Graduate Academic Programs

Master's Degree Programs

Master of Public Health Degree (MPH), Epidemiology Major

Description of Program

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 impact health and disease management by contributing to the understanding of disease etiologies. Epidemiology students will develop skills in study design and research methodology while gaining knowledge of the social and lifestyle determinants that affect health. The graduate will leave with extensive training in epidemiologic methods that will enable them to improve public health through excellence in research and practice.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 44 graduate credit hours is required for this program.  A minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. A minimum grade of C is required in each course. All electives for completing the degree must be approved by the advisor. Prerequisite courses may be prescribed for students lacking sufficient background for graduate study in public health.

Master of Public Health Degree Requirements (44-47 credits)

MPH Degree Core (23 credits)

Public Health Foundations Requirement (0 credits)
All MPH students should complete the Public Health Foundations online course prior to registering for their first semester courses. Complete details and registration information for this course can be found at the following Website: https://iu.instructure.com/enroll/MNG3L6.

Integrated Public Health Core (15 credits)
Complete each of the following courses.

  • SPH-E 651 Epidemiology (3 cr.)
  • SPH-Q 501 Introduction to Statistics in Public Health (3 cr.)
  • SPH-X 601 Assessment and Public Health (3 cr.)
  • SPH-X 660 Population Health Determinates (3 cr.)
  • SPH-X 685 Public Health Policy and Politics (3 cr.)

Professional Development and Practical Experiences (8 credits)
Complete each of the following courses.

  • SPH-E 691 Readings in Epidemiology: Professional Development Seminar 1 (1 cr.)
  • SPH-E 691 Readings in Epidemiology: Professional Development Seminar 2 (1 cr.)
  • SPH-E 696 Field Experience in Epidemiology (3 cr.)
  • SPH-E 698 MPH Culminating Experience in Epidemiology (3 cr.)

Epidemiology Concentration (12 credits)

Required Concentration Courses (9 credits)
Complete the following three courses.

  • SPH-E 658 Intermediate Epidemiology (3 cr.) (p: SPH-E 651)
  • SPH-E 659 Intermediate Epidemiological Methods (3 cr.) (p: SPH-E 651)
  • SPH-Q 611 Statistical Packages in Research (3 cr.)

Epidemiology Concentration Elective (3 credits)
Complete one the following courses.

  • SPH-E 650 Special Topics in Epidemiology (3 cr.)
  • SPH-E 653 Chronic Disease Epidemiology (3 cr.) (p: SPH-E 651)
  • SPH-E 655 Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3 cr.) (p: SPH-E 651)
  • SPH-E 656 Genetic Epidemiology (3 cr.)
  • SPH-E 657 Social Epidemiology (3 cr.) (p: SPH-E 651)
  • SPH-E 680 Nutritional Epidemiology (3 cr.)

Complete One of the Following Three Options. (9-12 credits)

Option One: Second Major in Biostatistics (12 credits)
Successful completion of the following requirements earns the student a second MPH major in Biostatistics.

Complete the following course. (3 cr.)

  • SPH-Q 604 Applied Linear Regression (3 cr.) (p: SPH-Q 501)

Complete three of the following courses. (9 cr.)

  • SPH-Q 601 Experimental Analysis & Design (3 cr.) (p: SPH-Q 501)
  • SPH-Q 602 Multivariate Statistical Analysis (3 cr.) (p: SPH-Q 501)
  • SPH-Q 603 Categorical Data Analysis (3 cr.) (p: SPH-Q 501)
  • SPH-Q 605 Statistical Analysis of Multi-Level and Longitudinal Data (3 cr.) (p: SPH-Q 501)
  • SPH-Q 612 Survival Analysis (3 cr.) (p: SPH-Q 501)

Option Two: Graduate Certificate in Biostatistics (12 credits)
Successful completion of the following requirements earns the student a graduate Certificate in Biostatistics.

Complete the following three courses. (9 cr.)

  • SPH-Q 603 Categorical Data Analysis (3 cr.) (p: SPH-Q 501)
  • SPH-Q 605 Statistical Analysis of Multi-Level and Longitudinal Data (3 cr.) (p: SPH-Q 501)
  • SPH-Q 612 Survival Analysis (3 cr.) (p: SPH-Q 501)

Complete one of the following courses. (3 cr.)

  • SPH-Q 601 Experimental Analysis & Design (3 cr.) (p: SPH-Q 501)
  • SPH-Q 602 Multivariate Statistical Analysis (3 cr.) (p: SPH-Q 501)
  • SPH-Q 604 Applied Linear Regression (3 cr.) (p: SPH-Q 501)
  • SPH-Q 650 Special Topics in Biostatistics (3 cr.)

Option Three: Other Electives (9 credits)
Commplete 9 graduate-level credits of electives to be chosen in consultation with the student's MPH advisor.

  • XXX-X XXX (3 cr.) (p: Prior permission of advisor)
  • XXX-X XXX (3 cr.) (p: Prior permission of advisor)
  • XXX-X XXX (3 cr.) (p: Prior permission of advisor)

Complete six credits of graduate-level electives selected in consultation with the student's advisor (6 cr.):

Special Opportunities

Graduates with epidemiology degrees are 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. The following is a list (not by any means exhaustive) of possible job settings:

  • State, county and city health agencies
  • Environmental consulting companies
  • Private corporations
  • Federal government
  • International organizations
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Academia (colleges and universities)

Epidemiologists study patterns of disease. Epidemiology is an expanding field that also now includes the study of disease prevention 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 include:

  • Collection of disease outbreak data
  • Study design development
  • Data analysis
  • Program evaluation design
  • Study coordination

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