The Graduate Minor in Epidemiology is designed for students in non-epidemiology graduate degree programs at the University of Minnesota. Students in a master’s degree program who want epidemiologic methods training can declare the Epidemiology Master’s Level Minor.

The master’s level minor requires a total of 8 credits as listed below and all courses toward the minor must be taken for A/F grading option. Students in doctoral programs who want epidemiologic methods training can declare the Epidemiology Doctoral level minor.

The doctoral level minor has two options. Option 1 is for students with prior epidemiology training and totals 12 credits. Option 2 is for students without extensive epidemiology or biostatistical training; it also totals 12 credits.

Download the program brochure (PDF)

Declaring the Master’s Level Epidemiology Minor

The process to declare a minor is based on specific criteria.
View Declaration Process

Curriculum

View Curriculum and Degree Information

Additional Specific Information for the Doctoral Level Epidemiology Minor

Doctoral students seeking the doctoral level epidemiology minor agree to:

• Ensure your dissertation reflects the Epidemiology Minor in some way
• Include an Epidemiology PhD faculty member with graduate education status on your preliminary oral and final oral thesis committees
• Obtain Epidemiology PhD program director’s approval (see process below) before you submit your GPAS for the Doctoral Minor

How to Pursue the Doctoral Level Epidemiology Minor

• Put your request in an email and address it to the Epidemiology PhD Program Director. Please send your email request to epichstu@umn.edu. EpiCH Student Services will coordinate the requests for the program director.
• Include in your request: (a) which option you are choosing and why; (b) proposed electives; (c) the name of your program and your adviser; and (d) a few sentences about the focus of your dissertation/research work.
• Attach a copy of your most recent transcript; an unofficial copy is fine. You should be able to do that electronically as a pdf.
• Include any required course substitution requests with the initial request to the program director. A copy of the syllabus must be included for any course substitution requests.
• Minor electives should have epidemiology or biostatistical methods focus, for example, one of our “Epi of classes” such as PubH 6385, 6386, 6387, 6381 or 6389; or Biostatistics II (PubH 6451) for Option 2. If you are interested in proceeding on to Epi Methods III, for Option 2, you must take PubH 6451 prior to taking Epi Methods III.
• Show your memo to your adviser first and get her/his approval, and indicate in your memo that your adviser approves your request.
• If you know which epidemiology doctoral faculty member you will ask to be on your committee, please include the name. If you don’t know, indicate who will be assisting you in selecting that person (i.e. your adviser or your program’s DGS)
• Email your request, transcript copy and any other materials to epichstu@umn.edu. You can expect a reply in 1-2 business days.