Albright College

What you'll study

The programme combines core public health training with specialised courses in animal health and epidemiology. You will study foundational subjects such as human and animal anatomy, microbiology, immunology, and biostatistics, and apply those foundations to epidemiological methods, disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. Emphasis is placed on the One Health approach—integrating human, animal and environmental health—covering zoonoses, foodborne disease, antimicrobial resistance and vector-borne infections.

Typical modules and learning experiences include:

• Introduction to Public Health – principles of population health, health determinants and basic health systems.
• Microbiology and Immunology – laboratory principles and host–pathogen interactions relevant to both people and animals.
• Animal Biology and Physiology – comparative anatomy and physiology for common domestic and agricultural species.
• Epidemiology – study design, measures of disease frequency, outbreak investigation and surveillance systems.
• Biostatistics and Data Analysis – statistical methods, R/SPSS introduction and interpretation of epidemiological data.
• Zoonotic Diseases and One Health – ecology of zoonoses, transmission pathways and integrated control strategies.
• Food Safety and Public Health Policy – hazards in the food chain, inspection principles and regulatory frameworks.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Disease Mapping – spatial analysis applied to surveillance and risk assessment.
• Laboratory Methods and Diagnostics – sample handling, diagnostic assays and biosafety practices (theory and practical sessions).
• Field Methods and Practicum – applied fieldwork with local partners, surveillance projects or outbreak simulation exercises.
• Capstone or Senior Research Project – an independent project applying epidemiological methods to a real-world animal or public health problem.

The curriculum is delivered through lectures, small seminar groups, laboratory practicals and community-based placements. Students are encouraged to take electives in environmental science, veterinary science, public policy or global health to tailor the degree to their interests.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised secondary school diploma or equivalent. Typical preparation includes strong performance in biology and chemistry and competence in mathematics. Suggested subjects at secondary level include biology, chemistry, mathematics (or statistics) and English.

Albright College considers applicants holistically. A competitive academic record, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement describing interest in public health, animal health or epidemiology strengthen an application. Practical experience such as volunteering or work with animals, public health programmes or laboratory settings is beneficial. Standardised tests may be optional in many admission processes; applicants should check the college's current admissions policies.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles where animal and human health intersect. Common early-career positions include disease surveillance technician, public health inspector, laboratory assistant, biosecurity officer, animal health technician, and research assistant in academic or governmental laboratories. With additional training or graduate study, alumni move into careers as epidemiologists, public health officers, veterinary public health specialists, food safety specialists, policy analysts and roles in non-governmental organisations.

This bachelor’s degree is also a suitable foundation for further study—graduates often pursue a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in epidemiology, or research degrees in infectious disease and veterinary epidemiology.

Why study at Albright College

Albright College offers a liberal arts environment with small class sizes and close faculty mentoring, enabling hands-on learning and individualised research supervision. The college’s programmes emphasise experiential education; students in this major typically benefit from laboratory training, local and regional practicum placements and collaborative projects with public health agencies and animal health organisations.

Students have access to campus science facilities and opportunities to engage with interdisciplinary faculty in biology, environmental science and health studies. The college’s community connections help secure internships and field placements that expose students to real-world surveillance, outbreak response and public health programming, providing strong preparation for employment or postgraduate study in veterinary epidemiology and public health.