Department of Epidemiology

Degree Program Overview

Listed below are summaries of the degrees offered by the Department of Epidemiology at The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

MPH in Epidemiology 45 Credit-Online

This degree is a rigorous part-time, two-year degree program that combines online, in-person, and in-the-field learning to provide public health and healthcare professionals with advanced research and epidemiological skills. This degree is designed for individuals who cannot take a full year of classes but wish to continue their education in the Public Health and Epidemiological Methods and Application. A Culminating Experience Project is required for this degree.

Master of Science 80 Credit

This degree is typically completed over 2 academic years. The 80-credit SM program is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree.  Applicants should have a strong background in a relevant discipline (e.g., biology, chemistry, genetics, physiology, bioengineering, and related social and computational sciences), mathematics, an excellent quantitative background, and clear research goals.  A thesis is required for this degree.

Master of Science in Computational Biology and Quantitative Genetics 80 Credit

The 80-credit Master of Science in Computational Biology (SM2) degree, offered jointly by the Department of Epidemiology and the Department of Biostatistics, provides students with the rigorous quantitative training and essential skills needed to successfully meet the challenges presented by large-scale public health data — “Big Data” — in biomedical research.  It is intended as a terminal professional degree which will enable you to launch your career in bioinformatics. It can also provide the foundation for further doctoral studies in biostatistics, epidemiology, computational biology, and other related fields. 

Master of Science 42.5 Credit- Academic Year

The 42.5 credit SM is typically completed over Fall and Spring semesters of one academic year and is designed for applicants with a medical degree or master’s-level background in relevant disciplines (e.g., biology, chemistry, genetics, physiology, bioengineering, and related social and computational sciences). Some students begin the program by also completing one of the Summer programs in Clinical Effectiveness or Public Health Studies.

The Summer Only 42.5 CR is designed for applicants with a medical degree or master’s-level background in relevant disciplines (e.g., biology, chemistry, genetics, physiology, bioengineering, and related social and computational sciences) and can be completed over 2 summer sessions. A thesis proposal and a local mentor are required for application.  A Thesis is required for this degree.  The program begins with either the Summer Program in Clinical Effectiveness or the Session for Public Health Studies. 

PhD in Population Health Sciences 

This full-time degree program is a joint collaboration between the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to offer a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Population Health Sciences. It is designed to encourage students to benefit from connections between public health disciplines and a broader range of academic disciplines represented across the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).

The program offers advanced doctoral-level research training that builds on multiple disciplinary perspectives to understand the origins and determinants of health and disease across populations. Students in this program will be based at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and belong to one of the following Fields of Study associated with the following departments:

This degree is primarily intended for students likely to pursue careers in academia in these Fields of Study in departments related to Population Health, or in research-related positions outside of academia. In addition to nurturing the development of the next generation of population health researchers and scientists, the program will provide opportunities for students to build scientific communication, mentoring, and teaching skills, and thereby become educators in their field.