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.
Admission to the Epidemiology MS program is limited as it shares admission slots with the Epidemiology PhD program. For the past two academic years, only one applicant a year was admitted to this program. Most applications are redirected to be reviewed for the Epidemiology and Biostatistics MPH (2-year) program.
Curriculum
Our master’s of science program is a two-year program. This program differs from our master’s in public health program in that students emphasize their depth of course work in one or more basic science areas complementary to epidemiologic research and are not required to take the breadth courses in public health.
Students must complete at least 24 credits of courses in epidemiology and biostatistics, complete a minimum of three months of epidemiological research, and complete 48 units overall. In addition, a master’s capstone paper is required.
Qualifications
- Applicants need to have a strong background in biological, social or mathematical science, which will provide a basis for the application of epidemiological methods and principles to the study of diseases.
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants include biological, social or mathematical sciences.
- Common work experience for admitted applicants includes experience in a public health setting.
- Submissions of GRE scores are optional but recommended for this program, especially if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Employment
Graduates will be prepared for careers in epidemiologic research.
Epidemiology Faculty
Core Faculty
Arthur Reingold, MD
Professor, Epidemiology
Jennifer Ahern, PhD, MPH
Professor, Epidemiology
Lisa F. Barcellos PhD, MPH
Professor, Epidemiology
Patrick Bradshaw PhD
Associate Professor, Epidemiology
John Colford Jr. MD, PhD, MPH
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