Epidemiology Degree: Master
The Specialized Master’s degree program in Epidemiology at the University of Basel is run by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), an internationally recognized center for public health excellence. The program centers around (1) teaching the basics of epidemiology, biostatistics and public health, and (2) the pursuit of an epidemiological research project. Epidemiologists investigate the health of populations, study disease and possible risk factors, propose actions and then measure whether the situation has improved. They also study disease epidemics such as COVID-19, conduct disease surveillance, identify possible health risk factors and propose measures of disease screening. To this end, epidemiologists design field studies, collect and analyze data using a variety of methods, often in the frame of large teams. Multi-disciplinarity is often important, as is the ability to deal with societal and cultural factors.
Focal area of teaching and research
The main goals of the M Sc course in epidemiology are the following:
- To understand the issues raised by health problems at individual and population level, and the standard methods and measures to describe them.
- To understand the key concepts in epidemiology and biostatistics, and their interrelationships.
- To have an in-depth understanding of the standard methods and study designs in epidemiologic research.
- To be able to plan and execute independently basic epidemiologic studies, to analyze and interpret them, and to report them orally and in writing.
- To be able to understand research questions and studies in the field of epidemiology, to place them in a wider public health concept, and to review them critically.
Course structure
The Master of Science degree is a postgraduate degree that requires a successfully completed Bachelor’s program. The program awards 120 ECTS credits in total. The Specialized Master’s degree program Epidemiology is a so called mono-course consisting of only one core subject. Supervised practical work over the course of one year constitutes the core of the studies. One ECTS credit point roughly equals 30 hours of study.
| Master of Science (120 ECTS) |
|---|
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Epidemiology
120 ECTS |
| Mono-courses |
Combination of subjects
The degree programs at the Faculty of Science are generally mono-courses with the possible addition of an in-depth subject and an elective subject. The Specialized Master’s degree program Epidemiology does include an elective subject.
Career opportunities
Holders of a Master of Science in Epidemiology have good possibilities to work in academia, for governmental health departments, for international organizations, for NGOs in Switzerland or elsewhere, or alternatively in the health industry, including drug companies. Work opportunities exist both in developing and in industrialized countries, working on both chronic and infectious diseases.