Chat with us, powered by LiveChat

Study the Language of Public Health

UVM’s online Certificate of Graduate Study in Epidemiology introduces students to the foundations and language of public health through the study of epidemiology.

Epidemiology is a basic science of public health used to study disease and health patterns, and causes and effects within specific populations or communities. UVM’s 18-credit, online Certificate of Graduate Study in Epidemiology is a concise immersion into the field of epidemiology and quantitative population health science.

This one-year, online program is a collaboration of the The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont, Continuing and Distance Education, and the UVM Graduate College. Graduate students and professionals can take this as a stand-alone program or as part of a master’s, MD, or PhD program.

Leading the Way in Public Health Education

The focus of this program is on providing students with a framework for problem solving and critical thinking in analyzing disease and health-related conditions within a given population, and includes disease outbreak investigation, prevention and control, and applied research methods in public health.

Our program teaches you to

  • Define a population, especially in terms of disease risk
  • Describe the different ways to express disease frequency in a given population
  • Apply basic concepts of probability, random variation, and commonly used statistical distributions in data analysis
  • Understand the methods used in public health surveillance and disease outbreak investigation
  • Evaluate, promote, and improve health across populations
  • Explain barriers to public health and discuss health-promotion strategies
  • Prepare for further graduate study or research in public health and related fields

The program is designed for medical and graduate students; health practitioners; public health professionals and researchers; and others who wish to increase their knowledge in the vital field of epidemiology. It also prepares graduates for advanced study at the masters and doctoral level.

The Certificate of Graduate Study in Epidemiology is an 18-credit, online program that requires two courses in each of the core areas of Epidemiology and Public Health Biostatistics, and two electives. This assures a solid foundation in population health science while allowing students some flexibility to pursue their own areas of interest. Among the highlights:

  • Two core content areas:
    • PH302, PH307 Epidemiology (6 credits)
    • PH303, PH309 Public Health Biostatistics (6 credits)
  • Students choose two courses from topical electives, including:
    • PH301 Public Health & Health Policy (3 credits)
    • PH310 Public Health Law and Ethics (3 credits)
    • PH318 Improving Health of Patients and Populations (3 credits)
    • PH325 Investigating Disease Outbreaks (3 credits)
    • PH315 Public Health Surveillance (3 credits)
    • PH324 Public Health Informatics (3 credits)
    • PH322 One Health: Zoonoses (3 credits)
  • Courses are taught by faculty experts from UVM’s College of Medicine, the Vermont Department of Health, and experts trained at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Individualized academic advising
  • Courses offered during fall, spring and summer terms to ensure that you can fit the program into your work or academic schedule
Epidemiology Required CORE Courses (planned schedule, subject to change) Fall Spring Summer Prerequisite Courses
PH302 Epidemiology I –
PH307 Epidemiology II PH302, PH303
PH303 Biostatistics I: Applied Research in Public Health –
PH309 Public Health Biostatistics II PH303
Epidemiology Regularly Scheduled Electives (planned schedule, subject to change) Fall Spring Summer Prerequisite Courses
PH301 Public Health and Health Policy –
PH310 Public Health Law & Ethics –
PH315 Public Health Surveillance (typically every other year) –
PH324 Public Health Informatics –
PH325 Investigating Disease Outbreaks –
Non-Scheduled Pop-Up Electives (more under development) Fall Spring Summer Prerequisite Courses
PH318 Improving Health of Patients and Populations –
PH322 One Health: Zoonoses –
PH327 Climate Change and Public Health –
PH328 Epidemiology for Practice –

There are no courses that meet this criteria.

There are no courses that meet this criteria.

 

Example Curriculum Sequence Maps

  1. One-Year Program: Students will be required to take 6 credits (2 courses) per semester for three semesters. Please note, starting in the spring will require four semesters. Contact our student advisors at 802-656-2085 with any questions.
  2. Two-Year Program: Students will need to take 3 credits (1 course) per semester for six semesters.

News Spotlight

Jan Carney

On the Blog

Dr. Jan Carney: Social Distancing is a Proven Public Health Strategy

Over the past few weeks, the term “social distancing” has entered the public lexicon. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe, public health experts are urging social distancing as a way to flatten the curve.

Data from the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic suggests that strict social distancing slowed disease spread and decreased mortality rates by as much as 50 percent in cities that implemented those measures.

Read More