John Hopkins University

What you'll study

The programme combines advanced epidemiologic theory, quantitative methods and subject-matter training in veterinary and comparative medicine to study zoonotic and animal disease systems that affect public health. Typical core themes include infectious disease epidemiology, study design, biostatistics, infectious disease modelling, spatial epidemiology and ecological drivers of disease.

Students follow a blend of coursework and independent research. Early-stage coursework commonly covers:

• Foundations of epidemiologic methods and causal inference
• Advanced biostatistics, longitudinal analysis and mixed models
• Mathematical and computational infectious disease modelling
• Spatial analysis and geographic information systems (GIS)
• Ecology of infectious diseases and pathogen–host interactions
• Surveillance systems, outbreak investigation and field epidemiology
• One Health principles, food safety and risk assessment

As the programme progresses, students move to substantive, dissertation-focused work under the supervision of faculty with expertise in veterinary epidemiology, microbial ecology, genomics and public health practice. Training opportunities often include laboratory and field-based studies, data-intensive analyses using genomic or large observational datasets, practicum placements with public health agencies, and regular participation in departmental seminars and professional skills workshops.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a relevant graduate degree (for example in epidemiology, public health, veterinary medicine, biology or a related quantitative discipline) or an undergraduate degree with substantial preparation in quantitative and biological sciences. Typical requirements include:

• A strong academic record and transcripts from previous study
• Demonstrable quantitative skills (statistics, programming or modelling) and coursework in biology or veterinary science
• Research experience relevant to infectious diseases, epidemiology or veterinary/public health
• A statement of purpose outlining research interests and fit with faculty expertise
• Letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees
• Proof of English language proficiency where applicable

Admission is competitive and decisions are based on the match between an applicant’s research goals and the availability of appropriate faculty supervision and resources.

Career prospects

Graduates from this field pursue careers across academic, government, industry and non‑governmental sectors. Common career paths include:

• Academic research and teaching in epidemiology, veterinary public health or One Health programmes
• Senior applied epidemiologist roles in public health agencies and regulatory bodies (for example national disease control programmes, animal health services)
• Technical or leadership positions in international organisations and NGOs focused on zoonoses, food safety and outbreak response
• Biotech, pharmaceutical and diagnostics companies working on vaccines, surveillance tools and veterinary therapeutics
• Consultancy and policy advisory roles bridging animal health and human public health

Training emphasises skills that are highly valued by employers: advanced quantitative analysis, interdisciplinary collaboration, field investigation and science communication for policy audiences.

Why study at Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins provides a research-intensive environment with faculty who lead international work on infectious disease dynamics, public health surveillance and One Health approaches. The Bloomberg School of Public Health and collaborating centres host multidisciplinary expertise across epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health and global health, enabling cross‑departmental supervision and project collaboration.

Students benefit from access to diverse research resources, including labs, modelling facilities, and partnerships with national and international public health organisations. The institution emphasises mentorship, graduate teaching and professional development, and offers opportunities for field placements and applied projects that connect doctoral research to real-world public health challenges.

The programme is suited to researchers who want rigorous methodological training combined with applied, transdisciplinary research on the animal–human–environmental drivers of disease.