尽管在过去的几十年中，流行病学研究变得越来越专业化，但在实践和研究环境中，仍然非常需要在流行病学和统计方法方面具有扎实基础知识并且对健康动态的一般原理有清晰理解的普通流行病学家和人类疾病。通用流行病学和方法论系的存在是为了使对通才和方法论者的职业感兴趣的个人能够接受必要的基础广泛的培训。在该课程中，学生可以专注于四个单独的研究领域之一：方法论，药物流行病学，流行病学公共卫生博士和个性化课程。敦促学生与导师紧密合作，制定最适合他们需求的课程计划。被列为“推荐课程”的课程代表了一些流行病学，统计学和生物科学方
Although epidemiologic research has become increasingly specialized over the past several decades, there remains a great need, in both practice and research settings, for general epidemiologists with solid foundational knowledge in epidemiologic and statistical methods and a clear understanding of general principles of the dynamics of health and disease in human populations. The General Epidemiology and Methodology track exists to allow individuals interested in careers as generalists and methodologists to receive the necessary broad-based training. Within this track students can focus in one of these separate areas of study: Advanced Methodology or Pharmacoepidemiology. Alternatively, students can design their own research through an individualized track. Students are urged to work closely with their advisor to craft a course plan best suited to meet their needs. The courses listed as recommended coursework represent some the offerings in epidemiology, statistics, and bioscience that are commonly selected. Students selecting the General Epidemiology and Methodology track can be advised by any faculty member in the Department. Doctoral students interested in the Methodology track are highly encouraged to apply for the MHS degree program in Biostatistics.<br>First-year students master the material in the required courses and pass the comprehensive examination. Seminars and interaction with the academic advisor build the foundation for subsequent research. In addition to classes, students attend seminars in the Department of Epidemiology, Journal Club and Research-in-Progress meetings that reflect current issues in epidemiologic methods and research projects. Second-year students work on selecting a research project with a faculty research mentor. Many faculty members have lead roles in world-renowned cohort studies including, but not limited to, the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKID), the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS), as well as providing epidemiologic and statistical expertise to investigation on environmental biomarkers, in collaboration with faculty in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences.