Ph.D. Core Knowledge Areas:
Required Courses
During their first two years, Ph.D. students are expected to complete 28 units of study in the two core knowledge areas, Genomics in Public Health and Implications of Genetics for Society. The 28 units required include 6 credits of work in the Interactive Seminar (PHG 580) which spans the two core areas. The following are the required courses:
A. Genomics in Public Health
Includes Genetic Epidemiology and Ecogenetics & Pharmacogenetics
- PHG 511 Genetic Epidemiology, 3 credits
- PHG 513 Intro to Pharmacogenetics & Toxicogenetics, 3 credits
- PHG 542 Genetic Discovery in Medicine and Public Health, 3 credits
B. Implications of Genetics for Society
Includes Ethics & social science, law & policy, and health economics & outcomes research
- PHG 521 Socio-Cultural Perspectives on Public Health Genetics, 3 credits
- PHG 522 Ethical Frameworks for Public Health Genetics, 2 credits or
PHG 525 Public Commentary on Ethical Issues in Health Genetics, 3 credits - PHG 523 Genetics and the Law, 2 credits
- PHG 541 Economic and Policy Issues in Genetic Technologies, 3 credits
- PHG 543 Qualitative and Behavioral Research Methods in PHG, 3 credits
Interactive Seminar
- PHG 580 Interactive Seminar in Public Health Genetics, 6 credits
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.