Epidemiology is the field of public health that focuses on adverse health conditions that affect large numbers of people. Epidemiologists, using sophisticated statistical analyses, field investigations, and complex laboratory techniques, investigate the cause of a disease, its distribution (geographic, ecological, and ethnic), method of spread, and measures for control and prevention.
Elective courses are available in aging, cancer, clinical, environmental and occupational, reproductive, chronic disease, managerial, and social epidemiology and in clinical trials. Careers include: CDC investigator, director of infectious/chronic disease programs, and research analyst.