University of Mississippi

What you'll study

This doctoral programme combines advanced public-health theory, quantitative methods and applied veterinary epidemiology to prepare candidates to conduct original research on zoonoses, food-animal health, wildlife disease ecology and the interface between animal and human health. Typical taught and research-led components include:

• Core public-health coursework — foundations of public-health practice, research ethics, health policy and population health frameworks.
• Advanced epidemiologic methods — study design, outbreak investigation, case-control and cohort methods, survival analysis and causal inference.
• Biostatistics and quantitative analysis — generalized linear models, mixed-effects models, Bayesian approaches, spatial statistics and transmission dynamic modelling.
• Veterinary epidemiology and disease ecology — principles of infectious disease in domestic and wild animals, livestock production systems, herd-level risk factors and surveillance design.
• One Health and zoonoses — cross-sectoral approaches to prevent and control diseases that affect humans, animals and ecosystems, including foodborne and vector-borne infections.
• Surveillance, diagnostics and laboratory methods — molecular epidemiology, diagnostic test evaluation and laboratory–field integration for disease detection.
• Practical skills and professional development — grant writing, scientific communication, teaching practicum and policy translation.
• Independent research and dissertation — an original, publishable research project under faculty supervision, culminating in a written thesis and oral defence.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a relevant master’s degree (for example in public health, veterinary medicine, animal science, epidemiology, biomedical sciences or a closely related field) with evidence of strong academic performance. Typical application components include:

• A strong academic transcript demonstrating quantitative and research preparation.
• A research statement or personal statement outlining proposed research interests in veterinary epidemiology or One Health.
• Curriculum vitae detailing research experience, publications and relevant professional activities.
• Letters of academic or professional reference that can speak to research potential.
• Where English is not the first language, an approved English-language proficiency test result.

Research experience (for example, a thesis, publications, field studies or laboratory work) and demonstrable statistical or epidemiologic skills strengthen an application. Specific departmental requirements, minimum grade criteria or standardised-test expectations may apply and should be confirmed with the programme admissions office.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for research and leadership roles across academic, governmental, industry and non-governmental sectors. Common career paths include:

• Academic researcher or faculty positions in veterinary medicine, epidemiology or public health.
• State, national or international public-health agencies involved in disease surveillance, outbreak response and animal-health programmes.
• Veterinary public-health roles in agriculture departments, food-safety authorities and livestock health services.
• Positions with international organisations and non-profit agencies working on zoonotic disease control, One Health initiatives and global health security.
• Research and development or surveillance roles in pharmaceutical, diagnostic or biotech companies focused on animal and zoonotic diseases.
• Consultancy and policy-advisory careers supporting evidence-based interventions, risk assessment and preparedness planning.

Why study at University of Mississippi

The University of Mississippi provides doctoral training that emphasises multidisciplinary collaboration across public health, biological sciences and veterinary-relevant fields. Students benefit from close supervision by faculty with expertise in epidemiology, infectious disease modelling and population health, and from opportunities to engage with state and regional public-health networks and laboratory resources. The programme’s focus on applied, translational research equips graduates to address real-world animal- and zoonosis-related health challenges while developing skills in data analysis, field investigation and policy translation.

Additionally, students can access professional development through seminars, grant-writing support and teaching opportunities, and are encouraged to publish and present their research to build a competitive profile for academic and applied careers in One Health and public health practice.