January 13, 2014

Professor Brian Lee works on his research in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

The Drexel University School of Public Health recently announced the creation of a Master of Science in Epidemiology degree.

The two-year degree is designed to train graduate-level students in epidemiologic and medical research with a focus on students who wish to pursue doctoral degrees in epidemiology.  Upon graduation, students in the MS in Epidemiology degree will have attained competencies in general epidemiology knowledge and analytical skills, as well as epidemiologic research methods.

“The methods and analytical approaches of epidemiology makes it extremely relevant to research positions in both public health and biomedical sciences,” said Seth Welles, PhD, ScD, a professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Public Health (image left).  “Epidemiologists are especially trained in the measurement and analysis of patterns of disease exposures and patient outcomes at the population level.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a 24 percent increase in the job market for masters-trained epidemiologists.  The average salary for epidemiologist in 2010 was $63,010 per year.

“The public and private job markets have been and continue to be strong for individuals who are well-trained in epidemiologic study design and large data set analysis,” said Shannon P. Márquez, PhD, MEng, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the School of Public Health (image below).

The curriculum and project requirements are designed to provide and then demonstrate the ability to effectively engage in research.  Students in the degree program will be required to complete 58 credit hours of coursework, maintain a strong grade point average and complete a master’s research project that includes a written document and oral presentation.  The master’s research project will feature the management and analysis of a large dataset to permit testing of a hypothesis and the use of multivariate techniques.

The degree program features small class sizes, and nationally and internationally recognized faculty with a robust research portfolio in areas that include autism, HIV, hepatitis, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, aging, physical activity and social epidemiology.  This faculty research activity will provide and enhance training opportunities for students in the MS in Epidemiology degree program.

The admissions requirements for the degree program include the graduate-level application requirements for the School of Public Health, as well as two semesters each of college-level calculus and biology.  The application deadline is June 30, 2014.

For more information about the MS in Epidemiology degree please contact Mary Carty, the educational program coordinator in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Public Health.