Eastern Michigan University

What you'll study

This pathway combines core public health training with targeted coursework in epidemiology as it applies to animal and zoonotic disease. Core MPH modules typically cover biostatistics, epidemiologic methods, environmental health, health policy and programme planning. Veterinary epidemiology-specific topics include infectious disease dynamics, zoonoses and spillover, surveillance systems for animal and human populations, outbreak investigation, risk assessment, and principles of One Health.

• Biostatistics for Public Health – data analysis, study design, hypothesis testing and interpretation of results.
• Epidemiologic Methods – cohort, case–control and cross-sectional studies; measures of disease frequency and association; bias and confounding.
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology – transmission models, pathogen ecology and control strategies for communicable diseases.
• Zoonotic Diseases and One Health – ecology of zoonoses, surveillance across species, integrated control approaches.
• Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation – design and evaluation of animal and human disease surveillance systems; rapid response methods.
• Geospatial Methods and Risk Mapping – use of GIS and spatial analysis to map disease risk and inform interventions.
• Policy, Ethics and Communication – regulatory frameworks, veterinary public health policy, risk communication to diverse stakeholders.
• Practicum / Applied Project – a supervised field placement or applied capstone project with public health, veterinary services or research partners.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a bachelors degree from an accredited institution. Competitive candidates typically have undergraduate preparation in biological, animal, environmental or health sciences, though applicants from other quantitative or public health backgrounds are also considered. Admissions review commonly considers academic transcripts, a personal statement describing relevant experience and career goals, a current CV, and letters of recommendation. Some experience working or volunteering in laboratory, veterinary, public health, wildlife or related settings is advantageous. International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency in line with university requirements.

Depending on prior training, students may be asked to complete prerequisite coursework in statistics, biology or introductory epidemiology before or during the programme. Health and immunisation requirements for field placements may apply.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles that bridge animal and human health in government, industry, non-profit and research settings. Typical career paths include:

• Animal health epidemiologist with state or national veterinary services
• Zoonotic disease surveillance officer in public health departments
• Outbreak investigator or emergency preparedness specialist for agencies and NGOs
• One Health programme coordinator linking human, animal and environmental health sectors
• Research analyst or post-graduate researcher in academic or laboratory settings
• Risk assessor or consultant for agriculture, food safety and pharmaceutical industries

The MPH also provides a foundation for further study (for example PhD programmes) and professional qualifications in epidemiology, public health or veterinary medicine where applicants pursue additional clinical training.

Why study at Eastern Michigan University

Eastern Michigan University offers a student-centred public health programme with an emphasis on applied skills and community engagement. The department focuses on small class sizes and direct faculty mentoring, enabling hands-on learning in biostatistics, field epidemiology and applied projects. Students benefit from practicum and internship opportunities across the region with public health agencies, animal health organisations and non-profit partners, allowing them to build practical experience and professional networks.

EMUs location provides access to a mix of rural and urban public and animal health challenges, which is valuable for training in surveillance, outbreak response and policy implementation. The programme is designed to equip students with quantitative skills, interdisciplinary perspectives and the practical experience required to work effectively in veterinary epidemiology and public health roles.