Master of Science in Epidemiology

Master of Science in Epidemiology

MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS) IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

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PROGRAM CREDITS
2 years
FULL-TIME STUDY

The Master of Science in Epidemiology is a research-focused degree that prepares students to analyze, interpret, model, and report on data from public health, health care, biomedical, clinical and population-based studies. Areas of study include general epidemiology, infectious disease, noncommunicable disease, and modeling. Graduates of the program can pursue doctoral-level studies in epidemiology, biostatistics, or other quantitative health fields.

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Degree Requirements // Full-Time Course Sequence // Planning Checklist (Started in 2024) // Planning Checklist (Started prior to 2024) // Program Comparison: MS to MPH // How to Apply //
There are four program focus areas that allow students to develop a specific area of content or methodological expertise:
  • general epidemiology
  • infectious disease epidemiology
  • noncommunicable disease epidemiology
  • modeling
Graduates from the program will be prepared to assume collaborative research team member roles in public health and healthcare settings around the globe with a skillset that has both breadth and depth. They can also pursue doctoral level studies in epidemiology, biostatistics, or other quantitative health fields. In addition, the MS in Epidemiology can serve as a terminal degree for those interested in working as a master’s level project director/coordinator or statistician/data analyst in a wide array of research settings including government, academia, industry (e.g., pharmaceutical companies, contract research organization, healthcare consulting), non-governmental organizations, and nonprofit and community-based organizations.
 
Key skills:

  1. Explain and provide examples of fundamental epidemiological concepts (e.g., prevalence, incidence, odds ratio, relative risk, attributable risk, direct and indirect standardization, standardized mortality ratio, cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, precision, bias, confounding, effect modification). 

  2. Critically evaluate the application of epidemiologic methods to answer public health questions

  3. Conduct quantitative analyses of epidemiologic data using statistical software

  4. Explain and provide examples of the application of epidemiologic methods to the study of the social determinants of health

  5. Synthesize the extant epidemiologic literature and identify its limitations and gaps

  6. Design robust observational and experimental studies to address public health and clinical problems

  7. Effectively communicate epidemiologic findings orally, visually, and in writing

  8. Understand and apply principles of ethical conduct to epidemiologic studies

  9. Critically evaluate and apply dynamic models of epidemiologic phenomena using equation- and agent-based models
     

Who should apply?

This degree is designed for individuals who already have a graduate or professional degree in a related discipline (e.g., medicine; dentistry; nursing; social work; quantitative social science; or science, technology, engineering and math [STEM]).  Exceptional applicants with a Bachelors degree and strong quantitative skills are also welcome to apply.

Current GPH students who are interested in switching into the MS may complete the MPH/MS Concentration Transfer form found here.

 

 

Required courses (21 credits)

GPH-GU 2106 Epidemiology (3)  
GPH-GU 2450 Intermediate Epidemiology (3)  
GPH-GU 2930 Epidemiology Design & Methods (3)  
GPH-GU 2374 Evaluation of Epidemiological Studies (3) *
GPH-GU 2995 Biostatistics for Public Health (3)  
GPH-GU 2332 Applied Regression Analyses (3)
GPH-GU 2152 Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling (3)  
GPH-GU 5170 Introduction to Public Health (0)

 
Concentration Courses (18 credits)

General Epidemiology focus area:  
All students must take the following 2 courses (6 credits)  
GPH-GU 2324 Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 2274 Outbreak Epidemiology: Re-emerging and Emerging Infectious Diseases (3)

Students must choose 5 courses (15 credits) from the following electives:  
GPH-GU 2325 Behavioral and Communication Strategies for Global Epidemics (3)  
GPH-GU 2363 Causal Inference: Design and Analysis (3)  
GPH-GU 5380 Data-Driven Decision-Making in Global Public Health (3)  
GPH-GU 2440 Emerging Disease & Bioterrorism (3)  
GPH-GU 2342 Global Issues in Public Health Nutrition: Obesity and Diabetes (3)  
GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health (3)  
GPH-GU 5120 HIV/AIDS from a Global Perspective (3)  
GPH-GU 2480 Longitudinal Analysis of Public Health Data (3)  
GPH-GU 2344 Maternal and Child Nutrition in Public Health (3)  
GPH-GU 2275 Nutrition Epidemiology in Public Health (3)  
GPH-GU 3275 Practical Applications in Epidemiology ** (3)  
GPH-GU 2227 Psychiatric Epidemiology (3)  
GPH-GU 2345 Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response: A Global Perspective (3)  
GPH-GU 2198 Simulations in Biostatistics (2)
GPH-GU 2255 Substance Use and Public Health (3)
GPH-GU 2137 Topics in Dynamic Modeling (3)

Infectious Disease Epidemiology focus area:  
All students must take the following course (3 credits):  
GPH-GU 2324 Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3) - OR - GPH-GU 2272 Outbreak Epidemiology: Re-emerging and Emerging Infectious Diseases (3)

Plus two of the following content courses (6 credits):  
GPH-GU 2232 Detection and Control of Waterborne Pathogens (3)  
GPH-GU 2440 Emerging Disease & Bioterrorism (3)  
GPH-GU 5120 HIV/AIDS from a Global Perspective (3)

Plus four of the following content or methods courses (12 credits):  
GPH-GU 2368 Applied Survival Analysis  
GPH-GU 2325 Behavioral and Communication Strategies for Global Epidemics (3)  
GPH-GU 2232 Detection and Control of Waterborne Pathogens (3)  
GPH-GU 2440 Emerging Disease & Bioterrorism (3)  
GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health (3)  
GPH-GU 5120 HIV/AIDS from a Global Perspective (3)  
GPH-GU 2480 Longitudinal Analysis of Public Health Data (3)

Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology focus area:  
All students must take the following course (3 credits):  
GPH-GU 2230 Global Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Control (3)

Plus two of the following content courses (6 credits):  
GPH-GU 2275 Nutrition Epidemiology in Public Health (3)  
GPH-GU 2255 Substance Use and Public Health (3) 
GPH-GU 2227 Psychiatric Epidemiology (3)

Plus four of the following content or methods courses (12 credits):  
GPH-GU 2368 Applied Survival Analysis (3)  
GPH-GU 2278 Global Cancer Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 2342 Global Issues in Public Health Nutrition: Obesity and Diabetes (3)  
GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health (3)  
GPH-GU 2480 Longitudinal Analysis of Public Health Data (3)  
GPH-GU 2227 Psychiatric Epidemiology (3

Modeling Concentration focus area   
All students must take the following course (3 credits):  
GPH-GU 3152 Advanced Agent-Based Modeling (3)  

Plus six of the following content courses (18 credits):  
GPH-GU 2368 Applied Survival Analysis (3)  
GPH-GU 2363 Causal Inference: Design and Analysis (3)  
GPH-GU 2230 Global Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology & Control (3)  
GPH-GU 2324 Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3)  or  GPH-GU 2272 Outbreak Epidemiology: Re-emerging and Emerging Infectious Diseases (3)
GPH-GU 2480 Longitudinal Analysis of Public Health Data (3)
GPH-GU 2137 Topics in Dynamic Modeling (3)


Culminating Experience (4 credits)

GPH-GU 2686 Thesis I: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)  
GPH-GU 2687 Thesis II: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)  
 

* prior to Spring 2026, this course was called Advanced Epidemiological Methods I: Evaluation of Epidemiologic Studies
** prior to Fall 2025, this course was called Advanced Epidemiological Methods II: Practical Applications in Epidemiology

Year 1:

Fall semester (12 credits)   
GPH-GU 2106 Epidemiology (3)   
GPH-GU 2995 Biostatistics for Public Health (3)   
GPH-GU 2152 Introduction to Agent- Based Modeling (3)   
Concentration course (3)   

Spring semester (12 credits)   
GPH-GU 2450 Intermediate Epidemiology (3)   
GPH-GU 2332 Applied Regression Analyses (3)   
Concentration course (3)   
Concentration course (3)   
GPH-GU 5170 Introduction to Public Health (0)

Year 2:

Fall semester (11 credits)   
GPH-GU 2930 Epidemiology Design & Methods (3)   
GPH-GU 2686 Thesis I: Practice & Integrative Learning Experiences (2)   
Concentration course (3)   

Spring semester (11 credits)   
GPH-GU 2374 Evaluation of Epidemiological Studies (3)   
GPH-GU 2687 Thesis II: Practice & Integrative Learning Experiences (2)   
Concentration course (3)   
Concentration course (3)   

Year 1:

Fall semester (6 credits)   
GPH-GU 2106 Epidemiology (3)   
GPH-GU 2995 Biostatistics for Public Health (3)   

Spring semester (6 credits)   
GPH-GU 2450 Intermediate Epidemiology (3)   
GPH-GU 2332 Applied Regression Analyses (3)   
GPH-GU 5170 Introduction to Public Health (0)

Year 2:

Fall semester (6 credits)   
GPH-GU 2152 Introduction to Agent- Based Modeling (3)   
Concentration course (3) 

Spring semester (6 credits)
GPH-GU 2374 Evaluation of Epidemiological Studies (3)   
Concentration course (3)   
 

Year 3:

Fall semester (6 credits)
GPH-GU 2930 Epidemiology Design & Methods (3)   
Concentration course (3)   

Spring semester (6 credits)
Elective or Concentration course (3)   
Concentration course (3)   

Summer   
Fieldwork hours for Thesis requirement.
 

Year 4:

Fall semester (5 credits)
GPH-GU 2686 Thesis I: Practice & Integrative Learning Experiences (2)   
Concentration course (3)   

Spring semester (5 credits)
GPH-GU 2687 Thesis II: Practice & Integrative Learning Experiences (2)   
Concentration course (3)   

 

Program Comparison: MS in Epidemiology and MPH with Epidemiology concentration
 
 
 MS EpidemiologyMPH Epidemiology
Program length2 years2 years
Number of credits4646
Requires core MPH coursesNoYes
Applied experienceResearchResearch or Practice
Thesis I and II: Learning Experiences✔✔
 
Required courses:  
Epidemiology✔✔
Intermediate Epidemiology✔✔
Epidemiology Design & Methods✔✔
Design, Conduct, and Analysis of Cohort Studies✔ 
Regression I: Linear Regression and Modeling✔✔
Regression II: Categorical Data Analysis✔ 
Survey Design, Analysis, and Reporting✔ 
Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling✔ 
 
Other required courses:  
Introduction to Public Health✔ 
Biostatistics for Public Health✔✔
Health Care Policy ✔
Public Health Management and Leadership ✔
Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health ✔
Global Environmental Health ✔
Essentials of Public Health Biology✔✔
Global Health Informatics Workshop ✔
Readings in Public Health I, II, and III ✔
Thesis I and II: Practice & Integrative Learning Experiences✔✔
 
Distinguishing features:  
 
  • Teaches fundamental epidemiological concepts and critical evaluation of the application of epidemiological methods to answer public health questions
  • Explores the application of principles of ethical conduct to epidemiologic studies
  • Includes opportunities to specialize in general epidemiology, infectious disease epidemiology, non-communicable disease epidemiology, and modeling
  • Broader public health themes with an emphasis on professional practice in conjunction with study in quantitative methods
  • Includes 180 hours of a practice experience in your preferred field and a two-semester MPH thesis
  • Prepares you for research or practice settings, with fewer required courses in epidemiological study design skills compared to the MS degree

 

Learn more about the Master of Science in Epidemiology

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