M.S. Concentrators Guide

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M.S. Concentrators’ Guide

2015-2016

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Boston University School of Public Health

Department of Epidemiology

715 Albany Street, Talbot 3 East Boston, Massachusetts 02118 T 617-638-7775 F 617-638-4458

Department Contacts:

Dr. Martha Werler (617) 638-7775 [email protected]

Department Chairman

Dr. Lisa Fredman (617) 638-7719 [email protected]

Professor and Associate Chair for Research

Lorraine Kiley (617) 414-5764 [email protected]

Department Financial and Grant Manager

Emily Katz (617) 638-8322 [email protected]

Curriculum Coordinator

M.S. Oversight Committee Members:

• Dr. Ann Aschengrau, Chair (617) 638-5228 [email protected] • Dr. C. Robert Horsburgh (617) 638-8773 [email protected] • Dr. David Felson (617) 638-5188 [email protected] • Dr. Megan Bair-Merritt (617) 414-5946 megan.bair-_{[email protected]}

• Dr. Joanne Wilkinson (617) 414-2080 joanne.wilkinson@bm_c.org

Boston University Policy Statement

Boston University and the Boston University School of Public Health reserve the right to change

the policies, curricula, or any other matter in this handbook without prior notice. Students will be

notified of major changes as soon as practicable after they are decided.

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BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Boston University School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology

715 Albany Street, T3E Boston, MA 02118

T 617-638-7775 F 617-638-4458 http://sph.bu.edu/epi

Dear M.S. Student:

I am delighted to welcome you to Boston University School of Public Health as a Master of Science degree student. Let me take this opportunity to introduce you to the Department of Epidemiology. The M.S. program in Epidemiology is designed to provide students with fundamental grounding in epidemiology and biostatistics with an emphasis on the application of these disciplines to public health research. An extensive array of courses is offered in epidemiologic principles and methods, and is complemented with courses on the statistical evaluation of data collected in health research in the Biostatistics Department. In addition, courses are offered to provide specialized training in a number of focused substantive areas such as infectious diseases, cancer and cardiovascular disease, AIDS, genetic, environmental, and drug epidemiology. Our entire faculty is actively involved in teaching at both the introductory and advanced level and work together with the students to create a community environment for learning.

Our faculty also actively participates in research, collaborating not only with researchers in the School of Public Health but also a large number of investigators within the Boston University Medical Center and at other institutions. These collaborations bring broad experience to the classroom in a wide range of epidemiologic applications. Some particular areas of interest among faculty members are reproductive, perinatal and pediatric epidemiology, the impact of environmental contaminants upon health, genetic epidemiology, AIDS research, public health epidemiology, cancer epidemiology, and cardiovascular disease epidemiology (including active involvement in the world-famous Framingham Heart Study). In addition, two groups that specialize in drug epidemiology are intimately linked to the department: the Slone Epidemiology Center and the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program. These activities along with alliances with other institutions provide a large array of research opportunities.

The Department houses two degree programs in addition to the M.S. - the MPH and Ph.D. Some students who obtain their M.S. go on to the Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. program provides advanced professional training in epidemiology to prepare individuals for leadership in epidemiologic research and methodology. Thus, the department brings together a wide range of students with varied interests.

I encourage you to contact Ann Aschengrau, the M.S. Program Director at 617-638-5228 or Emily Katz, the Curriculum Coordinator, at 617-638-8322 to gather further information about our program as you plan your academic career here. We can put you in contact with other faculty members in the department if you have further questions about interests and opportunities that will be available to you as a student in Epidemiology here at the School of Public Health. You can also find more information at our website: bu.edu/sph/epi

Sincerely,

Martha M. Werler, DSc, MPH

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Compliance Requirements Academic Honesty Grading Standards, Probation, Dismissal Registration Requirements Program Time Limit Course Waivers and Transfer Credit Training as Researchers Thesis Defense and Submission The Official MS Student Record International Students Section 5 Student Resources and Professional Development ... 17

Writing Assistance Program Disability Services Student Health and Behavioral Medicine Communications Events Professional Development Section 6 Faculty ... 20

APPENDICES Appendix A: Student Progress ... 21 Course Planning Document

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MA S T E R O F S C I E N C E I N E P I 2 0 1 5 / 2 0 1 6

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Quick Reference Guide

Please see the SPH Bulletin (http://www.bu.edu/academics/sph/courses/) and the SPH Student Handbook (http://www.bu.edu/sph/students/resources/student-handbook/) for all resources available to SPH students.

Subject Office & Contact Info

Course Materials Online: Course information, assignments, and syllabi are often posted on a

course webpage at learn.bu.edu. A BU email address and Kerberos password are required to access these websites.

Course Readers and textbooks are available for purchase through

Barnes & Noble bookstore located at 660 Beacon Street, Kenmore Square, Boston University Charles River Campus.

Career Services:

resume reviews; networking; job fairs;

career workshops

Office of Career Services: bu.edu/sph/careers

Talbot 2 East

Maria McCarthy, [email protected], 617-638-4602 Lisa Toby, [email protected], 617-638-4675

Financial Assistance Office of Student Financial Services: bumc.bu.edu/osfs

[email protected]

617-638-5130; 617-638-5115; or 877-776-6243

SPH Admissions, Financing Your Education:

sph.bu.edu/admissions/financingyoureducation

Housing:

seeking a roommate Office of Housing Resources: bumc.bu.edu/ohr

Library Resources:

paper and online books and journals;

reserve materials; computer labs; research guides

Alumni Medical Library: med-lib.bu.edu

L Building, 12th_Floor

617-638-4232

Boston University Library Network: bu.edu/library

Parking and

Transportation:

student T passes

Office of Parking and Transportation Services: bumc.bu.edu/parking

710 Albany Street 617-638-4915

Registration Information:

Graduation Applications Concentration Change Form Course Rotation Guide Academic Policies Transcripts

Registrar’s Office: bu.edu/sph/students/resources/registrars-office

Talbot 2 Center

Chris Paal, [email protected], 617-638-4963

Degree students register online at bu.edu/studentlink

Unofficial transcripts available at bu.edu/studentlink;

Official transcripts available at bu.edu/reg

Student Health Behavioral Medicine

Student Health Services: bu.edu/shs 881 Commonwealth Avenue

617-353-3575 Student Services: Student organizations Academic accommodations Orientation Commencement Student events

Office of Student Services: bu.edu/sph/students

Talbot 2 East

Brendan Hoey, [email protected], Chase Crossno, [email protected], or Mary Murphy-Phillips, [email protected]

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IMPORTANT DATES THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR

Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH), like other schools & programs on the Medical

Campus, maintains its own academic calendar distinct from the Charles River Campus. It is important that

students always refer to the BUSPH registration packets, academic calendar, and websites for

SPH-specific information. That said, SPH endeavors to align its schedule with the Charles River Campus

schedule while still allowing for 15 class meetings for our four-credit courses.

BUSPH key registration and course schedule dates

:

bu.edu/sph/students/resources/courses-and-academic-resources/academic-calendar

**Fall 2015 Withdrawal* and Tuition Refund Schedu**

le:

bu.edu/reg/dates/withdrawal-and-tuition-refund-schedule/

*A withdrawal means dropping ALL classes at the University. Students must complete a

withdrawal form (forms are available in the SPH Registrar’s Office).

Doctoral Graduation Calendar

Doctoral Candidates (DrPH/PhD) September 25, 2015Award January 25, 2016 Award May 15, 2016 Award Graduation Application

(submitted to BUSPH Registrar)

June 26, 2015 October 23, 2015 February 14, 2016

Last Date to hold Thesis Defense

August 15, 2014 November 24, 2015 April 11, 2016

Copy of signature page emailed to BUSPH Registrar’s Office

September 11, 2015 December 18, 2015 April 29, 2016

Deadline for Submission of Approved and Signed Dissertation (copy due to Mugar Memorial Library)

September 11, 2015 December 18, 2015 April 29, 2016

School of Public Health Policy on Religious and Government Holidays

The School, in scheduling classes on religious or government holidays, intends that students observing these holidays be given ample opportunity to make up work. Faculty members who wish to observe such holidays will arrange for another faculty member to meet with their classes or for canceled classes to be rescheduled.

Emergency Cancellation Information

In the event of an emergency or class cancellation, notices will be posted to the BUSPH web site (bu.edu/sph). Email messages will also be sent to faculty, staff and students in the event of closings. A message will also be posted to the BUSPH main telephone number: 617-638-4640. PLEASE NOTE: Do not rely on information about the Charles River Campus or Boston University. The Boston University Medical Campus has different closing policies from the Charles River Campus. Obtain information specific to SPH from the above resources. Instructors are required to reschedule cancelled classes. Students will be notified by the instructor of make-up dates for any cancelled classes.

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Introduction to the Master of Science in

EPI

OVERVIEW

The results of epidemiologic investigations have attracted much public attention. Epidemi-ologic studies were the basis of the 1964 Surgeon General's report linking smoking and disease, determined the distribution and methods of transmission of AIDS, and established the relationship between high levels of cholesterol and heart disease. Epidemiologists from Boston University determined that drinking a glass of red wine each day may decrease the risk of heart disease.

In recent years, the field has expanded tremendously in size, scope, and influence. Epi-demiology is now being used to investigate a wide range of important public health topics, focusing on preventing disease and promoting health. During this period, important changes have also occurred in the theory and methods of epidemiologic research, including the development of new views on disease causation and new study designs. These changes, along with the availability of high-powered computer hardware and software, have enabled epidemiologists to explore new public health questions.

The Department of Epidemiology is dedicated to:

• Teaching the principles and methods of epidemiologic study design and analysis; • Furthering knowledge of the distribution of and risk factors for disease in human

populations through research; and

• Providing epidemiologic information that will advance public health and foster healthy communities.

M.S. students acquire depth though the completion of required and elective courses and the preparation and defense of a thesis. Required courses enable students to gain knowledge and skills that are central to epidemiology research. Elective courses give students in-depth knowledge and skills in a specific area of study. Students apply the content from their coursework in their thesis.

Thesis

Elective

Courses

Required

Courses

Section

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MASTER OF SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS

The School of Public Health requires students pursuing a Master of Science in Epidemiology to: • Complete 32 graduate-level credits as described in Section 3.

• Complete at least 24 credits within the Boston University School of Public Health

• Complete a thesis that is the equivalent of one publishable paper.

• Successfully defend the thesis and receive final approval from the thesis committee and outside reader.

• Earn a BUSPH grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. • Complete the MS degree within five years.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The M.S. in Epidemiology is intended for qualified students, especially physicians and other health professionals, who seek advanced graduate study to prepare for research careers in epidemiology and clinical epidemiology.

Upon completing the requirements for M.S. in epidemiology students will be able to:

• Develop a scientific hypothesis, beginning with a review of existing literature, and design an epidemiologic study to assess the hypothesis validly and efficiently

• Develop competence in a chosen substantive area of epidemiology for which competence requires a proficient understanding of risk factors for the disease(s), the impact of the disease(s) on populations, and an awareness of methodological issues specific to the substantive area

• Analyze a complex epidemiologic data set using at least one computer-aided tool, such as Excel or SAS

• Communicate the results of research both orally and in writing, with the written presentation meeting the current standards of publication in refereed journals

• Critically evaluate in writing a published epidemiologic investigation, with respect to:

o the choice of study population and design,

o measurement of the exposure, disease, and confounding variables, o the data description and analytic method, and

o the investigator’s interpretation of the study findings

COMMUNICATIONS

All official communications from BUSPH will be sent to your BU email so please be sure to activate a BU email account as soon as possible after you accept admission to the program. You may elect to have this email forwarded to an alternative email account if you wish. You should regularly check and clean out your BU email so that the mailbox has sufficient space to accept messages.

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ADVISING

Boston University offers its students an enormous array of intellectual opportunities and resources on both the Medical and Charles River Campuses. In addition to the required academic requirements, it is up to you to make choices that best enhance your career preparation. In order to assist you with these decisions, you will be assigned a faculty advisor upon accepting the School's offer of admission. Your advisor is available to discuss coursework, potential research topics, career paths, and other issues relevant to the student’s success; however, the student bears all responsibility for meeting administrative and academic requirements and deadlines. Your advisor can help you make the most of your investment.

If you have questions, concerns, or comments about the overall academic curriculum and policies of the concentration or the advising process, please contact with Dr. Ann Aschengrau, the M.S. Program Director at 617-638-5228.

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Course Requirements

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ELECTIVES

All MS in Epidemiology students are required to complete 32 graduate-level credits, 24 of which must be taken at the Boston University School of Public Health.

Students must complete all of the following required courses with a grade of B or above:

Students must also complete at least two of the following elective courses and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0:

Elective Courses Cr Semesters

EP721 Survey Methods for Public Health 4 Fall

EP762 Clinical Epidemiology 4 Spring

EP854 Advanced Epidemiology 4 Fall

BS722 Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials 4 Fall, Spring

BS851 Applied Statistics in Clinical Trials I 4 Alt Spring (odd yrs) & Summer (even yrs)

BS852 Statistical Methods in Epidemiology 4 Fall, Spring PM811 Health Services Research Methods 4 Spring

To complete the 32 required credits, students may take additional courses from the elective courses above, other Epidemiology courses, PM833, PM837, or SB822. Research-oriented courses in other BUSPH departments may be approved by the MS Program Director.

Please note: Directed Research (EP912) cannot be used towards the required 32 credits.

Section

2

Required Courses Cr. Semesters

BS704 Introduction to Biostatistics 3 Fall, Spring, _{Summer II} BS723 Introduction to Statistical Computing 4 Fall, Spring,

Summer I

EP713 Introduction to Epidemiology 3 Fall, Spring, Summer

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Thesis

Students in the M.S. program are also required to complete a thesis that provides a culminating experience and applies the principles and methods learned in the coursework to a real-life public health problem. For example, recent thesis topics have included reasons for inadequate follow-up for abnormal PAP smears, influence on homelessness on recurrent substance abuse, the impact of child protection teams on the evaluation of child abuse, and measuring the quality of depression care. Students conduct their thesis research in wide variety of settings, including academic medical centers, neighborhood health centers, local and state health departments, and the Veterans Health Administra-tion. Possible thesis topics should be discussed with Dr. Aschengrau before submitting a thesis proposal.

Students generally develop their thesis proposal and nominate their thesis committee while they are completing their course work. The thesis committee often includes an epidemiologist, a biostatistician, and a clinician with expertise in the research topic. The thesis research must involve the processing and analysis of data. Students are encouraged but are not required to conduct original data collection. The thesis proposal and thesis committee must be approved by the M.S. Degree Committee.

The thesis proposal (usually 10-15 pages long) describes the nature of the thesis research, and includes an introduction and background, a clear statement of the research goals and hypotheses, a detailed description of the study design and study population, sample size and power calculations, key analyses to be performed, and the study strengths and limitations. The analysis section should include the definitions of the exposure, outcome, and confounding variables, and a description of both the crude and adjusted analyses, and it should distinguish between the epidemiological measures of association (e.g., relative risk) and statistical measures of stability (e.g., 95% confidence interval). The proposal should conclude with a description of your role in the thesis research. The minimum role is formulating and conducting the analysis, and writing up the results.

The completed thesis constitutes the equivalent of one research paper meeting the current standards of publication in referenced journals. The completed thesis must be approved by the thesis committee and an outside reader who is considered an expert in the field of research. Once final approval is obtained, the student gives a 1/2 to 3/4 hour oral presentation on the thesis research to the thesis committee, outside reader, members of the department, and any other interested parties. The purpose of the oral presentation is to demonstrate the student’s ability (1) to describe clearly the thesis research question, methods, and results, (2) to demonstrate his understanding of epidemiological and biostatistician principles and methods, and (3) to place his or her research into the larger public health perspective. The presentation is typically followed by a question and answer period.

Finished theses are submitted to the Mugar Library electronically. Please visit

www.bu.edu/library/guide/theses/ for a series of brief, informative videos that detail the submission process. A PDF guide is also available. If you have questions please contact

Section

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Brendan McDermott ([email protected]) at the library or Alan Hatton at BUSPH ([email protected]).

The deadline for the final thesis submission depends on the particular graduation date (e.g., September, January, or May). Please contact the Registrar’s Office a few months before you are planning to graduate to find out the exact date. Students who are working on their thesis following the completion of their courses must register each subsequent regular semester as continuing students and pay the continuing student fee, until they hold the thesis defense.

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Student Policies

In addition to the selected academic policies listed below, all students must adhere to all Boston University School of Public Health academic policies, available at bu.edu/sph/students/resources/policies; the University’s Administrative Policies, available at bu.edu/sph/students/resources/policies; and the policies listed in the School of Public Health Student Handbook, available at

bu.edu/sph/students/resources/student-handbook.

COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL BOSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

All students, including non-degree students, must comply with the Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Law, BU Alert telephone number, immunization (as applicable), and payment requirements in order to be in status with the university. You may check your compliance status at bu.edu/studentlink.

The SPH Registrar’s Office is blocked from entering registration for any student who is not in compliance with university requirements and cannot manually override this block and register students. If you need assistance with compliance information, please talk with a staff member in the SPH Registrar’s Office.

Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Law

The Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Law requires that all out-of-state students, including those who do not bring cars to Massachusetts, sign an acknowledgement that they have been informed of the law.

The Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Law requires out-of-state students bringing vehicles into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to file a nonresident driver statement with the local police department in the city in which their university is located: “It is unlawful for a resident student to fail to file a nonresident driver statement with the police department located in the same city or town as the school or college attended, in accordance with Section 3 of Chapter 90 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Failure to file such statement is punishable by a fine not to exceed $200.”

Boston University, in turn, is required by the Commonwealth to keep a record and provide proof to the state that students have been apprised of the law. Eligible students must formally acknowledge they have been notified of the law by clicking on the acknowledge button at bu.edu/link/shortcut/massmotorlaw. Students who fail to do so will not be in compliance and will be unable to register for upcoming semesters.

Instructions for complying with the law:

• All out-state-students, including those who do not bring cars to Massachusetts, are required to read the statement on bu.edu/link/shortcut/massmotorlaw and click on “I acknowledge.”

• In addition, STUDENTS BRINGING VEHICLES into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are required to download and complete the Nonresident Driver

Section

4

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Statement from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles website at

massrmv.com/rmv/forms/20098.pdf. • Mail form to:

Office of the University Registrar 881 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215

• The Registrar’s Office will mail a copy of the student’s form to the Boston Police Department. The Registrar’s Office will then mail a state-approved decal to the student’s local address. This decal must be prominently displayed in the uppermost center portion of the windshield of the student’s vehicle.

BU Alert Telephone Number

A BU alert number is the cell phone to which the University can send a text message in the event of an emergency on campus. If you do not have a cell phone, a voice message can be sent to the telephone number of your choice.

Immunization Requirements

In the spirit of public health, we ask all students to be sure their immunizations are up to date, although part time students will not be asked to verify their immunization status. International students must meet mandatory state immunization requirements at the time of registration. For more information about immunization requirements, go to the Student Health Services website.

Tuition Payment

All students must pay their bill by published tuition payment deadlines.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY INFORMATION REGARDING ACADEMIC HONESTY

Academic honesty is essential for students to attain the competencies the University and School expect of graduates, and any action by a student that subverts these goals seriously undermines the integrity of the educational programs at the School. Students at the Boston University School of Public Health are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty.

Academic misconduct is any intentional act or omission by a student that represents his or her academic achievements, or attempts to misrepresent these achievements. While not an exhaustive list, the following acts constitute academic misconduct:

• Cheating on examinations: The use or attempted use of any unauthorized books, notes or other materials in order to enhance the student’s performance in the examination, copying or attempting to copy from another student’s examination, permitting another student to copy from an examination or otherwise assisting another student during an examination, or any other violation of the examination’s stated or commonly understood ground rules.

• Plagiarism: Any representation of the work of another as his or her own constitutes plagiarism. This includes copying or substantially restating the work of another person without the use of quotation marks or other indication that the words of another have been copied, the use of any written or oral work from which the student has obtained ideas or data without acknowledging that person’s contribution.

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• Submitting the same work in more than one course without the consent of all the instructors.

• Misrepresentation or falsification of data.

• Allowing another student to represent your work as his or her own. • Violating the rules of an examination or assignment.

Charges of academic misconduct will be brought to the attention of the Associate Dean for Education, who will review all such cases and decide upon the appropriate action. A student who is found guilty of academic misconduct may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the School.

The full academic misconduct policy is available at:

bu.edu/sph/students/resources/policies/academic-misconduct/

GRADING STANDARDS, PROBATION, AND DISMISSAL

Grading Standards

All SPH degree candidates must earn a minimum 3.0 GPA each semester to be in good academic standing. All SPH degree candidates must have a minimum 3.0 GPA at SPH to graduate. Students in the Master of Science in Epidemiology program must earn a B or better in BS704, BS723, EP713, and EP813.

Please see the BUSPH Grading Policy at bu.edu/sph/students/resources/policies for information on grade changes and incomplete grades.

Grade Changes

A student may attempt to improve a grade only to meet a graduation standard. Such standards would include the need to achieve a minimum grade in a required departmental course (B) or an overall GPA of 3.0. A student who is on academic probation because of failure to attain a 3.0 GPA may attempt to improve a grade. All faculty in departmental courses with minimum grade requirements will give students who fail to attain the minimum grade at least one opportunity to improve the grade. The methods for changing the grade are to be determined by the faculty in conformance with this policy.

In courses in which the departments require a minimal grade, the revised grade cannot be higher than the minimum required grade; that is B- and B respectively. For grades that adversely affect attaining the minimum GPA requirement, the revised grade cannot be higher than B+. These limits may be exceeded only in extraordinary circumstances such as sickness or death in a family that led to the original unsatisfactory grade. Any exceptions to these limits must be approved by the department chair, and documentation of this process and decision must be sent to the SPH Registrar. These grade limits do not apply, however, when a student sits through the entire course and fulfills all the course requirements a second time. In such cases, the student will receive whatever grade is earned in the second course.

In regard to the additional work:

• The student should be required to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required for the class in general. The additional work should be as rigorous as that originally required for the class.

• A student may sit in the course again and complete all of its requirements. • The additional work should be the same format as that used for the evaluation of the

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other students in the course. For example, a student may rewrite a paper (when a paper is required in the course) or retake exams (when exams are required in the course).

• The faculty’s grade change policy must be specific and clearly stated in the course syllabus so that all students are aware of the mechanisms that will be used in the event that there is a need to improve a grade.

Grades should be changed within one year of receipt of the unsatisfactory grade. If the student is required to sit in the course again this should be done the next time the course is offered. A student should be made aware of this time frame at the time the additional work is assigned and told that after this point in time no grade change will be allowed. These time limits may be extended in compelling circumstances. A time extension must be requested in writing by the student, must be approved by the faculty member and the department chair, which will then send this documentation to the Registrar to be placed in the student’s file.

No student will be permitted to improve grades in more than two courses, except in very unusual circumstances. Students who wish to claim the existence of such exceptional circumstances can do so by petitioning the Associate Dean for Education, whose decision shall be final. Failure to receive the minimum required grade in a third course will result in dismissal from the school.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory academic progress will be assessed using the following School of Public Health guidelines: http://www.bu.edu/sph/students/resources/policies/. A student also may be placed on probation if he or she has failed to make adequate progress in the program over a length of time: this will occur if a student does not complete the course work within 4 years of entry into the program; if a student has not submitted a thesis proposal within one year of completing his or her course work; or if a student has not shown adequate progress on his/her thesis. In addition, the MS committee may assess a student’s progress at any time, and may place the student on probation if, in its opinion, it is determined that the student has not made adequate progress toward meeting graduation requirements.

When a student is placed on probation, the MS program director will send the student a letter specifying the reason(s) for probation, what is required to be removed from probation, and the deadline by which the requirement(s) must be met. After the student has fulfilled the relevant requirement(s), he/she must write a letter to the MS program director that describes these steps. The MS program director will respond in writing with a determination of whether the student has met the requirements and is removed from probationary status, has not met the requirements and will remain on probation or refer the matter to the MS committee for further action.

Dismissal

A student who is on probation for not making adequate progress will be dismissed from the MS program if he/she does not demonstrate substantial progress during the specified probationary period, or does not meet the requirement(s) of probation by the deadline specified by the MS committee.

Dismissal may also occur as a result of committing an act of academic dishonesty, as defined in the School's policy on Academic Dishonesty.

All decisions regarding probation and dismissal will be made by the MS committee. The decision of the MS committee is final.

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REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

All Master of Science students at Boston University School of Public Health, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, must register each fall and spring semester during their MS program until they officially graduate.

Continuing Study

International students holding F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant status and who are in residence at Boston University must meet the requirements of their visa, in particular full-time enrollment. Full- time enrollment is achieved by registration for 12 or more credits of academic coursework, or by registration in Continuing Study with additional full-time certification (“Certified Full-time”) coding by the SPH Registrar. International students must check in at the Boston University International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) when they first arrive at Boston University and then complete “Semester Verification” in each subsequent semester to ensure that they remain in lawful status. Students who are not full-time by virtue of academic course load (12 credits or more) or who are not certified full full-time by enrolling in continuing study will be considered in violation of their immigration status. Students who violate their status are subject to the penalties prescribed in relevant immigration laws.

Students who are permanent residents or United States citizens must meet the requirements of their program and must register for either coursework or Continuing Study each fall and spring semester.

Leaves of Absence

A student may request a leave of absence of up to two semesters by writing a letter to the MS Program Director and the BUSPH Registrar. Longer leaves of absence may be approved under compelling circumstances.

International students must have approval of ISSO to take a leave of absence and must work with ISSO when they are ready to return to their studies.

Students on leave of absence are not entitled to be advised officially by their faculty advisors during a leave of absence, nor do they have library privileges. It has been possible for students on leave to maintain their ACS accounts.

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PROGRAM TIME LIMIT

The Boston University School of Public Health requires all MS students to complete their degree requirements within 5 years of matriculation. Most students, including part-time students, should be able to finish in less time. Any extensions of the overall time limit must be requested in writing to the MS Program Director with documentation of the extraordinary circumstances creating the delay and a date by which the requirements will be met. The request must be reviewed and approved by the MS program committee. A student who does not meet the time limits established by the program may be dismissed from the program without a degree.

COURSE WAIVERS AND TRANSFER CREDIT

Some SPH students enter their degree program having completed previous coursework that might help them meet degree requirements. Students with prior graduate-level course experience may be eligible to transfer a maximum of 8 graduate level credits toward their degree. The course must be degree-related and cannot have been used for another degree program. Other students may have the opportunity to explore coursework at other approved universities, including courses through the Boston Academic Consortium. Students must seek pre-approval before registering for courses for which they seek transfer credit. The course waiver and transfer credit policy is available at

bu.edu/sph/students/resources/policies.

THESIS DEFENSE, AND SUBMISSION

Thesis Defense

Dates included in the Master of Science Graduation Calendar represent the absolute deadlines (in each semester) for holding a thesis defense. (Please see the “Master of Science Graduation Calendar” in the front of this guidebook.) When scheduling their thesis defense, students should allow sufficient time for making any final revisions recommended by their MS thesis committee prior to the absolute deadline for submitting the approved thesis to the Mugar Memorial Library.

The MS candidate and all thesis committee members must participate in the thesis defense on the selected defense date. Both the MS candidate and the thesis committee chair must be available on the selected defense date to appear in person at the defense, which must be held on the BU Medical Campus. Other committee members should appear in person for the defense; however, if they cannot, they may make arrangements to participate remotely. Students must notify the MS Program Director of the thesis defense date no later than 30 days prior to the defense. Within one week after the thesis defense, the thesis committee chair must send written notification of the outcome of the defense to the MS Program Director. The MS Program Director then notifies the Registrar.

Submission of Master of Science Thesis

Conferment of the Master of Science degree is contingent upon receipt of the thesis final draft by the deadlines established by the Master of Science Graduation Calendar located at the beginning of this guide.

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Dissertations and theses are submitted to the Mugar Library electronically via

ProQuest ETD

Administrator

. Your dissertation must be in PDF format with embedded fonts and no password

restrictions; otherwise, the system will not accept the upload.

The library has produced a guide

and a series of brief, informative videos to help with this process available at

bu.edu/library/guide/theses

/. Review the final draft of your dissertation as early as possible with

Brendan McDermott, Thesis & Dissertation Coordinator, Mugar Memorial Library, Room 306

(

[email protected]

)

.

THE OFFICIAL MS STUDENT RECORD

The Official MS Student Record is an extremely important set of documents that demonstrate the progress of the student through the master of science program. All students will be responsible for understanding the contents of their own file and familiarizing themselves with the rules outlined below.

The Official MS Student Record is available for inspection by the student and members of the MS program committee. Initially, the file contains the student's name, the date of entry into the program, and the name of the assigned academic advisor. With a few exceptions, described below, it is the student's responsibility to make additions to the Official MS Student Record and guarantee that the MS Program Director has received the appropriate information. Additions may be made in person or by mail, fax, or email.

Student Responsibilities

Students must submit the following information and materials to their Official MS Student Record:

• notification of change of academic advisor, including the name of the new advisor and the date of the change;

• copies of transcripts and other required documentation showing completion of the credit requirements;

• a letter identifying the members of and date of formation of the MS thesis committee;

• a copy of all thesis progress reports; and

• a copy of an announcement of the thesis defense

MS Program Director Responsibilities

The MS Program Director maintains the following materials in all Official MS Student Records:

• MS program committee’s written approval of the proposed thesis project;

• Thesis committee chair’s written approval indicating the thesis committee's unanimous approval of the thesis; and

• Any correspondence pertaining to potential or actual disapproval of the thesis.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO)

The ISSO provides professional expertise on immigration and employment issues to students, faculty, and staff at Boston University.

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16 ISSO Office Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 9:00AM - 5:00PM Wednesday: 12:00PM - 5:00PM*

*The ISSO office is closed every Wednesday morning until 12:00PM.

Contact Information:

888 Commonwealth Avenue, 2nd_Floor

Boston, MA 02215 Phone: (617) 353-3565 Fax: (617) 358-1170 Email: [email protected]

The School of Public Health’s ISSO liaison is Elizabeth Mirarchi ([email protected]).

Students who have any questions regarding their required registration or necessary documents for travel or study should contact the ISSO. If students must visit the office in person, they may take the BU BUS. 888 Commonwealth Avenue is located opposite the C6 – Buick Street and Commonwealth Avenue stop on the BU Shuttle Outbound to the Charles River Campus.

Maintaining Visa Status

To remain lawfully in the United States during their studies, international students must obey the laws regulating F-1 and J-1 visa status. These regulations include, but are not limited to, registering for a fulltime course of study (whether by taking 12 or more credits or via registering for Continuing Study during all fall and spring semesters), limiting travel outside the U.S. to no more than 5 months at a time, and maintaining a current and valid I-20. For a complete discussion of these requirements, please visit the ISSO website at the following URLs:

Students on an F-1 visa: bu.edu/isso/students/current/f1/status/index.html

Students on a J-1 visa: bu.edu/isso/students/current/j1/status/index.html

Completing the Thesis

Regardless of when they participate in graduation ceremonies, international students officially complete their MS studies when they submit the final version of their thesis and when Boston University certifies that they have successfully completed all degree requirements. Please note that all students who will complete and submit their thesis during the summer must be registered as continuing students during the summer semester to maintain lawful F-1 status. Otherwise, students must register in every fall and spring semester.

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Student Resources & Professional

Development

PUBLIC HEALTH WRITING PROGRAM

Peer writing assistance is available free of charge for MS candidates who wish to improve their public health writing. Writing assistance is provided for all courses that have a writing component and is designed for all levels of writers. Students can receive writing assistance by self-referral or instructor referral. Students bring 2 printed copies of the latest draft of the writing assignment and 2 printed copies of the assignment description to the appointment. Students may have up to two writing appointments per assignment but no more than 14 appointments per semester. Contact the Educational Resource Coordinator at

[email protected] for more information or to schedule an appointment. Writing assistance is not provided for MS theses.

DISABILITY SERVICES

Students requiring disability services or accommodations are encouraged to meet with Mary Murphy-Phillips, Director of Student and Educational Services, who is the BUSPH liaison to the Boston University Office of Disability Services. Mary may be reached at 617-638-5059, in her office on Talbot 2 Center, or via e-mail at [email protected]. Students may also refer to the School of Public Health Student Handbook (bu.edu/sph/students/resources/student-handbook/) and to the Office of Disability Services website bu.edu/disability for more information.

STUDENT HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE

BUSPH students have several options for health and medical care, as outlined in the School of Public Health Student Handbook (bu.edu/sph/students/resources/student-handbook). Students should always refer to their insurance brochure and policy for coverage options, benefits and any restrictions.

IN AN EMERGENCY GO TO THE CLOSEST HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM.

COMMUNICATIONS

There are several ways to stay in touch with faculty and other students and to be informed about events and opportunities at BUSPH.

• The SPH website: bu.edu/sph

• The Student Handbook: bu.edu/sph/students/resources/student-handbook/ and also available in Student Services, Talbot 219 East

• BUSPH Bulletin:Available in Registrar’s Office, Talbot 210 Center

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EVENTS

Each month, BUSPH hosts several events designed to get students involved in the community and socialize with your fellow students. These opportunities include:

• 5 pm Socials: Free food held in Chequer’s in the L-building basement 3-4 times per semester.

• Student Meetings with the Dean: Open discussions and free food for students to discuss issues they find important with the Dean of BUSPH, Robert Meenan.

• Watch for other events on the Student Insider!

PUBLIC HEALTH FORUM

BUSPH Public Health Forum is a monthly presentation at which students, faculty, and colleagues gather to examine contemporary problems or issues in the public health world. Speakers include public health practitioners and policy experts from around the globe and faculty from schools of public health. The goal of the Forum is to promote awareness and dialogue about matters critical to the public’s health. The Forum is generally held on a Wednesday, from 12 –1 PM, monthly during the academic year, in room L-112. Topics for the Forum will be posted throughout the school and medical campus as well as on the SPH web. If you have any questions about the Public Health Forum, please contact Kara Peterson at [email protected]. Past topics include: Fraud in Medical Research; Strategies for Addressing Health Disparities in Boston; and Male Circumcision: Our Best Available HIV Vaccine.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Department Seminars

MS students are strongly encouraged to attend the Department Seminars, and are expected to explore the other seminar/meeting series, identifying at least one series to attend as frequently as possible.

Professional Associations

In addition to skills that are gained through classes and professional development seminars, students benefit greatly from joining professional associations. These associations offer students opportunities to meet people working in public health, learn about job opportunities, understand trends in the field, and polish communication and presentation skills at annual meetings. Students are strongly encouraged to become active in any of the following organizations:

• American Public Health Association (APHA) - apha.org

• Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) – aspph.org • Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) - www.mphaweb.org

Additionally, students are strongly encouraged to stay current on the activities of public health organizations and journals:

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Public Health Agency links:

• Boston Public Health Commission - bphc.org

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health – mass.gov/dph

Other Public Health links:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- cdc.gov • Health Resources and Services Administration - hrsa.gov • National Institutes of Health – nih.gov

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality – ahrq.gov • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – hhs.gov • U.S. Department of Justice – usdoj.gov

• National Criminal Justice Reference Service – ncjrs.gov • Institute of Medicine – iom.edu

• World Health Organization – who.org • United Nations – un.org

Recommended Reading Sources:

• American Journal of Epidemiology • Epidemiology

• New England Journal of Medicine • Lancet

• American Journal of Public Health • Annals of Epidemiology

• Journal of the American Medical Association • International Journal of Epidemiology

A number of these journals can be found in the department or online through the Boston University Medical Library (http://med-libwww.bu.edu/)

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Faculty

The EPI faculty is committed to their role of teacher and mentor inside and beyond the classroom. Their research brings depth and a real-life context to the classroom. Biographies for the full- and part-time Epidemiology faculty can be found under the Faculty and Staff tab at bu.edu/sph

Adjunct Teaching Faculty

In addition to the faculty based at the School, BUSPH employs a number of experienced public health professionals from the community as adjunct faculty. This adjunct faculty brings a wealth of information to the classroom as well as help build bridges between the communities that surround the Boston University Medical Campus.

Julia G. Brody, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor Silent Spring Institute

Julie E. Buring, ScD, MS Adjunct Professor Harvard Medical School

Bruce B. Cohen, PhD, MPH, MS Adjunct Assistant Professor MA Department of Public Health Luc D’jousse, MD, DSc, MPH Adjunct Assistant Professor Harvard Medical School

Kenneth A. Freedberg, MD, MSc Adjunct Associate Professor Aids Research Center, MA General Hospital Howard Golub, MD, PhD, MS Adjunct Associate Professor CareStat Incorporated

Marian T. Hannan, DSc, MPH Adjunct Assistant Professor Hebrew Rehab Center & Harvard MED School Sonia Hernandez-Diaz, DrPH, MPH, MD Adjunct Assistant Professor Autonoma University of Madrid & Harvard SPH James A. Kaye, DrPH, MPH, MD Adjunct Associate Professor RTI Health Solutions

Timothy Lash, ScD Adjunct Professor Wake Forest Medical School

Samuel M. Lesko, MD, MPH Adjunct Associate Professor Northeast Regional Cancer Institute Barbara E. Mahon, MD, MPH Adjunct Assistant Professor Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Diane Feeney Mahoney, PhD, MS Adjunct Associate Professor Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged Thomas W. Mangione, PhD, MA Adjunct Associate Professor JSI Research and Training Institute Tara A. McCarthy, MD, MPH Adjunct Assistant Professor Boston Public Health Commission

Lindsey McNair, MD Adjunct Assistant Professor Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Christopher R. Meier, PharmD, PhD, MS Adjunct Assistant Professor University Hospital, Switzerland Charles Poole, ScD, MPH Adjunct Associate Professor University of North Carolina Stefan Russman, MD Adjunct Associate Professor University Hospital of Zurich George R. Seage III, DSc, MPH Adjunct Associate Professor Harvard School of Public Health

Sandra C. Smole, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor MA Dept of Public Health State Lab Institute

Henrik Sorensen, MD Adjunct Professor Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark

Andreas Stang, MD, MPH Adjunct Professor Martin Luther University, Germany

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Course Planning Documents

Please use the following course planning sheet so that you may build a schedule for your academic career. We have students that complete the program in as little as 3 semesters or as long as 5 years. Since not all epidemiology electives are offered every year, and most are only offered in the fall, spring, or summer semester, it can be helpful to select those classes that are of most interest to you and build your schedule around them. Refer to the Course Rotation Guide available from the Registrar’s Office to determine when specific courses are typically offered.

Fall Spring Summer

M.S. Concentrators Guide