Epidemiology Career & Certificate:  Becoming An Epidemiologist

How would you like a job where every day brings a new and challenging medical mystery?

Half a hundred elementary school children are suddenly affected by cramps and nausea…600 people in a single community are stricken with tuberculosis…A woman is attacked by flesh-eating bacteria…

No, it’s not the X-files. These are real-life cases that epidemiologist Dr. Kathy Gensheimer has encountered—and solved—in the course of her public health career, which was profiled by Tom Weber in the Bangor Daily News.

Weber quotes Gensheimer as saying, "Public health really grew on me. Instead of having an individual as a patient, I had a whole community as my patient. The idea was to do the most I could to help the greatest number of people, and it was exciting to intervene to help stop unnecessary illness and unnecessary death."

Stopping unnecessary illness, as Gensheimer puts it, could be seen as the key element that differentiates the public health model from the medical health model. Medical health focuses on reversing or curing disease after it has occurred, while public health is interested in preventing the causes and conditions.

Public health has five core concentration areas, of which epidemiology is one. An epidemiologist works to investigate the causes of food poisoning, influenza and other outbreaks, and to halt their spread. In addition, epidemiologists do ongoing fieldwork to explore the causes of disease or injury, understand the risks, and identify most at-risk population segments. Their jobs have much in common with detective work, and they are often dubbed “disease detectives.”

What Makes An Epidemiology Career So Appealing?

Epidemiologists...

• Oversee public health programs, including statistical analysis, health care planning, surveillance systems, and public health improvement.
• Investigate diseases or parasites to determine cause and risk factors, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission.
• Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
• Plan, administer and evaluate health safety standards and programs to improve public health, conferring with health department, industry personnel, physicians and others.
• Provide expertise in the design, management and evaluation of study protocols and health status questionnaires, sample selection and analysis.

Could A Career In Epidemiology Be Right For You?

View this short Epidemiology Career Video that offers insights into the many different career paths embodied in this exciting, critical health profession. Epidemiology can be an intense field, as you’ll be working with controversial topics and facing public scrutiny. For example, the elementary school children that Gersheimer investigated turned out to be suffering from an overdose of sodium fluoride. You may recall reading heated debates about the pros and cons of sodium flouride water treatment in the news. Could you handle the challenges implicit in working in a controversial area like that? Could you cope with the responsibility of publicly reporting your research on worldwide epidemics like swine flu, avian flu and mad cow disease? Would you enjoy a job in which your decisions affected the health of hundreds or even millions of people?

If you think you could handle the challenges of a career in epidemiology, the next thing to do is look into getting the proper training and certifications. The first step towards pursuing a career in epidemiology requires a bachelor’s degree, preferably with a background in any of the health sciences, biology, or nursing. After graduating from college, the next step is to earn a master`s degree in public health at an accredited school of public health.

Health professionals from diverse backgrounds such as policy makers, physicians, Nurses, clinical research professionals, microbiologists, and health educators who are interested in epidemiology also have the option of earning a professional Certificate in Epidemiology & Biostatistics which provides research-oriented training in the theory and tools of core public health disciplines without the need to obtain a Master’s in Public Health degree.

Epidemiology is an interdisciplinary field, meaning that it crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries and involves diverse fields of study. You will study quantitative skills such as biostatistics and computer applications. You’ll also learn a vast array of methods to foster health promotion and disease prevention and to evaluate the quality of health care.

Online Public Health Degree Programs Can Get You There Faster

Like many students who want to pursue a public health career, you may be weighing the benefits of an online degree. An online public health degree or epidemiology certificate program will enable you to earn your degree faster so you can get out there and make a difference in the real world. You’ll also save money and enjoy the convenience of studying from home, while applying your new understanding and insights to the community in which you live.

Never before has disease prevention and health promotion been more important. As world events develop, with the added threat of bio-terrorism and other emerging public health issues, those who can apply knowledge gained through research to real-world problems are in great demand across all sectors: healthcare, pharmaceuticals, governmental & non-governmental agencies, business and academia.

Remember smallpox? One of the most deadly and fast-spreading diseases in history, it was wiped off the face of the earth by epidemiologists by 1980. If you decide to pursue a career in epidemiology, you could be playing a role in the next revolutionary landmark in disease prevention. Mystery, excitement and controversy: they’re all in a day’s work for an epidemiologist.

Earn Your Public Health Degree Online

Get the education and credentials you need for a successful career in Public Health. Take the first step towards earning an accredited degree in public health online through your choice of top ranked schools by requesting additional program information today:
Explore Online Public Health Degree Programs

Kaplan University

Campus

Advance your career and get the distinct competitive advantage you need with an online degree from Kaplan University. And do it without missing a day of work.

Programs:

• MS in Health Education
• Master of Public Health
• BS in Public Administration and Policy

Campus Locations:

Fort Lauderdale

Walden University

Online

Balance your personal and professional commitments while earning a respected Ph.D., master's degree, or bachelor's degree online at Walden University. Programs offered in management, education, psychology and health and human services.

Programs:

• Ph.D. in Public Health
• Ph.D. in Human Services - Public Health
• Master of Public Administration - Health Policy

The University of Liverpool

Campus

Advance your career and increase your earning potential with a masters or a doctoral degree from the University of Liverpool. Study online in small groups of business professionals.

Programs:

• Master of Public Health (Epidemiology)
• Master of Public Health
• Master of Public Health (Management of Health Systems)

Campus Locations:

Online

Grand Canyon University

Campus

Don't Miss a Day of Your Future! Grand Canyon University is offering Bachelor and Master degrees through our College of Education, Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Nursing & Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, and College of Entrepreneurship. Classes start soon!

Programs:

• Master of Public Health

Campus Locations:

Phoenix

University of Phoenix

Campus

As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.

Programs:

• Master of Public Admin
• BS in Business/Public Sector
• Master of Public Administration

Campus Locations:

Salida
Rancho Cordova
Fairfield
Costa Mesa
Oakland
Visalia
Pasadena
Culver City
Livermore
Diamond Bar
Online
Fresno
San Francisco
Ontario
Los Angeles
San Diego
Beale AFB
San Jose
Murrieta
Sacramento
Chula Vista
San Bernardino
Lathrop
Woodland Hills
Bakersfield
Gardena
Lancaster
Elk Grove
El Centro
Roseville

DeVry University

Campus

A graduate degree really can make a difference, especially when it's from DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management. Online, evening and weekend classes are available.

Programs:

• Master's-Public Administration

Campus Locations:

San Diego
Pomona
Anaheim
Irvine
Long Beach
Alhambra
Daly City
Sherman Oaks
San Jose
Oakland
Elk Grove
Colton
Fremont

Strayer University

Online

Get the right foundation for your future with a degree from Strayer University. Evening, weekend and online classes are all available to meet the needs of busy adults.

Programs:

• Masters: Public Administration

Golden Gate University

Campus

For more than 110 years, non-profit Golden Gate University (GGU) has been helping adults achieve their professional goals by providing undergraduate and graduate education in Accounting, Law, Taxation, Business and related areas.

Programs:

• Public Administration - Executive Masters
• Public Administration - Masters

Campus Locations:

Santa Clara
San Francisco

Western International University

Online

Pursue your degree with Western International University. We offer programs at three campuses in Arizona and a live, interactive online classes taught by experienced industry professionals.

Programs:

• Master of Public Administration
• Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science

Argosy University

Campus

Argosy University offers doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degree programs to students through its five colleges: Psychology andBehavioral Sciences, Education, Business, Health Sciences, and Undergraduate Studies, as well as certificate programs in many areas.

Programs:

• State and Local Government (MPA)
• Public Administration (MPA)
• Health Care Management (BS)

Campus Locations:

Orange
Santa Monica
San Diego
Alameda
San Bernardino

Northcentral University

Campus

Earn your degree online and boost your career at Northcentral University. We offer online doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degree programs in education, behavioral and health sciences, and business.

Programs:

• Public Administration - PhD in Bus. Admin.
• Public Administration - D.B.A.
• Health Care Administration - PhD in Bus. Admin.

Campus Locations:

Prescott Valley

Bellevue University

Campus

Bellevue University makes it possible for motivated adult learners to earn a high-quality college degree.

Programs:

• MPA - Master of Public Administration
• MHA Healthcare Administration
• BS in Healthcare Management

Campus Locations:

Bellevue

Regis University

Campus

Regis University offers a rich tradition of Jesuit education to enrich your life and further your career.

Programs:

• BS in Public Administration

Campus Locations:

West Jordan

American InterContinental University Online

Campus

American InterContinental University Online's flexible curriculum allows you to study when and where it's most convenient. Earn your degree at an accelerated pace from an accredited school that is respected by employers.

Programs:

• Bachelor's of Business Administration in Healthcare Management

Campus Locations:

Schaumburg

California College San Diego

Campus

California College San Diego (CCSD)offers degree programs in Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, and Computer Science. Online programs are offered by our affiliated college, Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray.

Programs:

• Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (Online)
• Master of Science in Healthcare Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration

Campus Locations:

San Diego
National City
San Marcos

Independence University

Campus

You can advance your career 24/7 with online education at Independence University, your proven partner with over 30 years of experience in delivering quality distance education right to our students. Our programs are designed to allow you to continue working and earning as you pursue your online degree.

Programs:

• MS - Healthcare Administration

Campus Locations:

Salt Lake City

Carrington College California

Campus

Carrington College California offers the programs you need to begin a career in healthcare. Choose from Healthcare, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, or Veterinary Services.

Programs:

• AS in Health Care Administration
• Certificate in Health Care Administration

Campus Locations:

Pleasant Hill
Citrus Heights
Stockton
Sacramento

Jones International University

Campus

Earn a high quality degree in Business, IT, Education, or Communications. Jones International University® offers self-paced bachelor's and master's degrees tailored to your needs.

Programs:

• BBA Health Care Management

Campus Locations:

Englewood

Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies

Online

Founded in 1789, Georgetown University is the nation's oldest Catholic and Jesuit university. Today, Georgetown is a major international research university that embodies its founding principles in the diversity of our students, faculty, and staff, our commitment to justice and the common good, our intellectual openness, and our international character.

Programs:

• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Ashworth College

Campus

Get the hands-on training and skills it takes to succeed with Ashworth College, a respected, worldwide leader in distance education. Study at the times and places most convenient for you.

Programs:

• Associate of Science Degree in Health Care Administration

Campus Locations:

Norcross

Rasmussen College Online

Online

Rasmussen College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA 30 LaSalle Street, Suite 2400 Chicago, IL 60602-2504).

Programs:

• Medical Administration Associate's Degree

Keiser University Graduate School

Campus

Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.

Programs:

• Health Services Management, Graduate Business Certificate

Campus Locations:

Fort Lauderdale

South University Online

Campus

Designed with the needs of working adult students in mind, South University, Online Programs is built on the same curriculum offered at South University's campus locations. As a student at South University, Online Programs you will receive the same degree, quality instruction, variety of learning options and level of service found at the campus locations.

Programs:

• Healthcare Management (BS)

Campus Locations:

Savannah