Global Health Epidemiology
The Global Health Epidemiology (GHE) concentration provides the technical skills, as well as international context and values of collaborative practice, that will allow them to work as epidemiologists in any setting, domestic or global. The GHE concentration is highly interdisciplinary, providing theory, methods and practice training in the health and applied social sciences. Epidemiology faculty have ongoing research collaborations in countries throughout the world, including Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Israel, Malawi, and Mexico. Topics related to these collaborations include cancer, chronic disease, drug-resistance, nutritional determinants of maternal/child health, reproductive health, social determinants of health, urban health, vaccine surveillance, and water-borne and vector-borne diseases. Students in this concentration are required to complete their summer internship in a low or middle income country (LMIC) or in a governmental or non-governmental agency engaged in global health work. Demonstration of clear interest in global health is required. Prior global health experience is encouraged, but not required. Given that we have limited spaces available in our GHE track, interested students are also encouraged to apply to another track such as General Epidemiology (GE).
Curriculum and Program Requirements
The MPH degree in GHE is a 60-hour sequence of courses that are typically finished after four terms (two years). Required core courses are core epidemiology courses and core GHE courses, including Introduction to International Health, Field Methods in Epidemiology in Developing Countries, and Research Seminar in International Health. In addition, students will complete elective courses and complete an international internship and an internationally-focused capstone project.
Watch our webinar on the student experience for the Global Health Epidemiology program.
View Competencies and Learning Objectives
Epidemiology Core Requirements
| courses | credits | term |
|---|---|---|
| Biostats 521 Applied Biostatistics | 3 | Fall |
| Biostats 522 Biostatistical Analysis for Health-Related Studies | 3 | Winter |
| Biostats 523 Statistical Methods in Epidemiology | 4 | Fall |
| EPID 512 The Biologic Basis of Disease | 2 | Fall |
| EPID 530 Scientific Writing for Epidemiologists | 1 | Fall |
| EPID 600 Epid Methods I, Introduction to Epidemiology | 4 | Fall |
| EPID 602 Epid Methods II, Data Analysis for Epid Study Design | 4 | Winter |
| EPID 603 Professional Development Seminar | 1 | Winter, Fall |
| EPID 604 Applications of Epid (Capstone/ILE) | 4 | Winter |
| EPID 640 SAS for Epidemiological Research | 3 | Fall |
| EPID 641 Measurement Theory & Instrument Design | 1 | Winter |
| EPID 642 Sampling & Power | 1 | Winter |
| EPID 643 Surveillance & Publicly Available Datasets | 1 | Fall |
| EPID 644 Contemporary Methods | 1 | Fall |
| Summer Internship (1 credit for every 86 hours worked) | 2-6 | Summer |
| Professional Development Activities F 1, W 1, F 2 | Fall, Winter | |
| Elective graduate level courses taken to achieve 60 credits |
GHE Core Requirements
| courses | credits | term |
|---|---|---|
| EPID 506 Introduction to International Health | 3 | Fall |
| EPID 664 Field Methods in Epidemiology for Developing Countries | 3 | Winter |
| EPID 665 Research Seminar in International Health | 2 | Winter |
| Choose one of the following: EPID 605 Infectious Disease Epidemiology, EPID 618 Global Social Epidemiology, EPID 621 Introduction to Cancer Epidemiology, EPID 634 Foundations in Infectious Disease Transmission Modeling, EPID 663 Health, Evidence & Human Rights, EPID 666 Health & Socioeconomic Development |
3 | Fall, Winter |
In addition to coursework relevant to their chosen concentration, all students in the epidemiology masters program must complete the School of Public Health’s Core Curriculum. Please see concentration pages, linked above, for additional information on concentration-specific prerequisites and curriculum.
| Courses | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|
| PUBHLTH 507 - Social Determinants of Health & Health Communication | 2 | Fall |
| PUBHLTH 511 - Nutrition and Public Health | 2 | Winter |
| PUBHLTH 513 - Public Health Systems, Policy and Management | 3 | Winter |
| PUBHLTH 514 - Public Health Sciences and the Environment | 2 | Winter |
| PUBHLTH 516 - Leadership Skills for Interprofessional Practice | 1 | Winter |
Internship Opportunities
GHE internships are typically 8-12 weeks long. Students identify internships with faculty, or independently. Internships may be research- or practice-oriented. The goal of the GHE internship is for students to gain exposure to public health outside the US.
GHE MPH students receive financial support for their internship from one or more of the following sources:
- Grants/scholarships the School of Public Health
- Research assistantships from faculty research grants
- Smaller scholarships and internship support for the Office for Global Public Health, the International Institute, and other centers within the University of Michigan.
Ready to Apply?
Start with our Applications & Deadlines to learn about specific degree application deadlines and requirements. International applicants will find additional information on our International Students page.
Questions?
For more information about the admissions process, contact our admissions team at sph-inquiries@umich.edu or 734-763-3860.
If you would like to receive more information about a specific department or program, please connect with us through our prospective student inquiry form.
Get to Know More About GHE
Our Faculty
Serving, Leading, and Healing: Odysseys through the Desert and Beyond
Matthew L. Boulton
Our Students/Alumni
Behind the Research: Modeling the Impact of COVID-19 in India
Max Salvatore, MPH '17
Gaining Knowledge and Memories in the Field
Jessica Uruchima