Master of Science – Epidemiology

About

The 42.5-credit Master of Science in Epidemiology is designed for established research professionals who want to deepen their expertise in epidemiologic methods, biostatistics, study design, data analysis, and the evaluation of public health and medical evidence. 

The program is offered in two formats. The Academic Year option provides concentrated study at Harvard Chan, while the Summer-only option allows students to connect advanced coursework with research conducted with support from a mentor at their home institution. 

Academic year option: On Campus (Fall start) • Full-time (1 year) • Part-time (2 years)

Summer-only option: On Campus (Summer start) • Full-time (2-3 summers)

Curriculum

Competencies

Graduates of the 42.5-credit program will be able to: 

• Apply core epidemiologic principles, including measures of exposure, outcomes, and association; study design options; bias; confounding; and effect modification.  

• Select and apply appropriate biostatistical techniques to analyze public health and clinical research questions.  

• Use statistical software, such as Stata, SAS, or R, to conduct multivariable analyses, control for confounding, and assess effect modification.  

• Critically evaluate and synthesize epidemiologic studies published in the medical and public health literature. 

Our Community

Innovative, collaborative, and committed

In the Department of Epidemiology, you will work alongside engaging faculty and supportive staff, all here to help you meet your educational and research goals. We provide a highly social and supportive environment for all students. 

Our Department has a long tradition of excellence in teaching and research in the epidemiology of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic and infectious diseases, as well as novel epidemiologic methodologies. Our faculty offer weekly seminars highlighting their research areas. The department is innovative, collaborative, and continuously celebrates a commitment to ignite positive changes in the world of public health. 

Harvard Chan School also offers a wide variety of academic support services, including research support through the Countway Library of Medicine and academic coaching and tutoring.  

Beyond academics, the school is home to more than 40 official student organizations focusing on public health issues, cultural affinities, and extra-curricular interests. These groups and other offices throughout the school plan events on campus and around Boston. 

If you wish to connect with one of our dedicated Harvard Epidemiology Academic Team members, please write to HEAT@hsph.harvard.edu. 

Career Outcomes

The program is designed to help established research professionals deepen the methodological expertise they bring to public health, clinical medicine, and research. 

Graduates are prepared to apply advanced epidemiologic and biostatistical methods to study design, data analysis, protocol development, and the critical evaluation of public health and medical evidence. 

Eligibility Criteria

The Master of Science 42.5-credit (SM-42.5) program is targeted towards highly established research professionals. For most fields, applicants are required to have a doctoral degree/advanced degree and relevant work experience—contact admissions or the department for more detailed information. 

Application Requirements

• Statement of purpose and objectives

• Official test scores
• Three letters of reference
• Resumé/curriculum vitae
• Post-secondary transcripts or mark sheets (World Education Services credential evaluation for applicants with degrees from outside of the United States.)
• English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo English Test), if applicable
• 1 page proposal
  • Summer focused: thesis proposal and name of applicant’s mentors at home institution
  • Academic year: culminating experience proposal
• Select one of the 13 areas of research

Application Deadline: December 1

Applicants may apply to only one degree program for either full- or part-time status. Applications are reviewed in their entirety and decisions are released via email in late February/early March. Decisions are not released until all application components are received.

Related Links

About

The 80-credit Master of Science in Epidemiology provides comprehensive training in epidemiologic and quantitative methods for students preparing to build research careers.

The program is designed for applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree and have strong preparation in relevant scientific fields including social science, computational, mathematical, or statistical fields, along with relevant research experience. 

Through two years of full-time, on-campus study, students develop the skills to design epidemiologic studies, analyze and interpret data, evaluate causal questions, and communicate scientific findings. The program prepares graduates for research roles in academic and research institutions, government agencies, nonprofits, health care, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, consulting, and other public- and private-sector organizations. 

On Campus (Fall) • Full-time (2 years)

Curriculum

Competencies

• Critically evaluate and apply principles of epidemiologic methods, including exposure and outcome measures, measures of association, bias and confounding, and study design options.
• Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate and apply appropriate biostatistical techniques for data arising from evaluation of public health problems (e.g., including basic probability theory and common distributions, effect measure estimation, continuous and categorical data analysis, parametric and non-parametric hypothesis tests, confidence intervals and p-values, correlation and basic regression techniques, and power/sample size calculations).
• Use principles of causal inference in epidemiology to critically evaluate the causal interpretation of epidemiology data, implement traditional and causal statistical models, and interpret causal effects of parameters from statistical models.
• Design, analyze, and interpret findings of a study in a substantive area of epidemiology, and apply principles of scientific writing in epidemiology and public health research.

Our Community

Innovative, collaborative, and committed

In the Department of Epidemiology, you will work alongside engaging faculty and supportive staff, all here to help you meet your educational and research goals. We provide a highly social and supportive environment for all students.

Our department has a long tradition of excellence in teaching and research in the epidemiology of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic and infectious diseases, as well as novel epidemiologic methodologies. Our faculty offer weekly seminars highlighting their research areas. The department is innovative, collaborative, and continuously celebrates a commitment to ignite positive changes in the world of public health.

Harvard Chan School also offers academic support services, including research support through the Countway Library of Medicine and academic coaching and tutoring.  

Beyond academics, the school is home to more than 40 official student organizations focusing on public health issues, cultural affinities, and extra-curricular interests. These groups and other offices throughout the school plan events on campus and around Boston.

If you wish to connect with one of our dedicated Harvard Epidemiology Academic Team members, please write to HEAT@hsph.harvard.edu.

Career Outcomes

A Master of Science 80-credit degree opens an extraordinary number of pathways to a meaningful career. Graduates of the SM-80 program are trained to pursue research careers in a variety of industries: 

• Biotech/pharma 
• Health care organizations 
• National and international government agencies 
• Non-profit/Non-governmental organization 
• Public and private sector enterprises 
• Research institutions 
• University/research 

Eligibility Criteria

The Master of Science 80-credit (SM-80) degree program requires a prior bachelor’s degree or non-US equivalent.

Application Requirements

• Statement of purpose and objectives
• Official test scores (required)
• Three letters of reference
• Resumé/curriculum vitae
• Post-secondary transcripts or mark sheets (World Education Services credential evaluation for applicants with degrees from outside of the United States.)
• English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo English Test), if applicable
• Select one of the 13 areas of research

Application Deadline: December 1

Applicants may apply to only one degree program for either full- or part-time status. Applications are reviewed in their entirety and decisions are released via email in late February/early March. Decisions are not released until all application components are received.

Related Links