Georgetown University

What you'll study

The curriculum combines Georgetown's core public health modules with coursework and practical training emphasising veterinary epidemiology, zoonotic disease ecology and One Health frameworks. You will study foundational topics in epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health and health policy, while specialised modules explore infectious disease transmission between animals and humans, diagnostic methods, population health management for domestic and wild animals, and risk assessment.

• Core public health courses: Introductory epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental and social determinants of health, health systems and policy.
• Veterinary and One Health emphasis: Zoonotic diseases, wildlife and livestock disease ecology, comparative medicine and animal population health, laboratory methods for infectious disease surveillance.
• Research and methods: Field epidemiology, spatial analysis and GIS for disease mapping, data management, outbreak investigation techniques.
• Practicum and capstone: Applied internships with public health agencies, NGOs or veterinary services and a senior capstone project synthesising epidemiological research or a policy intervention.
• Electives and interdisciplinary options: Global health, environmental science, veterinary science courses (where available), bioethics, and courses in statistics, ecology or microbiology to support technical training.

Entry requirements

Admission is to Georgetown's undergraduate programme and typically requires a completed secondary school qualification with strong preparation in science and quantitative subjects. Successful applicants normally demonstrate competency in biology and mathematics, and benefit from coursework in chemistry and statistics.

• Academic preparation: Strong high-school record with emphasis on science and maths. Applicants lacking formal animal science background can be admitted if they show quantitative aptitude and clear interest in One Health topics.
• Supporting materials: Personal statement outlining interest in public health and veterinary epidemiology, letters of recommendation, and any relevant volunteer, research or work experience with animals, public health organisations or laboratories.
• Additional notes: Georgetown considers the whole application package. Prospective students aiming for this emphasis should highlight relevant extracurricular activities such as animal care, fieldwork, lab experience, or public health volunteering.

Career prospects

Graduates are well placed for careers where human and animal health intersect. Common pathways include disease surveillance and outbreak response, epidemiological data analysis, public health programme implementation, and policy work for governmental or international agencies. Many alumni also go on to graduate study.

• Veterinary epidemiologist roles within public or animal health departments (often after additional veterinary qualifications or postgraduate training)
• Field epidemiologist or disease surveillance officer for public health agencies, NGOs and international organisations
• Research assistant or technician in academic, government or private laboratories focused on zoonoses
• Policy analyst or programme coordinator in One Health initiatives, environmental health organisations, and animal welfare agencies
• Further study routes: veterinary school, MPH with epidemiology specialism, MSc/PhD in infectious disease ecology or public health

Why study at Georgetown University

Georgetown offers an interdisciplinary public health education in the heart of Washington, DC, providing direct access to major public health agencies, international bodies and policy organisations. The university emphasizes experiential learning — students can secure internships and practicum placements with municipal and federal health departments, international NGOs, and research centres.

• Interdisciplinary faculty and centres: Students benefit from faculty expertise across public health, global health, biology and policy, plus collaborative opportunities with Georgetown research centres focused on global and infectious diseases.
• Location and networking: Proximity to federal agencies, international organisations and leading NGOs supports internships, guest lectures and career networking in public and animal health sectors.
• Practical training: The programme emphasises hands-on epidemiology skills, field methods and data analysis, preparing graduates for immediate entry into applied roles or for advanced professional training.