Conduct Research, Promote Health and Safety

Many health problems stem from exposure to hazards at home and in the community, healthcare system and work place. Learn to prevent disease and injury with a doctoral degree in epidemiology. 

You'll be prepared to conduct research that identifies solutions for diseases caused by exposure to hazards in everyday life, which could include the physical, social, healthcare and policy environments. If you enjoy an interdisciplinary approach to learning, like to be on the cutting edge of research and want to devote your career to promoting health and safety, UMass Lowell's doctoral program is for you.

Here's what it takes to earn your Doctor of Science in Public Health:

• Demonstration of knowledge in all subject areas required by the UMass Lowell doctoral degree program in Public Health. 
• Completion of a minimum of 36 credit hours (courses and dissertation research), including Epidemiology specialization courses.
• Passing the qualifying examination for the Public Health major.
• Satisfactory completion of a doctoral dissertation demonstrating thorough research in your area of concentration. This research will take place under the guidance of one a Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences faculty member who will act as your academic advisor and the chair of your doctoral dissertation committee. The Thesis and Dissertation Guide outlines the University requirements to successfully complete a doctoral dissertation.

Topics of Study and Research

To earn your Doctorate in Epidemiology, you will study epidemiological theory, mathematical statistics, data management and analysis using state-of-the-art statistical software, and advanced courses in epidemiology and biostatistics. 

Areas of Dissertation research may include: health services epidemiology, social epidemiology, nutritional epidemiology, physical activity epidemiology, occupational epidemiology and environmental epidemiology.

Our Research Centers and Institutes Provide Opportunities for Doctoral Research

Review our research center websites for projects and faculty expertise that might interest you:

• Center for Population Health
• Center of Biomedical and Health Research in Data Sciences  
• Center for Community Research and Engagement
• Toxics Use Reduction Institute
• Lowell Center for Sustainable Production
• The New England Consortium
• Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace

Academic Requirements

• Prerequisite of a master’s degree in a related field.
• Exceptional academic record, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (3.5 in quantitative sciences) and high GRE scores.
• Three letters of recommendation that provide insight into your ability to complete a rigorous academic graduate program. 
• A recent resume that indicates your readiness to begin a doctoral degree program. 
• A 1-2 page statement of purpose that includes:
•     A description of your personal and professional goals and how this doctoral program will help you achieve them.
•     A description of your research interests that you intend to pursue in your doctoral degree.
•     A list of 2-5 Tenure Track faculty members in the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences who you would like to have as a doctoral dissertation committee chair. Tenure Track faculty members can be identified through the titles of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor. Those individuals with the titles of Clinical, Research, Teaching, or Emerita/us faculty with proper credentials may serve on a doctoral committee, but they are not eligible serve as the chair of a doctoral committee.