Master of Science Degree in Epidemiology
Program Description
The master of science (MS) degree program in epidemiology is designed for individuals who wish to pursue advanced training in epidemiological research and clinical epidemiology. The objectives of the program are to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to design and conduct epidemiologic studies of the etiology and distribution of diseases and the control and prevention of diseases.
Graduates occupy positions as researchers, clinical investigators, research administrators, planners, program managers, educators, and evaluators in universities, health departments, governmental health agencies and other similar organizations. Some graduates have continued their education as doctoral students, medical students, and residents in accredited residency programs. For information on recent graduates' research work, see the following webpage.
The curriculum includes introductory and advanced epidemiology and biostatistics. Other courses are available in advanced epidemiologic methodology, research methods, advanced biostatistical analytic methods, and the epidemiology and prevention of certain chronic diseases and conditions. Instruction combines didactic and experiential learning. Students participate in seminars, analyze examples of health system problems, and get practice in both basic investigation of human diseases and applied research and evaluation.
The department offers the master’s program in epidemiology with the active cooperation of faculty from several other departments in the university, in particular from the Department of Cancer Prevention and Control at Roswell Park Graduate Division. The curriculum is thus able to draw from a variety of disciplines including epidemiology, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, sociology, geography, biostatistics, management, law, nutrition, statistics, and computer science.
All students are required to complete a master’s thesis. The thesis provides the student with an opportunity to raise theoretical questions or hypotheses and to test them through the conduct of independent epidemiologic research. It provides an opportunity for an independent research effort that demonstrates ability to identify a problem, to develop a research design, and to analyze and interpret data with the purpose of developing or testing theory.
Of related interest to candidates for an MS degree who have an MD degree, the UB Primary Care Research Fellowship in Health Disparities is offered by the Departments of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Social and Preventive Medicine. The two-year post-residency fellowship program combines research in a multidisciplinary clinical setting with academic work leading to an MS in epidemiology degree. Emphasis is on research skills applied to clinical/health disparities areas important in primary care practice and policy.
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