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