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 one-year 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.
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
Assistant Professor, Epidemiology

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

Rohini J. Haar MD, MPH
Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology


Alan Hubbard PhD
Professor, Biostatistics


Joseph Lewnard PhD
Assistant Professor, Epidemiology


John Marshall PhD
Assistant Professor in Residence, Epidemiology and Biostatistics


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


Catherine Metayer MD, PhD
Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics


Mahasin Mujahid PhD, MS, FAHA
Associate Professor, Epidemiology


Maya Petersen MD, PhD
Chair, Division of Biostatistics


Corinne Riddell PhD, MSc
Assistant Adjunct Professor, Biostatistics


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


John Balmes MD
Professor, Environmental Health Sciences


Andres Cardenas PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor in Residence, Environmental Health Sciences


Sandrine Dudoit PhD
Chair, Department of Statistics


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
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


Scott Lee MD, MPH, FACS
Lecturer, Epidemiology


Emily J. Ozer PhD
Professor, Community Health Sciences


Lee Riley MD
Professor, 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
Adjunct Professor and Researcher, Emeritus, Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences


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


Brenda Eskenazi MA, PhD
Professor


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


Maureen Lahiff PhD
Lecturer, Epidemiology and Biostatistics


David Ragland PhD, MPH
Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology


Martyn Smith PhD
Professor, Toxicology


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