Epidemiology
Drive advances in epidemiology and its growing impact on public health.
Global health challenges caused by climate change, infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19, and rising rates of cardiovascular and other diseases have heightened the need for highly trained epidemiologists. They’ve also increased the urgency around preparing our future workforce to confront the myriad complex public health challenges on the horizon.
UMass Amherst epidemiology students gain hands-on training with faculty whose expertise ranges from prenatal and reproductive health to breast cancer risk and biomarkers, physical activity and nutrition, infectious disease, and environmental contaminants. They learn not only how to research the cause, path, and rate of diseases but how to influence healthcare-related policy decisions.
Our epidemiology students explore a broad cross-section of public health issues, applying advanced skills in:
- Apply epidemiological techniques to collaborative research in the areas of public health and translational medicine
- Communicable disease epidemiology
- Epidemiological assessment of medical technologies
- Dietary and non-dietary nutritional assessments
Explore our programs
Jump in faculty research funding for the School of Public Health and Health Sciences from 2017 to 2022
Job growth projections for statisticians through 2031, much faster than average
Research Areas
Students from across all SPHHS departments tell us why they love UMass, why they chose to attend, and what their education has given them.
Benefits list
Electives in Vital Fields of Study
Study the root causes and progression of a variety of diseases with electives ranging from Population Mental Health Epidemiology and Intervention to Fundamentals of Women’s Health.
Research That Directly Impacts Lives
Epidemiology students can work alongside faculty on research ranging from prenatal and reproductive health to infectious disease.
Small Class Sizes, Close-Knit Community
Our low student-to-faculty ratio offers students individual contact and hands-on training with leading scientific experts partnering with the CDC, NIH, and the WHO.
Alumni spotlight
In the spotlight
"I have a lot of interests; I changed my major so many times and I feel like if it wasn’t at UMass I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do that. You’re able to do anything."
Community stories
Featured faculty
Brian W. Whitcomb
Chair, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Focus on reproductive/perinatal epidemiology, epidemiologic methods
Katherine Reeves
Professor of Epidemiology
Focus on cancer epidemiology, women's health, breast cancer, endocrine disruption
Andrew Lover
Deputy Director, New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease
Commissioner, Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control
Focus on infectious disease epidemiology; vector-borne disease; malaria; global health; epidemiological study design
Lisa Chasan-Taber
Focus on physical activity epidemiology; reproductive and perinatal epidemiology; gestational diabetes mellitus; Hispanic women
Cassandra Spracklen
Focus on genetic epidemiology; genetics of cardiometabolic traits; reproductive and perinatal epidemiology; life course epidemiology
In the news
Illuminating the Health Effects of ‘Forever Chemicals’
UMass Amherst researchers are studying the myriad ways PFAS chemicals affect human health—and pursuing strategies to mitigate their harm.
Graduate Students and Faculty Members Awarded Funds to Attend Future World Changers of the Academy Conference
Three SPHHS graduate students and faculty members received funding to attend the 2025 Future World Changers of the Academy (FWCA) national conference.
In the Media: News Roundup (March 21, 2025)
SPHHS researchers comment in multiple media outlets on health-related topics.
Epidemiology
Preparing our future workforce to confront myriad, complex public health challenges.