examines several major environmental problems at global, state and local levels. We will discuss basic ecological concepts and mechanisms involved and the impact of these phenomenon on ecological systems including effects on animals, plants and humans. The course will have a strong focus on solutions and strategies to improve the environment at these various scales. Solutions include ones at levels that include policy, personal choice, business practices, innovation and deepening connection.

 

DPH 5502 Health Policy

The course discusses the politics of health policy in terms of legislative and executive processes at the state and federal level; key forces involved including economic, social, ethical and political factors; and central players of importance, including special interest groups, lobbyists, the press, elected officials, legislative staff and public agencies.

 

DPH 6300 Public Health Advocacy

This course offers a current and historical overview of the advocacy in public health in Puerto Rico and USA. The student will develop the tools and the skills to examine new strategies used by public health advocates. The students can evaluate different strategies for public health advocacy in non- governmental organizations.

 

DPH 6310 Legal Issues In Epidemiology

The purpose of this course is to introduce doctoral students, to legal issues in the public health system. Topics to study are legal aspect of health care system, legal and regulatory issues, patients’ rights, institutional liability, basic legal principles and decisions in public health.

 

DPH 7024 Toxicology

The purpose of this course is learning the basic concepts of toxicology. Analyses the effects of toxic substances in human, animals and environmental. The students learn about the fundamental laws governing for national and foreign chemical for the prevention of mortality and morbidity resulting from exposure to toxic chemical.

 

DPH 7043 Injury Epidemiology

This course provides the skills to interpret and perform injuries epidemiologic research methods. Topics of study are the social cost of injury, magnitude of the injury problem. The students learn how use the epidemiological data in risk assessment and different models.

 

DPH 5503 Bioethics in Public Health

This course will introduce the participant in the evaluation of the values or axiological context in the analysis of Public Health situations at the moment of apply deductive/inductive methodology in the process of solving such dilemmas.

 

Is designed taking in consideration the need of including the Public Health Code of Ethics in the process of the synthesis of the reality in Public Health phenomena.

 

These are divided in three clusters: Principles of Bioethics, Bioethics in Public Health and applied Bioethics in Public Health.

 

The course is an experience of dialog, motivation, description, induction and skills development.

 

DPH 7014 Environmental Epidemiology

This course provides the skills to interpret environmental epidemiologic research. The course should prepare students to perform environmental research methods. Topics areas of study are air and water pollutants, radiation, asbestos, lead, pesticides, disease clusters, the built environment, environmental justice and climate change. The students learn how use the epidemiological and toxicological data in risk assessment and environmental health impact assessment.

 

DPH 7023 Applied Epidemiology and Surveillance

The purpose of this course is learning and practice basic epidemiology. Study the methods in surveillance and investigation of health-related states or events. Students will also learn how use important clinical diseases data or observations and prepare epidemiological actions.

 

DPH 7010 Epidemiology of Communicable and Tropical Diseases

The purpose of this course is learning about Communicable and Tropical Diseases. Study the management, prevention and control of tropical diseases. We emphasis in travel clinic, Immunization, STDs, Vector Borne Diseases, Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases, Tuberculosis and Leprosy and Diseases of Contact with Animals.

 

DPH 6320 Teaching Epidemiology

In this course, students will have the opportunity to examine and plan for, the teaching component of the professor role. Several teaching strategies will be used as what are conferences, debates and group discussion and will meet with the teachers Program to explore their methods of teaching, courses preparation and assessment. At the end of the course, students will have a “teaching portfolio” that will have two basic components: Detailed information of the course development and offered and teaching experience.

 

DPH 7184 Demography – Demographic Techniques

This is an introductory demography and demographic techniques course designed to equip students with the skills needed to collect and analyze demographic data. Areas to be covered include sources of demographic data, population composition, fertility and reproduction, nuptiality, mortality and life tables, migration and projections. All students should bring a statistical calculator to all classes and tutorials.

 

DPH 7200 Bias in Epidemiology

The course starts with an introduction peral to biases, defining the concept and generalities and then there is an in-depth study of each of the types of biases and biases that occur depending on the type of study design.

 

DPH 6340 Heath Services Administration and Management

This course provides an introduction to the Puerto Rico and U.S.A health care systems. Explain the history of both health systems. We will examine the components, characteristics and differences of the Puerto Rico and U.S.A health care system and explore current issues confronting both systems.

 

DPH 7700 Independent Studies – Special Project

This course takes as an intention to present to the students the essentials of the epidemiology, morbidity and mortality measurements, illnesses transmission, outbreak investigations, screenings, design studies, bias that affect the interpretation of the clinical studies and the applications to the health. These topics can be applied to any public health area. The student will realize a review of literature, where will evaluate the designs study, the conclusions and the application of its results to the populations.

 

DPH 7123 Laboratory Rotation

Laboratory rotations are essential components of a student’s in Public Health. These experiences introduce students to specific areas of public health, expose students to specialized techniques and familiarize students with specific projects in the program in anticipation of selection of a research advisor. Students will be evaluated on their attendance, motivation and interest within the labs as well as their attendance and participation at lab meeting. Students are responsible for learning new techniques, asking questions and working semi-independently by the end of each lab rotation.

 

DPH 7183 Post – Marketing Surveillance

It will provide a learning environment in which students will analyze the current policies and guidelines under which pharmaceutical and biological products are developed for human use and regulated while in commerce.

 

DPH 7181 Public Health Education

Provides an overview of the breadth of programs and diversity of settings in the field of health education, health promotion and to develop skills in program planning. Explains the importance of health behavior as a contributor to current public health problems and the role of health education and health promotion programs in addressing them, drawing examples from the literature on community-based health education, patient education, school health and work-site health promotion. Also discusses issues of ethical standards and quality assurance in health education and health promotion.

 

DPH 7143 Epidemiology of the Tobacco

The course will utilize a multi-level approach to public health by providing a comprehensive overview of the health effects, history, marketing, politics and control of tobacco use, combining medical, psychosocial, epidemiological and economic perspectives to give students a framework for understanding tobacco addiction and its prevention and treatment. This course will provide the foundation for students to begin pursing a public health career dedicated to diminishing the tremendous toll of tobacco use and addiction in our society through research, teaching and/or public health

 

DPH 7300 Applied Public Health Project

Lectures and group discussions focused on the problems, health policy, health indicators, health right and the role of the Governments efforts for health promotion. Student assessment will be based on a group project and a written work of evaluation of public health problems in the area of student interest.

DPH 7073 Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases

This course discusses the prevalence, incidence and modifiable and no modifiable risk factors of the chronic diseases in Puerto Rico, USA and other countries. Topics of study are heart diseases, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, stroke and renal diseases.

 

DPH 7083 Applied Practice Experience

Each week one or more clients from various disciplines across various hospitals, public and private agencies and universities programs will present the research and statistical issues during class. Open discussions between the consultants and the client will follow the presentation. After the client leaves a lead consultant will be assigned to the project, either on a volunteer basis or by my directive. The lead consultant (and any assistants) will have full responsibility for the subsequent meetings, gathering of information from the client and providing quality statistical consulting services to the client.

 

DPH 8005 Dissertation Research for DrPH Epidemiology Students

For students who have completed all requirements including credit hours, full-time enrollment, preliminary examination and any requirement for the doctoral degree and are writing and defending their dissertations. Doctoral Dissertation Preparation courses are restricted to Doctoral students only as indicated by the prerequisites noted above.