GLOBAL DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTION DOCTORAL SEMINAR 2008-2009
Course 223.861.01
Calendar (Note: this website calendar is the most up-to-date)
INTRODUCTION & ORGANIZATION (please scroll down)
New Course website: http://www.dpcp.org/doctoral/dpc12-08.htm
Instructor:
Lawrence H. Moulton, Ph.D.
Office: E5519 Wolfe St Bldg Phone: 410-955-6370
e-mail: LMOULTON@JHSPH.EDU
GOALS
During the first two terms of this required four term sequence, students will gain a deeper appreciation of the nature and role of public health research in solving important public health problems.
STRUCTURE
First and Second Terms 2008: Primarily reading and discussion of key articles. Philosophy of science sessions will provide a context for dissertation research. Some guest speakers will describe their research efforts in the context of their careers.
Enrollment is limited to International Health GDEC doctoral students.
Grading will be PASS/FAIL; one unit of academic credit will be given per term.
Third and Fourth Terms 2009: Primarily student critiques of published research articles, and presentations of preliminary dissertation research ideas. Focus on research question, study design used, alternative designs that could have been used, possible follow up lines of inquiry.
Enrollment is limited to International Health GDEC doctoral students.
Grading will be PASS/FAIL; one unit of academic credit will be given per term.
ARTICLE CRITIQUE SESSIONS
Students will be assigned as discussion leaders for each "article critique" session covering an article of the student's own choosing. These should be published research (not review or editorial) articles that are available online at http://www.welch.jhmi.edu/eresources/ejournals.cfm . Preferably, the article will be one that may furnish the springboard for a student's own dissertation research; perhaps it is an article that has opened a new line of enquiry, or presents research that the student hopes to extend (or refute!). Note, it should NOT be a review article, or an editorial; it should be original research that presents new data. If you have doubts about the acceptability of an article, please see me. Students should email a .pdf version of the selected article 10 days in advance of their scheduled presentation to lmoulton@jhsph.edu, and I'll forward it to the rest of the students. Each session will begin with an oral presentation lasting no longer than 15 minutes. The focus may be on theoretical or methodological considerations. At least two discussion questions or problems should be specified that will be addressed in the subsequent class discussion. Following the presentation, the discussion leader will introduce each discussion point in turn, explaining how it is related to the articles.
Slides for the presentations should be made in PowerPoint or similar presentation software. An LCD projector will always be available.
DISSERTATION IDEA SESSIONS
In a format similar to the critique sessions, students will also make a presentation (about 20 minutes) of a potential research design that could serve as the basis for his or her dissertation. Students will derive the most benefit for these sessions if they can send a background article, or written summary of the proposal, to me (Moulton) 7 days in advance of the presentation, which I will send to the others.
REQUIREMENTS
Regular attendance and active participation in the seminar are very important. In total, two presentations are required over the two terms.
MISCELLANEOUS
Remember: the doctoral student education does not merely consist of successful completion of required courses--each student is expected to become a leading scientific expert during the years spent at JHU.
01/13/2009