Vanderbilt University

What you'll study

This MPH pathway combines core public-health training with specialist coursework in veterinary epidemiology and zoonoses. Core modules typically cover epidemiologic methods, biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, health policy and social & behavioural determinants of health. Specialist modules include veterinary epidemiology, infectious disease dynamics, zoonotic disease ecology, surveillance and outbreak investigation, diagnostic methods and laboratory systems, spatial analysis (GIS) for disease mapping, and quantitative risk assessment.

The programme is research- and practice-oriented and normally includes applied data-analysis workshops, case-based outbreak exercises, and instruction in disease modelling. Students complete a supervised practicum or field placement in a public-health agency, veterinary service, NGO or research laboratory, followed by a capstone project or thesis that applies epidemiologic methods to a veterinary public-health problem.

Entry requirements

• A good undergraduate degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in veterinary medicine, animal science, biology, public health, or a related discipline is normally expected.
• Applicants should provide academic transcripts, a personal statement outlining professional and research interests in veterinary/public health, and a current CV.
• References: usually two or three professional or academic references that can speak to the applicant’s suitability for graduate-level public-health training.
• Research or practical experience in laboratory science, clinical veterinary practice, field epidemiology, public-health programmes or related settings is strongly advantageous.
• Proof of English language proficiency is required for applicants whose first language is not English, as per the university’s standard policy.
• Some applicants may be asked to provide examples of quantitative coursework; previous exposure to statistics or calculus is helpful given the quantitative emphasis of epidemiology.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles where animal and human health intersect. Typical positions include veterinary epidemiologist, public-health veterinarian, outbreak investigator, surveillance or data analyst for governmental agencies (national veterinary services, public-health agencies), international organisations (WHO, FAO, OIE), and non-governmental organisations. Other pathways include roles in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, agricultural or food-safety authorities, environmental health agencies, and research institutions. Many graduates also progress to doctoral research (PhD) or specialist training in epidemiology, infectious disease modelling, or public-health policy.

Why study at Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt offers an interdisciplinary environment that links public-health training with strengths in medicine, infectious-disease research and population health. Students benefit from access to clinical and laboratory resources, collaborative faculty across medicine, biological sciences and public-health disciplines, and practicum placement opportunities in a diverse regional and global health ecosystem. The programme emphasises applied, hands-on training—field placements, data analysis and outbreak simulation—preparing graduates to work across sectors under a One Health approach to complex disease threats.