Epidemiology Focus

Teaching & the Graduate Program

With a rich tradition in graduate training and mentoring, the epidemiology faculty at MUSC provides state-of-the-art interdisciplinary training in epidemiology leading to a MS or Ph.D. degree. The epidemiology faculty is productively engaged in research within the department and with other collaborators around campus and around the world, helping to expand the opportunities available for MS and Ph.D. student thesis and dissertation directions.

Program Components

The MS and Ph.D. graduate training programs include essential coursework in epidemiology methods, biostatistics theory and methods, and other core courses essential for building a strong foundation for a career in epidemiology. Students in the MS program must pass a basic comprehensive exam and complete a master’s thesis. Students in the Ph.D. program must complete the basic exam, an advanced qualifying exam, and a dissertation which includes three publishable papers.

Career Opportunities

With an MS degree in epidemiology, students can expect to be well prepared to pursue careers in a variety of settings with health-related research and programs, including universities, public health departments, clinical departments, state or federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or health-related businesses such as pharmaceutical companies, and other settings. Students completing a Ph.D. in epidemiology will be ready to lead research projects and/or teach epidemiology at any level, and will have the competency to pursue a career in public health departments, universities, clinical departments, state or federal agencies, or other settings.