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Earn Your Master’s in Epidemiology Online

Become a force in the quest to understand, prevent and treat diseases through life-saving research. The Kent State University College of Public Health’s online master’s degree in epidemiology prepares you for a rewarding career at the research epicenter of public health.

Course Delivery
100% Online
Total Credits
36
Approximate Cost per Credit
$695 in state
$705 out of state
Time to Completion
Graduate in as little as 2 years
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Take your career to a higher level with our affordable, flexible online Master of Public Health or Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology. Our 100% online programs allow you to keep up with your current responsibilities while you study. Find out how we can help you create the career and positive public health impact you want to have.

Download our guide to learn more about:

  • Career Opportunities
  • Customizing Your Degree
  • The Student Experience
  • Admission Requirements
  • Tuition and Financial Aid

Increase Your Professional Impact

When you earn your master’s in epidemiology online with Kent State, our expert faculty will help you prepare for professional roles in a range of applied public health and clinical research settings. When you finish the program, you’ll have career-ready skills that can help you immediately impact public health.

Typical employment settings range from state and local governments addressing public health problems to federal agencies and universities conducting research and nonprofit organizations pursuing advocacy. Private sector employers include health insurance and pharmaceutical companies, among others.1

Fast Stats

Consider these data points about careers in the fast-growing field of epidemiology.

30%
Job Growth
2020-20302
$78,830
Average Salary2

See more information about specific roles below or on our careers page.

MS in Clinical Epidemiology

Program coverage for the master’s in epidemiology online begins with core knowledge of theoretical and ethical frameworks, along with up-to-date information on statistical analysis, and study design and implementation.

Coursework will prepare you for key roles in clinical trials and research, including advanced observational and experimental study design methods.

Customize your degree with a selection of electives on topics including:

  • Scientific writing
  • Regulatory affairs
  • Pharmacoepidemiology
  • Epidemiology of chronic diseases
  • Epidemiology of infectious diseases

You may also pursue individual investigation on a subject of interest before solidifying your knowledge through a capstone practicum or thesis.

Program Snapshot

  • 36 credits, consisting of 11 courses, including the capstone requirement
  • No GRE requirement
  • Fall semester start
  • 15-week-long courses, with two courses taken each semester
  • Elective opportunity for up to 6 credits of individual investigation
  • A customizable, career-centered capstone requirement
    • Hands-on research experience in an approved clinical setting
    • Thesis course
  • Graduate in as little as two years

View Courses

Master’s in Epidemiology Online Program Outcomes

After earning the MS in Clinical Epidemiology, our students can:

  • Conduct patient-oriented research to understand and modify health outcomes
  • Design and carry out epidemiological studies
  • Analyze clinical data and understand the sources, strengths and limitations of patient data
  • Design and carry out clinical trials
  • Describe disease prognosis, therapies and outcomes

View Courses

What can I expect from Kent State's Online MS in Epidemiology?

You can expect the highest standards of education and service from our master’s in epidemiology online program, preparing you to make a real difference in people's lives by helping to fight disease.

Ranked in the top 7% of public universities, Kent State University is also proud to be recognized for the outstanding service we provide to the military community with the Military Friendly Gold Designation.3, 4

Accreditations from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) ensure that our online master’s in epidemiology and biostatistics adheres to the highest educational standards.

Military Friendly School 2022-23 Gold
CEPH-accredited bacherlor's master's doctoral
ASPPH Accredited Program
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Move Forward with Kent State

Kent State University’s commitment to helping you move ahead in your epidemiology career begins with admissions. In our online master’s in epidemiology, no GRE is required. Instead, we rely on a holistic approach to enrollment.

But that is just the beginning of the ways we’ve customized our program to serve working professionals. We help you craft a degree that matches your professional passion and offer one of the most affordable programs in the state of Ohio. Our Admissions Outreach Advisors will be happy to answer any questions.

Talk to an Admissions Outreach Advisor

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We Share Your Passion for Public Health

Undertaking a graduate degree is a big commitment, especially if you already have work and family obligations. We understand the time pressures working professionals face and share your passion for research supporting better public health. That's why our master’s in epidemiology online program features:

  • No GRE requirement
  • 100% online coursework
  • A powerful, user-friendly learning management system
  • Opportunities to work on cutting-edge faculty research projects
  • Customizable capstone experience requirements

We designed our online master’s degree in epidemiology to fit into your busy life, so you can get the education you need without putting your life on hold. You can earn your degree in as little as two years, picking up valuable career experiences along the way. So if you're ready to rise to the challenge of earning your online master’s degree in epidemiology, we're here to help you make it happen.

Begin Your Application

Epidemiology Careers Overview

At its core, the work of an epidemiologist is concerned with collecting and analyzing data to investigate health issues. The profession requires skills in a range of domains, from science and critical thinking to social perceptiveness and persuasion.

Epidemiologists may have one or more subject area specializations, ranging from chronic disease and environmental health to public health preparedness and emergency response or veterinary epidemiology. Epidemiology can be a rewarding and personally fulfilling career path for you if you are interested in working with people and solving problems through investigative inquiry.2, 5

The scope of work for epidemiologists is broad, with variations across employer types, including:

  • Public health agencies
  • Research institutions
  • Advocacy organizations
  • For-profit companies

Kent State’s online master’s in epidemiology and biostatistics prepares students with the knowledge, skills and methodological approach to succeed in an array of roles across the fields of epidemiological and biostatistical research.

Our graduates often pursue careers as:

  • Research scientists
  • Data scientists
  • Clinical research coordinators/managers
  • Clinical trial managers
  • Clinical data analysts
  • Research associates
  • Epidemiologists

Learn more about potential careers in clinical epidemiology.

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Study with Recognized Experts

Learn how to make real-world impact in the Kent State master’s in epidemiology online classroom. The faculty of the College of Public Health bring years of diverse professional experience with them to inform your education. These experts in applied public health use real-world experiences and examples to help you put theory into practice while you're still learning!
Learn More About Our Experts

Tuition and Financial Aid

Ohio ResidentsOut of State
Per Credit Hour$695$705
Approximate Program Cost$24,325$24,675

An additional distance learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change. For comprehensive tuition information, please refer to the tuition rates posted on the Bursar’s website.

We recognize that pursuing a graduate degree is a significant investment. Your Admissions Outreach Advisor can answer your questions on program costs, discuss how a Kent State degree compares to others and connect you with financial aid representatives when you are ready to discuss your financial options.

Please contact an Admissions Outreach Advisor for more information on tuition and fees either by email at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or toll-free at +1 844‑234‑4073.

Schedule a Call Download Application Checklist

Courses

The 36-credit-hour MS in Clinical Epidemiology degree is comprised of three major components:

  • Eight core courses (25 credits)
  • Two elective courses (5-6 credits)
  • One capstone requirement (6 credits)

Clinical Epidemiology Core Courses (8 Courses, 25 Credits)

BST 52019 BIOSTATISTICS IN PUBLIC HEALTH (3 CREDITS)

Provides students with an understanding of basic statistical methods in public health research, as well as the skills to perform and interpret basic statistical procedures. Students learn how to use statistical analysis software to analyze real data from public health-related studies. They then learn how to interpret the analysis and present the results to public health professionals and educated lay audiences. Course will include a lab component which will enhance student awareness and informed usage of SAS for public health analysis. Students will learn how to input, read, store, export and modify data in SAS and be able to use common SAS procedures to analyze public health data and conduct independent SAS programming.

BST 63013 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS IN PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH (3 CREDITS)

Introduces students to experimental research methods in public health settings. First introduces a number of quasi-experimental and experimental study designs, then identifies a number of statistical methods that can be used to draw correct causal inferences from the study.

BST 63014 APPLIED REGRESSION ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC HEALTH DATA (3 CREDITS)

Focuses on developing student proficiency in building and evaluating various regression models for public health studies. Topics covered include exploratory and descriptive methods, simple and multiple linear regression models, predictor selection, binary and multinomial logistic regression models, survival analysis, repeated measures, and generalized linear models.

EPI 52017 FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 CREDITS)

Introduces principles, methods and application of epidemiology. Covers the history of epidemiology, concepts of disease causation and prevention, measures of disease frequency and excessive risk, epidemiologic study designs, causal inference, outbreak investigation, and screening. Provides experience with calculation of rate standardization; measures of disease frequency, association and impact; and sensitivity and specificity of screening tests. Highlights applications of epidemiology to understanding of disease etiology, transmission, pathogenesis, prevention, evaluation and public policy development.

EPI 63018 OBSERVATIONAL DESIGNS FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH (3 CREDITS)

Course provides students the skills to design, conduct and perform clinical epidemiology studies using an observational design. Students understand major concepts of clinical research, develop clinical research questions and solve clinical research problems. Topics include study design, risk, causation, exposures, bias, measurement and validity and disease prognosis.

EPI 63019 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH (3 CREDITS)

Principles of experimental designs as they apply to clinical research and clinical trials are presented at an intermediate level. Students understand randomized control trial designs and alternative designs. Study methodology, including randomization and blinding techniques, is covered. Topics include evidence-based medicine; risk prediction and risk scores; instruments and measurement; data issues; and recruitment, retention and adherence.

EPI 63020 ADVANCED EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL RESEARCH METHODS (3 CREDITS)

This advanced course focuses on why particular methods, study designs or approaches are used in particular investigative scenarios in clinical research. Students develop an advanced understanding and application of epidemiology methods in clinical research.

EPI 63021 ETHICAL ISSUES IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND CLINICAL RESEARCH (3 CREDITS)

Introduces students to historical and contemporary ethical issues that arise during public health and clinical or biomedical research studies. Broadly covers human subjects research, the responsible conduct of research and the good clinical practice guidelines.

Clinical Epidemiology Electives (2 Courses, 5-6 Credits)

BST 62020 DATA MANAGEMENT AND LOGIC USING SAS® SOFTWARE (3 CREDITS)

This course introduces graduate students to SAS® software, reading external data into SAS software, use of SAS data step, basic SAS functions, logical data steps for data management, and different SAS procedures for creating summary reports, graphical displays, and conducting basic statistical analysis using the SAS software. SAS Lab sessions are designed to mimic real time challenges working with different kinds of data and learn how to meet such challenges. By the end of the course, students will achieve competency in proper and efficient use of SAS software.

EPI 50015 SCIENTIFIC WRITING FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH (3 CREDITS)

Course provides students the tools to develop proficiency in scientific reading, to conduct presentations and to demonstrate skill in scientific writing, with the goal of preparing clinical researchers to be able to communicate findings to the science community and the general population. Course includes an examination of the science literature in clinical trials research.

EPI 50017 PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY (3 CREDITS)

Introduction to the field of pharmacoepidemiology, which uses epidemiology methods to understand medication use and distribution at the population level. Course examines risk-benefit and epidemiology approaches to examining medication use and therapeutic trials. Drug and device manufacturing to market are explored.

EPI 50018 REGULATORY AFFAIRS IN CLINICAL RESEARCH (3 CREDITS)

Course provides the tools for students to develop an understanding of the researcher and organization responsibility in research and development of clinical trials products. Students understand regulations from the government and industry, privacy concerns, liability and ethical issues related to clinical trials research. Examples from the field are explored in detail.

EPI 50196 INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN EPIDEMIOLOGY (1-3 CREDITS)

(Repeatable for maximum 6 credits) Individual graduate investigation or research in areas related to epidemiology.

EPI 63014 EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CHRONIC DISEASES (3 CREDITS)

With a life course approach to chronic disease epidemiology, this course focuses on cardiovascular, respiratory, cerebrovascular diseases and cancer. Health and disease are addressed from a multicausal perspective, which includes individual behaviors; psychosocial issues; and sociodemographic, biological and physiological factors. Time points for prevention and intervention are identified.

EPI 63015 EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES (3 CREDITS)

Surveys the history, principles, methods and practice of infectious disease epidemiology, by (1) defining and understanding infectious disease epidemiology surveys, (2) collecting and measuring surveillance data, (3) interpreting epidemiology data and (4) predicting evidence-based outcomes. Primarily a course in epidemiology, students learn some infectious disease microbiology as well.

Clinical Epidemiology Capstone Requirement (Choose from the following)

EPI 63192 RESEARCH PRACTICUM IN CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY (6 CREDITS)

Research practicum allows students to gain hands-on experience conducting research in a clinical setting, such as a hospital or other approved organization. Students complete the experience under the supervision of a field preceptor and faculty member.

EPI 63199 THESIS I (6 CREDITS)

Students must register for a total of 6 credit hours in the program. Students may register for 2 to 6 hours in a single semester.

Course Requirements

To participate in this online program, you will need a computer and broadband Internet connection. Your program may have further requirements that include the ability to record video and audio. If you have questions regarding technology requirements for the program, please contact your Admissions Outreach Advisor at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or call us toll-free at +1 844-234-4073.

Once you are admitted to the program, your Student Success Coordinator will craft your personalized degree plan, giving you a clear course sequence and path to graduation.*

*Students are responsible for taking courses in the prescribed sequence. Any deviation from the prescribed sequence that leads to a delayed graduation is the responsibility of the student.

Admissions Requirements

  • Completed online application
  • Complete bachelor’s degree, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), from an accredited university
  • Three letters of recommendation from professors and/or employers
  • Application fee: $45
  • Official transcripts
  • Goal statement
  • Resume/CV
  • There is no GRE requirement

The application process is simple and we’re here to guide you through it.

Our Admissions Outreach Advisors are available to answer your questions regarding admissions requirements for the program. If you have questions, please email us at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or call us toll-free at +1 844-234-4073.

Schedule a Call    Download Application Checklist

Important Dates

Oct
27
Priority Application Deadline
Spring 2024 Term
Dec
1
Final Application Deadline
Spring 2024 Term
Jan
16
First Day of Class
Spring 2024 Term

Application Resources

Online Public Health Program Application Checklist

Our step-by-step application checklist will help ensure the success of your application submission.

Download Checklist

Admissions FAQs

Begin your application by creating an account in the online application system to save your work and track the progress of materials submitted via the system.

I am a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident, all required application materials should be sent to the Division of Graduate Studies at gradapps@kent.edu or by mail to:

Graduate Admissions
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, Ohio 44242

Please be sure to include your full name and Kent State ID (9 digit number starting with 8) on all submitted documents. For questions, contact Graduate Admissions at +1 330-672-2661 or gradapps@kent.edu.

I am not a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?

If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident, all required documents should be submitted to the Office of Global Education at intladm@kent.edu or by mail to:

Office of Global Education
Kent State University
106 Van Campen Hall
625 Loop Rd.
Kent, OH 44242
USA

For questions, contact International Admissions at +1 330-672-7970 or intladm@kent.edu.

Build Your Career With a Degree Built Around You

Explore the immersive online experience, our faculty roster and some of the diverse post-graduation career options.

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Immersive Online Curriculum

Designed for busy working professionals and students seeking to expand their career options.
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Award-Winning Faculty

Study with authorities who are at the forefront of health research and policy.

Meet Our Faculty
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Clinical Epidemiology Career Potential

Gain expertise in mitigating public health risks through advocacy, research, and policy implementation.
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Important Dates

Oct
27
Priority Application Deadline
Spring 2024 Term
Dec
1
Final Application Deadline
Spring 2024 Term
Jan
16
First Day of Class
Spring 2024 Term

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Sources
  1. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from www.bls.gov/ooh/Life-Physical-and-Social-Science/Epidemiologists.htm
  2. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from www.bls.gov/ooh/Life-Physical-and-Social-Science/Epidemiologists.htm#tab-2
  3. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from premium.usnews.com/best-colleges/kent-state-university-3051/overall-rankings
  4. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from bestcolleges.com/blog/how-many-colleges-in-us/
  5. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from onetonline.org/link/summary/19-1041.00