Saint Michael's College

What you'll study

The programme blends a liberal-arts undergraduate curriculum with specialised courses in disease biology, population health and surveillance. Core public health subjects commonly include introductory epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health policy and research methods. Veterinary- and animal-focused units typically cover veterinary microbiology and parasitology, zoonoses and disease transmission, livestock and wildlife health, diagnostic laboratory techniques, and principles of animal population management.

Teaching emphasises applied skills: outbreak investigation, sampling and diagnostic methods, data collection and analysis, risk assessment and communication. Practical components often include laboratory sessions, fieldwork on farms or in wildlife settings, GIS mapping for disease spread, and a capstone research project or practicum placing students with public health departments, veterinary clinics, research labs or conservation programmes.

• Introduction to Epidemiology
• Biostatistics for Health Sciences
• Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology
• Zoonotic Diseases and One Health
• Environmental and Food Safety
• Diagnostic Methods and Laboratory Practice
• Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance
• Research Methods and Capstone/Internship

Entry requirements

Entry is normally at undergraduate level and requires a recognised secondary school diploma or equivalent. Successful applicants typically present strong performance in science subjects such as biology and chemistry; mathematics or statistics is an advantage. Admissions commonly consider a combination of academic transcripts, a personal statement describing interest in animal and public health, and at least one academic or professional reference.

For mature or transfer applicants, relevant work or volunteer experience in animal care, veterinary clinics, laboratories, public health agencies or conservation organisations can strengthen an application. International applicants must meet the college's standard English language requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles where animal and human health intersect. Typical entry-level positions include disease surveillance technician, laboratory assistant, animal health technician, public health educator, biosecurity officer, or field data collector for government agencies, NGOs and private industry.

With further study or experience, graduates move into epidemiologist roles, veterinary public health officer positions, research assistantships, policy and programme management, or postgraduate veterinary, public health (MPH) or epidemiology degrees. Employers include public health departments, veterinary services, agricultural agencies, wildlife and conservation organisations, international health NGOs and diagnostic laboratories.

Why study at Saint Michael's College

Saint Michael's College offers a close-knit liberal arts learning environment with individualized faculty mentoring and strong emphasis on experiential learning. Students benefit from hands-on laboratory and field opportunities that prepare them for real-world disease investigation and surveillance work, plus capstone and practicum placements that connect classroom learning to regional public health and animal-health employers.

The college’s curriculum supports interdisciplinary thinking through One Health perspectives, integrating human medicine, veterinary science and environmental health. Small class sizes and accessible faculty support help students develop practical skills, research experience and professional networks that are useful for employment or further graduate study in public health and veterinary epidemiology.