Academics

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control

OFFERED BY: DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

Onsite | Full-Time | 4 years

About the PhD in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control Program

The PhD program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, International Health is more applied, multidisciplinary, and internationally oriented than standard infectious disease epidemiology programs. It prepares students to take leadership positions in important global public health settings with strong research components. 

This is a STEM designated program. Eligible F-1 visa students can receive an additional 24 months of work authorization, beyond the initial 12 months of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

PhD in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control Program Highlights

Students will learn to use epidemiologic, immunologic, laboratory and statistical methods to design, implement, and evaluate disease control interventions for diseases of public health importance to underserved populations.

GLOBAL NETWORK

Research opportunities around the world

APPLIED LEARNING

Training in epidemiologic and biostatistical methods

Vaccine Training

From clinical trials to implementation

STEM DESIGNATED

Eligibility for a 24-month STEM OPT extension

What Can You Do With a Graduate Degree in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control

Visit the Graduate Employment Outcomes Dashboard to learn about Bloomberg School graduates' employment status, sector, and salaries.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • Coordinator for Prescription Drug Overdose Response, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
  • Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer

Interactive Research and Development

  • Director, Child Health & Vaccines Program, Pakistan Country Office

International Rescue Committee

  • Technical Advisor for Research

National Institutes of Health

  • Research Fellow, Division of International Epidemiology and Population Studies, ​Fogarty International Center

Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia

  • Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

World Health Organization

  • Scientist, Initiative for Vaccine Research

Curriculum for the PhD in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control

Students acquire a broad understanding of the methods needed to design studies and gain hands-on experience in the design, conduct and analysis of community and clinical trials and/or laboratory based investigations, including the immunologic and biologic basis of responses to immunizations and other prophylactic or therapeutic interventions.

Browse an overview of the requirements for this PhD program in the JHU Academic Catalogue, explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School Course Directory(link is external), and find many more details in the program's Academic Guides.

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Courses Available in the Following Areas:

  • Infectious diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Vaccinology
  • Field trials
  • Program implementation and evaluation
  • Program design

Admissions Requirements

For general admissions requirements, please visit the How to Apply page. This specific program also requires:

Prior Graduate Degree

A degree in medicine, veterinary medicine, or dentistry, or a master’s degree or equivalent graduate training in epidemiology, statistics, international health, tropical medicine, microbiology, parasitology, immunology, or virology.

Prior Work Experience

Not required but highly desirable

Standardized Test Scores

Standardized test scores are required for this program. This program accepts the following standardized test scores: GRE. Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all application components.

Program Faculty Spotlight

Melissa Marx

Melissa A. Marx

Associate Professor
International Health

Melissa A. Marx, PhD ‘02, MPH ’98, evaluates maternal, child, and infectious disease programs, and has led response efforts for outbreaks including SARS, Ebola, and COVID-19.

Anna Durbin

Anna P. Durbin

Professor
International Health

Anna Durbin, MD, studies experimental vaccines for SARS-CoV-2, dengue, West Nile, Zika, malaria, and more in human clinical trials and in controlled human infection studies.

Christine Marie George

Christine Marie George

Professor
International Health

Christine Marie George, PhD, is an infectious disease epidemiologist who designs infectious disease control programs to promote health equity and prevent infections globally.

Rupali Limaye

Rupali J. Limaye

Associate Professor
International Health

Rupali Limaye, PhD ’12, MPH, MA, studies how health information can best be communicated to individuals in different contexts and through different channels.

Tuition and Funding

Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the JHU PhD Union, the minimum guaranteed 2025-2026 academic year stipend is $50,000 for all PhD students with a 4% increase the following year. Tuition, fees, and medical benefits are provided, including health insurance premiums for PhD student’s children and spouses of international students, depending on visa type. The minimum stipend and tuition coverage is guaranteed for at least the first four years of a BSPH PhD program; specific amounts and the number of years supported, as well as work expectations related to that stipend will vary across departments and funding source. Please refer to the CBA to review specific benefits, compensation, and other terms.

Need-Based Relocation Grants
Students who are admitted to PhD programs at JHU starting in Fall 2023 or beyond can apply to receive a need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to be able to attend JHU. These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to afford to relocate to JHU for their PhD program. This is not a merit-based grant. Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need. View more information about the need-based relocation grants for PhD students.

Contact Us

Questions about the program? We're happy to help.

Elisabeth Simmons, MEd
Academic Program Administrator
esimmo15@jhu.edu

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