Health & Medical Sciences
Applied Epidemiology and Disease Control
Applied Epidemiology and Disease Control trains you to track, investigate, and respond to disease outbreaks and public health threats using real data and field methods. You'll learn the core methods of epidemiology -- study design, biostatistics, and surveillance systems -- with a strong practical emphasis on actually investigating outbreaks and designing disease control programmes, rather than just studying theory. Coursework typically includes infectious and chronic disease epidemiology, outbreak investigation, and health data analysis. Many programmes include a field placement or applied practicum with a health department or public health agency, giving you real experience working a live public health problem.
Program objectives
- 01Master core epidemiological methods including study design and biostatistics.
- 02Learn practical outbreak investigation and disease surveillance techniques.
- 03Develop skills for designing and evaluating disease control programmes.
- 04Build competence in analyzing real public health data.
- 05Gain field experience working with health agencies on live public health issues.
Why choose this program
Hands-on, field-based training
Unlike purely theoretical epidemiology courses, this programme is built around real outbreak investigation and applied practice experience.
Essential, high-visibility public health work
Disease surveillance and outbreak response are central to how health systems protect populations, giving graduates clear, meaningful career purpose.
Strong, transferable analytical skills
The biostatistics and data analysis skills you build are valuable well beyond disease control, including in health policy and research.
Skills you'll build
- Outbreak investigation methods
- Biostatistics and epidemiological study design
- Disease surveillance system design and use
- Health data analysis and interpretation
- Programme evaluation for disease control interventions
- Rapid problem-solving under time pressure
- Clear communication of risk to the public and officials
- Teamwork with cross-disciplinary field teams
- Attention to detail in data collection
Tools & software
- Statistical software such as R, SAS, or Stata
- Disease surveillance and reporting systems
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for outbreak mapping
Challenges to expect
Academic
- The biostatistics component is demanding and builds cumulatively, so falling behind early makes later coursework much harder.
Technical
- Learning to use surveillance systems and statistical software well enough for real fieldwork takes hands-on practice beyond lectures.
Personal
- Outbreak response work can mean unpredictable hours, travel to affected areas, and exposure to high-pressure, high-stakes situations.
Tips from the field
- Get comfortable with a statistical software package (R or SAS are common) as early as possible -- it's used constantly throughout the programme.
- Take the field placement or practicum seriously; it's often where the theory finally clicks and where you build the network that leads to your first job.
- Follow real outbreak investigations reported by health agencies while you study -- seeing how methods play out in practice reinforces the classroom material.
Career paths
- Epidemiologist
- Disease surveillance officer
- Public health data analyst
- Outbreak investigator
- Field epidemiologist
- Health programme evaluator
Where you can study this
| Name | Latest cutoff | Tuition (annual) |
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FAQs
Is this the same as a general Public Health degree?+
It's more specialized -- Applied Epidemiology and Disease Control focuses specifically on outbreak investigation and disease surveillance, while a general Public Health degree covers a broader range of topics like health policy and health promotion.
Do I need a clinical background to study this?+
Not necessarily. Many programmes accept students from biology, statistics, nursing, or other science backgrounds, though some clinical or health science exposure helps.
Will I get real fieldwork experience?+
Most programmes include an applied practicum or field placement with a health department or public health agency, giving you hands-on outbreak or surveillance experience.
How much statistics is involved?+
A significant amount -- biostatistics is core to epidemiology, so expect solid training in statistical methods and data analysis.
What's the day-to-day work of a field epidemiologist like?+
It varies from routine data analysis to intense periods of outbreak investigation, which can involve travel, interviews, and rapid data collection in affected communities.
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