Epidemiology, the science of public and population health, is a field of disease detectives who conduct studies to better understand the health status of populations. A STEM-heavy field, epidemiology addresses the occurrence of disease in communities—who, what, when, and where—and determines how and why disease occurs. The findings are used to control and prevent disease and protect and improve the public’s health. Epidemiologists study health phenomena, such as infectious diseases, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, maternal and child health, substance abuse, and injuries.
Skills and abilities this major develops: scientific methods, critical thinking, applied data analysis, cultural competencies, ethical decision making, ability to analyze and evaluate, and knowledge of local and global health systems.