Curriculum

The Master of Science in Epidemiology (MS-Epi) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is a one-year, full-time program starting in June and going through June of the following year. Students must begin the program during the summer quarter. Explore the links and information below to learn more about our curriculum.

1 year Full-time duration

15 units Total requirement

STEM Designated program

Summer Annual start term

Outcomes & Competencies

Our curriculum is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and ensures all graduates master the following core competencies:

  • Evaluate the strengths and limitations of study designs by selecting appropriate measures of association and identifying potential sources of error in epidemiologic research
  • Implement principles of epidemiology, particularly social epidemiology, to understand the underlying structural causes of health disparities
  • Discuss the role and impact of bias, confounding and effect modification in data interpretation
  • Conduct epidemiologic analyses, including logistic, Poisson, and linear regression, multilevel modeling and survival analysis
  • Critically review the scientific literature, synthesize findings across studies and make appropriate recommendations based on current knowledge
  • Apply ethical and regulatory requirements for epidemiologic research
  • Communicate epidemiologic findings clearly and effectively to community members and academic audiences, using culturally appropriate and scientifically rigorous methods

Program Requirements

Required Courses

The Northwestern University Master of Science in Epidemiology is a 15-credit curriculum comprised of a variety of courses that allow students to gain key competencies in their field and focus on specific areas of application. Fifteen units are required for the degree. 

All students take the following required courses:

  • BIOSTAT 301 Introduction to Epidemiology
  • BIOSTAT 302 Introduction to Biostatistics
  • BIOSTAT 305 Data Management and Analysis in SAS
  • BIOSTAT 401 Intermediate Epidemiology
  • BIOSTAT 402 Intermediate Biostatistics
  • BIOSTAT 501 Advanced Epidemiology
  • PUB_HLTH 441 Ethical Issues in Clinical Research

Elective Courses

Concentration "selectives" and electives round out the coursework according to student interests. Selected example courses include:

Epidemiology Selectives (choose two)

  • PUB_HLTH 412 Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • PUB_HLTH 524 Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology
  • PUB_HLTH 525 Cancer Epidemiology

Methods Selectives (choose one unit)

  • BIOSTAT 527 Statistical Methods for Missing Data (0.5 units)
  • BIOSTAT 446Design, Conduct, and Analysis of Clinical Trials
  • BIOSTAT 529 Genomics and Genetic Data Analysis
  • BIOSTAT 560 Statistical Consulting (0.5 units)
  • BIOSTAT 403 Statistical Inference
  • BIOSTAT 303 Introduction to Probability Theory
  • PUB_HLTH 414 Injury and Violence Prevention
  • PUB_HLTH 425 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis
  • PUB_HLTH 438 Survey Design and Methodology

Electives (partial list) 

  • PUB_HLTH 301 Behavior, Society, and Health
  • PUB_HLTH 330 Global Tobacco: Control and Prevention
  • PUB_HLTH 415 Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
  • PUB_HLTH 416 Program Evaluation
  • PUB_HLTH 417 Public Health Law
  • PUB_HLTH 439 Qualitative Research Methods 
  • PUB_HLTH 445 Writing and Peer Review for Publication
  • PUB_HLTH 448 Introduction to Maternal Child Health

Thesis Project

All students complete a thesis as a collaborative research project. The goal of the thesis project is to provide students with a collaborative experience in applied epidemiology through real-world data analysis and method development that aligns with their future careers.

The thesis is a collaborative project involving both epidemiology and medical research faculty and includes epidemiologic study design, data collection and data analysis. The final product consists of a publishable manuscript (2,500-3,500 words in length) and a poster presentation (with awards for the highest-ranking poster). Faculty will help students identify projects and pair up with advisers.

Course descriptions can be found in the academic catalog. See the catalog