Master of Public Health in Epidemiology

The Rutgers School of Public Health's Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology degree prepares students to design, conduct, analyze, and interpret population health research.

About the Program

Graduates of the program will become data-driven change agents in the public health field as they are trained to use epidemiologic techniques to quantitatively assess patterns and changes in disease occurrence; design, implement, and assess ordinary data collection systems for public health research; interpret epidemiologic data, including national datasets; and present study findings to professional audiences to impact future health care decisions.

The MPH degree focuses on core areas of public health and trains students to pursue a professional or practice-oriented career in interdisciplinary public health. Students interested in receiving training in epidemiological research and methodology as preparation for a doctoral degree programs are encouraged to apply for the Master of Science in Epidemiology.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified in Public Health Exam.

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Competencies

Each concentration identifies competencies for each degree offered. These competencies reflect the full range of knowledge, skills, and other attributes that a student will acquire as a result of completing the requirements for a particular degree.

Upon graduation, a student completing the MPH curriculum in Epidemiology will be able to:

MPH-EPID1: Critique epidemiologic literature, assess its strengths and weaknesses, and determine if conclusion(s) are supported;
MPH-EPID2: Use epidemiologic techniques to quantitatively assess patterns in disease occurrence;
MPH-EPID3: Formulate a specific hypothesis and an appropriate study design and analysis plan;
MPH-EPID4: Design, implement, and assess ordinary data collection systems for public health research;
MPH-EPID5: Implement basic quality control methods during data analysis;
MPH-EPID6: Appropriately analyze and interpret epidemiologic data, such as large national or state level datasets; and
MPH-EPID7: Communicate and present study findings to professional audiences.

Program Format and Length

The MPH in Epidemiology degree is offered as both a full-time and part-time program for candidates dedicated to practicing public health in a professional setting. Students will complete a total of 45 credits, including a practicum experience and capstone research project.

See the full curriculum

Full-time students (9+ credits per semester) can complete the program in as little as two years (4-5 semesters)
Part-time students taking at least six credits per semester may expect to finish within four years (taking courses in the summer may help expedite part-time students’ timing)
Courses are available in-person, remote, and/or online
Students are also required to register for and complete an Interprofessional Education activity prior to graduation
Dual-degree options are available in partnership with other Rutgers University schools.

Students can earn a post-baccalaureate certificate alongside their degree with an additional 6-12 credits. Contact admissions for additional information at admissions@sph.rutgers.edu

Dual Degree Options

MD/MPH with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
DMD/MPH with Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
JD/MPH with Rutgers School of Law
PharmD/MPH with Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
Master of Biomedical Sciences/MPH with Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (Rutgers Health Sciences at Newark Campus)

Application Deadlines and Requirements

Fall Semester Start Date:
January 15 (priority)
May 1 (regular)

Spring Semester Start Date:
October 15 (priority)
December 1 (regular)

A complete application includes:

Completion of the online application
Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
Statement of goals, one-to-three pages in length, which addresses:
- Interest in the program
- Preparedness for the program
- Goals and aspirations
Two letters of recommendation with at least one letter from an academic reference if you are currently enrolled in a degree program or have graduated within the last four years.
Resume or CV
GRE General Exam (optional)
TOEFL or IELTS score for applicants educated in a non-native English-speaking country

Applications are accepted on a rolling, space-available basis following the regular deadline.

Download MPH-Epidemiology Info. Sheet

Core Courses (18 credits)

PHCO 0501 - Health Systems and Policy
PHCO 0502 - Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
PHCO 0503 - Introduction to Environmental Health
PHCO 0504 - Introduction to Biostatistics (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
PHCO 0505 - Social and Behavioral Health Sciences in Public Health
PHCO 0513 - Leadership and Management Essentials for Public Health (required for students enrolled Fall 2018 and after)

Practicum (3-6 credits)

Students enrolled Fall 2016 through Spring 2018 are required to complete 6 credits.

PRAC 0705 - Practicum I (1 credit)
PRAC 0707 - Practicum IIA (2 credits)
PRAC 0709 - Practicum IIB (3 credits)

Students enrolled Fall 2018 and after are required to complete 3 credits.

Note: Students should review the Practice Experience webpage for information about Practicum.

PRAC 0715 - Applied Practice Experience (0 credits) [Prerequisite: APE Learning Agreement and select PHCO and concentration courses]
PRAC 0716 - Practicum Capstone (3 credits) [Prerequisite: Completion of the APE and Practicum Capstone Learning Agreement]
Current students (enrolled prior to Summer 2022) who have not yet completed PRAC 0716 should complete PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718; if these students complete PRAC 0716 with special permission, they are still expected to complete their Practicum Capstone over two semesters, unless they have special permission.
PRAC 0717 - Practicum Capstone-Two Semester (1.5 credits; taken in first semester of two semester capstone) [Prerequisite: Completion of the APE and Practicum Capstone Learning Agreement]
PRAC 0718 - Practicum Capstone-Two Semester (1.5 credits; taken in second semester of two semester capstone) [Prerequisite: Passing (P) Grade in PRAC 0717]
Students who enrolled prior to Summer 2022 are encouraged to complete PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718; PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718 are required for students who enroll Summer 2022 and after.

Review the School’s Registration Calendar for important MPH Practice Experience Registration dates specific to PRAC 0715, PRAC 0716, PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718.

Concentration Courses (15 credits)

Note: Students should review the Course Descriptions in the School Catalog for specific information about prerequisites required for required courses and recommended electives. Semesters when the required courses will be offered are noted for your course planning.

EPID 0656 - Intermediate Epidemiologic Research Methods (Fall/Spring)
EPID 0657 - Applied Methods in Epidemiologic Research (Fall/Spring)
BIST 0535 - Biostatistical Computing (formerly Biometrics Computing) (Fall/Spring)
BIST 0551 - Applied Regression Analysis for Public Health Studies (Fall/Spring)

-also-

Choose one of the following six (these classes may also be used as electives):

EPID 0563 - Introduction to Outcomes Research (Fall) -or-
EPID 0601 - Cancer Epidemiology (Spring) -or-
EPID 0621 - Survey Research in Epidemiology (Fall) -or-
EPID 0650 - Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology (Spring) -or-
EPID 0652 - Epidemiology of Chronic Disease (Fall) -or-
EPID 0673 - Social Epidemiology (Spring)

Other Requirements (0 credits)

PRAC 0621 - Interprofessional Education (0 credits) [Fall/Spring]

Students are required to register for and complete an Interprofessional Education activity prior to graduation.

Recommended Electives (9 credits)

BIST 0615 - Categorical Data Analysis (Fall)
BIST 0627 - Applied Survival Data Analysis (Spring)
BIST 0650 - Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis (Fall)
BIST 0660 - Clinical Trials: Design and Analysis of Medical Experiments (Spring)
BIST 0688 - Statistical Methods in Genetics (Spring)
EPID 0552 - Infectious Disease Epidemiology (Fall)
EPID 0591 - Topics in Comparative Effectiveness Research in Health Care
EPID 0607 - Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology (Fall)
EPID 0641 - GIS in Public Health (Spring)
EPID 0653 - Advanced Epidemiology Research Methods
EPID 0672 - Pharmacoepidemiology and Therapeutic Risk Management (Spring)
EPID 0677 - Molecular Epidemiology: Integration of Biomarkers in Population-Based Research

Core Courses (18 credits)

PHCO 0501 - Health Systems and Policy
PHCO 0502 - Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
PHCO 0503 - Introduction to Environmental Health
PHCO 0504 - Introduction to Biostatistics (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
PHCO 0505 - Social and Behavioral Health Sciences in Public Health
PHCO 0513 - Leadership and Management Essentials for Public Health

Practicum (3 credits)

Note: Students should review the Practice Experience webpage for information about Practicum.

PRAC 0715 - Applied Practice Experience (0 credits) [Prerequisite: APE Learning Agreement and select PHCO and concentration courses]
PRAC 0716 - Practicum Capstone (3 credits) [Prerequisite: Completion of the APE and Practicum Capstone Learning Agreement]
Current students (enrolled prior to Summer 2022) who have not yet completed PRAC 0716 should complete PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718; if these students complete PRAC 0716 with special permission, they are still expected to complete their Practicum Capstone over two semesters, unless they have special permission.
PRAC 0717 - Practicum Capstone-Two Semester (1.5 credits; taken in first semester of two semester capstone) [Prerequisite: Completion of the APE and Practicum Capstone Learning Agreement]
PRAC 0718 - Practicum Capstone-Two Semester (1.5 credits; taken in second semester of two semester capstone) [Prerequisite: Passing (P) Grade in PRAC 0717 and EPID 0657]
Students who enrolled prior to Summer 2022 are encouraged to complete PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0178; PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718 are required for students who enroll Summer 2022 and after.

Review the School’s Registration Calendar for important MPH Practice Experience Registration dates specific to PRAC 0715, PRAC 0716, PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718.

Required Methods Courses (12 credits)

EPID 0656 - Intermediate Epidemiologic Research Methods (Fall/Spring)
EPID 0657 - Applied Methods in Epidemiologic Research (Fall/Spring)
BIST 0535 - Biostatistical Computing(Fall/Spring)
BIST 0551 - Applied Regression Analysis for Public Health Studies (Fall/Spring)

Required Methods-Focused Selective (3 credits)

Choose one of the following ten (these classes may also be used as electives):

EPID 0621 - Survey Research in Epidemiology (Fall) -or-
EPID 0629 - Meta-Analysis (Spring) -or-
EPID 0641 - GIS in Public Health (Spring) -or-
EPID 0753 - Advanced Epidemiology Research Methods* (Spring) -or-
BIST 0615 - Categorical Data Analysis (Fall) -or-
BIST 0627 - Applied Survival Data Analysis (Spring) -or-
BIST 0650 - Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis (Fall) -or-
BIST 0660 - Clinical Trials: Design and Analysis of Medical Experiments (Spring) -or-
BIST 0663 - Statistical Learning in Biomedical Studies (Fall) -or-
HBSP 0726 - Intermediate Survey Methods* (Summer)

*Note: Doctoral-level course requires special permission from the instructor.

Required Content-Focused Selective (3 credits)

Choose one of the following eleven (these classes may also be used as electives):

EPID 0552 - Infectious Disease Epidemiology (Fall) -or-
EPID 0563 - Introduction to Outcomes Research (Fall) -or-
EPID 0601 - Cancer Epidemiology (Spring) -or-
EPID 0607 - Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology (Fall)
EPID 0650 - Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology (Spring) -or-
EPID 0652 - Epidemiology of Chronic Disease (Fall) -or-
EPID 0672 - Pharmacoepidemiology and Therapeutic Risk Management (Spring) -or-
EPID 0673 - Social Epidemiology (Spring) -or-
EPID 0676 - Intermediate Pharmacoepidemiology (Fall) -or-
EPID 0678 - Analysis of Real-World Pharmacoepidemiological Data (Fall) -or-
EPID 0679 - Life Course Epidemiology

Other Requirements (0 credits)

PRAC 0621 - Interprofessional Education Experience (0 credits) [Fall/Spring]
Students are required to register for and complete an Interprofessional Education activity prior to graduation.
Complete Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) online training on Human Subject Research Protections (For Students Enrolled Fall 2024 and After)

Recommended Elective Courses (6 credits)

Electives may be chosen from the below list of recommended courses; from the above lists of selective courses students have not taken; from other courses offered across the School of Public Health, including the School’s global courses (INTL courses); or with approval of the academic advisor. An Independent Study may also be done for up to 3-credits, with approval of the academic advisor and an SPH faculty member. Students interested in taking a graduate course at another Rutgers school must consult with their academic advisor and complete appropriate cross-registration forms in advance of registration. When choosing electives, students should consider the prerequisite requirement(s) and the location or teaching modality of the course.

Electives to Supplement Your Epidemiology Training

ENOH 0596 - Environmental Justice: Historical Perspectives and Justice Initiatives (Fall)
HBSP 0602 - Long-Term Effects of Childhood Inequality and Early Life Adversity (Fall)
HBSP 0603 - Mental Health and Aging (Spring)
HBSP 0621 - Health Care Economics (Fall/Spring)
UGPH 0515 - Global Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases (Spring)
UGPH 0560 - Foundations in Maternal and Child Health (Fall)
UGPH 0621 - Public Health and Health Disparities (Fall)

Students thinking about pursuing a doctoral degree may want to consider taking additional quantitative data analysis and/or research methods courses as electives.

Academic Standing

Students must complete 45 credits of academic work with a minimum GPA of least 3.0; earn no more than nine (9) credits bearing grades less than “B,” and complete the degree requirements within six years. Courses are three credit hours unless otherwise noted and semester when each course is typically offered is noted parentheses. Students should review the Forward Schedule for long-term course planning and the Schedule-At-A-Glance for each semester to determine when, where, and how a course is offered.