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 | – |
Example Curriculum Sequence Maps
- 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.
- Two-Year Program: Students will need to take 3 credits (1 course) per semester for six semesters.
