Yes, many online public health degrees offer a specialized track in epidemiology. Epidemiology is the study of how diseases spread and how they can be controlled, so it is one of the main fields of concern for public health professionals. Online programs utilize schedule flexibility to accommodate working professionals who want to raise their credentials with a degree in their field without making sacrifices to their career. A few great schools that offer online public health degrees with specializations in epidemiology are the University of Arizona, the University of Southern California, the University of South Florida, and the University of North Carolina. All of these schools have prestigious programs that rank highly on the list of The Top 25 Online MPH Programs. Let’s have a closer look at what these online public health degrees with specialization in epidemiology can offer you.
The University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health offers an online Masters in Public Health (MPH) with concentrations in Applied Epidemiology as well as Health Services Administration and Health Promotion. The Applied Epidemiology track is designed to give students a well-rounded, interdisciplinary understanding of epidemiological dynamics by providing systematic training in calculating the distribution, characteristics, and causes of disease across demographics. Required courses that are specifically designed for the Applied Epidemiology track include Analysis of Public Health Data, Biostatistics for Research, and Infections Disease. The University of Arizona’s College of Public Health distinguishes itself from other schools by placing an emphasis on community involvement, regardless of where that community may be located for its distance learning students.
The University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine offers an online MPH with a specialization in Biostatistics and Epidemiology. The Biostatistics and Epidemiology track is a data-heavy program that focuses on numeric analysis of health trends. USC’s online programs are well regarded for their digital format, which utilizes digital classrooms and office hours to offer their online students the same level of attention and interactivity as their on-campus students. USC’s Keck School of Medicine distinguishes itself from other similar schools by giving its students invaluable hands-on practicum opportunities in their field.
The University of South Florida’s College of Public Health offers an online MPH in Epidemiology. Their program is designed to teach students how to identify risk factors in order to preemptively address public health concerns before they become debilitating societal problems. The program is heavily rooted in statistical analysis of public health trends, so it is a great program for students who are strong in math. Required classes for the Epidemiology track include Biostatistics, Epidemiology Methods, and Computer Applications for Public Health Researchers.
The University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health offers a general online MPH, but they also offer a Certificate in Field Epidemiology which is designed to give students an overview of epidemiological methods with a hands-on approach. The certificate program only requires the completion of 12 credit hours, so it is useful for working professionals who want to specialize in Epidemiology without committing to a full-time master’s program. The four classes you will take to complete your certificate are Principles of Epidemiology for Public Health, Methods in Field Epidemiology, Principles and Methods of Applied Infections Disease Epidemiology, and Fundamentals of Public Health Surveillance.
