Evaluation Milestones of the Population Health Sciences Program
Comprehensive Project
The summer of the first year, doctoral students complete an independent project using existing data. The project allows the student to demonstrate competence in organizing, pacing, and producing an independent research project within a set time frame. Students demonstrate their ability to define a study question and provide justification and rationale for their work. Further, students demonstrate their ability to develop and implement an appropriate analysis plan, interpret findings, and discuss the findings in light of the existing literature. Students select appropriate target journals for their work and prepare a manuscript according to the instructions for authors. The manuscript undergoes internal peer review and students will revise and resubmit their manuscript draft. Each student gives a professional oral presentation and defends their work.
Written Qualifying Exams
Students successfully complete a written qualifying exam in December of Year 2. Each student will be required to demonstrate methodological competence in topics covered in required epidemiology and biostatistics courses (CTS605A, CTS602A, CTS603A, survival analysis component of CTS603B). The exam is a closed book, take-home, one-day exam. See the Student Handbook for more details.
Oral Exam – Dissertation Proposal
Students develop their thesis proposal in Spring of Year 2 (CTS875). The thesis proposal may take the form of an NIH F30, F31, or R36 mechanism. The oral qualifying examination occurs in the last two weeks of May in Year 2 . The purpose of the oral exam is to provide a forum for hearing the justification and design of the proposed doctoral research. Students should schedule 2 hours for this milestone. See the Student Handbook for more details.
Dissertation Defense
The public oral defense of the dissertation allows the opportunity for students to clearly explain their work and how it the work adds to the literature. Students should schedule 2 hours for this milestone.