The IDEAS program is not currently admitting new students. The following information applies only to current students:

IDEAS students in the Direct Track receive a PhD in Ecology through the Odum School of Ecology. These students must complete the regular program of study for the Ecology degree and the IDEAS required courses (see below).

IDEAS students admitted through the Internal Track will receive a PhD in their home departments at UGA. These students must complete the regular program of study for their chosen degree and the IDEAS required courses (see below).

IDEAS Course Requirements

  • ECOL(BIOL) 4150/6150 – Population Biology of Infectious Diseases (4 credit hours)
  • ECOL 8510 – Fundamentals of Disease Biology I (4)
  • ECOL 8530 – Interdisciplinary Problem Solving in Infectious Disease Ecology (3)
  • ECOL 8540 – Computational Workshops (2-4)
  • GRSC 8550 – Responsible Conduct of Research (1)
  • Journal Club – 2 courses
  • Technical Elective – 1 course

Example Roadmaps

To see examples of how students can complete IDEAS coursework along with their departmental requirements, click on the roadmaps.

For specific course information, visit the Curriculum page.

Electives

IDEAS students are required to take an 8000-level Technical Course and complete two different Journal Clubs. Course selections are made in consultation with a student’s mentor and advisory committee. Examples are given below and a list of currently approved courses is available through the IDEAS program office. Other courses may also satisfy this requirement with approval of the IDEAS Steering Committee.

Technical Course EXAMPLES (choose one)

  • WILD 8500: Wildlife Disease: Ecology, Investigation, and Management
  • BIOS 8010 – Regression and Analysis of Variance
  • BIOS 8020 – Linear and Generalized Linear Models
  • BIOS 8030 – Longitudinal Data Analysis
  • BIOS 8130 – Multivariate Design for Public Health
  • BIOS(STAT) 8140 – Multilevel and Hierarchal Models
  • ECOL 8020L – Research Modeling
  • ECOL 8910 – Perspectives on Computational Ecology
  • EPID(BIOS) 8060 – Modern Applied Data Analysis
  • EPID 8500 – Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • EPID(ECOL)(IDIS) 8515 – Modeling Infectious Disease
  • EPID 8560 – Analysis of Infectious Disease Data
  • FANR 8400-8400L – Advanced Spatial Analysis for Natural Resources
  • GENE 8940 – Applied Genome Analysis
  • HPAM 8410 – Health Informatics
  • IDIS 8080L – Advanced Molecular Techniques
  • MIBO 8900 – Research Techniques in Microbiology
  • POPH(IDIS)(MIBO) 8200 – Molecular Virology and Experimental Design
  • POPH 8310L – Population Health Statistics I
  • POPH 8320L – Population Health Statistics II
  • STAT 8060 – Computing Techniques in Statistics I
  • STAT 8070 – Computing Techniques in Statistics II
  • STAT 8200 – Design of Experiments for Research Workers
  • STAT 8350 – Bayesian Data Analysis

Journal Club EXAMPLES (choose two)

  • EPID 8900 – Special Topics in Epidemiology
  • EPID 8910 – Problems in Epidiomology
  • IDIS 8050: Special Topics in Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases
  • IDIS(ECOL) 8240 – Vector-borne Diseases in a Changing World
  • IDIS 8250: Special Topics in Parasitology
  • IDIS 8260: Global Perspectives on Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases
  • IDIS 8540: Special Topics in Bacterial Pathogenesis
  • IDIS 8550: Special Topics in Immunology
  • IDIS 8590: Special Topics on Diseases Intervention
  • MIBO 8700: Seminar in Fungal Biology
  • POPH 8230: Special Topics in Population Health
  • POPH 8580: Current Topics in Wildlife Health