The Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology's teaching programs are integral to their missions. Their educational objectives are:

• to promote clinical epidemiology research, both in the community and health care settings;
• to serve as an interdisciplinary resource for clinical research throughout the Medical Center;
• to educate the next generation of national and international leaders in clinical epidemiology and biostatistics;
• to teach clinical epidemiology and critical appraisal of the medical literature to medical students, housestaff, and faculty at the University of Pennsylvania;
  to promote a population and community perspective in the Medical Center;
  to serve as a leader in disseminating research results and in interpreting research to policy-makers and the public; and
• to serve as a regional, national, and international resource for communities, universities, governments, and other organizations seeking guidance about issues of population medicine, public health, and the epidemiology of disease.

Specific programs, described elsewhere, include the graduate training programs in Epidemiology; the graduate training programs in Biostatistics; the four-year Clinical Epidemiology curriculum for medical students; Bridging the Gaps, a program dedicated to training competent community responsive health professionals, while providing community service and promoting public health among underserved populations; and FOCUS on Health & Leadership for Women (FOCUS), a comprehensive program of women's health research, education, and advocacy.

The Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics values diversity and seeks talented students from diverse backgrounds. The CCEB does not discriminate on the basis of color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran in the administration of its educational policies, programs or activities, admissions policies and procedures, and scholarship programs. Women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply to the CCEB's educational programs.

The admissions requirements for the Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (M.S.C.E.) degree program offered by the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB) and the Ph.D. in Epidemiology degree program offered by the Graduate Group in Epidemiology and Biostatistics reflect the emphasis on integrating epidemiology and clinical practice. Individuals admitted into either program must have an advanced degree in medicine, nursing, or another health-related field, from an accredited college or university. They also must have advanced clinical training in any specialty or subspecialty of medicine, or its equivalent in another health-related discipline. Those without experience in health-related research will find these programs difficult and perhaps inappropriate, as they are designed to convey methodological skills that students can apply to their own health-related area of interest. On rare occasions, individuals with a strong background in biomedical science or another health-related area may be admitted without such a degree or training. Without exception, applicants will be required to have in-depth prior experience in a clinical discipline or in some other health-related content area before beginning this training.

Applicants should be committed to careers in medical and health services research. It is expected that only applicants with outstanding academic records will be accepted into these programs.

Those interested in applying for admission into the M.S.C.E. or Ph.D. degree programs should request application materials by contacting:

Marsha Covitz
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Room 928 Blockley Hall
423 Guardian Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021
215-573-2382 (voice)
215-573-2265 (fax)
mcovitz@cceb.med.upenn.edu

Applicants must complete an application form, submit three letters of recommendation, and be interviewed by members of the CCEB faculty. The application and letters of recommendation should identify personal attributes, experiences, and accomplishments. Diversity of background, interests, and goals for the class as a whole will be considered desirable. Applicants also will be required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and must have the scores forwarded by the Educational Testing Service. A subject test is not required. Medical Colleges Admissions Test (MCAT) scores may be submitted in place of GRE scores. Scores must be received directly from the testing agency. All applicants for whom English is a second language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language and have the scores submitted by the testing agency. Official transcripts from all undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools will be required, as well. Generally, the application deadline is the January 15th that precedes the desired date of enrollment.

Applications received from those interested in enrolling in the M.S.C.E. degree program are reviewed by the CCEB's Admissions Committee. Applications received from those interested in the Ph.D. degree program are reviewed by the Graduate Group's Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee for the Biomedical Graduate Studies Program also will review applications received from those interested in the Ph.D. degree program.

Ph.D. applicants normally are required to apply for admission first to the M.S.C.E. degree program and complete at least one year of that program prior to formally applying to the Ph.D. program. However, exceptions are possible, depending on the course of proposed study and the applicant's background and training. Most students required to enter the Ph.D. degree program through the M.S.C.E. degree program may apply for admission into the Ph.D. program after completing a full-time year of study in the M.S.C.E. program. All of the applicants from the M.S.C.E. degree program will be expected to take and pass the Qualifications Evaluation Examination (see the "Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology Degree Program" section), usually before being accepted into the Ph.D. degree program. (The Qualifications Evaluation Examination is a written examination given at the end of the first or second year of the M.S.C.E. program, the timing of which depends on the core course requirements for specific tracks within the M.S.C.E. degree program.) Students also may elect to complete the M.S.C.E. program before applying for admission into the Ph.D. program. Ph.D. admissions decisions for applicants enrolled in the M.S.C.E. degree program are made prior to the beginning of the following fall term.

The application and admission process for the M.D./M.S.C.E and M.D./Ph.D. degree programs are administered by the Office of Combined Degree Programs of the University of Pennsylvania, in cooperation, as appropriate, with the Admissions Committees for the School of Medicine, the Biomedical Graduate Studies Program, and the CCEB. More information about the application process for the M.D./M.S.C.E. and M.D./Ph.D. degree programs can be obtained directly from the Office of Combined Degree Programs:

Suite 100, Edward J. Stemmler Hall
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6087
215-898-8025 (voice)
215-898-0833 (fax)

Thus, there are four admissions paths for students who wish to enroll in Penn's epidemiology education programs. The first path is the two- to three-year Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology degree program, which most students must enter. Entrance for the first path is subject to the approval of the CCEB's Admissions Committee. The second path is the Ph.D. degree program, which students normally would be eligible to enter after the successful completion of the first year of the M.S.C.E. curriculum and after passing the Qualifications Evaluation Examination (see the "Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology Degree Program" section) or after completing the M.S.C.E. degree program. Entrance for the second path is subject to the approval of the Graduate Group's Admissions Committee and the Admissions Committee for the Biomedical Graduate Studies Program. The third path is the combined M.D./M.S.C.E. degree program. Entrance into this combined degree program is subject to the approval of the School of Medicine's Admissions Committee and the CCEB's Admissions Committee. The fourth path is the combined M.D./Ph.D. degree program. Entrance is subject to the approval of the School of Medicine's Admissions Committee, the Graduate Group's Admissions Committee, and the Biomedical Graduate Studies Program's Admissions Committee.

For more information visit:http://cceb.med.upenn.edu/main/education/index.html