Clinical Epidemiology is a developing field, considered by many as a basic science in clinical medicine. It has been defined as "the study of groups of people to achieve the background evidence needed for clinical decisions in patient care". Many other definitions hold in common are the following important issues:

• Clinical epidemiology must generate the best possible evidence from groups of subjects regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of various clinical courses of action; and
• It must translate the evidence (or lack thereof) into rational clinical decisions pertaining to the management of individual patients.

The UP College of Medicine and the College of Public Health are jointly offering the Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health Epidemiology. Clinical Epidemiology enables health professionals to successfully implement a health program or to deliver better health care to their patients through application of the principles of epidemiology, biostatistics, clinical economics, health social science, health technology assessment and health policy making. The program is also designed to equip clinicians with skills to carry out and evaluate valid and reliable research on common health problems which they encounter.

At the end of the program, the graduate should be able to generate and evaluate information and technology relevant to his/her field of work. Specifically, the graduate should be able to:

• Demonstrate skills in the application of epidemiologic concepts and principles to the solution of clinical and public health problems;
• Identify, plan, undertake, analyze and interpret clinical or public health problems;
• Deliver technical services to clinicians or public health workers on how to properly identify factors in disease causation; evaluate the reliability and validity of measurements; determine the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions; plan strategies for disease control/prevention; devise methods for evaluating health technology/programs; and provide guidelines for research activities whose results could be bases for health policy formulation.
• Develop a critical attitude in evaluating scientific literature and information in the management of health problems;
• Appreciate the roles of both economics and the social sciences in making health interventions more efficient and acceptable.

English is generally used as the medium of instruction. A full time student's normal load is 12-15 units per semester and 6 units during summer; a part-time student enrolls in half of these. At present, the tuition fee is P250.00 per unit and the miscellaneous fee is around P1,000.00 per semester. A student with a load of 12-18 in a semester matriculates P7,000.00 on the average while a foreign student pays an additional Educational Development Fund of US $500.00 (US $100.00 for residency only) for every semester.

There is a processing fee of P300.00 (for programs in all units except CD) or P500.00 (for programs offered by CD) for Filipino applicants while interested foreigners are charged US $30.00. Application materials are submitted at the end of December of each year.

The following are the grade requirements for each student to be a good standing in the program: 1) general weighted average of 2.00 or better, 2) weighted average of 2.00 or better for the major/required courses, and 3) no grade of 5.00 in any academic course. A maximum of 5 years is given to a student to finish the program.

Living accommodations for students maybe provided in privately-owned housing units/dorms/apartment hotels. Dorms offer lodging and/or board. There are privately-owned eateries around the school.

The master's degree will be awarded upon completion of at least 24 units of formal courses: 6 units of cognate courses and 18 units of Biochemistry courses which may have been taken from the department or outside provided it is within the UP System and carries a description implying a biochemical treatment of the subject. A minimum of 13 units should be taken in the department. In addition, 6 units of thesis work must be obtained.

The following are the minimum NGSHS requirements:

1. Good scholastic record from any recognized institution of higher learning
2. A bachelor of science degree
3. 1-2 years work experience in the related field
4. Duly accomplished Application Form together with the following documents:

• original copy of the Official Transcript of Records
• 2 letters of reference from former professors, supervisors or employers
• receipt of processing fee paid at the UPM Cashier's Office
• certified true copy of college diploma with the seal of the university and the signature of the registrar in ink
• birth certificate (present original for verification)
• marriage certificate (present original for verification)
• 4 passport-size photos

5. For foreign applicants, additional requirements include:

• original Transcript of Records duly authenticated by consulate/embassy
• certified true copy of the English translation of the diploma with the seal of the university and the signature of the registrar in ink, duly authenticated by the consulate/embassy.
• TOEFL (or its equivalent) score of at least 500 if English is not the medium of instruction in the country of origin
• affidavit of support or certification of financial capability
• photocopy of passport (present original verification)

• Residency of at least one full academic year prior to granting of degree.
• Completion of 30 units of course work
• Successful oral and written presentation of master's thesis
• Submission of 6 bound copies of the thesis
• GWA of 2.00 or better in major courses and in all courses taken, provided there is no grade of 5.00 in any of these courses

The Department of Clinical Epidemiology
College of Medicine
Tel: + 632 526-4265, 525-4098
E-mail: deanupcm@epic.net