MS in Epidemiology

This 10-month program focuses on the methodologic foundations of epidemiologic research and offers a choice of three sub-specialization tracks: Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Chronic Diseases Epidemiology, and Environmental Epidemiology. All three share a common core in epidemiologic methods and biostatistics, and each is anchored in a Yale department dedicated to that field, with renowned faculty and research centers.

All three sub-specializations train students in the methods that are needed to generate findings that inform public health policy and practice. In contrast to the MPH degree with its substantive focus on foundational Public Health competencies, the MS degree emphasizes the mastery of research skills-based epidemiologic study. While many graduates of this program will apply to doctoral programs (e.g., PhD, MD), the MS degree is itself marketable as a terminal degree leading to research positions in academic medical centers, industry, and government.

Prospective students will select their chosen track in the application. The length of study for students enrolled full-time is 10 months (July to May). Part-time enrollment is permitted.

Chronic Diseases Epidemiology Track

The Chronic Diseases Epidemiology Track is for students who want to study the determinants of and methods to control the public health impact of chronic conditions related to cancer, cardiovascular disease, aging, and many others with broad elective options tailored to individual interests. This area of specialization aims to prepare students for research careers in academic, clinical, and industry settings, for example.

Environmental Epidemiology Track

The Environmental Epidemiology Track is for individuals who are interested in studying the links of environmental exposures to health effects, with structured training in exposure science, hazard identification, climate epidemiology, and environmental epidemiology. This area of specialization aims to prepare students for research, regulatory, and consulting careers at the intersection of environmental exposure, climate, and population health.

Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Track

The Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Track is for students interested in communicable diseases who want to learn methods for data collection and analysis related to outbreaks, transmission dynamics, and evaluation of interventions, with advanced coursework in surveillance, quantitative methods, and dynamic modeling. This area of specialization aims to prepare students for careers in outbreak response, surveillance, transmission modeling, and vaccine and therapeutic research, among others.

Admission decisions for the MS in Epidemiology degree will be made by the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) in collaboration with the Public Health Masters Studies Executive Committee and faculty in the departments of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Chronic Disease Epidemiology, and Environmental Health Sciences.

• This program does not require General GRE test scores.
• Students whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Applicants should hold an undergraduate degree and demonstrate readiness for an intensive, accelerated MS curriculum. Because the program begins with accelerated summer coursework in biostatistics and epidemiology and moves quickly into advanced methods, successful applicants typically present prior quantitative coursework e.g., statistics, mathematics, along with evidence of strong analytic preparation. Degree program readiness is assessed holistically from the full application.