Master of Science in Epidemiologic Science

1-year degree program | 30 credit hours

The accelerated (1-year) Master of Science (MS) degree prepares students for careers in research. The 30-credit program is intended for students with a strong quantitative background who are: 

  • Concurrently enrolled at the University of Michigan in an MD or clinical PhD program, or already hold an advanced clinical degree (e.g., MD, PharmD, DDS, DNP, PsyDPT, RN), or
  • Currently in the final year of, or have previously completed, a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.
    • The applicant must have a strong foundation in public health.
    • The applicant must have completed a graduate-level course, preferably a methods-focused epidemiology course such as EPID600: Introduction to Epidemiology offered at the University of Michigan.
  • Concurrently enrolled at the University of Michigan in a PhD program, or already have a PhD.

The Master of Science degree emphasizes training in the principles and methods of epidemiology and biostatistics and their application to the study of health and disease in human populations. It prepares students to practice epidemiology in diverse settings and positions of employment. Students are exposed to innovative faculty research projects that include cancer, social determinants of health, infectious diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, influenza, waterborne infectious disease), chronic diseases (e.g., stroke, cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases), reproductive health (e.g., birth outcomes, mid-life health among women), aging and age-related diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease and dementia), mental health, nutrition and obesity, environmental and occupational exposures, climate change and health, omics (e.g., genome, epigenome, microbiome), mathematical modeling, and health among diverse populations (e.g., Native Americans and Arab Americans).

An important component of this program is the capstone project that provides an opportunity for students to conduct research with a faculty member.

Curriculum and Program Requirements

This MS degree program is offered in an accelerated format, and is only available to students with specific training (outlined above). This 30-credit program requires two consecutive terms of study (one academic year), and is time-intensive and highly rigorous with a structured curriculum that limits opportunities for elective courses.

Epidemiology Core Requirements

Courses Credits Term
EPID 600 Introduction to Epidemiology
OR
EPID 601 Principles and Methods of Epidemiology		 3 Fall
BIOS 521 Applied Biostatistics
OR
BIOS 601 Probability and Distribution Theory		 3 Fall
EPID 639 R for Epidemiologic Research
OR
BIOS 607 Basic Computing for Data Analysis		 2

1		 Fall
EPID 602 Epidemiologic Data Analysis 3 Winter
BIOS 522 Biostatistical Analysis for Health-Related Studies
OR
BIOS 650 Theory and Application of Linear Regression		 3

4		 Winter

Epidemiology Electives and Research

Courses Credits Term
MS Capstone Research Project 6 Fall/Winter
Advanced electives during Fall and Winter terms, with at least 1 from Epidemiology (graduate level courses taken to achieve 30 credits) 10-16 Fall/Winter

Note: BIOSTAT 601, 607, 650 are recommended for students who have a prerequisite of three semesters of undergraduate-level calculus and one semester of undergraduate-level linear algebra. 
Students who have taken EPID 600 during their undergraduate training must take EPID 601.

Application Requirements

As part of the application process, prospective students must provide:

  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • Transcripts
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • English Language Test Scores: The TOEFL or IELTS is required for applicants whose native language is not English, unless they meet one of the exemption criteria.

Financial Support

The Epidemiology Department offers a limited number of Epidemiology Departmental Scholarships to support MS student tuition. All MS students are considered for these scholarships, and no additional application is required. Please note that because of the limited number of tuition scholarships, we are not able to guarantee funding for all qualified applicants. Students pursuing a Master of Science degree may also learn more about funding opportunities from Rackham.

Ready to Apply?

MS applicants apply to our program through the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School. 

The priority deadline for applications to the MS program is December 15th. We still accept applications after December 15th, but priority for funding decisions is given to those submitted by December 15th. The final deadline for international applicants is January 15. 

We encourage applicants to submit their application before the priority deadline to ensure they are considered for scholarships. Those who submit afterward are not guaranteed consideration. Funds are available on a first-come first-served basis. 

For information on applying to this program, connect with us through our prospective student inquiry form or contact us at epidadmission@umich.edu, or book an Epidemiology admissions appointment.

how to apply