Master of Science in Epidemiology

The Master of Science in Epidemiology is a research-focused degree that prepares students to design and conduct epidemiologic studies as well as analyze, interpret, model, and report on data from public health, health care, biomedical, clinical and population-based studies.

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, and 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.

Students will learn to:

Critically evaluate the application of epidemiologic methods to answer public health questions
Synthesize the extant epidemiologic literature and identify its limitations and gaps
Understand and apply principles of ethical conduct to epidemiological studies

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.

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)
GPH-GU 2190 Essentials of Public Health Biology (3)
GPH-GU 5170 Introduction to Public Health (0)

Spring semester (12 credits)
GPH-GU 2450 Intermediate Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 2353 Regression I: Linear Regression and Modeling (3)
GPH-GU 2317 Social Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU XXX Elective 1 (3)

Year 2:

Fall semester (14 credits)
GPH-GU 2930 Epidemiology Design & Methods (3)
GPH-GU 2354 Regression II: Categorical Data Analysis (3)
GPH-GU 2225 Psychometric Measurement & Analysis in Public Health Research & Practice (3)
GPH-GU 2686 Thesis I: Practice & Integrative Learning Experiences (2)
GPH-GU 2380 Survey Design, Analysis and Reporting (3)

Spring semester (11 credits)
GPH-GU 317: Design, Conduct, and Analysis of Cohort Studies (3)
GPH-GU 2687 Thesis II: Practice & Integrative Learning Experiences (3)
Elective 2 (2)
Elective 3 (3)

Required courses (40 credits)

GPH-GU 2106 Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 2450 Intermediate Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 2930 Epidemiology Design & Methods (3)
GPH-GU 2317 Social Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 3175 Design, Conduct, and Analysis of Cohort Studies (3)
GPH-GU 2995 Biostatistics for Public Health (3)
GPH-GU 2353 Regression I: Linear Regression and Modeling (3)
GPH-GU 2354 Regression II: Categorical Data Analysis (3)
GPH-GU 2387 Survey Design, Analysis, and Reporting (3)
GPH-GU 2152 Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling (3)
GPH-GU 2225 Psychometric Measurement & Analysis in Public Health Research and Practice (3)
GPH-GU 2190 Essentials of Public Health Biology (3)
GPH-GU 2686 Thesis I: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)
GPH-GU 2687 Thesis II: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)
GPH-GU 5170 Introduction to Public Health (0)

Concentration Courses (3-6 credits, depending on focus area, required)

General epidemiology focus area (6 credits)

GPH-GU 2410 Global Burden of Infectious Disease (3)
GPH-GU 2230 Global Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Control (3)

Infectious disease epidemiology focus area (3 credits)

GPH-GU 2410 Global Burden of Infectious Disease (3)

Non-communicable disease epidemiology focus area (3 credits)

GPH-GU 2230 Global Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Control (3)

Modeling concentration focus area (6 credits)

GPH-GU 3152 Advanced Agent-Based Modeling (3)
GPH-GU 3230 Topics in Advanced Modeling (3)

Electives (3-6 credits, depending on focus area)

General epidemiology focus area (3 credits)

GPH-GU 2355 Analysis of Epidemiologic Data Using SAS
GPH-GU 2325 Behavioral and Communication Strategies for Global Epidemics
GPH-GU 5380 Data-Driven Decision-Making in Global Public Health
GPH-GU 3175 Design, Conduct, and analysis of Cohort Studies
GPH-GU 2260 Disasters, Complex Systems, and the Social Ecology of Health
GPH-GU 2440 Emerging Disease & Bioterrorism
GPH-GU 3220 Experimental Study Designs in Epidemiology
GPH-GU 2342 Global Issues in Public Health Nutrition: Obesity and Diabetes
GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health
GPH-GU 5120 HIV/AIDS from a Global Perspective
GPH-GU 2480 Longitudinal Analysis of Public Health Data
GPH-GU 2275 Nutrition Epidemiology in Public Health
GPH-GU 2240 Perspectives in Global Mental Health
GPH-GU 2323 Pharmacoepidemiology
GPH-GU 2255 Psychoactive Drug Use and Public Health
GPH-GU 2345 Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response: A Global Perspective
GPH-GU 2344 Reproductive and Pediatric Health: A Focus in Nutrition

Infectious disease epidemiology focus area (6 credits)

One of the following content courses (1 elective course, 3 credits):
GPH-GU 2232 Detection and Control of Waterborne Pathogens
GPH-GU 2440 Emerging Disease & Bioterrorism
GPH-GU 5120 HIV/AIDS from a Global Perspective

One of the following content or methods courses (1 elective course, 3 credits):
GPH-GU 2355 Analysis of Epidemiologic Data Using SAS
GPH-GU 2368 Applied Survival Analysis GPH-GU 2325 Behavioral and Communication Strategies for Global Epidemics
GPH-GU 3175 Design, Conduct, and Analysis of Cohort Studies
GPH-GU 2232 Detection and Control of Waterborne Pathogens
GPH-GU 2440 Emerging Disease & Bioterrorism
GPH-GU 3220 Experimental Study Designs in Epidemiology
GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health
GPH-GU 2480 Longitudinal Analysis of Public Health Data
GPH-GU 5120 HIV/AIDS from a Global Perspective

Non-communicable disease epidemiology focus area (6 credits)

One of the following content courses (1 elective course, 3 credits):
GPH-GU 2275 Nutrition Epidemiology in Public Health
GPH-GU 2240 Perspectives in Global Mental Health
GPH-GU 2255 Psychoactive Drug Use and Public Health

One of the following content or methods courses (1 elective course, 3 credits):
GPH-GU 2355 Analysis of Epidemiologic Data Using SAS
GPH-GU 2368 Applied Survival Analysis
GPH-GU 3175 Design, Conduct, and Analysis of Cohort Studies
GPH-GU 3220 Experimental Study Designs in Epidemiology
GPH-GU 2342 Global Issues in Public Health Nutrition: Obesity and Diabetes
GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health
GPH-GU 2480 Longitudinal Analysis of Public Health Data

Modeling concentration focus area (3 credits)

GPH-GU 2355 Analysis of Epidemiologic Data Using SAS
GPH-GU 2368 Applied Survival Analysis
GPH-GU 3175 Design, Conduct, and analysis of Cohort Studies
GPH-GU 3220 Experimental Study Designs in Epidemiology
GPH-GU 2230 Global Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology & Control
GPH-GU 2410 Global Burden of Infectious Disease
GPH-GU 2480 Longitudinal Analysis of Public Health Data

Program Comparison: MS in Epidemiology and MPH with Epidemiology concentration

	MS Epidemiology	MPH Epidemiology
Program length	2 years	2 years
Number of credits	49	46
Requires core MPH courses	No	Yes
Applied experience	Research	Research or Practice
Thesis I and II: Learning Experiences	✔	✔

Required courses:
Epidemiology	✔	✔
Intermediate Epidemiology	✔	✔
Epidemiology Design & Methods	✔	✔
Social Epidemiology	✔
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	✔
Psychometric Measurement & Analysis in Public Health Research and Practice	✔

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