Epidemiologists are the cornerstone of public health. They are the ones hard at work whenever an outbreak happens, investigating the causes, spread, and potential control of the disease and other health-related issues within a population. Working together with them are biostatisticians, who analyse data to understand the causes of diseases, assess the effectiveness of treatments, and guide public health interventions, all by using quantitative data.
Although the two are distinct in their focus on training, they share many similarities in that they both rely on an intersection of various and overlapping concepts. The two fields correlate by using mathematical, scientific, and social methods to monitor disease trends and provide solutions to prevent future disease.
If making the world a healthier place to live in is part of your life’s mission, both epidemiology and biostatistics make for great career options. Graduate degrees at the following universities will give you the best start to these change-making roles:
One in 10 Chicagoans with a college degree is a University of Illinois Chicago graduate. Source: University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois is famous for its skyscrapers, baseball, and deep-dish pizza. It is also a great choice for international students looking to pursue higher education in the US. The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) consistently ranks high when searching for the best places to study. Not only is it one of the best, but it is also the largest university in one of the world’s most vibrant cities, with more than 33,906 students, 3,097 faculty, 9,874 staff, 16 colleges, and the state’s major public medical center. UIC has consistently held its R1 (Research 1) designation since 1987, the highest classification for research universities in the US awarded by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. With more than US$485 million in annual research expenditures and 3,400 research projects, you can count on a rich and rigorous learning experience.
Located in the heart of the Illinois Medical District, UIC’s School of Public Health has the second largest health sciences research portfolio among UIC’s 16 colleges. In this thriving environment, the UIC Biostatistics faculty and students work hand-in-hand with physicians, biomedical scientists, epidemiologists, and public health researchers to pioneer new biostatistical methods, address emerging health challenges, and solve real-world problems.
In UIC’s MS Degree in Biostatistics, you will learn methods and tools that can lead to discoveries for biomedical advancement. You will design, conduct, analyse, and interpret research studies to advance the field. Moreover, you may have the opportunity to collaborate with key UIC Centers including the Cancer Center’s Biostatistics Shared Resource Core (supporting programmes in cancer biology, translational oncology, and cancer prevention and control), the School of Public Health Centers on Climate and Health and the Population Health Analytics, Metrics & Evaluation Center, the Center for Clinical and Translational Science, and many others.
UIC’s MS in Health Data Science degree teaches students to develop skills in artificial intelligence, data science, and computer science to meet new challenges in different health-related fields. With the UIC Institute for Health Data Science Research, students will study artificial intelligence, Python programming, statistical learning, machine learning, and data science investigations. Hands-on learning in these growing fields will prepare students to tackle emerging public health issues, while also anchoring their skills in core biostatistics and public health subjects. Both MS Biostatistics and MS Health Data Science graduates have very strong outcomes when securing employment (often in pharmaceutical, data science, or academic fields) or advancing their studies.
Apply to the School of Public Health at University of Illinois Chicago now.
The UCLA Fielding School of Public Health takes a hands-on approach to training future changemakers. Source: UCLA Fielding School of Public Health/Facebook
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) continues to push boundaries and achieve new milestones every year. With more than a century of excellence in academia, UCLA proves to be the university to join if your goal is to gain as much knowledge and skills for a fulfilling career in whichever industry you head to.
For those who want to promote and protect the health of all people, the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health is where you should be. Since its founding in 1961, the school has excelled in the research, teaching, and practice of epidemiology. It is a national leader in preparing generations of epidemiologists to tackle the most pressing public health challenges of any era.
The setting is the Department of Epidemiology, where things are done hands-on, giving you the opportunity to apply what you have learned in class in the real world. Programmes that best exemplify this approach include the MPH in Epidemiology, the MS in Epidemiology, and the PhD in Epidemiology.
The same experiential take can be found at the Department of Biostatistics. The Master of Science in Biostatistics will have you apply statistical and computing skills you have learned to existing problems, ranging from disease outbreaks, environmental and industrial hazards, to the development of public health, pharmaceutical, and medical interventions. The Master of Data Science in Health, on the other hand, provides advanced training in data management, data analytics, statistical modelling, machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data computing.
Students who do not have a background in public health can enrol in an Advanced Certificate instead. Source: New York University
A world where everyone can experience good health and well-being — that is exactly what New York University‘s School of Global Public Health envisions for us. And to achieve that, the school has long punched above its weight in providing the following: comprehensive education, engaging practice, and partnerships with communities around the world. With over 120 active research projects, this is a hub filled with forward-thinking public health professionals, all ready to work together to make a difference both locally and globally.
The school offers three master’s programmes that’ll inspire you to join them them in no time. The Master of Science in Biostatistics sharpens your skills in data management, statistical reasoning, interpreting numeric data for scientific inference, and communicating effectively with other experts across various disciplines. With guidance from a world-class faculty, you will soon be on your way to creating positive change in industry or academia.
Meanwhile, the Master of Science in Epidemiology is research-focused and examines areas such as general epidemiology, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and modelling. No matter areas you focus on, expect to collaborate with research team members from other areas. The school encourages interdisciplinary research, preparing you to work as a team to mimic professional settings.
For those who do not have a background in public health, do not worry, because the school offers Advanced Certificates that can strengthen your credentials and set you up to join its master’s programmes. No matter which stage you are in your career or what areas you’re interested in, an Advanced Certificate will give you the practice to master a subject quickly. The Advanced Certificate in Public Health Data Science is a standout thanks to its intersection of biostatistics, epidemiology, regression, and data science fields.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
