Epidemiology is the study of trends, patterns, and causes related to disease in populations. Students who concentrate in epidemiology are interested in how diseases spread among given populations. Epidemiologists create complex analytical models to help us understand the causes of and solutions to these diseases more clearly.

Sample Courses

Epidemiology of cancer takes the basic understanding of epidemiology and applies it to a specific chronic illness. Advanced epidemiology classes are an exciting opportunity to research disease incidence and mortality and look at its progression throughout time and geographical area. Students study risk factors — such as, nutritional, viral, occupational, and environmental — and their measurement.

This course focuses on the ability of pathogens to infect their host. Understanding these pathways at the molecular and cellular level provides a greater understanding of disease transmission and treatment. The course focuses on “new” diseases, such as legionella, AIDS, or Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis to study over the course of the semester.

This course is designed to give students the tools to manage quantitative data and demonstrate knowledge of statistical techniques. Students assume responsibility for the design and implementation of investigative analyses. They focus on survey approaches, research design, data collection, data management, and statistical software.