Central Washington University

What you'll study

The programme combines core public‑health training with specialist modules in veterinary epidemiology and zoonotic disease management. Coursework typically covers study design and biostatistics, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance systems, risk analysis, diagnostic methods and applied field epidemiology. Specialist topics include transmission dynamics of zoonoses, wildlife disease ecology, livestock health management, antimicrobial resistance in animals, and policy aspects of One Health.

Teaching methods mix lectures, case studies and practical laboratories with fieldwork and applied projects. Students undertake data analysis exercises using real surveillance datasets, participate in outbreak simulation exercises and complete a capstone research project or practicum in collaboration with a public‑health agency, veterinary service or research group.

Typical modules

• Foundations of Public Health and Epidemiology
• Biostatistics for Health Research
• Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance
• Zoonoses and One Health Approaches
• Field Methods and Diagnostic Techniques
• Risk Assessment and Control Strategies
• Research Methods and Applied Project/Thesis

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine, biological sciences, public health, agriculture or a closely related discipline. Relevant professional experience in animal health, laboratory work, public‑health practice or research can be advantageous and may be considered where academic qualifications differ.

Typical requirements include a satisfactory undergraduate transcript, a personal statement outlining relevant interests and career goals, and letters of recommendation. Candidates should have basic quantitative skills (for example, coursework in statistics or epidemiology) or be prepared to take preparatory modules. International applicants may need to demonstrate competence in English through an accepted test or evidence of prior study in English.

Career prospects

Graduates are equipped for roles across government, industry, non‑profits and research. Common career paths include positions in veterinary public‑health and inspection services, disease surveillance and outbreak investigation units, epidemiology and biosecurity teams, and international organisations working on animal and zoonotic disease control.

Other opportunities include employment with pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies, food safety authorities, conservation organisations addressing wildlife health, and academic or laboratory research posts. The programme also prepares graduates for further research degrees (such as a PhD) or for clinical veterinarians seeking a career pivot into public‑health leadership.

Why study at Central Washington University

Central Washington University provides a learning environment with small cohorts and strong faculty support, enabling close supervision on applied projects. The university’s location offers access to diverse agricultural, wildlife and public‑health practicum opportunities across Washington state and the broader Pacific Northwest, supporting practical training in field epidemiology and surveillance.

Students benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration across public‑health, biology and environmental science disciplines and from partnerships with regional public‑health agencies and animal‑health stakeholders for internships and research placements. The programme emphasises applied skills, preparing graduates to contribute to real‑world responses to zoonotic disease threats and to One Health initiatives.