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Arnold School of Public Health

Graduate Degrees in Epidemiology

Our master’s and doctoral programs provide students with the necessary skills to determine the causes of health problems by describing the genetic, biological, environmental, social and behavioral factors affecting illness and premature death as well as factors that contribute to health and well-being.

If you have a passion for preventing disease in populations, epidemiology might be just the field for you. Epidemiologists research factors that influence human health and evaluate prevention and treatment interventions. Graduates pursue a variety of careers, including positions within public health departments (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control), with companies such as Environ or Merck and in academic settings through teaching and research. Two master's degree programs (Master of Public Health and Master of Science) and two doctoral degrees (Doctor of Philosophy and a combination Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences) are available.

Master of Public Health in Epidemiology (MPH)

Are you interested in a more hands on approach to disease prevention and intervention?  The MPH degree prepares individuals to apply epidemiologic skills in a practice setting.

In Fall 2019, the Arnold School of Public Health launched our redesigned MPH programs to meet new accreditation criteria from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). 

Master of Science in Epidemiology (MS)

The MS program focuses on the development of research skills necessary for the study of the factors which influence the public’s health.  Students whose long term academic goal is to pursue a doctoral degree should enroll in the MS degree program. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) are just a couple of the organizations that employ some of our epidemiology alumni.

Ph.D. in Epidemiology

Is teaching at a college level your ideal career path? Do you want to pursue your own independent research? The Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology is an advanced graduate degree intended for those who want to pursue teaching and research careers. The major objective is to prepare an individual to pursue original epidemiologic investigation of diseases and to teach at the university level.

Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences (combination degree)

Are you interested in learning more about the increasingly prominent role of the environment in determining human health? Our combination Doctor of Philosophy degree in Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences explores the unique set of requirements in relation to study design and measurement of both environmental exposures and environment-related health outcomes.

Certificate of Graduate Study in Maternal and Child Health

The MCH Certificate of Graduate Study provides students an opportunity to expand their knowledge and increase their comprehension of mothers, children, and their families to improve their health and well-being. Through course content and mentorship, you will learn about

  • MCH foundational knowledge, research and practice
  • How theories and evidence translate into policy

You will develop skills necessary to 

  • Communicate with all persons from diverse groups
  • be leaders in the MCH workforce

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

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