At a Glance
Epidemiology degrees are offered primarily at the master’s and doctoral levels. The most common path is a Master of Public Health (MPH) with an epidemiology concentration, though a Master of Science (MS) is also widely recognized. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, epidemiologists earned a 2024 median salary of $83,980, with 16% job growth projected through 2034.
When COVID-19 swept through the U.S. in 2020, epidemiologists were the professionals telling public health officials where the disease was spreading, how fast, and who was most at risk. That kind of work, tracing the patterns of disease through populations, is what epidemiology degrees prepare you to do. Most people enter the field through a master’s program, though certificate programs and related undergraduate majors provide the foundation to get there. This guide covers every level of epidemiology education, from pre-graduate options through doctoral programs, and what each one leads to. For a closer look at the work itself, see our epidemiologist career guide.
About the Epidemiology Degree
A dedicated undergraduate major in epidemiology is uncommon, though some universities offer it. Students who want to become epidemiologists typically build their foundation through related bachelor’s degrees in biostatistics, public health, nursing, or biology, then pursue a graduate degree in the field. The master’s level is where epidemiology education really begins in earnest, and a master’s degree is the standard entry-level credential for most positions.
At the graduate level, two primary degrees in epidemiology are common: the Master of Public Health (MPH) and the Master of Science (MS). At the highest academic level, students can pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH). Certificate programs also exist for students who want focused epidemiology training without committing to a full degree.
Upon graduation, epidemiologists work across a range of settings: state and local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), academic research centers, hospitals, and private laboratories. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 800 epidemiologist job openings are projected each year through 2034.
Epidemiology Degree Levels at a Glance
The table below shows how the main epidemiology credential options compare by time commitment and typical career outcomes.
| Credential |
Typical Length |
Common Career Outcomes |
| Certificate in Epidemiology |
1 year (9–21 credits) |
Supplemental training for nurses, researchers, and healthcare administrators |
| Associate (related field) |
2 years |
Foundation for bachelor’s degree and entry-level healthcare roles |
| Bachelor’s (related field) |
4 years |
Graduate program eligibility and lab and research support roles |
| MPH or MS in Epidemiology |
2 years full-time |
Epidemiologist, clinical researcher, data analyst |
| PhD or DrPH in Epidemiology |
5–6 years |
Research director, faculty, senior public health leadership |
Certificates in Epidemiology
Certificate programs in epidemiology offer focused training without the time commitment of a full degree. Some are available to anyone with a bachelor’s degree. Others are designed for students already enrolled in a graduate program who want to deepen their epidemiology knowledge. For a broader look at certificate options across public health, see our guide to public health certificate programs.
Who should pursue a certificate in epidemiology?
Certificate programs attract two distinct groups. Some students hold only a bachelor’s degree and want epidemiology training without committing to a master’s program. Others are already enrolled in a related graduate program and want to supplement their education with specialized epidemiology coursework.
How long does a certificate in epidemiology take?
Most certificate programs take one academic year (two semesters) to complete, though timelines vary by institution and enrollment status. Some schools impose a completion deadline, often around two years. Credit requirements vary as well, with programs typically running anywhere from nine credits for enrolled graduate students to 21 or more for non-degree students, depending on the school’s structure.
Do certificate programs award college credit?
Most do, depending on the institution and enrollment status. Some schools also offer non-credit certificate options at reduced tuition for students who want the training without the formal academic record.
What are the prerequisites?
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is the standard requirement. Some programs add field-specific prerequisites, such as a degree in a health-related subject. GRE requirements vary widely. Many graduate programs have moved away from mandatory GRE scores in recent years, so check individual program requirements directly.
Are there specialized epidemiology certificates?
Yes. Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health offers several epidemiology-related certificates for enrolled MPH students, including Molecular Epidemiology, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Advanced Epidemiology, and Epidemiology of Chronic Disease. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health offers a Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Prevention and Control certificate for enrolled JHU graduate students. Certificate availability and requirements change frequently, so check each school’s current catalog for the latest offerings.
Certificate
A certificate is a practical option for professionals who want epidemiology training without the commitment of a full degree program. It works well for nurses, healthcare executives, and medical researchers looking to add an epidemiological perspective to an existing role.
- Registered Nurse
RNs provide nursing care and patient health education across a wide range of medical specialties, including infectious diseases. Epidemiology training helps RNs better understand disease patterns and outbreak response in clinical settings.
- Healthcare Executive
Healthcare administrators direct staff, oversee operations, and shape institutional policy. A working understanding of epidemiology strengthens their ability to respond to disease trends and public health reporting requirements.
- Medical Researcher
Research specialists support clinical trials and public health studies. Much of today’s medical research focuses on understanding the causes of disease, which directly overlaps with the methods epidemiology trains you to use.
Associate Degrees in Fields Connected to Epidemiology
A dedicated associate-level epidemiology degree is extremely rare, but certain associate programs lay solid groundwork for the graduate study ahead. Nursing is the clearest example. An associate degree in nursing covers health assessment, human anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, and clinical research procedures, all concepts that carry directly into epidemiology coursework. It also leads to a licensed profession, giving students a working credential while they plan their next academic step.
Other associate degrees that can support a future path in epidemiology include mathematics, biological science, and medical assisting.
Who should pursue an associate degree in nursing?
Students who want exposure to healthcare before committing to a four-year program, or who aren’t certain yet whether epidemiology is the right fit, are good candidates for an associate in nursing. The degree opens employment doors in a high-demand field while building the scientific and clinical foundation that graduate programs expect.
What are the prerequisites?
Most programs require a high school diploma or GED and a minimum GPA, along with satisfactory grades in prerequisite science and math courses, including biology, chemistry, and algebra.
How long does it take?
Typically two years full-time, though part-time enrollment extends the timeline.
Do associate credits count toward a bachelor’s degree?
Often yes, especially at institutions with articulation agreements or RN-to-BSN bridge programs. Policies vary by school, so confirm transfer credit policies directly with any bachelor’s program you’re considering.
What will I learn?
Associate nursing programs cover health assessment, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, nutrition, and clinical practice. These form a direct foundation for later coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, and public health research methods.
Associate
Associate programs in nursing, biological science, and mathematics build the foundational knowledge epidemiology graduate programs require: a science background, quantitative reasoning, and exposure to healthcare systems.
- Registered Nurse (RN)
RNs provide direct patient care across a wide range of medical settings, including infectious disease and community health. Many pursue additional education after their associate degree, using the clinical foundation as a springboard toward public health or epidemiology graduate programs.
- Medical Administrative Assistant
Manages operations in a medical office, including scheduling, medical records, and billing. The administrative exposure provides a useful understanding of how health data flows through healthcare institutions.
- Medical Billing Specialist
Coding and billing specialists process patient financial information using diagnostic and procedural codes, a skill set that overlaps with the data management and classification work epidemiologists rely on.
Bachelor’s Degrees in Majors Related to Epidemiology
A bachelor’s degree in epidemiology itself is rare. Most students use their undergraduate years to build the quantitative and scientific foundation graduate programs expect. Biostatistics is a particularly well-aligned option: it applies statistical methods directly to biological and public health problems, and undergraduate biostatistics programs typically include coursework in calculus, applied data management, public health, and introductory epidemiology.
Other strong undergraduate backgrounds for aspiring epidemiologists include public health, nutrition, biology, and sociology. The goal at this level is to develop the math and science fluency that graduate epidemiology work demands.
Who should pursue a bachelor’s in biostatistics?
Students interested in epidemiology, healthcare, the biological sciences, or any data-intensive public health role will find biostatistics a strong undergraduate foundation. It’s one of the few bachelor’s programs that lead directly into a master’s in epidemiology without requiring significant prerequisite coursework.
What are the prerequisites?
Standard college admission requirements apply: high school diploma, ACT or SAT scores, and strong performance in high school math and science. The more advanced the math and science coursework in high school, the better-prepared you’ll be for the quantitative demands of a biostatistics program.
How long does it take?
Four years full-time, though the timeline varies for part-time students or those who accelerate their degree through AP credits or summer coursework.
What will I learn?
Biostatistics programs develop skills in statistical computing, applied and theoretical biostatistics, data management, and global and public health concepts. These map directly onto the quantitative demands of graduate epidemiology programs.
Bachelor’s
No bachelor’s degree in epidemiology exists at most schools, but degrees in biostatistics, public health, nutrition, or biology provide the quantitative and scientific foundation graduate epidemiology programs require.
- Biostatistician
Applies statistical methods to biological and public health research, including study design and data analysis. Biostatistics is closely aligned with epidemiology and many professionals work in both areas.
- Nutritionist
Provides guidance on the relationship between diet and health outcomes. Nutritionists working in public health use epidemiological methods to study dietary patterns across populations.
- Social Scientist
Studies social theories, human behavior, and population patterns using quantitative and qualitative research methods, skills that directly support epidemiological inquiry into health disparities and disease distribution.
Master’s Degrees in Epidemiology
The master’s degree is where epidemiology education becomes specific. Two programs dominate: the Master of Public Health (MPH) and the Master of Science (MS). Both produce working epidemiologists, but they approach the training differently and attract different student profiles.
An MPH with an epidemiology concentration is designed for students heading into applied public health practice: state health departments, the CDC, community health programs, and policy settings. It combines epidemiology training with broader public health coursework in health policy, biostatistics, environmental health, and social determinants. The MS in Epidemiology takes a more research-intensive approach, developing advanced statistical and methodological skills suited to academic research, clinical trials, and data-heavy institutional roles.
Both degrees cover epidemiology at three increasing levels of complexity: foundational methods and study design, advanced statistical techniques for examining epidemiological research, and advanced research design and implementation. Either credential can support entry-level epidemiologist positions, though some employers, particularly in applied government settings, favor the MPH, while research institutions may prefer the MS. The choice typically comes down to whether you’re aiming at practice or research.
Online MPH programs with epidemiology concentrations are widely available through CEPH-accredited schools of public health, making them a practical option for working professionals who can’t relocate for a program.
Master’s
A master’s degree in epidemiology, MPH or MS, is the standard entry credential for the field. Both degrees develop the epidemiological methods and data skills employers expect. The MPH skews toward applied public health practice. The MS skews toward research and academia.
- Epidemiologist
Studies the patterns, causes, and spread of disease in populations. By analyzing data from surveillance systems, outbreaks, and clinical studies, epidemiologists identify how diseases originate and what interventions can prevent or reduce their spread.
- Clinical Researcher
Designs and conducts clinical trials and studies examining the effectiveness of drugs, devices, and interventions. Clinical researchers draw heavily on epidemiological methods for study design, data analysis, and interpretation of outcomes.
- Data Analyst
Analyzes large public health datasets to identify patterns and inform decision-making. In public health settings, data analysts often work alongside epidemiologists to process surveillance data and model disease trends.
Doctorates in Epidemiology
Doctoral training in epidemiology leads to two primary degrees. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the more common terminal degree and is designed for students pursuing independent research careers or faculty positions. The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) is less common and more practice-oriented, aimed at experienced professionals seeking senior leadership or management roles in public health institutions. Not all programs differentiate between the two, and some departments offer only a PhD track.
Both doctoral programs require a master’s degree for admission. Students develop advanced research methods, dissertation-quality scholarly writing, and great quantitative skills, including longitudinal data analysis, statistical computing, data mining, and probability theory that drive original epidemiological inquiry. Teaching experience is typically built in through graduate teaching assistant appointments.
A doctorate is a requirement for faculty positions at colleges and universities and for senior research leadership roles at agencies like the CDC, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and major academic medical centers. Some programs allow students to specialize in areas including cancer epidemiology, infectious disease, genetic epidemiology, nutritional epidemiology, and occupational and environmental health.
Who should pursue a doctorate in epidemiology?
Anyone with a master’s degree in epidemiology who wants to lead independent research, publish in peer-reviewed journals, or hold a faculty position at a university. It’s also the right credential for senior public health leadership roles at federal agencies and major research institutions.
What are the prerequisites?
Most doctoral programs require a master’s degree in epidemiology or a closely related field. Applicants with a master’s in an unrelated area typically need to demonstrate strong science and math coursework. GRE scores and other application materials vary by program.
Is a doctorate only for people who want to teach?
No. Teaching faculty do need a doctorate, but so do those pursuing senior research leadership at public health agencies, directors of major epidemiological studies, and professionals in high-level positions at the CDC, NIH, and similar institutions.
How long does it take?
Five to six years is typical, including dissertation research and the final defense.
What will I learn?
Doctoral programs build advanced skills in epidemiological research design, statistical computing, data mining, longitudinal data analysis, and probability theory. Students develop scholarly writing and teaching competencies and gain specialized expertise through dissertation research in a focused area of epidemiology.
Doctorate
A doctoral degree in epidemiology qualifies graduates for the field’s most advanced roles: university faculty, senior research director positions, and leadership at federal public health agencies. This is the terminal credential in the field.
- Director of Clinical Research
Leads and oversees clinical research programs at hospitals, academic medical centers, or research institutions. The role involves setting research strategy, managing teams, and ensuring rigorous study design, all grounded in epidemiological methods.
- Professor of Epidemiology
Teaches epidemiology and related courses at a college or university. Most faculty positions require a doctoral degree. Many faculty members also maintain active research programs, often funded through grants from NIH, CDC, or other public health agencies.
- Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer
Trained through the CDC’s two-year Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) program, established in 1951, EIS officers conduct field investigations of disease outbreaks, analyze public health threats, and help develop response strategies. The program has trained more than 4,100 disease detectives and is widely recognized as an elite entry point into applied epidemiology leadership.
Epidemiologist Salary and Career Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for epidemiologists was $83,980 in May 2024. Salaries vary by setting and sector. Epidemiologists working in scientific research and grantmaking organizations tend to earn above the median. Those in state and local government roles typically earn somewhat less. Geographic location also affects pay; BLS state and area wage data, which changes annually, is available through the BLS OOH epidemiologist profile.
Employment of epidemiologists is projected to grow 16 percent from 2024 to 2034, substantially faster than the average across all occupations. About 800 openings are projected each year over that decade, driven partly by demand in pandemic preparedness, chronic disease surveillance, and the replacement of retiring professionals. Most positions require at least a master’s degree, and senior research and faculty roles require a doctorate.
| Metric |
Figure |
| Median annual salary (May 2024) |
$83,980 |
| Projected job growth (2024–2034) |
16% |
| Projected annual job openings |
~800 |
Questions to Ask About an Epidemiology Program
Not all epidemiology programs are equivalent. These four questions will help you assess the ones you’re seriously considering.
1. Is the program accredited by CEPH?
The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools and programs in public health. CEPH accreditation signals that the curriculum meets established education quality standards and that your degree will be recognized by public health employers. Unlike clinical health professions, epidemiology does not generally require a specific license to practice, so CEPH accreditation functions primarily as an employer-recognized quality credential rather than a licensure prerequisite.
2. What areas of specialization does the program offer?
Epidemiology programs that allow students to specialize through electives, concentrations, or research tracks give you the ability to focus on high-demand areas. Common specializations include:
- Global epidemiology
- Cancer epidemiology
- Maternal and child health epidemiology
- Nutritional epidemiology
- Occupational and environmental epidemiology
- Genetic epidemiology
- Infectious disease epidemiology
- Clinical trials and research
3. Does the program offer research opportunities?
Epidemiology is a research-driven field. Programs that connect students to active research projects in tobacco control, molecular epidemiology, injury prevention, or chronic disease develop practical skills alongside coursework and create opportunities for peer-reviewed publication before graduation.
4. What are graduates doing after they leave?
A program’s placement outcomes tell you more than its curriculum. Look at employment rates among recent graduates, the sectors they’re working in, the organizations hiring them, and any career services the program actively provides, including events, advising, and job listings. An alumni network with connections to state health departments, federal agencies, and academic medical centers is a practical asset.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do you need to become an epidemiologist?
Most epidemiologist positions require at least a master’s degree, typically an MPH with an epidemiology concentration or an MS in Epidemiology. Some entry-level research support roles may be accessible with a bachelor’s degree, but professional practice in the field generally requires graduate training. Doctoral degrees are required for faculty positions and senior research leadership roles.
What’s the difference between an MPH and an MS in Epidemiology?
An MPH with an epidemiology concentration is practice-oriented, combining epidemiology training with coursework in public health policy, environmental health, and health equity. It’s well-suited for careers in government agencies, health departments, and community health settings. An MS in Epidemiology focuses more narrowly on research methods, statistics, and study design, and is the stronger choice for clinical research or academic career tracks.
Does epidemiology require an undergraduate degree?
A bachelor’s degree in epidemiology is uncommon but offered at a small number of universities. The University of Rochester, for example, offers a Bachelor of Arts in Epidemiology. Most students interested in the field complete a related undergraduate degree in biostatistics, public health, biology, or nursing to satisfy the prerequisites for graduate epidemiology programs.
Are online epidemiology degrees credible?
Yes, if they carry CEPH accreditation. Online MPH programs with epidemiology concentrations are offered by accredited schools of public health across the country and are generally recognized by public health employers. Many working health professionals earn their credentials through online programs while continuing to work full-time.
How long does it take to become an epidemiologist?
The path typically takes six or more years after high school: four years for a bachelor’s degree in a related field, plus two years for a master’s degree in epidemiology. Students pursuing doctoral training add another five to six years. Some students reduce the timeline through accelerated programs or by entering graduate school with advanced undergraduate coursework.
Key Takeaways
- Epidemiology degrees are primarily offered at the master’s and doctoral levels. Related bachelor’s degrees and certificates provide the foundation but are not terminal credentials for practicing epidemiologists.
- The MPH and MS are the two standard master’s degrees. The MPH fits applied public health practice. The MS is better suited for research-intensive and academic career paths.
- CEPH accreditation is the key quality marker for public health programs, including online options. Degrees from accredited programs are recognized by public health employers.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median salary of $83,980 for epidemiologists and projects 16% job growth from 2024 to 2034, substantially faster than average.
- Doctoral degrees are required for faculty positions and senior research leadership at federal agencies, including the CDC and NIH. A master’s degree is sufficient for most professional practice roles.
Ready to explore epidemiology programs? Browse accredited options by state and find a degree path that fits your goals.
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Laura Bennett, MPH is a public health professional with over 12 years of experience in community health education and program coordination. She specializes in helping aspiring professionals explore flexible education pathways, including online and hybrid public health degree programs. Laura is passionate about making public health careers more accessible through practical, accredited training
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Epidemiologists represent state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.
