University of Massachusetts Amherst

What you'll study

This master's blends core public health training with specialised veterinary epidemiology and One Health content. Core modules typically cover epidemiologic methods, biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, health policy and ethics, and public health practicum skills. Veterinary-focused modules examine infectious disease ecology, zoonoses, surveillance systems for animal and human populations, disease modelling, laboratory diagnostics and outbreak investigation.

• Epidemiologic methods: study design, measures of disease frequency, bias and confounding, and analytic approaches for infectious diseases.
• Biostatistics: applied data analysis, regression models, time-series and spatial analysis as applied to animal and zoonotic disease data.
• Veterinary infectious diseases and zoonoses: transmission dynamics, host–pathogen interactions, and pathogen emergence at the human–animal interface.
• Surveillance and outbreak investigation: designing surveillance systems, field sampling strategies, diagnostic test interpretation, and conducting outbreak response.
• One Health policy and risk assessment: frameworks for intersectoral collaboration, risk analysis, and translating evidence into policy for animal and public health.
• Laboratory and diagnostic methods: principles of laboratory safety, diagnostic workflows, and interpretation of molecular and serological test results (often delivered through partnerships or laboratory placements).
• Practicum and capstone/project: applied field placements in public health agencies, veterinary services, research labs or NGOs and an independent research project or practicum report.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine, animal science, biology, public health or a related science. A veterinary degree (DVM/VMD) is commonly accepted and valued. Admissions typically consider academic transcripts, references, a personal statement outlining professional goals and relevant experience, and where applicable professional registration or licensure.

Relevant work or research experience in animal health, public health, laboratory work, epidemiology or field investigation strengthens an application. International applicants may be required to demonstrate proficiency in English. Some programmes may request prerequisite coursework in statistics, biology or chemistry if your undergraduate training did not include them.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles that bridge animal and human health. Common career paths include:

• Animal health epidemiologist or disease intelligence officer in government veterinary services or public health agencies.
• Outbreak investigator and surveillance specialist for national or international organisations (e.g. animal health departments, World Organisation for Animal Health partners, or NGOs).
• Research scientist in academic, government or private-sector laboratories focusing on infectious disease ecology, vaccine evaluation or diagnostic development.
• One Health policy analyst, risk assessor or programme manager working at the interface of animal, human and environmental health.
• Consultant in biosecurity, farm health planning, or pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies involved in veterinary public health.

Why study at University of Massachusetts Amherst

The University of Massachusetts Amherst combines strong public health training with access to interdisciplinary expertise across biological sciences, veterinary collaborations and environmental health. Students benefit from faculty who conduct applied epidemiology, infectious disease research and One Health projects, and from partnerships with state public health and agricultural agencies that support practicum placements and applied research.

The campus environment supports collaborative, hands-on learning—students can engage in field-based surveillance projects, laboratory placements through affiliated facilities, and cross-departmental initiatives that link ecology, animal science and policy. The programme emphasises practical skills in data analysis, outbreak response and cross-sector communication, preparing graduates to work effectively in public and animal health settings locally, nationally and internationally.