Ph.D. Core Knowledge Areas:
Required Courses
During their first two years, Ph.D. students are expected to complete 30 units of study in the two core knowledge areas, Genomics in Public Health and Implications of Genetics for Society. The 30 units required include 6 credits of work in the Interactive Seminar (PHG 580) which spans the two core areas. The following are the required and recommended courses:
A. Genomics in Public Health
Includes Genetic Epidemiology and Ecogenetics & Pharmacogenetics
[Recommended courses in brackets]
| Course | Course name / Link to catalog description | Required | Course website |
Syllabus | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHG 511 | Genetic Epidemiology | Yes | Website | Syllabus | 3 |
| PHG 518 | [Computer Applications in Genetic Epidemiology] | Website | Syllabus | 2-4 | |
| PHG 519 | [Statistical Methods in Genetic Epidemiology] | 3 | |||
| PHG 513 | Basic Concepts in Pharmacogenetics and Toxicogenomics | Yes | Website | Syllabus | 3 |
| PHG 536 | [Bioinformatics and Gene Sequence Analysis] | Website | Syllabus | 3 | |
| PHG 542 | Genetic Discovery in Medicine and Public Health | Yes | 3 |
B. Implications of Genetics for Society
Includes Ethics & social science, law & policy,
and health economics & outcomes research
[Recommended courses in brackets]
| Course | Course name / Link to catalog description | Required | Course website |
Syllabus | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHG 512 | Legal, Ethical, and Social Issues in Public Health Genetics | Yes | Website | Syllabus | 3 |
| PHG 521 | Socio-Culture, Society, and Genomics | Yes | Website | Syllabus | 3 |
| PHG 522 | Ethical Frameworks for Public Health Genetics | Yes | 2 | ||
| OR | |||||
| PHG 525 | Public Commentary on Ethical Issues in Public Health Genetics | Yes | Website | Syllabus | 3 |
| PHG 523 | Genetics and the Law | Yes | Website | Syllabus | 2 |
| PHG 552 | [Advanced Qualitative Methods] | 2 | |||
| OR | |||||
| HSERV 521 | [Qualitative Methods in Health Services Research] | Website | 3 | ||
| OR | |||||
| HSERV 526 | [Qualitative Research Methods for Public Health] | Website | 3 | ||
| OR | |||||
| NMETH 582 | [Interpretive Methods in Nursing Research] | 3 | |||
| OR | |||||
| NMETH 583 | [Interpretive Methods in Nursing Research] | 3 | |||
| OR | |||||
| SOC W 506 | [Social Welfare Research and Evaluation] | 3 | |||
| OR | |||||
| EDLPS 544 | [Comparative Education: Introduction to Concepts and Methods] | Website | 3 |
Interactive Seminar / Journal Club
[Recommended courses in brackets]| Course | Course name / Link to catalog description | Required | Course website |
Syllabus | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHG 580 | Interactive Seminar in Public Health Genetics* | Yes | Website | 1 | |
| PHG 591 | [PHG Journal Club]** | 1 |
*Note about PHG 580. This seminar is
required each quarter (AU/WI/SP) for all Ph.D. students until they pass the preliminary
exam, and it is highly recommended for students who have passed the preliminary exam.
The seminar is truly the only time the entire IPHG community convenes, and it is
important for doctoral students to participate in these sessions.
In addition to the 6 units of PHG 580 required for the Ph.D., up to 3 additional units can
be counted toward Ph.D. selective units. These additional units must be taken while a
student is registered as an official IPHG Ph.D. student. Prior PHG 580 credits earned
as an MPH student cannot be counted as selective units for the Ph.D.
**Public Health Genetics Journal Club (PHG 591, one credit per quarter) is a student-led course that "aims to create an interdisciplinary forum in which to foster community and promote the development of critical analytical and communication skills," and is facilitated by a different APC member each quarter. Although not required, students in all IPHG degree programs are encouraged to attend the journal club.