Online Master’s Degree in Epidemiology

As globalization continues at a rampant pace, the need for professionals with an online Master’s Degree in Epidemiology will become crucial to maintaining international health. An accredited online epidemiology masters degree is typically designed to allow students to delve into patterns of health and illness as they affect various populations. Though an online bachelor’s degree in epidemiology is sufficient for most entry-level jobs in the field, the added training provided by a good online masters program in epidemiology is a valuable credential for obtaining a leadership or advanced role within the industry.

Online Master’s Degrees in Epidemiology Requirements

Successful epidemiology masters degree online students enjoy statistics, public health, and the application of theory to real-life situations. Typically, individuals studying to obtain accredited online degrees in epidemiology have quantitative minds and are excellent critical thinkers. Students in top online masters programs in epidemiology will have the opportunity to combine, develop, and perfect these characteristics into a unique, professional personality.

Many online masters epidemiology candidates have a bachelor’s degree in related fields including:

• Biochemistry
• Engineering
• Public Health
• Biology
• Bioinformatics

In addition, several masters degree online students have prior work experience as medical professionals, academic researchers, or project engineers.

In order to pursue an online PhD in epidemiology, an online master’s in epidemiology is usually required.

Online Epidemiology Master’s Degree Education

Good online master’s degree programs in epidemiology typically take between 2 to 3 years to complete. The types of epidemiology degrees offered by the best epidemiology master’s programs online include:

• Master of Science in Epidemiology (MS in Epidemiology)
• Master of Arts in Epidemiology (MA in Epidemiology)

Information on Epidemiology Courses

Top online masters degree programs in epidemiology focus on applying mathematical models to large population disease and health data sets. The courses required to obtain an online epidemiology master’s degree online are designed to develop advanced math skills, and to supplement them with a strong scientific background in a biology-based science. Online master’s degree epidemiology courses will give students the opportunity to apply the theories of health and illness proliferation to real-life situations.

Courses common to the best online masters degree programs in epidemiology include:

• Statistics
  This online master in epidemiology course teaches students advanced statistical models, in order to obtain novel insights from very large sets of data.
• Systems Biology
  Students learn the mathematical basis for many different biological systems, including cells and illness projections.
• Global Health
  Students learn about the factors that influence global health most strongly, as well as methods of controlling population wellness.
• Pathology
  This online master in epidemiology course teaches students about the nature of disease: how it spreads, how it adapts, and how it can ultimately be thwarted.
• Technical Communications
  Students learn the rigorous communicative standards and technical jargon associated with health.

Specializations and Concentrations

Because epidemiology is a broad field, in order to become an expert in a specific niche, some online master’s epidemiology students will pursue specialties or concentrations in areas including:

• Biostatistics
• Epidemic Prevention
• Global Health
• Population Dynamics

Careers in Epidemiology

Graduates of online master programs in epidemiology have a wide range of career options to choose from. Popular choices among online masters degree epidemiology graduates include:

• Sociologist
  These professionals study various dynamics of society, and with an epidemiology background may focus in issues related to health and population dynamics. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sociologists make about $45,000 per year, with projected industry growth of 22 percent until 2018.
• Public Health Officer
  Public health officers work for governments or private agencies to conduct studies on the overall health characteristics of particular population niches. These professionals make around $48,000 per year, with competitive growth expected until 2018.
• Academic Researcher
  Academic researchers design experiments related to illness models, disease trends and other health-centered challenges. Researchers can make $45,000 per year or more, with healthy growth projected into 2018.
• Disease Prevention Specialist
  Often hired by nations, disease prevention specialists work to create highly individualized plans to ward off the spread of malicious diseases in areas otherwise unable to make effective plans themselves. These professionals make $50,000 per year or more with experience.
• Health Consultant
  Health consultants can work for small firms or as self-employed professionals, providing advice to medical organizations and even national government organizations on how to effective manage the overall health of their citizens. These professionals make $50,000 or more per annum.

Students graduating from online master degree programs in epidemiology will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to take on a variety of career possibilities in an industry that is beneficial to all.