Epidemiology is concerned with the study of factors that determine the distribution of health and disease in human populations.
The purposes of epidemiological research are to discover the causes of disease, to advance and evaluate methods of disease prevention, and to aid in planning and evaluating the effectiveness of public health programs. Epidemiologists are interested in the study of infectious and noninfectious diseases. In recent years they have turned their attention increasingly toward the study of conditions affected by forces in the social and physical environment.
Curriculum
Our 11-month program requires 42 units of coursework in public health and advanced epidemiologic and biostatistical methods. A master’s paper is required for completion of the program.
Qualifications
- Applicants must be doctoral level health professionals (e.g. physicians, veterinarians or dentists), have a prior doctoral degree in a related discipline (e.g. anthropology, sociology, psychology, demography or biology sciences), or be concurrently enrolled in a doctoral level degree program in a health profession or related discipline.
- Common work experience for admitted applicants includes medical doctor, dentist, pharmacist, veterinarian, and/or research experience in a public health setting.
- GRE scores are optional for the fall 2023 admissions cycle. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Employment
Graduates often secure positions utilizing epidemiologic and statistical training in federal, state and local health departments, as well as a wide variety of academic research positions and positions in the private medical and health care fields.
Bethany Lee
MPH ’19
I came here so I could learn the epidemiologic tools to carry out rigorous research and analyze the effects of policy on health. Not only did my time at Berkeley equip me with these skills and more, but it also solidified my passion to work in the intersection of research and policy.
Admissions Statistics
Epidemiology Faculty
Core Faculty

Arthur Reingold, MD
Professor, Epidemiology

Jennifer Ahern, PhD, MPH
Professor, Epidemiology

Amani M. Allen PhD, MPH
Executive Associate Dean

Lisa F. Barcellos PhD, MPH
Professor, Epidemiology

Patrick Bradshaw PhD
Associate Professor, Epidemiology

John Colford Jr. MD, PhD, MPH
Professor, Epidemiology

Rohini J. Haar MD, MPH
Assistant Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology

Alan Hubbard PhD
Chair, Biostatistics Division

Joseph Lewnard, PhD
Associate Professor, Epidemiology

John Marshall PhD
Professor in Residence, Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Sandra McCoy PhD, MPH
Professor in Residence, Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Catherine Metayer MD, PhD
Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Mahasin Mujahid PhD, MS, FAHA
Chair, Epidemiology Division

Maya Petersen MD, PhD
Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Corinne Riddell PhD, MSc
Assistant Adjunct Professor, Biostatistics

Sharon K. Sagiv PhD, MPH
Associate Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology
Affiliated Faculty

John Balmes MD
Professor Emeritus (UCSF), Environmental Health Sciences

Sandrine Dudoit PhD
Associate Dean for the Faculty and Research, Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society

Ellen Eisen ScD
Professor in Residence, Environmental Health Sciences

Lia Fernald PhD, MBA
Brian and Jennifer Maxwell Endowed Professor in Public Health, Community Health Sciences

Rohini J. Haar MD, MPH
Assistant Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology

Eva Harris, PhD
Professor, Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology

Kim Harley, PhD
Associate Adjunct Professor, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health

William Jagust MD
Professor, Public Health and Neuroscience

Barbara Laraia PhD, MPH, RD
Professor, Community Health Sciences

Emily J. Ozer PhD
Professor, Community Health Sciences

Lee Riley, MD
Professor (1996–2022), Epidemiology; Infectious Diseases

Mark van der Laan PhD
Professor, Biostatistics and Statistics
Adjunct Faculty
Emeriti Faculty

Barbara Abrams DrPH, RD
Professor of the Graduate School, Epidemiology, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, and Public Health Nutrition

Michael Bates, PhD
Research Professor, Emeritus, Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences

Ralph Catalano PhD, MRP
Professor of the Graduate School, Public Health

Brenda Eskenazi MA, PhD
Professor Emeritus

Nicholas P. Jewell PhD
Professor of the Graduate School, Public Health

Maureen Lahiff PhD
Emeritus Academic, Epidemiology and Biostatistics

David Ragland PhD, MPH
Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology

Martyn Smith, PhD
Professor of the Graduate School

S. Leonard Syme PhD
Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology; Community Health Sciences