Degrees, Majors, and Certificates
Master of Public Health Degree with a concentration in Epidemiology
The MPH in Epidemiology prepares students to assume a leadership role in public health, academia or the private sector. Graduates will be able to perform epidemiologic analyses that influence health and disease management with a defined focus on rural communities by contributing to the understanding of the etiologies of disease prevention, and wellness, and the improvement of public health through excellence in research and practice. Epidemiology students will develop skills in study design and understanding of the social determinants that affect health with an emphasis on research. The graduate will leave with extensive training in research methodology and study design.
Special Opportunities
Graduates with epidemiology degrees are more likely to get hired soon after graduation. Emergent infectious diseases and the need to improve health of an aging nation require an understanding of the epidemiology of both infectious and chronic diseases. Moreover, as the emphasis of obesity reduction and other lifestyle related health issues continues to increase, there are special opportunities for epidemiologists who are familiar with health maintenance and wellness strategies. The relationships that epidemiologists identify among healthy lifestyles and positive outcomes will shape the wellness programs of the future. Epidemiology is a field that often has international opportunities, even for recent graduates.
Careers
Epidemiologists are everywhere and hold a variety of job titles. Many have learned the discipline on the job so candidates with formal training will have a competitive edge in the marketplace. A list (not by any means exhaustive) of possible job settings is shown below:
Where you might work:
- State, county and city health agencies
- Federal government including Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and National Institutes of Health
- Private corporations (e.g. Research Triangle Institute)
- International non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Non-profit organizations
- Academia (colleges and universities)
- Consulting
An epidemiologist is a term for someone who studies patterns of disease. Epidemiology is an expanding field that also now includes the study of disease avoidance and wellness. The variety of tasks in which an epidemiologist may be engaged is extensive. As a result, this is a career that can be flexible and continually evolving. Some typical job responsibilities:
- Collection of disease outbreak data
- Study design development
- Data analysis
- Program evaluation design
- Study coordination
Degree Programs
For more information, contact Dr. Barbara Van Der Pol by email at bvanderp@indiana.edu
