Program Overview

The Master of Science in Epidemiology in Temple’s College of Public Health prepares students for advanced study and research-oriented careers in epidemiology. Students learn to use rigorous epidemiologic methods and appropriate analyses to answer pressing research questions related to the public’s health. The master’s degree program will prepare you as a public health professional with expertise in

• Application of modern statistical computing software, such as SAS and R, and statistical methods for large and complex data sets in public health and medicine;
• Data management of health-related cross-sectional, experimental, longitudinal and survey data;
• Study design and appropriate data analyses that can be used to accurately quantify and assess population-based, health-related outcomes; and
• Proficiently interpreting and presenting results to various audiences.

Epidemiology is considered the foundational science of public health. It allows researchers and practitioners to identify and understand the descriptive characteristics, determinants and risk factors that influence the public’s health. Students in the Epidemiology MS degree program examine complex global and local challenges related to chronic and infectious diseases; train to understand determinants of, and methodological issues in, cancer and social epidemiology; and apply their knowledge and skills to develop projects that seek to answer timely research questions.

Our graduates are prepared for doctoral programs, as well as for work in a wide range of settings, including academic institutions; applied research settings in health systems and hospitals; federal agencies (such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health and U.S. Centers for Disease Control);  and local and state health departments. Graduates might pursue careers as epidemiologists; healthcare analysts, health equity managers or health system specialists; research/program managers and analysts; and other positions.