Epidemiology Concentration

An MPH in Epidemiology is a Master of Public Health degree program focused on studying the patterns, causes and effects of health and disease conditions in populations. By conducting research and applying analytic methods, students learn to investigate public health problems, plan epidemiologic studies, analyze data, apply statistical methods and develop strategies to prevent diseases and improve outcomes.

An MPH in Epidemiology prepares students to work in a variety of impactful careers, including epidemiologist;health data analyst, scientist, and planner; public health advisor analyst, program manager and more. Graduates from our Master’s in Public Health with concentration in epidemiology concentration have worked for prestigious organizations, hospitals, health systems, universities and government agencies including:

• Boston Medical Center
• BronxCare Health System
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• City of Philadelphia – Department of Public Health
• Columbia University School of Nursing
• Highmark Health
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• Merck
• Mount Sinai Health System
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• NYC Health + Hospitals
• NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner
• NYU Langone Health
• Partners in Prevention of Hudson County
• ZS

Learn more about the paths our alumni take on our employment statistics page, and visit our Public Health Career Hub to learn more about what you can do with a public health degree.

The core courses are:

• GPH-GU 2030 Introduction to Global Health
• GPH-GU 2106 Epidemiology
• GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social & Behavioral Health
• GPH-GU 2110 Health Care Policy
• GPH-GU 2112 Public Health Policy and Management
• GPH-GU 2153 Global Environmental Health
• GPH-GU 2995 Biostatistics for Public Health
• GPH-GU 5171 Global Health Informatics Workshop
• GPH-GU 5170 Introduction to Public Health

Visit our Courses Descriptions & Syllabi page for descriptions of each course, the semesters they're offered and more.

An MPH in Epidemiology is a master’s degree that takes two to four years to complete and prepares students for practical roles in public health and epidemiology, while a PhD in Epidemiology is a doctoral degree that takes five years to complete, requires a dissertation, and prepares students for roles in academia and conducting research that advances the field of epidemiology.

It takes two years to complete the epidemiology MPH program for full-time students and three to four years to complete for part-time students.

We welcome applications from candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in any major from a regionally accredited institution or the international equivalent. Reviewers consider your overall GPA, coursework, grades and any changes or improvements in your academic performance. Undergraduate seniors should apply after their final Fall semester grades are posted.

We don’t require nor consider the GRE as part of your application. While we don’t require previous work experience, we do value public-health related work, volunteer, research, and/or internship experience as part of our review process.

Learn more about our MPH application deadlines and requirements, eligibility criteria and how to apply.

We automatically consider all incoming domestic and international Master’s students for merit-based scholarships. There’s no separate application for you to complete. Awards are granted on a competitive basis, when an offer of admission is made, to Master’s students who demonstrate an oustanding academic record and strong leadership potential. Visit our Tuition, Financial Aid and Scholarships page.

Yes, you can pursue an MPH degree in Epidemiology at NYU GPH without a science background. GPH embraces a holistic admissions process, welcoming applications from candidates with a bachelor’s degree in any major from a regionally accredited institution or the international equivalent. While having a background in science can be beneficial, it’s not a prerequisite. The program provides comprehensive training in multiple disciplines to students so they can become leaders with the skills to analyze and understand how individual, social, and structural factors shape population health and well-being, regardless of their undergraduate major.

Visit our How to Apply: Master of Public Health (MPH) page for the most up-to-date application deadlines.

We encourage applicants to submit by the priority deadline because scholarships are more plentiful earlier in the application cycle. We also encourage international applicants to submit by the priority deadline to ensure adequate time for visa processing.

Once an application is complete, it’s forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review. We release decision notifications starting in February and afterwards on a rolling basis.

Visit the NYU Office of Financial Aid for application procedures.

Yes, you can work full-time while completing an MPH in Epidemiology. We hold some classes at night and on the weekends to accommodate working professionals.

In addition to demonstrating MPH core competencies, students in NYU GPH’s Master of Public Health (MPH) Epidemiology concentration gain specialized skills that prepare them for leadership roles in public health settings worldwide. These key competencies include:

• Identify methods for measuring the distribution of determinants of health outcomes and well-being within and across populations.
• Critically evaluate the application of epidemiologic methods to answer public health questions.
• Identify data sources, manage large datasets, and conduct analyses using appropriate statistical software.
• Synthesize the extant epidemiologic literature and identify its limitations and gaps.
• Effectively communicate epidemiologic findings both orally and in writing.