doctoral program in epidemiology student...

DEPARTMENT OF EPIDEMIOLOGY & BIOSTATISTICS College Of Public Health

University of South Florida

DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDENT HANDBOOK

August 2012

Department of EPB Doctoral Student Handbook

Academic Year: 2012-2013

Table of Contents

Welcome to the Department............................................................................................................................ 5 Department Vision Statement ........................................................................................................................ 5 Department Mission Statement ..................................................................................................................... 5 I. OVERVIEW OF DOCTORAL PROGRAM...................................................................................................... 6 II. GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................. 7

A. University Graduate School Policies and Procedures ............................................................................. 7 B. Department Website ............................................................................................................................................. 7 C. USF Health Email and Net ID .............................................................................................................................. 7 D. Florida Residency Requirements and Tuition Rates ............................................................................... 7 E. University Student Organizations ................................................................................................................... 7 F. Professional Associations .................................................................................................................................... 7 G. Transfer of Credits ................................................................................................................................................. 8 H. Academic Probation ............................................................................................................................................... 8 I. Student Conduct ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 J. Use of “c” in Acronym for Degree Candidates ............................................................................................. 9 K. Academic Dishonesty ............................................................................................................................................ 9 L. Procedures for Filing Grievances ..................................................................................................................... 9 M. Time Limits for Completion of Doctoral Program..................................................................................... 9

1. Time Limit Extensions .................................................................................................................................. 9 2. Leave of Absence ............................................................................................................................................ 9 3. Vacations and Extended Time Away .................................................................................................... 10

N. Dismissal from the Doctoral Program ......................................................................................................... 10

III. STUDENT ADVISING ................................................................................................................................... 11 A. The Advisor ............................................................................................................................................................ 11 B. The Major Professor ........................................................................................................................................... 11 C. The Doctoral Program Committee ................................................................................................................ 12

Steps to Form the Doctoral Program Committee ................................................................... 13 D. The Doctoral Dissertation Committee ........................................................................................................ 13

Requirements for Composition of Dissertation Committee ............................................... 13 E. Changing Membership of Doctoral Committees ..................................................................................... 13

IV. REQUIREMENTS FOR DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN EPIDEMIOLOGY ............................................... 15

A. Requirements of Doctoral Students ............................................................................................................. 15 B. Responsibilities of Doctoral Students ......................................................................................................... 15 C. Competencies for Doctoral Program in Epidemiology ......................................................................... 15 D. Major Focus Areas in Doctoral Program in Epidemiology.................................................................. 17 E. Overview of Requirements for Doctoral Program in Epidemiology............................................... 17 F. Required Coursework ........................................................................................................................................ 17



G. Teaching Requirement ...................................................................................................................................... 18 1. Assignment of Teaching Assistant Positions ............................................................................ 18 2. Roles & Responsibilities of Teaching Assistants ..................................................................... 18 3. Options for Fulfilling the Teaching Requirement ................................................................... 19 4. Training and Development for TA’s ............................................................................................. 19

H. Other Department Requirements ................................................................................................................. 19 1. Public Health Seminars ...................................................................................................................... 19 2. Other Department Activities ........................................................................................................... 19 3. Annual Student Progress Reports ................................................................................................. 19 4. Primary Data Collection Experience ............................................................................................ 20

a. Options for Primary Data Collection Experience ................................................ 20 b. Documentation of Primary Data Collection Experience .................................. 21

5. Scientific Writing .................................................................................................................................. 21 I. The Doctoral Qualifying Examination ......................................................................................................... 21

1. The Purpose of the Qualifying Examination ............................................................................. 21 2. Timing of the Qualifying Examination ......................................................................................... 22 3. The Format of the Qualifying Examination ............................................................................... 22 4. Taking the Qualifying Examination .............................................................................................. 22 5. Evaluation and Grading of the Qualifying Examination ....................................................... 22 6. Report of the Outcome of the Qualifying Examination ......................................................... 23

J. Admission to Candidacy .................................................................................................................................... 23 K. The Doctoral Dissertation ................................................................................................................................ 23

1. The Dissertation ................................................................................................................................... 23 2. Funding for Dissertation Research ............................................................................................... 23

a. USF Awards ......................................................................................................................... 24 b. Professional Associations/Organization Awards ............................................... 24 c. Federal Awards ................................................................................................................. 25 d. Foundation Awards ......................................................................................................... 25 e. Travel Awards/Grants ................................................................................................... 25 f. USF Office of Sponsored Research ............................................................................ 25 g. Student Prize Paper Awards ........................................................................................ 26

3. Human Subjects Review & HIPAA Requirements for Doctoral Dissertations ............ 26 4. Dissertation Standards and Expectations .................................................................................. 27

a. Dissertation Content and Quality .............................................................................. 27 b. Dissertation Data Sources ............................................................................................. 27 c. Dissertation Data Use Agreements ........................................................................... 27 d. Dissertation Publication Requirements .................................................................. 28

5. Dissertation Formats .......................................................................................................................... 29 a. Traditional Format .......................................................................................................... 29 b. Collection of Articles (Manuscript) Format ........................................................... 32 c. Standard Writing Style ................................................................................................... 34 d. Choice of Style Manual ................................................................................................... 34 e. Authorship ......................................................................................................................... 34



6. Dissertation Concept Presentation ............................................................................................... 35 7. Dissertation Proposal Defense ....................................................................................................... 35

a. Summary of Steps for Dissertation Proposal Defense ...................................... 36 b. Format of the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Defense .................................... 36 c. The Dissertation Proposal Defense ........................................................................... 36 d. Approval of the Dissertation Proposal Defense ................................................... 37

8. Overview Of Student Responsibilities During The Final Semester Of Study ............... 37 9. Doctoral Dissertation Defense ........................................................................................................ 38

a. The Dissertation Document ......................................................................................... 38 b. Summary of Steps for the Final Dissertation Defense ...................................... 38 c. Scheduling the Dissertation Defense ....................................................................... 38 d. Chair of the Dissertation Defense .............................................................................. 39 e. Format of the Dissertation Defense .......................................................................... 39

10. Submission of the Dissertation Document ................................................................................ 40 11. ProQuest Publication and Copyright ........................................................................................... 41 12. Application for Degree ....................................................................................................................... 41

V. STUDENT RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................. 42 VI. SOURCE OF MATERIALS ............................................................................................................................ 42 VII. STUDENT CHECKLIST FOR DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN EPIDEMIOLOGY ................................... 43



Welcome to the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics! We are delighted to welcome our new and returning doctoral students to another exciting academic year at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. The 2012-2013 academic year is full of challenges, expectation and excitement. During this year some of you will take the first steps on your journey with us, while others will complete your dissertation research and say a fond farewell to our Department to begin your career. Whether you are a new or returning student this Doctoral Student Handbook contains important information about your journey through the Doctoral Program in Epidemiology. It contains policies, procedures, rules and regulations that will help you to navigate through your doctoral experience at USF. Please take some time and carefully read through the entire Handbook. We suggest that you keep it handy so that you can refer to it if you have any questions or concerns that arise during your time with the Department. We wish you much happiness and success during this academic year and look forward to eventually celebrating with you at graduation!

DEPARTMENT VISION STATEMENT

The Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics will use its unique strengths and collective efforts to achieve prominence in understanding the distribution, etiology and prevention of disease in populations in Florida, the United States and the world.

DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to improve the public’s health through advancing discovery, learning, and service.



I. OVERVIEW OF THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN EPIDEMIOLOGY Epidemiology, considered a fundamental science of public health, is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease and disability in populations. Epidemiology is historically rooted in the study of the causes of infectious diseases (epidemics); however, through industrial development and the demographic transition during the 20th century, epidemiology now encompasses the study of all types of health conditions. The PhD degree is a terminal academic degree and represents outstanding academic achievement. The Doctoral Program in Epidemiology focuses on developing expertise in research, and is centered on a major dissertation research project within a broad public health context. The Doctoral Program is designed to educate persons to be independent researchers and public health professionals in academia, research institutes, government or industry. While graduates sometimes seek additional training after graduation through postdoctoral fellowships, a graduate of the PhD program is prepared to be a faculty member in a university/medical institution or in a position in a public health organization, multi-disciplinary setting, government or industry. Students entering the program should have a solid foundation of knowledge of concepts and skills of epidemiology, an understanding of public health concepts and the public health perspective, and the ability to read and understand reports of clinical and epidemiological studies. Some students may need additional training in one or more of these areas, depending upon their background before entering the program.



II. GENERAL INFORMATION A. University Graduate School Policies and Procedures This Handbook describes important policies and procedures related to graduate study in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Some policies and procedures in this Handbook come from the USF Graduate School and the College of Public Health. While the most pertinent Graduate School and College policies are noted in this Handbook, please refer to the USF Graduate Catalog http://www.grad.usf.edu/catalog.asp for further details. The following icon will identify sections from the USF catalog and link readers to the USF Catalog.

B. Department Website The Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics web site (http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/epb/index.htm) contains important information for all doctoral students including this handbook, forms, and other pertinent information. C. USF Health Email Account and Net ID All students must obtain a USF Health Email account. To setup your email account and activate your NetID, please visit: https://netid.usf.edu and follow the provided instructions. With your NetID, you will have access to MyUSF, Blackboard, your email account, and USF computer labs. Please check your email regularly for messages and to ensure that it is working properly.

D. Florida Residency Requirements and Tuition Rates Applicants desiring classification as Florida residents for tuition paying purposes must sign and complete the Florida Residents section of the Florida Residency Classification form http://www.grad.usf.edu/inc/linked-files/FLResidencyForm.pdf or the page of the online Graduate Application (see their website at http://www.grad.usf.edu/graduate-admissions-residency.asp for more details). Incoming non-resident students All current and incoming non-resident graduate students (including international) with at least 0.25FTE assistantship appointments will have the non-resident tuition fees waived only during the semester(s) of appointment. See website for more information.

E. University Student Associations There are numerous opportunities to become involved in student organizations and associations at the University, USF Health and the College. Students are encouraged to participate in student activities and student organizations on campus. More information about student organizations can be obtained at: http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/student_orgs.html F. Professional Associations Students in the Doctoral Program are strongly encouraged to become members of Epidemiology, Public Health, and focus area professional societies and organizations. Many associations/societies provide student membership rates and/or discounted rates for journal subscriptions and registration fees for annual meetings affiliated with the association.

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Active participation in professional organizations is an important part of student training and professional development. A list of some epidemiology associations is provided below:

• American College of Epidemiology (ACE) http://www.acepidemiology.org • American Heart Association – Council on Epidemiology & Prevention (AHA)

http://www.heart.org • American Public Health Association (APHA) http://www.apha.org • Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)

http://www.apic.org/ • Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) http://www.cste.org • Florida Public Health Association (FPHA) http://www.fpha.org • International Epidemiologic Association (IEA) http:// www.ieaweb.org/ • International Genetic Epidemiology Society (IGES) http://www.geneticepi.org/ • International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) http://www.iseepi.org/ • International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology http://www.pharmacoepi.org/ • Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) http://www.epiresearch.org/ • Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research (SPER) http://www.sper.org/

G. Transfer of Credits Students enrolled in a doctoral program at another accredited institution or from other graduate programs within the University of South Florida, may request the transfer of relevant graduate coursework. Students should consult their Major Professor, the COPH Office of Academic & Students Affairs, and the Department Academic Coordinator about transfer of credits. Requested courses must be deemed equivalent in content, level and scope to existing courses in the Department. For instances in which there is no equivalent course in the Department of University, transfer of credits must be approved by the student’s Doctoral Program Committee, the Department Chair, and the COPH.

Students who would like to transfer credits earned from USF or another accredited university will need to see the COPH Academic and Student Affairs staff for assistance. The doctoral student may be examined on all transferred coursework at the time of the Doctoral Qualifying Examination. Students should consult the USF Graduate School Catalog and website for additional information. H. Academic Probation Any student who is not in good standing at the end of a semester (GPA below 3.00) is considered on probation as of the following semester. The college or program may also place students on probation for other reasons as designated by the college or program. Students are notified in writing that they are on academic probation by the department, with a copy to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

Students with a GPA below 3.00 for two consecutive semesters will not be able to register for courses without the permission of the COPH Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The Associate Dean will notify the Dean of the Graduate School in cases of academic dismissal. To be readmitted, the student must reapply for admission, and meet the admission criteria in place at the time. For information on the Academic Probation Process go to: http://www.grad.usf.edu/policy/2007_08/Academic Probation_rev_3_08.pdf

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I. Student Conduct The Doctoral Program in Epidemiology prepares students to become independent researchers and public health professionals. As public health professionals and members of the scientific community, we are entrusted with decisions that affect the health of communities, nations and the world. Thus personal and academic integrity, honesty and acceptable professional conduct of all public health professionals are expected. As such the COPH and Department is committed to maintaining high professional standards. For detailed information about the USF Student Code of Conduct (USF 6.0021) see http://generalcounsel.usf.edu/regulations/pdfs/regulation-usf6.0021.pdf. J. Use of “c” in Degree Acronyms for Degree Candidates The College of Public Health does not permit students who are pursuing their masters or doctoral degrees to use the degree acronym after their names and a small “c” for candidate. In other words students are not permitted to use MPHc, MSPHc, MHAc or PhDc. If students, after successfully completing all comprehensive exams (core and concentration) for the master degrees or the qualifying exam for the doctoral degree wish to put their name followed by the words—master degree candidate or doctoral degree candidate – this is allowed. The reason for this is that the use of the degree acronym and small “c” causes confusion for faculty, employers, and other individuals who are reviewing students’ CVs and other materials. It creates the situation whereby a student appears to already have the degree when this is not the case. As a degree-granting College, this cannot be allowed. K. Academic Dishonesty Plagiarism, cheating, faking data, and other related behaviors are forbidden by Department, College and University guidelines. Please refer to USF Regulation USF 3.027 (http://generalcounsel.usf.edu/regulations/pdfs/regulation-usf3.027.pdf) and the Student Handbook (http://www.sa.usf.edu/handbook/USF_Student_Handbook.pdf) for further clarification of what academic dishonesty entails. L. Procedures for Filing a Grievance All members of the University community are expected to observe high standards of professional conduct and ethical behavior in education and in the supervision of student research and teaching. In a large and heterogeneous scholarly community, however, problems may arise. Any student in the Department may informally pursue or formally file a grievance when he or she believes that a decision or behavior adversely affects his or her status as a student. See the USF website for procedures on filing an academic grievance: http://generalcounsel.usf.edu/policies-and-procedures/pdfs/policy-10-002.pdf. M. Time Limits for Completion of Doctoral Program On average, the doctoral program requires four to five years for completion following the Master’s or other advanced degree. The USF Graduate School requires completion of all requirements for the doctoral degree (complete all required coursework, pass the qualifying examination, be admitted to doctoral candidacy, and complete the dissertation) within seven (7) years from the date of admission into the program. 1. Leave of Absence and Time Limit Extensions According to the graduate catalog, if a student is unable to meet the mandatory continuous enrollment requirement and unable to make continuous progress toward completion of degree

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requirements due to an exceptional and unavoidable situation, the student should submit in advance a Leave of Absence (LOA) Request Form available on the Graduate School website (http://www.grad.usf.edu/inc/linked-files/Leave_of_Absence_Request_Form.pdf). The request should specify the reasons for the leave, as well as the duration. Requested LOA may be approved for up to two years. The leave must be approved by the student‘s Major Professor, Department

Chairperson, Dean of the College, and the Dean of the Graduate School. If the leave is granted, the time absent does not count against the student‘s time limit to obtain the degree. Students need to be enrolled the first semester after the leave expires. Students returning from an approved LOA must reactivate their status by contacting the Graduate School for procedures. Doctoral Candidates returning from a LOA must also have their candidacy status reactivated. Under certain circumstances, the Graduate School may approve a Time Limit Extension (TLE). However, students are allowed only one TLE during their graduate training. Any TLE request must contain a comprehensive work action plan showing benchmarks that will be completed during the extension. The TLE form (http://www.grad.usf.edu/inc/linked-files/Time_Limit_Extension_Form.pdf) and benchmarks must be

submitted at least one semester prior to the end of the time limit for the student‘s course of study, or degree requirements. A TLE request for a student already out of compliance will not be approved. Students who exceed the time limitations may have their registration placed on hold until a request for extension has been approved. 2. Vacations/Extended Time Away Graduate school is a full time commitment. Students are expected to be available on a full time basis to complete their teaching and research assignments. For those with a teaching assignment, specific expectations are provided in your contract. Vacations and extended absences from the department should be planned for appropriate time periods. All planned absences should be discussed well in advance with your Major Professor. N. Dismissal from Doctoral Program The Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics reserves the right to dismiss a student at any time because of failure to make satisfactory, continuous progress toward completion of the degree. Such action typically follows a review performed by the Department, and subsequent referral to the Doctoral Committee and the Chair of the Department. Any dismissal action has to be approved by the Chair of the Department, the Dean of the College of Public Health, and the Dean of the Graduate School. Students should consult the USF Graduate School Catalog and website for additional information.

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III. STUDENT ADVISING Advising and mentorship of doctoral students is a comprehensive process that evolves throughout the Doctoral Program. Upon admission, an initial advisor is appointed for each student. The student then selects a Major Professor and assembles a Doctoral Program Committee which will provide guidance and oversight for the coursework phase of the Doctoral Program. After the Qualifying Examination is successfully passed, the student will have a Doctoral Dissertation Committee which will provide expertise and guidance for the dissertation project. More information about each aspect of the advising process is provided in the sections below. A. The Advisor Upon admission an advisor is appointed by the Department for each doctoral student. The Advisor will provide general orientation to the doctoral program and guidance in the initial selection of classes. Each Program Advisor will serve in this capacity for a maximum of two semesters from the date of entry

into the doctoral program. By that time (end of second semester), doctoral students are expected to select a Major Professor and form a Doctoral Program Committee.

B. The Major Professor As the student’s research interest develops, usually by the end of the second semester, the student will select a Major Professor. If the Program Advisor is in agreement, s/he may become the Major Professor if appropriate, or the student may ask another full-time Epidemiology faculty member from the Department faculty to serve as their Major Professor. Students must have a Major Professor in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress in the doctoral program. If a student is unable to identify a full-time Epidemiology faculty member from the Department faculty who is willing to serve as their Major Professor by the end of one year from the date in which they entered the doctoral program, or anytime thereafter, the student may not be permitted to continue in the doctoral program. The Major Professor must be:

• Graduate faculty as defined by the University • A full-time member of the Department Epidemiology faculty • Fully credentialed by the College of Public Health • Engaged in current and sustained scholarly or research activity • Approved by the Department Chair to serve as a Major Professor (or Co-Major Professor)

The Major Professor will assist in identifying any specific deficiencies and provide guidance in the choice of the Plan of Study which when completed will satisfy the department degree requirements, the Doctoral Program Committee and the area of research. Students should consult the USF Graduate School Catalog for more information. The faculty of the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics is committed to providing an atmosphere conducive to student learning and the engaged mentorship of doctoral students throughout the doctoral program. As a Major Professor, the faculty member will:

• Provide guidance to the doctoral student on course selection and their overall plan of study • Assist in the selection of faculty members for the Doctoral Program Committee



• Chair and facilitate meetings of the Doctoral Program Committee • Provide guidance on Supplemental activities to enrich the student’s training as needed and

if applicable • Provide feedback and guidance during the qualifying examination process • Provide guidance and supervision during preparation of the dissertation proposal • Provide guidance and direction during the dissertation research • Read and edit drafts of the dissertation in a timely manner • Act as a liaison between the student and members of the Doctoral Program Committee as

needed • Determine when the student is sufficiently prepared to present and defend the dissertation

proposal and final dissertation • Introduce the student into the scientific community • Mentor students in professional development and pursuit of career goals.

C. The Doctoral Program Committee By the end of the second academic semester, in collaboration with the Program Advisor (or Major Professor if selected), the student must assemble a Doctoral Program Committee. In addition to the requirements of the USF Graduate School the specific Department requirements for the composition of the Doctoral Program Committee are as follows:

• The committee must consist of at least four graduate faculty • The Chair of the committee must be fully credentialed by the College of Public Health and be

a full-time member of the Epidemiology faculty in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics

• A minimum of two committee members (including the Chair) must be from the Epidemiology faculty from the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics.

• All members must be credentialed by the College of Public Health • A minimum of one committee member of the committee should be a trained, doctoral – level

Biostatistician who is a full-time member of the Department faculty • Other members of the committee can be from outside the Department • Exceptions to committee membership or changes in membership must be approved in

writing by the Department Chair The Doctoral Program Committee will approve the student’s Plan of Study and provide guidance for the student as they take classes and prepare for the qualifying examination. The signed

Department Plan of Study Form should be submitted to the Department Academic Coordinator and the Academic and Student Affairs Office in the College of Public Health. The Doctoral Program Committee may meet at any time to discuss or evaluate the student’s progress or to suggest changes in the plan of study but should ideally meet once per semester but at least once per academic year to review the student’s progress. The student also may request a committee meeting at any

time. The Major Professor (doctoral committee chair) may be asked to provide the Department Chair, the Department faculty, or the student with an evaluation of the student’s progress toward the degree.



Steps to Form a Doctoral Program Committee Students should follow the steps for forming a committee as outlined below:

1. Meet with potential Major Professor 2. Once a faculty member has agreed to serve as the Major Professor, schedule a meeting to

discuss membership of the Doctoral Program Committee 3. Identify potential faculty to serve on Doctoral Program Committee in consultation with

Major Professor 4. Contact/meet with potential Program Committee members 5. Once all potential faculty members have agreed to serve as Doctoral Program Committee

members, submit the signed PhD Committee Form at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/forms to the Department Academic Coordinator.

6. Keep a copy of the signed form for your records. D. The Doctoral Dissertation Committee After the successful completion of the Doctoral Qualifying Examination but before the student reaches the dissertation stage, the membership of the student’s Doctoral Program Committee should be assessed for suitability for the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. The membership of the Dissertation Committee may be the same as that of the Doctoral Program Committee if the student and/or Major Professor so desires. Students must have a Doctoral Dissertation Committee in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress in the doctoral program. If a student is unable to assemble a Doctoral Dissertation Committee within one year of successfully passing the Qualifying Exam, the student may not be permitted to continue in the doctoral program. Requirements for Composition of Doctoral Dissertation Committee In addition to the requirements of the USF Graduate School, the specific Department requirements for the composition of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee are as follows:

• The committee must consist of at least four graduate faculty • The Chair of the committee must be fully credentialed by the College of Public Health and be

a full-time member of the Epidemiology faculty in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics

• A minimum of two committee members (including the Chair) must be from the full-time Epidemiology faculty from the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. All members must be credentialed by the College of Public Health

• A minimum of one committee member of the committee should be a doctoral-level trained Statistician/Biostatistician with an appointment in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics

• Other members of the committee can be from outside the Department • Exceptions to committee membership or changes in membership must be approved in

writing by the Department Chair E. Changing Membership of Doctoral Committees In addition to changing the composition of the committee to better suit the needs of the student’s research for the dissertation phase, it may become necessary to change the membership of the Doctoral Program or Dissertation Committees for a variety of reasons. In the event a Major Professor is unable or unwilling to continue serving on the student’s committee, the student is responsible for finding another Major Professor. If after a Doctoral Program Committee has been formed the Major Professor is unable or unwilling to continue serving in that capacity, the Committee will remain in place if the other faculty members are willing



to remain on the committee. Students who are unable to find a replacement Major Professor who meets the Department requirements should confer with the Department Chairperson for available options. If no other options exist, the student may be requested to voluntarily withdraw from the program or may be honorably withdrawn in good academic standing. Members of the Doctoral Program Committee may decide not to serve on the Dissertation Committee if they so choose. The PhD candidate or Major Professor can also recommend changes to committee membership; however the Major Professor and the Department Chair must approve all changes in committee membership. The following steps should serve as a guide to facilitate the change process:

• Obtain PhD Change of Committee Form which is available at http://www.publichealth.usf.edu/forms

• Notify the committee member that you would like to replace, that you wish to make changes on your committee.

• Meet with the faculty member who is being adding to the committee; have them sign the Change of Committee Form.

• Upon completing the form, the student is responsible for obtaining the signature of the Department Chairperson and turning the form in to the Academic and Student Affairs Office. That office will obtain the signature of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs and notify you of the status by email. The student should make two copies (one to keep and one for the major professor).

• If it is not possible to resolve the differences during the meeting, the student should follow the USF grievance procedure.

Students should submit the PhD Change of Committee Form which is available at http://www.publichealth.usf.edu/forms to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs. Students should consult the Department Doctoral Student Handbook, the College of Public Health Office of Academic and Student Affairs, and the USF Graduate School Catalog and website for specific information about the process to change Doctoral Committee membership.

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IV. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN EPIDEMIOLGY A. Requirements of Doctoral Students in Epidemiology Each student should understand the criteria required to successfully graduate with the doctoral degree in Epidemiology from the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. These criteria include:

• Full participation in the intellectual life of the Department; • Completion of at least two semesters of teaching experience (exceptions to this policy may

be considered based on past teaching experience) • Successful completion of Doctoral Plan of Study; • Successful performance on the qualifying examination for doctoral candidacy; • Preparation, presentation, and formal approval of a dissertation proposal; • Completion of dissertation research activities • Completion of formal and successful defense of oral

dissertation presentation • Registration as a full-time student for at least one

academic year (consecutive Fall and Spring semesters) B. Responsibilities of Doctoral Students Enrolling into a doctoral degree program is a major commitment of time, energy and resources for students. The University, College and Department invest tremendous resources into each enrolled doctoral student in order to promote academic and professional success. The doctoral program has strict standards to achieve ideals for scholarship and intellectual discipline. Thus, taking a full load of classes (i.e., 9 credit hours in fall and spring semesters and 6 credit hours in summer semester) at least during the first year of study is strongly recommended. In consultation with Department faculty and the Doctoral Program Committee, the student has the following responsibilities:

• Actively plan and take responsibility for their doctoral plan of study • Conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times • Be courteous and respectful to faculty, staff and fellow students • Participate in intellectual and scholarly activities of the Department, College and University • Demonstrate continuous progress through the doctoral program • Be responsible for knowing and adhering to mandatory deadlines, forms, and signature

requirements set forth by the Department, College and University • Arrange and schedule committee meetings, as necessary

C. DOCTORAL COMPETENCIES Competencies for PhD Program in Epidemiology Doctoral students successfully completing a program of study in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics will possess a defined set of competencies. These competencies should be used to guide the student and the student’s Doctoral Program committee in planning a program of study. Competencies can be met through previous academic or work experience, or through a combination of planned course work and other scholarly experiences. The COPH PhD Student Competency Form is available on the COPH website http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/forms.html and the Department of Epidemiology Competencies and COPH PhD Student Competency Matrix is available on the Department website under Student Resources.

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In addition to the overall Doctor of Philosophy degree competencies, graduates with a concentration in Epidemiology will be able to:

1. Synthesize Scientific Literature: Critically review and evaluate the scientific literature, synthesizing the findings across studies, and developing an informed judgment on the state of knowledge in that area, presenting appropriate implications for public health practice, public policy, and implications for further research.

2. Master Knowledge in a Substantive Area: Demonstrate mastery of a substantive area, including knowledge and application of that knowledge in conducting original research related to a specific topic, including the descriptive and analytic epidemiological literature, pathophysiology of disease, policy and public health implications of research

3. Ethically Conduct of Human Research: Understand and implement the concepts of ethical conduct of research which involves human subjects, issues of confidentiality, and awareness of particular issues relevant to the conduct of epidemiological studies in special and vulnerable populations.

4. Formulate Study Hypotheses: Formulate an original hypothesis or statement of the research problem that will advance scientific knowledge about a topic of public health importance.

5. Design Epidemiological Studies: Design epidemiological studies to address questions of public health importance. Understand the advantages and limitations of each design for addressing specific problems, as well as the practical aspects of their uses, including trade-offs.

6. Develop Epidemiologic Proposals: Develop an epidemiology research proposal to address a study question (or questions), which includes a scientific and public health rationale for the significance of the study, and detailed methodology to conduct the epidemiological study to answer the question (or questions).

7. Collect Data and Manage Epidemiologic Studies: Demonstrate mastery in the implementation and conduct of data collection, for epidemiological studies in a clinical and/or community setting. Develop, implement and assess quality assurance and control measures.

8. Apply Statistical Concepts and Analyses: Be a skilled data analyst able to use state-of-the art statistical methods appropriate for the major epidemiology study designs and able to manage various types of variables, including examination of data for the presence of confounding and/or effect modification.

9. Interpret Epidemiological Data: Interpret research results from statistical analyses of epidemiological studies, make appropriate inferences based on results, and understand implications of the results in the context of findings from other studies and relevant information and theories from other sciences such as, biology, physics and the social sciences.

10. Effectively Communicate Epidemiological Findings: Present the findings from epidemiological investigation in writing and orally to scientific and lay audiences. Including, presentation of findings from epidemiological investigations at national and international meetings in epidemiology and/or in their substantive area.

11. Write Peer-Reviewed Publications: Submit the findings of epidemiological research in manuscript form for publication to an external, peer-reviewed journal.

12. Critically Evaluate Completed and Proposed Epidemiological Research: Critically review and evaluate scientific manuscripts and epidemiological research proposals.

13. Effectively Teach Epidemiological Concepts and Methods: Demonstrate proficiency in explaining fundamental and complex epidemiological concepts and methods, and



fundamental concepts and methods in their substantive/focus area in the classroom to undergraduate and/or graduate students.

D. Major Focus Areas of the PhD Program Students can choose to focus their PhD in Epidemiology in a specific focus area where there is sufficient faculty expertise to direct their program of study and dissertation. Some examples include, but are not limited to: Cancer Epidemiology, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Maternal and Child Health or Perinatal/ Reproductive Epidemiology, or Neuroepidemiology. Examples of possible plans of study for each focus area are available on the Department website. The major focus area is identified and developed jointly by the student and the student’s Doctoral Program Committee. E. Overview of Requirements for Doctoral Program in Epidemiology The doctorate in Epidemiology is an academic doctoral degree which often requires two-three years of course work, based upon a student’s previous Epidemiology training, followed by a doctoral dissertation project (average time required for dissertation project is 2 – 3 years). An overview of the requirements for the doctoral program in Epidemiology is as follows: Topic Areas for Doctoral Coursework Other Requirements • Epidemiological Methods Courses • Department/College Seminars • Biostatistical Methods Courses • Teaching Requirements • Data Management & Programming Skills • Annual Doctoral Student Progress Report • Proposal Development & Project Management • Primary Data Collection Experience** • Substantive Knowledge/Focus Area • Qualifying Examination • Elective/Support Courses • Dissertation Concept Presentation • Ethical Issues • Dissertation Proposal Defense • Professional Development • Final Dissertation Document • Adv. Doctoral Interdisciplinary Seminars • Final Dissertation Oral Defense

** recommended not required F. Required Coursework The USF Graduate School requires a minimum of 90 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree for the doctoral degree. In order to meet this requirement most students will need to complete a total of 50-57 credit hours beyond the master’s degree including 18 hours in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. The remaining credits are made up of course electives, which may or may not be

within the department and a minimum

of 18 credits of dissertation. Coursework in other departments or colleges may be required by the individual’s doctoral committee. In addition, the overall coursework must include a minimum of 13 hours at the 7000 level and three advanced interdisciplinary doctoral level seminars.

Students are required to complete and submit the Department Doctoral Plan of Study Form by the end of the second semester after enrollment into the program. The student should meet with his/her Major Professor and Doctoral Program Committee to select courses and complete

the Plan of Study form. The Department Plan of Study outlines the Department and College requirements for successful completion of the doctoral program including required coursework and other requirements. A signed copy of the Department Plan of Study Form should be submitted



to the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs and the Department Academic Coordinator by the last day of classes in the spring semester. The student should retain a copy for his/her records. After initially completing the Department Doctoral Plan of Study Form, the student should meet with his/her Major Professor at least annually to review the Plan of Study and update it as needed. Each time the Plan of Study is revised, a copy of the revised Form should be submitted the COPH Office of Academic & Student Affairs as well as the Department. At the conclusion of the student’s doctoral program, a final version of the completed Department Plan of Study Form should be submitted to the COPH Office of Academic & Student Affairs and the Department. Advanced Interdisciplinary Seminars in Public Health In addition to coursework, the College requires that each doctoral student successfully complete three Advanced Interdisciplinary Seminars during their plan of study. These seminars are offered at various times throughout the academic year. Students should consult the COPH Course Schedule and their Major Professor each semester to determine which seminars will fulfill this requirement. G. Teaching Requirement In addition to coursework, each doctoral student is required to demonstrate proficiency in teaching by serving as TAs for graduate and/or undergraduate level courses and/or other relevant teaching experiences and coursework. The purpose of the teaching requirement is to equip students with experience and proficiency in effective communication in a classroom setting as well opportunities to develop skills necessary to effective classroom management and student mentoring. These skills are part of the Department’s plan training plan for doctoral students. 1. Assignment of Teaching Assistant Positions Teaching Assistant positions are based within the Department and students apply for available positions as advertised. Positions are assigned on a semester basis by the Department Academic Coordinator and Department Chairperson. Students must be registered as full-time students in the semester in which they are a TA. 2. Roles and Responsibilities of Teaching Assistants Prior to the first day of classes and throughout the semester, TA’s will work with course instructors to prepare course materials and the course syllabus, assemble course packets, and other relevant duties as assigned in order to prepare for the course. During the semester, TA’s may be expected to attend each class, observe lectures and hold regularly scheduled office hours to make themselves available to students needing assistance with the clarification of concepts and materials presented during the class lecture or class activities. TA’s may also be expected to assist students with assignments, exercises, papers, projects and concepts presented in lecture notes, supplemental readings, course textbooks, etc. TA’s are also expected to conduct review sessions in preparation for class quizzes, test, and examinations. As TA’s, the doctoral students should maintain responsible and professional conduct during all interactions with faculty and students. The TA should not meet with students in their homes, isolated locations, or late nights for their own personal safety. The TA should promptly report any suspicious or dangerous student behavior to the course instructor and campus police, if necessary.



3. Options for Fulfilling the Teaching Requirement Students can fulfill the teaching requirement by serving as a TA for in-class or on-line graduate courses. Students may also fulfill the requirement by serving as an Instructor or TA for undergraduate courses offered in the Department. All doctoral students are required to fulfill the teaching requirement during their course of study. 4. Training and Development All doctoral students are required to successfully complete the course HSC 7260: Professional Foundations: Teaching Skills during their course of study. Students are also strongly encouraged to attend workshops and skill building seminars offered by the COPH and the University throughout their program of study. Doctoral students are also expected to receive training and development from each course instructor during the semester. Students should meet regularly with the course instructor to review the course objectives, contents, structure and the role of the TA in each phase of the course. Faculty should provide guidance during this learning experience which allows the student to assume the role of an associate in teaching under the direct guidance and supervision of the course instructor. Students who do not speak English as their primary language must pass a language test to serve as a TA. Students may need to seek assistance with cultural norms and expectations and clarity in communicating effectively verbally and in writing. H. Other Departmental Requirements 1. Public Health Seminars Departmental, College and USF Health seminars, guest lectures (e.g., Dean’s Lecture Series) are held throughout the academic year and these seminars are an important part of a student’s academic training and professional development. Each doctoral student is required to attend at least two seminars per semester Students should include documentation of attendance at the seminars by preparing a ½ page summary of the seminar presentation they attended. This summary should be included with the Annual Student Progress Report. 2. Other Department Activities Doctoral students are also expected to attend Dissertation Concept Presentations, Proposal Defenses, and Dissertation Defenses of other doctoral students in the Department to provide encouragement and support. Students should also attend other Department and College events and activities as their work schedules permit. 3. Annual Doctoral Student Progress Report All doctoral students are required to submit an annual progress report to the Department Doctoral Program Director(s) that will be reviewed by the Department faculty. The report will be used to assess the student’s progress through the program. All of the documents listed below must be submitted electronically to the Department Director(s) of the Doctoral Program in Epidemiology by June 30th of each year. One copy of the documents should also be given to the Major Professor. An



overall assessment and recommendations for modifications to the student’s plan of study from the Department faculty may be given to the student’s Major Professor and the student. The format of the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics Annual Doctoral Student Progress Report is located on the Department website and can be generated from the COPH Student Portfolio. Students should include the following documents with their annual report:

• An updated curriculum vitae (CV) • A current IRB training certificate • A copy of the signed, fully approved Department Plan of Study Form • The Annual Doctoral Student Progress Report • The Seminar Attendance & Summary Form • The Primary Data Collection Experience Form (one for each activity)

4. Primary Data Collection Experience Requirement The conduct of epidemiological studies in clinical and community settings is an integral part of the responsibilities and expectations of a doctoral level epidemiologist. Practical aspects of study implementation activities include questionnaire design, study subject recruitment, collection of biological samples, storage and shipment of samples, data entry and laboratory analyses. These activities are challenging and require the development of several skills based on first-hand experience. Moreover, failure to properly conduct epidemiological studies results in waste of precious resources (e.g., tax-payer dollars, charitable donations, time and energy) and potentially invalidates study findings. Due to economic constraints, students often must conduct their dissertation research based on secondary data which precludes first-hand data collection experience. Therefore, the Department requires that doctoral students in the Department have been directly involved in at least two hands-on experiences in the implementation of epidemiological studies. All students enrolled in the Doctoral Program in Epidemiology should demonstrate adequate practical experience and are strongly encouraged to engage in a minimum of two epidemiological study implementation activities. An adequate practical experience is defined as a meaningful experience in study implementation activities during one semester. The student’s Major Professor and Doctoral Program Committee will assist with the selection of eligible and relevant activities, the time and effort required and provides final approval. The Major Professor and Doctoral Program Committee Members are not

required to facilitate or supervise the data collection activities. Students are responsible for making the arrangements and for providing acceptable documentation that this requirement has been exempted or fulfilled.

4a. Options for Fulfilling the Primary Data Collection Requirement Activities that may be used to fulfill this requirement are as follows: • Development and testing of study protocols • Data abstraction (medical or other records) • Development of manual or procedures • Designing & testing quality control activities • Staff training and certification • Implementation of quality control activities • Study subject recruitment • Biospecimen collection



• Questionnaire design and pretesting • Biospecimen processing, storage & shipment • Study subject interviewing • Laboratory analyses • Working with members of the community to

implement research • Environmental, occupational or personal

exposure monitoring • Data coding • Collection of measurements on study

participants Students with previous experience in data collection are strongly encouraged to engage in activities not performed in the past. 4b. Documentation of Primary Data Collection Experience Students should complete the Primary Data Collection Experience Form for each activity completed with their Annual Progress Report to their Major Professor and the Department Academic Coordinator with their Annual Student Report. If completing a primary data collection experience is not possible, this should be documented on the form. 5. Scientific Writing The ability to communicate ideas, thoughts and concepts clearly and effectively in writing is a critical requirement of an epidemiologist. Thus, clarity of expression is one of the elements that are evaluated in all written work throughout the program, but especially in the doctoral qualifying exam. Students who struggle in this area or who would like to receive additional training in effective written communication should take writing courses offered by the COPH or USF to improve their writing skills. Information about writing courses that are available can be obtain from the Office of Academic Affairs I. DOCTORAL QUALIFYING EXAM 1. Purpose of the Qualifying Examination The Doctoral Qualifying Examination is an assessment designed to indicate to the Department whether the student has the substantive knowledge and methodological skills to engage in doctoral level research and is ready to proceed to the next phase of the doctoral program. The student must demonstrate written knowledge and skills in Epidemiology and the ability to synthesize and use the professional literature in problem-solving situations. Moreover, the examination is a formal assessment of the student’s mastery of doctoral competencies considered necessary for doctoral research. 2. Timing of the Qualifying Examination The doctoral Qualifying Examination is offered annually in September/October. In general, most students take the exam approximately two years after beginning the program of study, if full-time. Students may take the qualifying examination when there is a general consensus of the Doctoral Program Committee and the Major Professor that the student has completed the necessary coursework and is ready to take the exam. A student is eligible to sit for the qualifying examination when the following minimum criteria have been met.

• The student has successfully completed all or most course work including tools of research;



• There is an agreement between the student and all members of the doctoral committee that the student is prepared to take the qualifying examination; and

• The student must be registered for a minimum of 2 credit hours for the semester in which the qualifying examination is taken.

• The student must submit the Application for the PhD Qualifying Exam Form to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs at least 4 weeks prior to the scheduled exam date.

3. Format of the Qualifying Examination The Doctoral Qualifying Examination in Epidemiology is administered in two independently graded sections. Part 1 is an 8-hour, in-class, closed-book examination and Part 2 is a 2-week written examination. A brief description of the sections of the examination is outlined below.

1. The first part is an 8-hour general, closed-book examination, which focuses on the synthesis and application of epidemiologic knowledge to specific problems covered in the Core Competencies for the Ph.D. program in Epidemiology.

2. The second part is a two-week written examination in which the student will be given an epidemiologic research question (such as an association between an etiologic exposure and an outcome) and asked to fully review the literature and write an epidemiologic research proposal which addresses the question using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant format.

Students should be prepared to block out two weeks in their schedules for the completion of Part 2 of the examination since it will require dedicated time to successfully complete the examination. Submission of both parts of the exam by the student to the Department is final, therefore; students should review their exams carefully prior to submission. Revisions/corrections to the examination after it has been submitted will not be permitted. Qualifying Examinations will not be accepted after the stated deadline. 4. Taking the Examination Students should arrive on time to take the examination and those who arrive late will not be granted extra time to complete the examination unless the lateness is due to a documented personal/family illness or medical emergency, etc. Student should bring a basic scientific calculator, writing instruments, a single sheet of 8.5” x 11” white paper with typed or handwritten notes (it may be double-sided). Student’s whose primary language is not English may bring a foreign language dictionary. However, it may not contain notes or any other markings that may assist the student during the exam. Students may also bring their lunch and bottled water. Students are not permitted to use any other electronic device (including mobile phones, smartphones, pagers, tablets, etc.) during the examination. Computers and/or other electronic devices that are needed for the exam will be provided by the Department. 5. Evaluation and Grading To “pass” the doctoral Qualifying Examination, students must demonstrate mastery of and ability to apply the epidemiologic concepts and methods covered in the core epidemiology curriculum and the relevant doctoral competencies. A passing total score of at least 80 (out of 100) is required in



order to pass each section. Students are allowed to take each section of the examination (Part 1 and 2) a total of two times each and must pass both sections to continue in the doctoral program in Epidemiology. If a score of 80 is not achieved, the entire failed section (Part 1 or 2) must be re-taken. If the student fails one of the two sections, s/he must re-take the failed section the next time the examination is offered. If the student fails to pass a second time, the student cannot continue in the doctoral program, but may apply

to transfer to other degree programs.

6. Report of the Outcome of the Qualifying Examination Students will be notified in writing (e.g., email) of the outcome of the examination within 3-4 weeks of completion of the examination (either part). Students who fail a section or both sections of the examination should consult his/her Major Professor about their performance on the exam. Students should develop a plan in consultation with their Major Professor to address deficiencies noted on the Qualifying Examination. Students may need or be required to take additional coursework, Independent Studies or workshops/seminars in order to appropriately prepare for the next offering of the Qualifying Examination. J. ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY Admission to candidacy in the doctoral program in Epidemiology is certification that the student has successfully:

1. Appointed a Doctoral Dissertation Committee; 2. Attained an overall and degree program GPA of 3.00 at USF at the time of candidacy; and 3. Successfully completed the Doctoral Qualifying Exam.

The Graduate School Admission to Candidacy Form must be submitted for approval during the semester that the qualifying exams were successfully completed. Doctoral students admitted to candidacy, are required to register for a minimum of 2 credit hours of dissertation research every semester following admission to candidacy, until the degree is granted. However, students may NOT enroll in dissertation hours prior to admittance to doctoral candidacy. K. THE DOCTORAL DISSERTATION 1. The Dissertation The Department expects that the Doctoral Dissertation will have the scope, independence, and skillful presentation that demonstrate that the candidate has acquired a command of epidemiological concepts and principles, the ability to contribute fresh knowledge or a fresh outlook to the subject, and has mastered epidemiological methods. 2. Funding for Dissertation Research One of the challenges graduate students face is finding the financial resources for their dissertation research project. Students are responsible for expenses associated with their dissertation. Copies of questionnaires, postage, equipment, and any other materials necessary for the completion of projects can add up quickly and become expensive. Some students may receive funding for dissertation research through research grants from faculty members on their committee. However, if funds are not available, students may need to seek other sources of funding. Listed below are sources of financial support for which students may apply. Some of these sources may limit their funding to those fulfilling certain criteria, such as a specific type of research or a certain disciplinary area. However, every student should be eligible for one or more of the following



sources of support. If you are eligible, it is strongly recommended that you apply well before the cut-off date so that you will be eligible for available funding. Funding opportunities are also announced throughout the year via email.

USF Awards • Richard F. Pride Fellowship: This award is made to minority students pursuing doctorates.

See http://usfweb2.usf.edu/ibl/Pride/pride.html. • USF Women’s Club Grace Allen Graduate Scholarship: This scholarship supports USF

graduate students who have completed all coursework and are working on their dissertations. See http://usfweb2.usf.edu/scholarships/grad.htm.

• USF Graduate School Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship: This fellowship is intended for students in their last year that need support to complete the last part of their projects, write and graduate, and is only applicable to students that have reached candidacy and will graduate within the time frame of the award (one academic year). See http://www.grad.usf.edu/grants.asp.

• USF Graduate School Signature Research Doctoral Fellowship: This fellowship is intended for students working in the USF signature research areas (Integrated Neurosciences, Sustainability of populations and/or environment, Diabetes and autoimmune disorders, or Drug Design and Delivery) that are less than one year into their doctoral candidacy and lack funding. Provides two years of support to enhance productivity and progress toward completion of the degree. Also will receive support to attend a discipline-related academic conference in which is presenting. See http://www.grad.usf.edu/grants.asp.

• CAS Bright House Networks Endowed Fellowship: This fellowship provides $7,500.00 for one semester support to a deserving Ph.D. student declared in the college for completion of the dissertation. The student must be in good academic standing having completed all work for their degree except finishing their dissertation and defending (typically one to two semesters prior to graduation).

• Department of Defense SMART Scholarship: Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program has been established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The program aims to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories. See http://smart.asee.org/about.

Professional Association/Organization Awards • Honor Society Fellowships: Students may be eligible to join a number of societies that

distribute awards for deserving students on a competitive basis. See http://involvement.usf.edu/orgs.htm for more information. The local chapter of Phi Kappa Phi is at Eckerd College. For more information see http://www.eckerd.edu/academics/pbk/index.php.

• Sigma Xi is a national scientific honor society for students in the sciences. Sigma Xi’s funding program, Grants in Aid of Research Program, presents a number of awards to graduate students each year. For more information, see http://www.sigmaxi.org/

• American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science, and National Science Foundation: APA, APS, and NSF award a number of research fellowships

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and scholarships to graduate students. See http://www.apa.org/students/funding.html, http://www.psychologicalscience.org/apssc/awards/, and http://www.nsf.gov/.

Federal Awards

• The National Institutes of Health sponsors the Kirschstein – NSRA for Individual Pre-doctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research is a nationally competitive award to which students can apply. Each predoctoral fellowship stipend includes a stipend to the Fellow through their academic institution and a small amount for supplies. See http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm.

Foundation Awards

• The American Heart Association provides pre-doctoral fellowships for cardiovascular-related research. Each pre-doctoral fellowship stipend includes a stipend to the Fellow and a small amount for supplies. Awards are based on achievement and ability as evidenced by academic records, letters of recommendation, and other indicators of academic promise. See http://www.americanheart.org

• The Ford Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellowship http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/FordFellowships/PGA_047958

• The Ford Foundation Pre-doctoral and Dissertation Fellowships for Underrepresented Minorities program awards fellowships to members of minority groups. Each pre-doctoral fellowship stipend includes a stipend to the Fellow and a stipend to the institution in lieu of tuition and fees. The dissertation Fellow receives a stipend that is non-renewable. Awards are based on achievement and ability as evidenced by academic records, letters of recommendation, and other indicators of academic promise. See http://www7.nationalacademies.org/fellowships

• The Spencer Foundation‘s Dissertation Fellowship Program supports dissertation research. Applicants need not be US citizens. See http://www.spencer.org

• The American Associate of University Women Educational Foundation provides American Fellowships designed to support women doctoral students completing dissertations. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents. See www.aauw.org/fga/fellowships_grants/american.cfm

Travel Awards/Grants

• The USF‘s Graduate and Professional Student Organization has a Conference Presentation Grant Program. Application materials (including instructions and policies http://www.sg.usf.edu/index.php/bureaus/business-office/conference-presentation-grant) may be found at http://www.gpso.usf.edu. Grants are made available on a first-come, first-served basis each fiscal year (July-June), so it is advantageous to apply early for funding.

• The College of Public Health SHARP Awards provide up to $1000 annually for student travel and participation in state, regional, national and international conferences. Awards are made available on a first-come, first-served basis each fiscal year (July-June), so it is advantageous to apply early for funding.

USF Office of Sponsored Research • The USF Division of Sponsored Research can provide

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information about other funding programs for which graduate students may be eligible. See http://www.research.usf.edu/sr/ or http://www.research.usf.edu/students.asp. Interested students should contact their office (http://www.research.usf.edu/researchnet/acontacts.asp?division=9, 813-974-5570) for more specific information on eligibility requirements. Inquire early so that you will meet any application cutoff dates.

Student Prize Paper Awards All doctoral students in the Department are very strongly encouraged to submit their dissertation research for Student Prize Paper Awards given by Epidemiology, Public Health or other relevant Professional Associations. Student prize Paper Awards are very prestigious, competitive national awards given by scientific associations/organization in recognition of outstanding scientific research by a graduate student. Some association awards include a plaque and cash prize while others provide a plaque and travel support to the conference. Listed below are some organizations which usually give annual Student Prize Paper Awards. Consult your Major Professor for associations/organization specific to your area of interest which may also give annual awards.

• American College of Epidemiology – Best Student Prize Paper Award (http://www.acepidemiology.org/content/student-prize-call-papers)

• International Society for Environmental Epidemiology – Rebecca James Baker Award (http://www.iseepi.org)

• Society for Epidemiologic Research – Abraham Lilienfeld Student Prize Award (www.epiresearch.org)

• Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology Research – Student Prize Paper Award (http://www.sper.org/awards.html#student)

3. Human Subjects Review & HIPAA Requirements for Doctoral Dissertations All doctoral students in the Department of Epidemiology are expected to maintain and fulfill IRB and HIPAA certification requirements of the COPH and USF. All doctoral students must complete the IRB credentialing process and HIPAA training during their first semester following admission. IRB education courses are available online at http://www.research.usf.edu/dric/education-program/. All proposed dissertation research which involves human subjects, even if it involves secondary data, must be submitted to the USF Institution Review Board as soon as the dissertation proposal has been approved by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. Access information at: http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/officeresearch/humansubjects.html. This applies to all dissertation proposals whether the research is funded or unfunded. All doctoral students at USF are responsible for following all guidelines of the USF Graduate School, Human Subjects Regulations, Data Use Agreements (if applicable) and HIPAA regulations (if applicable). Students should consult the USF Office of Research, Division of Integrity and Compliance website to obtain guidance about research involving human subjects as defined in the USF Human Research Protection Program Investigator Guide, available online at http://www3.research.usf.edu/dric/hrpp/resources.asp. Students are responsible for completing and submitting the required forms for submission and should consult the protocol guidelines for assistance in preparing the eIRB application (https://eirb.research.usf.edu). Applications will typically include the proposed research protocol, a detailed application and, when appropriate, a sample of the proposed informed consent forms.

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Aspects of the dissertation research that involve contact with study subjects or data containing personal identifiers cannot

proceed until IRB approval has been obtained. Students who fail to comply with these requirements may be subject to disciplinary action or dismissed from the program.

4. Dissertation Standards and Expectations 4a. Dissertation Content and Quality The research question for a dissertation should demonstrate potential for advancing the state of knowledge or practice in epidemiology or public health. The standards and expectations for doctoral dissertations are as follows. Dissertations should have a high level of achievement in:

(1) Originality – innovation in theory, methods, substantive content, or creative application of existing theory or knowledge to a new problem. Research that replicates findings of others without this kind of innovation is not sufficiently original for a doctoral dissertation

(2) Depth – technical competence and intellectual sophistication which is assessed by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee based on the quality of work published in peer-reviewed publications;

(3) Scholarship – competence in scholarship and scientific technique. The research problem should be properly introduced, sufficiently justified and the results discussed in a manner which places the study in context with the literature. Thus the dissertation should demonstrate familiarity with the relevant scientific literature, awareness of important developments and controversies, and critical synthesis and communication of knowledge; and

(4) Scientific writing skills – demonstrated ability to communicate epidemiologic concepts and ideas clearly, concisely and effectively in written form.

Dissertation topics must be selected in subject areas in which there is sufficient faculty expertise within the full-time faculty of the department to provide appropriate guidance for the student’s dissertation research. 4b. Dissertation Data Sources The data source used for doctoral dissertations is determined by the research question and study hypotheses. Students may conduct secondary analysis of existing data or collect primary data. Primary data collection by the student is NOT a requirement for doctoral dissertations. Selecting the most appropriate source of data to address the proposed research question and hypotheses should be determined in collaboration with the Major Professor and Doctoral Dissertation Committee. 4c. Dissertation Data Use Agreements Doctoral students who plan to use existing data that is not a public use data set should complete a Data Use Agreement Form which outlines the terms of use, authorship, student rights, acknowledgements, etc. This form should be signed by the student, owner of the data set and the Major Professor. A copy of the form is available on the Department website and should be maintained in the student’s file.



4d. Dissertation Publication Requirement The Doctoral Program in Epidemiology is research oriented and each candidate’s doctoral research is expected to make a scientifically meaningful contribution to methodology and/or substantive knowledge. The determination of whether these standards have been met will be made by the student’s Doctoral Dissertation Committee. The communication of findings from epidemiological research is expected and required of all epidemiologists. Moreover, it is the standard by which epidemiologist are measured. Therefore, acquiring skills in the preparation and submission of manuscripts for publication is an integral part of the doctoral training program in epidemiology. Students should be mentored during the external peer review process and should receive guidance from their Major Professor and Doctoral Dissertation Committee. Postponing these experiences until after graduation can be a significant hurdle to a successful academic or research career. Thus the Department expects that regardless of the dissertation format selected (see below), a minimum of two manuscripts intended for peer-reviewed publication must be proposed for all doctoral dissertations. The scope and content of each manuscript will be decided upon by the student in consultation with their Major Professor and approved by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. The Department prefers that one paper be accepted by a peer-reviewed journal, and the other one or two are submitted to peer-reviewed journals by the time of graduation. However, if the dissertation only results in two publishable manuscripts, this is also acceptable if approved by the candidate’s Doctoral Dissertation Committee. There may be situations in which the original publication plan or manuscript structure is not well suited to the dissertation findings. In those cases, students can work with their Major Professor and committee to modify the publication plan prior to the dissertation defense or use the traditional dissertation format. The acceptance of any of the manuscripts for publication is not a requirement for graduation although the manuscripts must be submitted for publication before graduation. In the unlikely situation that a manuscript needs to be published before the dissertation is submitted (e.g., there is a submission deadline for a special issue), the committee must review and approve in writing that the manuscript is ready for publication. Completion of the doctoral program requires that at least one manuscript be submitted to an external scientific, peer-reviewed journal (approved by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee) prior to the Final Dissertation Defense and all manuscripts should be submitted for publication before graduation. Acceptance of the manuscript for publication IS NOT a requirement for graduation from the doctoral program. Rejection of a manuscript by a journal (or equivalent external peer-review process) DOES NOT preclude successful completion of the doctoral program in Epidemiology or graduation. Timely submission of manuscripts resulting from the doctoral dissertation research process is encouraged to give the candidate an opportunity to receive external peer review comments and to experience the interaction with external peers and journal editors with guidance and supervision from their Major Professor. Conflicts that emerge between recommendations from external peer reviewers and the Doctoral Dissertation Committee are resolved by the Doctoral Dissertation



Committee, according to the academic requirement of the Doctoral Program. The Doctoral Dissertation Committee (and Department Chairperson) is the only and final arbiter of the contents of the Doctoral Dissertation document. 5. Dissertation Formats The doctoral dissertation can be prepared in one of two formats: traditional format or the collection of articles (manuscript) format. The first, the traditional format, has at least four sections, including at least five chapters (see table). The second option is the manuscript format which has at least four sections. The manuscript format is strongly recommend by the Department and requires that the student’s Doctoral Dissertation Committee approve the refereed journals that will be targeted for submission and the number of manuscripts that will be included in the dissertation. These manuscripts should be of sufficient quality to be potentially published in a first rate, peer-reviewed journal. 5a.The Traditional Format The Ph.D. candidate, with the approval of the Doctoral Committee, will agree upon a dissertation topic and develop a proposal, consisting of three chapters: Introduction/Statement of the Problem, Review of the Literature, and Methods. The remaining chapters will be completed before the defense of the doctoral dissertation. Table 1 includes an outline of the required sections. Table 1. Requirements for the Traditional Format Dissertation

Part Chapter Content I Preliminary Pages:

Title Page Note to Reader (if applicable) Dedication (optional page) Acknowledgments (optional page) Table of Contents (with pagination) List of Tables (if applicable) List of Figures (if applicable) Abstract

II Main Text 1 Introduction 2 Literature Review 3 Methods 4 Results 5 Discussion, Conclusions, and Recommendations

III References/Bibliography Appendices Title Page Appendix Sections (i.e., instruments, etc., if applicable)

IV About the Author (required) Chapter 1: Introduction and Statement of the Problem The Introduction should describe the nature and purpose of the study, and explain the significance of and justification for conducting the study. This chapter should also present the specific aims and hypotheses to be addressed by the dissertation project, clearly relating these to lines of



investigation and in the context of the current literature. A page detailing all annotations made in the dissertation should be placed at the end of the Introduction as its own separate page(s) (“Annotations”). Chapter 2: Review of the Literature Literature reviews should be thorough and systematic. Chapter 2 presents a critical analysis of prior scholarship related to the central questions of the dissertation. Although the degree of completion of the literature review at the proposal stage is a matter of deliberation with the committee, in most cases it is important that the literature review in a proposal:

1. Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the subject of the dissertation, through review and analysis of previous research;

2. Identifies chief researchers and documents in the community of scholars to which the dissertation is meant to contribute;

3. Identifies areas of consensus, dispute, and lack of knowledge in the scholarship of the field and evaluates the nature and quality of support for various contentions;

4. Draws new insights or new questions from the literature to offer a conceptual or theoretical framework in which the dissertation should be understood; and

5. Examines and weighs previous and potential methods for investigating the hypotheses or research questions to be addressed in the dissertation.

6. Prepares the reader to appreciate how the dissertation will contribute significant new understanding to this framework.

*Note: Citation of and specific credit to relevant earlier works is part of the author’s scientific and scholarly responsibility. The review should focus only on literature and conclusions directly pertinent to the subject and the problem addressed in the dissertation. Chapter 3: Methods This chapter is typically divided into labeled subsections. Subsections specific to epidemiologic work include (but are not limited to): Study population, Case ascertainment and control ascertainment (or identification and enumeration of the cohort), exposure ascertainment (including instruments used with citations), assessment of confounders and potential effect-modifiers, Data Collection and Statistical Analyses (often with subsections). Written tense should be appropriate to the situation—since the dissertation is a report of work done; it will usually be in the past tense.

• Study population (Subjects and setting): The characteristics of participants of the study, how they were selected, and the setting of the study should be presented in detail.

• Exposure ascertainment and Instrumentation: Any tools or instruments that might be important for readers to understand (such as, assessment instruments, surveys, interview formats, observation protocols, and data collection devices), should be described in detail. If subjects interacted with special equipment or software, or other materials, a detailed description is essential.

• Data collection procedures: The readers should be given a thorough description of all the steps involved in data collection. Timelines are helpful, either in outline or graphic representation. Efforts to protect the reliability of findings and the validity of inferences should be detailed.

• Data analyses: Regardless of the data collection method used, an analytic strategy must be applied to make sense of the observations. Chapter 3 should describe the analytic strategies



employed and a rationale for their use. To the degree that readers may be unfamiliar with the strategy, greater detail may be needed. Methods of “data cleaning” and refinement, categorization schemes and how they were developed, data transformations, statistical tests, and checks on the validity and generalizability of conclusions are possible subtopics that belong in this section.

Chapter 4: Results The fourth chapter summarizes and analyzes the study data with only minimal interpretation. This chapter should bring readers as close as reasonable to the original data and experiences of the study. This involvement with the data gives the reader some chance to form his or her own inferences and match them against conclusions in Chapter 5. It should begin with a brief review of the purpose of the study and the research method employed. The presentation in Chapter 5 should closely follow the guiding questions or hypotheses articulated earlier in the dissertation. The results should be presented first in their simplest form (such as simple narrative descriptions, simple counts of frequency, and descriptive statistics), and later in more complex forms (2x2 or RxK, Chi-square, correlational analyses, factor analyses, simple and complex regressions or other statistical modeling, including confounders and effect-modifiers identified in the stratified analyses, or other inferential statistics). Note: Generally, interpretation of findings is reserved for Chapter 5, but if the study is complex, it may become tedious for readers to review page after page of un-interpreted results. Sometimes it is useful to highlight the most important findings both in the text and in accompanying tables and to draw some simple conclusions in anticipation of more developed discussions in Chapter 5. Chapter 5: Discussion, Conclusions, and Recommendations When completing a traditional format dissertation, Chapter 5 will include a discussion of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations for research and practice. It is, perhaps, the most crucial chapter because it presents the contribution to the research literature and because some cursory readers will attend to this chapter only. Therefore, it is typical to give a brief summary of essential points made in the Results (Chapter 4) and to interpret these results in light of the studies already conducted and reviewed in Chapter 2 (Review of the Literature). Findings should be critically appraised in regard to others’ findings, and the reader should understand how the dissertation contributes uniquely to the understanding of the problem in light of extant literature. The remainder of the chapter teases out the implications of the study’s findings. These implications can be grouped into: theory or generalization, public health practice, and future research. Theoretical implications involve interpretation of the dissertation findings in terms of the questions and hypotheses that guided the study. It is essential to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the work, including the degree to which conclusions are credible given the methods used and the data collected. Practice implications should delineate applications of new insights derived from the dissertation to solve real and significant epidemiologic and public health problems. Two kinds of implications for future research are possible: one based on the study’s actual findings and the other based on its limitations. Generally, future research could look at different settings, interventions with new protocols or dependent measures, or new theoretical issues that may have emerged from the study. It is appropriate to suggest which of these possibilities are likely to be most fruitful.



The last words should give the “take home message,” the enduring ideas or conclusions. This should be presented in the simplest possible form, being sure to preserve the conditional nature of the insights. 5b.The Collection of Articles (Manuscript) Format The Ph.D. candidate, with the approval of the doctoral committee, will agree upon a dissertation subject and develop a proposal, consisting of three or four sections, depending on whether two or three manuscripts will be in the dissertation [1]. After careful consideration and approval of committee members, candidates will select a minimum of two scientific journals (one primary and one secondary) where they will plan to submit each manuscript for publication. Table 2 shows requirements for the manuscript format dissertation. Listed below are essential points to consider:

• This version of the dissertation is formatted in sections instead of chapters (See table 2). Section 1 is the introduction that includes the statement of the problem and theoretical framework. The Introduction should describe the nature and purpose of the study, and explain the significance of and justification for conducting the study. This section should also present the specific aims and hypotheses or research questions to be addressed by the dissertation, clearly relating these to lines of investigation and conjecture detailed in current literature. Terms likely to be used throughout the proposal should be defined in this section. A thorough review of the conceptual/theoretical framework(s) or models to be used is expected.

Table 2. Requirements for the Traditional Format Dissertation

Part Section Content I Preliminary Pages:

Title Page Note to Reader (if applicable) Dedication (optional page) Acknowledgments (optional page) Table of Contents (with pagination) List of Tables (if applicable) List of Figures (if applicable) Abstract

II Main Text 1 Introduction (including theoretical framework if relevant) 2 First Manuscript 3 Second Manuscript 4 Third Manuscript 5 Conclusions and Recommendations

III References/Bibliography (comprehensive list) Appendices Title Page Appendix Sections (this section must include a literature

review, and may include instruments, etc.) IV About the Author (required)

• Prior to approval of the proposal, the committee may decide that three or more publications

are needed to report results adequately. At least two of the manuscripts must report on the



research data. A systematic review of the literature may be considered as a third publication if there is an appropriate scholarly journal that publishes systematic reviews.

• In preparation for the proposal defense, students must provide the doctoral committee with

the equivalent of the selected format, whether it is the traditional or manuscript format. If using the traditional format, Chapters 1-3 (Introduction and Specific Aims, Review of the Literature, Methods (including ascertainment of variables and data collection as well as a plan for Statistical Analysis) will be completed. If the student has chosen the manuscript format, these will include the Introduction and Specific Aims, Review of the Literature, Methods (which most likely will be common for the papers but may vary somewhat) and the plan for Statistical Analysis (which may or may not be common to all papers).

• Note: For the final doctoral defense, if more than two manuscripts are required by the committee; those manuscripts will be Sections 4 and 5. Each proposed manuscript will follow the specific manuscript guidelines, and will include the introduction and statement of the problem, literature review, and methods. It is recommended that a copy of the journal’s instructions for authors be available to each committee member.

• At the oral defense of the proposal, the student is expected to present items in Section 1, a comprehensive review of the literature [3] as well as an overview of each manuscript’s specific aims/hypotheses, methods, and rationale for each journal selection. The manuscripts are to cover the entire dissertation research.

• The final dissertation will include Section 1 (introduction and framework), a section for

each completed manuscript (including all components required by the specific journal guidelines), final conclusion and recommendation section, references, and appendices. The last section focuses on conclusions and implications of the entire dissertation. Additionally, it is necessary for this section to cover the items below if not covered in the manuscripts.

o Theoretical implications involved in interpretation of the dissertation findings

and in terms of the questions and hypotheses that guided the study. It also should include a critical, retrospective examination of the framework presented in Section 1 in light of the dissertation’s findings.

o Practical implications and new insights derived from the dissertation to solve real and significant public health problems.

o Implications for future research based on the study’s findings and limitations. Generally, future research could look at different settings, interventions with new protocols or dependent measures, or new theoretical issues that emerge from the study. It is appropriate to suggest which of these possibilities are likely to be most fruitful.

o A “take home message,” the enduring ideas or conclusions that readers need to keep in mind. This should be presented in the simplest possible form, being sure to preserve the conditional nature of the insights.

• The entire dissertation must conform to basic format requirements as required by Graduate

School. (see http://www.grad.usf.edu/newsite/manuscript_format.asp) This format includes dissertation abstract, table of contents, acknowledgements, pagination, format style (e.g. APA), table, figure, and appendix numbering, font type and size, margin and spacing requirements and header consistency. Each manuscript in the dissertation will

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follow journal requirements/standards as to page length, abstract format, and general structural guidelines.

• There may be situations in which the original publication plan or manuscript structure is

not well suited to the dissertation findings. In those cases, students can work with their Major Professor or Co-Major Professor to modify the publication plan prior to the dissertation defense.

• The acceptance of any of the manuscripts for publication is not a requirement for

graduation although the manuscripts must be submitted for publication before graduation. The student and committee should agree to authorship of the publications before the defense of the doctoral proposal and reconfirm prior to the dissertation defense.

• In the unlikely situation that a manuscript needs to be published before the dissertation is submitted (e.g., there is a submission deadline for a special issue), the committee must review and approve in writing that the manuscript is ready for publication.

• There will be one comprehensive reference list at the end of the dissertation that will

conform to Graduate School guidelines. All appendices will be at the end of the dissertation.

5c. Standard Writing Style Research is discovery to be shared, and the USF Graduate School sets guidelines to help you display your research results in a consistent and professional manner. As researcher and author, the graduate student has full responsibility for the form and substance of the dissertation. The major professor and the members of the committee are a panel of advisors to oversee the substance, direction, and writing of the research, in addition to providing guidance for the format of the document. The Manuscript Editor of the Graduate School ensures University format guidelines are met. The Graduate School offers workshops to assist graduate students in meeting the goal of consistent and professional presentation. Contact the Graduate School for more information and to find out when the next available workshop will be held. 5d. Choice of Style Manual The Graduate School does not prescribe any single style for dissertations as formats differ across disciplines. Students should select a style manual established by their department or committee and consistently follow the guidelines of that manual throughout the entire manuscript (not only for the reference/bibliography sections). If additional manuscripts are required by the committee, the section numbers will change. For example, in a dissertation with three manuscripts, the third manuscript will be labeled Section 4 and the “Conclusions and Recommendations” will be labeled Section 5. In a dissertation with four manuscripts, the fourth manuscript will be labeled Section 5 and the “Conclusions and Recommendations” will be labeled Section 6 [1]. 5e. Authorship The doctoral candidate is expected to assume the role of lead investigator for his/her doctoral research, exercising these responsibilities and decision making prerogatives with guidance from the Major Professor and Doctoral Dissertation Committee. Consistent with this role, the doctoral student is expected to serve as lead author on publications that originate from doctoral dissertation research, unless an alternative is stipulated at the time of the doctoral dissertation proposal defense as required by access to data or resources.

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Although co-authors will need to be identified for manuscript submission, co-author’s names should not be included in the dissertation itself. In general, it is understood that all doctoral committee members will co-author the manuscripts, with the doctoral student being first author. The doctoral committee shall decide, in collaboration with the student, in what order the co-authors should be listed for each manuscript. The student and committee should agree to general authorship of the publications before the defense of the doctoral proposal and reconfirm and prioritize order of the co-authors prior to the dissertation defense. Authorship recommendations from the scientific editors of the major health sciences journals serve as guidelines for this process, as summarized in JAMA 269:2282-2286;1993 and the instructions to authors provided by the journal of submission. Additional information about the two formats is provided on the Department website. 6. Dissertation Concept Presentation All doctoral students are required to present their dissertation research idea in a formal oral presentation to the Department as a Departmental Seminar prior to writing the dissertation proposal. The student should present their ideas for a dissertation topic during the mid-stages of dissertation development so that they can incorporate any input they receive from Department faculty and other doctoral students during the seminar. When the Major Professor and Doctoral Dissertation Committee agree that the student is ready to present their dissertation idea to the Department and have selected potential dates for presentation, a Department Seminar will be scheduled. Students should contact the Department Academic Coordinator to schedule the seminar. The seminar will be announced via flyers and email at least two-weeks prior to the date selected, therefore the student should contact the Department Academic Coordinator at least 3 weeks prior to the desired seminar date. For the Concept Presentation, the student should prepare a 35 to 45-minute presentation with slides (e.g., PowerPoint) which includes: the rationale for the proposed study, the research question and proposed hypotheses, study design, research methods and proposed statistical analyses. At the conclusion of the presentation, there will be a 15-20 minute Q&A session which will be moderated by the student. 7. Dissertation Proposal Defense After the student has written their dissertation proposal in one of the selected dissertation formats (see above) and the Doctoral Dissertation Committee and Major Professor are in agreement that the student is ready to defend his/her dissertation proposal, the student will orally defend the proposal in a public defense in which the Doctoral Dissertation Committee and other interested parties are present. The proposal is presented in a formal presentation to the student’s Doctoral Dissertation Committee. This presentation is open to other faculty, staff and students. At the discretion of the student and the Committee, guests of the student and the general public may be invited. The Dissertation Proposal Defense date will be scheduled by agreement between the student and members of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, and approved by the Department Chairperson.



7a. Summary of Steps in the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Defense Process 1. The student may schedule a final Dissertation Committee meeting prior to distributing the

version of the Dissertation Proposal that will be presented at the oral defense. At this meeting, the student and Committee should finalize any additional changes needed to be made prior to the Dissertation Proposal Defense.

2. After this meeting, the student will make the recommended changes. If a meeting is not scheduled, the draft of the Dissertation proposal that will be defended must be received by all committee members at least four weeks prior to the anticipated defense date. Committee members should review the proposal and discuss changes prior to signing the Department Request for Dissertation Proposal Defense Form.

3. All Dissertation Committee members must sign the Department Request for Dissertation Proposal Defense form indicating that they have read the proposal and approve it for presentation. This form is available from the Department’s Academic Coordinator or on the Department web page.

4. Submit the Department Request for Dissertation Proposal Defense form and a copy of the announcement (PhD Defense Proposal Form) to the Department Chairperson at least 21 days prior to the presentation.

5. The PhD Defense Proposal Form (announcement) must be posted at least 14 days prior to the Dissertation Proposal Defense. Once approved, the Department Academic Coordinator will post and distribute the announcement to Department. Flyers will be posted throughout the College, placed on the COPH listservs and USF-NEWS.

6. A final copy of the Dissertation Proposal must be given to the Dissertation Committee members and the Department Chairperson 7 days prior to the defense. No further changes may be made to the research proposal until after the defense.

7b. Format of Proposal Presentation The purpose of the Dissertation Proposal defense is to provide students with the opportunity to present their plans for dissertation research, and refine the methods based on recommendations and suggestions from the audience at-large. The Dissertation Proposal Defense is conducted in the following format:

1. Introduction by proposal moderator. 2. Oral presentation with slides (e.g., PowerPoint) of the dissertation proposal by student not

to exceed 35 minutes. The presentation should include: the rationale for the proposed study, the research question and proposed hypotheses, study design, research methods and proposed statistical analyses.

3. Questions by Dissertation Committee members until all questions have been asked. 4. One round of questions by attending non-committee faculty members. 5. Questions from non-faculty members in attendance beginning with doctoral students, other

students, and other attendees. 6. Meeting of Doctoral Dissertation Committee

7c. The Dissertation Proposal Defense Following the Dissertation Proposal Defense, the Dissertation Committee members will convene in a private meeting to determine the appropriateness of the proposed dissertation research and to discuss recommendations for additional changes in the proposal. Committee members sign the Department Approval of Dissertation Proposal Defense Form only after the corrections, additions or changes have been made in writing and the corrected final copy has been distributed to the committee and Department Chairperson. At their discretion, committee members may sign this form prior to the changes being made with the understanding that the Major Professor will



supervise the requested revisions. This form is available from the Department’s Academic Coordinator or on the Department web page. Approval of Dissertation Proposal Defense is not an endorsement of the proposal as a completed research plan. This acceptance also does not preclude the committee from requiring modifications to the data analysis plan or review of literature at a later date. The committee may require that a proposal be presented for a second time before being approved, if actions after the initial proposal meeting indicate that substantive modifications in the proposal are necessary. 7d. Approval of the Dissertation Proposal Document Final approval of the Dissertation Proposal document only occurs after the proposal defense and the corrections, additions or changes have been made in writing and the corrected final copy has been distributed to the Dissertation Committee and Department Chairperson. At their discretion, committee members may sign the Department Approval of Dissertation Proposal Defense Form prior to the changes being made with the understanding that the Major Professor will supervise the requested revisions. Acceptance of the proposal in its final form constitutes the following:

1. Traditional format- Chapters 1- 3. 2. Manuscript format-5

a. If two manuscripts proposed- Sections 1- 3. b. If three manuscripts are proposed- Sections 1-4. c. If four manuscripts are proposed- Sections 1-5.

The approval of the Dissertation Proposal document does not preclude the committee from requiring modifications to the data analysis plan or review of literature at a later date. The committee must approve changes in the proposal or the conduct of the study initiated by the student. Students should not collect data or conduct any component of their proposed research for their dissertation until final approval of the proposal is completed by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee or without IRB approval. When the Dissertation Committee approves the proposal as an appropriate dissertation study, the Major Professor will send notification (Approval of Dissertation Proposal form) to the Department Chair that the proposal has been presented and approved. This form will be kept in the student’s advising file. The proposal must be successfully defended for the student to continue in the Program. Upon successful completion of the oral defense and approval of the Dissertation Proposal document, the student is given permission to begin the dissertation research. 8. Overview of Student Responsibilities during the Final Semesters of Study Here is an overview of important tasks that must be completed in order to graduate from the Doctoral Program in Epidemiology in a timely manner. Students are responsible for keeping track of important deadlines and for submission of all documents and forms.

1. Register for a minimum of two dissertation credit hours during the semester in which the dissertation defense will take place

2. Obtain a list of important dates from the Graduate School for the following deadlines: a) Application for graduation b) Deadline to register for the Graduate School Electronic Theses and Dissertation

(ETD) workshop. NOTE: All Doctoral students are required to attend an ETD workshop one semester prior to graduation.

c) Payment of manuscript fee



d) Submission of an electronic dissertation to the Graduate School 3. Submit dissertation via ETD. 4. After defense and approval, submit your dissertation electronically following the

procedures on the Graduate School website. 5. Provide a bound copy of the final approved dissertation to the major professor. Bound

copies for other members of the dissertation committee may be provided at your discretion. Bound copies may be purchased through the USF Bookstore at your own expense.

6. Purchase your cap and gown at the USF Bookstore at least two weeks prior to Commencement

7. Attend Commencement and Celebrate! 9. Doctoral Dissertation Defense 9a. The Dissertation Document At the completion of the dissertation research project, the student will defend his/her work in a public defense attended by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, faculty, students and any interested individuals who wish to attend. The doctoral student must have met regularly with his/her committee such that the defense is a pro forma event and the committee is apprised well in advance on the progress of the student toward completion of the degree. The student must provide all Doctoral Dissertation Committee members a final draft of the dissertation document at least 4 weeks before the desired defense date. Committee members must be given at least two weeks

to read the dissertation and provide feedback prior to signing the form. A final draft copy of the dissertation must be provided to the Department Chair for review by any interested department faculty member.

9b. Summary of Steps for the Final Dissertation Defense 1. The student may schedule a final Dissertation Committee meeting prior to distributing the

dissertation that will be presented. During this meeting, the student and committee should finalize any changes needed to prepare the dissertation for presentation. After the meeting, the student will make the recommended changes. If a meeting is not scheduled, the draft proposal must be received by committee members at least four weeks prior to the anticipated defense date. Committee members should review the proposal and discuss changes prior to signing the Ph.D. Request for Dissertation Defense Form.

2. All committee members must sign the Ph.D. Request for Dissertation Defense Form indicating that they have read the proposal and approve it for presentation. These forms are available from the College of Public Health Office of Academic and Student Affairs and online.

3. The Ph.D. Request for Dissertation Defense Form and a copy of the announcement (PhD Defense Announcement Form) must be submitted to the Department at least 21 days prior to the presentation. Once approved, the Academic Coordinator will post and distribute the announcement to the faculty and to students. Flyers will be posted throughout the College, and placed on the COPH listservs.

4. A final copy of the dissertation is given to the committee members, Department Chairperson, and moderator at least 7 days prior to the presentation. No further changes may be made to the research proposal until after the defense. Approval for presentation is not an endorsement of the dissertation as a completed research project.

9c. Scheduling the Dissertation Defense Scheduling of the oral presentation of the dissertation is by mutual agreement between the student and the Doctoral Dissertation Committee members, and approved by the Department. Before the



defense can be scheduled, the student must have the Ph.D. Request for Defense Form (http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/forms.html) completed and signed by all committee members and given to the Department Academic Coordinator. Once the form has been approved, a final draft copy of the dissertation must be provided to the Department Chair for review by any interested college faculty member. Members of the doctoral committee must sign the Request for the Ph.D. Dissertation Defense form prior to the oral presentation of the dissertation indicating that they have read the dissertation and approve it for presentation. Approval does not preclude changes in the final form of the dissertation, which may be suggested during or after the oral presentation. The format for the oral presentation is consistent with policies of the College of Public Health and the USF Graduate School, but as much as possible, is governed by the mutual wishes of the student and the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. The signed Request for the Ph.D. Dissertation Defense and the Ph.D. Defense Announcement Form must be submitted to the Department Chair for approval 21 days prior to the defense date. Once approved and at least 14 days prior to the scheduled date, the Academic Program Coordinator will post and distribute the announcement to the Department and COPH faculty and students via flyers posted throughout the College, and the COPH listservs. The student must provide a final copy of the dissertation document for each Dissertation Committee member and the Moderator at least 7 days prior to the scheduled Dissertation Defense date. The student must also provide a copy of the dissertation to the Department Chairperson. No changes should be made to the document at this point until after the defense. Successful completion of the oral examination is the culminating step of the doctoral program. This defense is the student’s opportunity to present the dissertation in a public forum where faculty, other students, and guests are invited. 9d. Chair (Moderator) for Dissertation Defense The student, in consultation with the Major Professor, will select an “Outside Chair of the Dissertation Defense” (moderator) for the Dissertation Defense. The moderator should be a senior, distinguished and fully credentialed member of the USF graduate faculty. In accordance with USF Graduate School policy, the moderator cannot be a member of the doctoral committee or a faculty member within the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. If the chair is from another institution, this individual should have the equivalent qualifications necessary to chair a dissertation in the subject area at the University of South Florida. Note that the Major Professor may not serve as the “Outside Chair.” 9e. Format of the Dissertation Defense The student will make a formal oral defense with slides (e.g., PowerPoint) of the dissertation not to exceed 35-45 minutes. The presentation should include: the rationale for the proposed study, the research question and proposed hypotheses, study design, research methods, statistical analyses, results and discussion. The entire oral examination process normally should be conducted in the following format:

1. Introduction by Dissertation Defense Chair. 2. Oral presentation of the dissertation research with slides (e.g., PowerPoint) of the

dissertation proposal by student not to exceed 35 minutes. The presentation should include: the rationale for the study, the research question and hypotheses, study design,

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research methods and statistical analyses; results; strengths & limitations and conclusions.

3. Questions by Dissertation Committee members until all questions have been asked. 4. One round of questions by attending non-committee faculty members. 5. Questions from non-faculty members in attendance beginning with doctoral students,

other students, and other attendees. 6. Meeting of Doctoral Dissertation Committee

The entire oral examination process normally should not exceed 3 hours in duration.

The student’s doctoral committee has final approval of the oral examination and the written product. Following the dissertation presentation, the doctoral committee convenes without the student present to assess the student’s performance in presenting the dissertation research. The doctoral committee may require modifications of the dissertation following the examination and before granting its final approval. If the modifications are extensive, the committee may ask the student to undergo another formal presentation. A student is recommended for the doctorate once ALL members of the committee judge both the dissertation and the performance of the student in oral examination to be satisfactory. Approval of the dissertation is indicated by signature on the Successful Defense of the Ph.D. Dissertation form. If revisions to the Dissertation document are required, the Major Professor will keep the form until all revisions are completed satisfactorily. The student has sole responsibility for assuring that all forms related to the proposal and dissertation are completed, and that all work related to the dissertation conforms to the accepted style and format of the USF Graduate School. Read the Graduate School website for specific details required by the USF Graduate School regarding dissertation presentation and preparation of the final manuscript http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis.asp. After the successful defense of the doctoral dissertation students should submit the Successful Defense of the Ph.D. Dissertation form signed by Committee members and moderator to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs. In addition, students should also submit the Certificate of Approval Form for Theses and Dissertations form to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs after it has been signed by committee members after all corrections and modifications have been completed satisfactorily. 10. Submission of Dissertation It is essential that the dissertation is submitted in an acceptable format to the USF Graduate School. Students are required to follow the format and content of the dissertation guidelines set forth on the Graduate Studies website http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis.asp. It is the responsibility of the student to meet with the Manuscript Editor at the Graduate School. The first meeting will be to drop off the final draft of the dissertation. The second meeting will be to discuss, in detail, any corrections needed for final approval by the Graduate School. It is important that you are aware of all Graduate School deadlines during your final semester. These deadlines are announced at the beginning of each semester. When in doubt, contact the Graduate School or check online at http://www.grad.usf.edu/manuscriptdealines_new.asp. Failing to meet the deadlines will delay your graduation. You will then be required to submit a new application for graduation, pay a

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new manuscript fee, and register for an additional two hours of dissertation during the following semester. 11. ProQuest Publication and Copyright Because all dissertations must be submitted to ProQuest for publication via the Graduate School, the student will need to contact ProQuest to request permission for submission to a journal for publication. (ProQuest has indicated they will always give permission). ProQuest publishes, but does not automatically copyright the dissertation. It is best NOT to request copyright by ProQuest so that the copyright will not have to be transferred to the publishing journal. For more information about this process, please see the USF Graduate School website. The Graduate School will contact you to verify that all requirements have been met for graduation. The successful completion of this form is a final critical step in meeting the requirements for the Ph.D. degree. Without final approval from the Graduate School, you will not graduate. 12. Application for Degree Each student planning to complete the degree requirements by the end of a term must submit a Graduate Degree Graduation Application (http://www.registrar.usf.edu/data_display.php?link_type=Forms) by the deadline noted in the Academic Calendar for the term in which the student expects to graduate. The student must file an application whether or not the student is participating in the commencement ceremony. Completed forms should be turned in to the College of Public Health Office of Academic and Student Affairs. Note that students must be enrolled for at least 2 credit hours in the semester they wish to graduate. Students should consult the College of Public Health Office of Academic and Student Affairs, the USF Graduate School Catalog and website for more information.

http://www.registrar.usf.edu/data_display.php?link_type=Forms�



V. STUDENT RESOURCES

1. Galvan, J. L. (1999). Writing literature reviews: A guide for students of the social and behavioral sciences. Los Angeles: Pyrczak. Locke, L., W. Spirduso, & S. J. Silverman (2000).

2. Proposals that work: A guide for planning dissertations and grant proposals. (4th ed.) Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

3. Manning, T., Algozzine, B., & Antonak, R. (2003). Guide for preparing a thesis or dissertation. Morgantown, WV: PNG Publications.

4. Rudestam, K. E. & Newton, R. R. (2001). Surviving your dissertation: A comprehensive guide to content and process. (2nd ed.) Newbury Park, CA: Sage

VI. SOURCE OF MATERIALS This document generously used materials from:

1) http://www.albany.edu/etap/graduate_programs/doctoral/Dissertation%20guidelines.doc

2) Dissertation Guidelines, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida.

3) Academic Policies, Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

4) Student Handbook, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences, University of South Florida

https://webmail.health.usf.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=475b10d54fca440da224143cae774671&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.albany.edu%2fetap%2fgraduate_programs%2fdoctoral%2fDissertation%2520guidelines.doc�

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VII. CHECKLIST FOR THE DOCTORAL DEGREE PROCESS Refer to the guideline text for more specific detail of each checklist item and see the list of important dates and deadlines published by the COPH each semester.

STUDENT ADVISING AND COMMITTEE SELECTION Date 1. Meet with Advisor ____________ 2. Review Doctoral Program requirements and guidelines ____________ 3. Create tentative schedule or timetable of tasks to be completed ____________ 4. Enroll full-time for classes in Fall semester ____________ 5. Select Major Professor ____________ 6. Form Doctoral Program Committee ____________ 7. Submit PhD Committee Form ____________ 8. Submit Department Plan of Study Form by end of Spring semester

____________

COURSEWORK PHASE Date 1. Update Department Plan of Study Form as needed ____________ 2. Complete Program Requirements (see website) ____________

• College Required Courses ____________ • Department Prerequisites courses ____________ • Required Department Courses ____________ • Department Teaching Requirement ____________ • Primary Data Collection Experience ____________ • Annual Doctoral Student Progress Reports by June 30th ____________ • Public Health Seminars (2 per semester)

____________

QUALIFYING EXAMINATION Date 1. Notify Department of intent to take examination ____________ 2. Study for Qualifying Exam during Spring, Summer & Fall ____________ 3. Register for at least 2 credit hours during Fall semester of Exam ____________ 4. Request 2-week leave from work for Part 2 of exam, if necessary ____________ 5. Submit Application for Ph.D. Qualifying Exam ____________ 6. Take exam and submit Part 1 & 2 of Qualifying Exam ____________ 7. Notified of results of Qualifying Exam ____________ 8. Review results of Qualifying Exam with Major Professor, if necessary

____________



ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY Date 1. Notified by Department that Qualifying Exams were passed ____________ 2. Submit Admission to Doctoral Candidacy ____________ 3. Notified of Candidacy by the Graduate School ____________ 4. Register for at least 2 credit hours each semester thereafter

____________

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION COMMITTEE Date 1. Review composition of Doctoral Program Committee and make changes if necessary for Doctoral Dissertation Committee

____________

2. Submit PhD Change of Committee Form if necessary

____________

DISSERTATION CONCEPT PRESENTATION Date 1. Select Dissertation topic and develop research aims and methods ____________ 2. Discuss Dissertation ideas/methods with Major Professor and/or Dissertation committee

____________

3. Schedule dissertation concept presentation (no later than Spring semester after passing Qualifying Exams)

____________

DISSERTATION PROPOSAL PHASE Date 1. Approval of Major Professor/Dissertation Committee of proposed dissertation topic

____________

2. Decide on format of Dissertation (Traditional vs. Manuscript) 3. Submit first draft to Major Professor and/or Dissertation Committee ____________ 4. Make revisions as needed to Dissertation Proposal ____________ 5. Once Committee agrees, schedule date for Proposal Defense ____________ 6. Four (4) weeks before Dissertation Proposal Defense:

• Submit draft to committee and make revisions ____________ 7. Twenty-one (21) days before Dissertation Proposal Defense:

• Submit signed PhD Request for Dissertation Defense ____________ • Submit PhD Defense Proposal Form (announcement) to

Department for approval ____________

8. Announcement posted by Academic Program Coordinator 2 weeks prior to Defense

____________

9. Seven (7) days before Dissertation Proposal Defense: • Distribute final copies of proposal to committee members, ____________



moderator, and Department Chair (no changes should be made until after the defense)

10. Approval of Proposal by Dissertation Committee ____________ DISSERTATION RESEARCH

Date 1. Register for at least 2 credit hours of Dissertation Research ____________ 2. Submit IRB applications to non-USF institutions if needed ____________ 3. Submit USF eIRB application for Dissertation Research ____________ 4. Complete Data Use Agreement Form ____________ 5. Discuss authorship of Dissertation-related manuscripts with Committee Members

____________

6. Upon approval of USF IRB, begin Dissertation Research ____________ 7. Complete Dissertation Research ____________ 8. Register for USF Graduate School ETD workshop ____________ 9. Complete Graduate School ETD workshop one semester prior to graduation

____________

10. Submit first draft of completed Dissertation to Major Professor ____________ 11. Complete revisions as necessary ____________ 12. Submit revised draft to Dissertation Committee ____________ 13. Make revisions as necessary ____________ 14. Upon approval of committee, schedule Dissertation Defense ____________ 15. Apply for graduation ____________ 16. Four (4) weeks before Dissertation Defense:

• Distribute copies to committee members for review and make changes as needed

____________

17. Twenty-one (21) days before Dissertation Defense: • Submit PhD Request for the Dissertation Defense Form ____________ • Submit PhD Defense Announcement Form (announcement)

to Department for approval ____________

18. Announcement posted by Academic Program Coordinator 2 weeks prior to Defense

____________

19. Seven (7) days before Dissertation Defense: ____________ • Distribute final copies of proposal to committee members,

moderator, and Department Chair (no changes should be made until after the defense)

____________

20. Upon passing the Dissertation Defense, submit the Successful Defense of the Ph.D. Dissertation Form

____________

21. Celebrate! ____________ 22. Submit electronic dissertation and Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form and any other required forms to the Graduate School

____________



PREPARATION FOR GRADUATION Date 1. Mail invitations to Graduation ceremony (if applicable) ____________ 2. Provide a bound copy of Dissertation to Major Professor (and other Committee Members if requested)

____________

3. Purchase cap and gown at USF bookstore 2 weeks prior to commencement

____________

4. Attend commencement ____________ 5. Celebrate (again!) ____________ 6. Sleep, take a vacation, or do something fun and relaxing!! ____________

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