Online MPH Applied Epidemiology
Apply Public Health Data to Understand and Prevent Disease
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offered its first course in epidemiology in 1936. More than 85 years later, the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health continues to train aspiring public health epidemiologists. Epidemiology — the study of the distribution and determinants of disease or risk factors in a population — is the cornerstone of public health inquiry and problem-solving. Unlike clinical medicine, which predominantly focuses on an individual’s health and well-being, epidemiology uses a broader lens to examine the health of populations. Epidemiologists identify public health problems and inform goals for interventions that reduce risk and improve health.
The global need for accurate information and appropriate statistical applications has never been more apparent. In the Applied Epidemiology concentration for the online Master of Public Health (MPH), students learn to apply epidemiologic methods and skills to describe patterns of disease that affect diverse populations.
Our Applied Epidemiology concentration uniquely focuses on skills and knowledge that can be applied to both public health practice and research in an academic setting. MPH@UNC seeks candidates with solid analytical and quantitative skills to apply to the MPH in Applied Epidemiology. See a complete list of application requirements.
Competencies for an MPH in Applied Epidemiology
The online Applied Epidemiology concentration prepares you to meet the following Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) competency requirements:
Critically evaluate the relevant body of epidemiologic literature.
Illustrate how surveillance systems can be applied to a disease or condition of public health importance.
Assess specific epidemiologic study designs – including appropriate study populations and strategies of data collection – to investigate etiologic relationships between the exposure and outcome.
Develop data collection tools with consideration of ethical and privacy considerations, data security, and quality control.
Appraise data sources and linkages to address a public health issue, with consideration of ethical and privacy considerations, data security and quality control.
Conduct and interpret data analyses of epidemiologic data – including datasets made available by governmental or other organizations – to address research questions, taking account of data quality and systematic error.
Communicate epidemiologic concepts and findings to lay and professional audiences
Study the Data. Apply It Effectively. Start Today.
At the Gillings School, we’re on it. We know you are, too. Request information about the Applied Epidemiology concentration to take the next step.
MPH Applied Epidemiology Curriculum
Full-Time and Part-Time Options | 42 Total Credits
Designed to accommodate full- or part-time schedules, the MPH Applied Epidemiology curriculum emphasizes experiential learning, evidence-based solutions and interdisciplinary knowledge that students can apply right away.
- MPH Core Courses (14 credits)
- Epidemiology-Specific Courses (15 credits)
- Elective Courses (9 credits)
- Pre- and Post-Practicum Courses (1 credit)
- Practicum Work Experience (200 hours)
- Culminating Experience (3 credits)
After completing the Gillings MPH core courses, students will transition into concentration-specific courses. The following courses are required for the MPH Applied Epidemiology concentration:
- EPID 710: Fundamentals of Epidemiology
- EPID 716: Epidemiologic Data Analysis
- EPID 750: Fundamentals of Public Health Surveillance
- EPID 759: Methods in Field Epidemiology
- EPID 795: Data in Public Health
The Gillings School: World-Renowned for Epidemiology
The Gillings School’s Department of Epidemiology is one of the world’s leading academic departments for epidemiological study. Experienced faculty provide classroom and real-world education that emphasizes the integration of substantive area knowledge with cutting-edge epidemiologic methods.
Our faculty, students and alumni conduct innovative, interdisciplinary research that applies to a variety of health problems across North Carolina and around the world — translating expertise into action.
As an Epidemiology student, you will explore a range of public health topics, such as COVID-19, cardiovascular disease, HIV, environmental exposures, the opioid epidemic, suicide rates, HPV vaccination and cancer treatment efficacy.
We’re Leading the Charge. Join Us.
Learn more about the online Applied Epidemiology concentration from the
UNC Gillings School, the No. 1 public school of public health in the United States.1
Career Paths for Applied Epidemiology Graduates
The practice of applied epidemiology is critically important — now more than ever before.
Unlike clinical medicine, which focuses primarily on individual health and well-being, epidemiology views health through a broader lens and examines trends across populations. Epidemiologists can identify public health threats and inform targets for interventions that reduce risk and improve health on a large scale.
Graduates from our MPH in Applied Epidemiology concentration are equipped to:
Define and prioritize public health practice and policy.
Respond quickly to outbreaks, including identifying harmful pathogens or factors contributing to disease.
Implement risk assessments and effective surveillance.
Guide interventions to improve population health.
Inform medicine and pharmacy (e.g., tracking toxicities, informing precision medicine based on genetics and gauging drug efficacy).
Evaluate programs and policies, such as HIV prevention education among adolescent girls or malaria prevention plans for infants.
Identify and study determinants of disease, including the biological, behavioral, social, cultural, economic and political factors that directly or indirectly influence health.
Employment of Epidemiologists is expected to grow by 27% from 2022 to 2032 — faster than the average for all occupations.2
Example Job Titles
- Epidemiologist
- Project manager
- Project coordinator
- Data analyst
- Researcher
- Data scientist
Example Employers
- Federal, state, territorial and local health agencies
- Global public health agencies
- Nonprofit and health care organizations
- Hospitals or health systems
- The pharmaceutical industry
Bring the Power of Public Health to Your Community
Learn how the online Applied Epidemiology concentration prepares you with the analytical toolkit to influence practical change when and where it matters most.
1Best Public Health Schools U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved August 2024. arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
2 Epidemiologists (2024). The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved July 12, 2024. arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference