Online Masters in Epidemiology

A masters in epidemiology prepares students to work in the public health profession, specializing in the presence and/or absence of diseases and disorders in human beings.

Epidemiologists are professionals who focus their skills on the cause as well as the effects an infection has on the human body. Their main goal is to find ways to control and eliminate the disease to promote good health. If you have the desire to learn how to work through some of the mysteries associated with infections within the human body than getting a Masters in Epidemiology may be just right for you. Nowadays, you will notice that many of the courses are not only offered through a university or educational institution but online as well. This offers those students with Internet access the unique opportunity to learn their skills while remaining for the most part at home. If you have chosen to do the work from home, it is important to recognize that you may in fact be required to attend some courses in person on a regular basis at a predetermined location.

Online Public Health Degrees

• Master of Public Health
• Master of Public Health - Health Policy
• Master of Public Health - Health Education
• Master of Public Health - Disaster Management
• Master of Public Health/Master of Business Administration

• MPH - General Public Health
• MPH - Health Management and Policy
• MPH - Social and Behavioral Sciences

• Master of Public Health
• Ph.D. in Public Health
  • Community Health Promotion and Education
  • Epidemiology

The University of Liverpool

• Master of Public Health
• Master of Public Health (Epidemiology)
• Master of Public Health (International Public Health)
• Master of Public Health (Management of Health Systems)

A.T. Still University

• Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
• Master of Public Health – Dental (M.P.H.. - Dental)

Grand Canyon University

• Master of Public Health

Search for Online Epidemiology Graduate Programs

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Epidemiology Education and Training

Often a masters in epidemiology does not require prospective students are usually expected to have a college level education in mathematics, chemistry, biology as well as statistics. It is strongly recommended that you have successfully completed the graduate record exam (GRE) before applying to the program, while it is not always necessary it is good to be prepared in case the particular place of study you chose requires it.

Depending on which route you have chosen to take you may be required to offer a purpose statement to the educational institution of your choice. Simply put, this document is a letter that allows officials to understand why you are interested in pursuing a career such as this. You may also be required to submit letters of recommendation supporting your interest in the program.

It usually takes no more than three years to completely finish the program. The core program will likely remain the same wherever you receive your training. In addition, it is likely that the program will be offered as part of the Master of Public Health (MPH), where epidemiology is a concentration or specialization in the MPH.

Some of the courses needed will include research and surveillance techniques, biostatistics, you will learn how to analyze, design as well as implement the research information. Upon completion of the program you will be required to successfully complete an exam in many cases you must also have successfully completed an internship. Other courses include:

• Biostatistics
• Epidemiological Analysis and Theory
• Social and Behavioral Factors and Health
• Research Methods in Epidemiology
• Clinical Epidemiology
• Chronic Disease Epidemiology
• Pharmacoepidemiology

The goal of the program is to provide training in principles and methodology of epidemiological clinical research and practice. The program focuses on the underlying the science as well as how to design, conduct, analyze, and interpret studies in genetic epidemiology, cardiovascular epidemiology, infectious disease epidemiology, neurological disease epidemiology among other areas.

Careers in Epidemiology

Once you have successfully completed all portions of the course as given you will then be qualified to consider a variety of career opportunities. Many people move on to become epidemiologists in public health programs or in a variety of government agencies. There are various areas related to public health degrees:

• Health Education
• Health care Management
• Public Safety Management
• Health Services Administration
• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology
• Environmental Health
• International Health
• Nutrition
• Public Health Practice/Program Management
• Biomedical Laboratory

Other areas of employment with a masters in epidemiology degree are: statistical data analysis, disaster management, disease prevention, and public health research. Employers include government agencies like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local and state health departments, international agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other NGO bodies.

Estimated Income and Projected Career Growth

The income a qualified person will receive will vary from person-to-person depending on various factors. Generally speaking, those in the field will receive an annual income of approximately $60,000 to $74,890 per year. According to the Untied States Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS), the median annual income for epidemiologists was $61,360 in 2008.

The demand for people with skill sets such as these and a masters in epidemiology are positive at this time. The awareness of infection control has come to the forefront in recent years calling for more people in the field. For this reason, it is believed that the field and its need to have more skilled professionals will continue to grow even stronger.