Welcome To Our Program

David Rich

Epidemiology is the science that studies the distribution, determinants, and patterns of disease in human populations. It is a cornerstone of public health and informs policy decisions and evidence-based clinical practice by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive healthcare. The MS-EPI program is designed to provide students with the methodologies and skills needed to:

  • conduct clinical and population-based research.
  • manage public health programs to identify correlates of disease that may be targets of primary prevention.
  • evaluate the predictors of various clinical outcomes in populations
  • accommodate the growing need to integrate and analyze large-scale information

Epidemiologists at the University of Rochester research environmental, cardiovascular, pulmonary, nutritional, infectious disease, aging, neurologic, emergency medicine and injury epidemiology outcomes and predictors of them in clinical cohorts and large populations. 

The MS-EPI program requires 31 credit hours of courses, including 19-20 credits in required courses in epidemiology theory and application, biostatistics, statistical programming and data management, and research ethics. Students then take 6-9 credits in elective courses offered in a wide variety of health and analytic methods courses at the university, as well as epidemiology elective courses such as causal epidemiology methods, and topical courses including environmental, nutritional, cardiovascular, infectious disease, injury and emergency medicine, cancer, and chronic disease epidemiology. Students’ capstone projects may be either a 6-credit thesis or a 3-credit Integrated Learning Experience.

Graduates of the MS-EPI program are well prepared to take research coordinator, analyst, programmer, and epidemiologist positions in: 

  • Academic research and medical centers
  • Private industry 
  • Government and non-profit agencies

Further, graduates are well trained to start PhD programs in Epidemiology and other related fields. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, epidemiologists have great job prospects overall.

We welcome you to join us! For detailed information about program objectives and curriculum, please see About The Program, or contact me to discuss how our MS in Epidemiology program can help you meet your educational and career goals!

For inquiries about our program, please email David Rich, Sc.D., M.P.H. or call (585) 276-4119.