Chatham University

What you'll study

The programme builds a foundation in core public health disciplines—epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health and health policy—while specialising in veterinary epidemiology and zoonotic disease control. You will study how animal populations contribute to human disease risk and learn practical skills in surveillance, outbreak investigation and risk assessment.

• Foundations of Public Health: principles of population health, health equity, determinants of health and health systems.
• Epidemiology and Biostatistics: study design, measures of disease frequency, analytical methods, data interpretation and statistical software commonly used in public health.
• Veterinary Epidemiology & Zoonoses: transmission dynamics of zoonotic pathogens, host–pathogen ecology, animal population health metrics and case studies of important zoonotic outbreaks.
• One Health and Environmental Interfaces: the integrated approach linking human, animal and environmental health, including ecosystem drivers of disease emergence.
• Laboratory Methods & Diagnostics: basics of diagnostic testing, sample collection and field laboratory procedures relevant to animal and zoonotic disease surveillance.
• Surveillance and Field Methods: designing and implementing surveillance systems, sample size considerations, reporting systems and use of geographic information systems (GIS) for spatial analysis.
• Policy, Ethics and Risk Communication: regulation of animal and public health, ethical considerations in outbreak response, and communicating risk to diverse stakeholders.
• Practicum and Capstone Project: supervised placement with public health agencies, veterinary services, NGOs or research groups and a capstone that applies epidemiologic methods to a real-world problem.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to have completed secondary education with a record of strong performance in science and mathematics. Typical academic preparation includes biology and chemistry; mathematics or statistics is strongly recommended. Specific entry requirements can vary, but the programme commonly looks for:

• Secondary-school diploma or equivalent with competitive grades in relevant subjects.
• Recommended background in biology and chemistry; coursework in mathematics or statistics is advantageous.
• A personal statement outlining interest in One Health, veterinary public health or epidemiology, and any relevant volunteer or work experience with animals, public health agencies or community organisations.
• Letters of recommendation from teachers or supervisors who can speak to academic potential and suitability for applied, interdisciplinary work.
• Some applicants may present relevant work, volunteer experience or community engagement in lieu of formal prerequisites; admissions are holistic.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles that intersect animal and human health, often working in applied, field-facing or policy roles. Career pathways include:

• Surveillance and outbreak investigation with local or national public health agencies, veterinary public health divisions or animal health services.
• Positions in food safety and public health inspection, focusing on zoonotic risk from food-producing animals.
• Research and laboratory roles supporting diagnostic testing, pathogen surveillance and epidemiologic studies.
• Work with international organisations, NGOs and disaster-response teams addressing emerging infectious diseases and One Health initiatives.
• Industry roles in pharmaceutical and veterinary medicine companies, epidemiology units, and risk assessment teams.
• Progression to postgraduate study—such as a Master of Public Health (MPH), MSc in Epidemiology or veterinary training—for careers in research, policy-making or clinical veterinary medicine.

Why study at Chatham University

Chatham offers a personalised, interdisciplinary learning environment where small classes and close faculty mentorship support applied learning. The university’s emphasis on experiential education provides opportunities for hands-on fieldwork, community-engaged placements and capstone projects that connect students with public health departments, animal shelters and research partners in the Pittsburgh region.

Students benefit from access to campus resources and the Eden Hall Campus’ focus on sustainability and ecological health—an asset for One Health study—and from career services that help place graduates into internships and employment. The programme’s curricular balance of quantitative methods, laboratory and field techniques, and policy and communication skills prepares graduates to address complex zoonotic and population-health challenges.