Master of Science in the Field of Public Health Microbiology and Emerging Infectious Diseases (STEM)

Program Co-Directors: Mimi Ghosh and Irene Kuo

The mission of the master of science (MS) in the field of public health microbiology and emerging infectious diseases degree program is to provide training to a new generation of public health professionals to expand knowledge and expertise in the areas of disease mechanisms, with an emphasis on microbial pathogens, the use and application of modern biotechnologies, and epidemiologic skills relevant to the prevention and control of problems in the community arising from infectious diseases.

Graduates of the MS program have an in-depth understanding of the major laboratory, clinical, and public health aspects of humankind’s microbial pathogens, and acquire epidemiologic skills relevant to the prevention and control of problems arising from infectious diseases and modern biotechnologies. Areas of emphasis include the design and analysis of epidemiologic data; emerging infections; tropical diseases; and applications of genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics. MS graduates are employed in academic and industrial research laboratories, international health agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consulting groups. In addition, they may work in federal, state, and local public health agencies or state and local public health laboratories where their technical expertise and population-based perspective are extremely useful. Students earning this degree help meet a national demand that has reached critical proportions for a trained workforce in biodefense and emerging infections, and an international demand for training in diseases that affect the developing countries.

The goals of the MS program in the field of public health microbiology and emerging infectious diseases are to ensure that graduates:

• Identify the biological complexities of microbial pathogens and the diseases they cause
• Recognize the major epidemiologic and clinical features of microbial disease
• Identify how new biotechnologies can be applied to the study and control of microbial pathogens
• Develop an in-depth understanding of epidemiologic principles and practice
• Apply the principles of epidemiology, microbiology, and public health practice toward the detection, surveillance, investigation, and control of microbial diseases

This is a STEM designated program.

Visit the program website for additional information.

• Bachelor’s degree in the life sciences or at least 12 credits in the biological sciences other than botany.
• Chemistry  ≥ 3 Credits

 

Visit the Milken Institute School of Public Health website for additional information about the school and its academic programs. Graduate admissions information, including application requirements and deadlines, can be found on the GWSPH Graduate Admissions website.

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 36 credits, including 6 credits in foundational courses, 8 credits in program-specific courses, 11 to 14 credits in selective courses, 6 to 9 credits in elective courses, and a 2-credit final project.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required
Foundational courses
6 credits
PUBH 6002	Biostatistical Applications for Public Health
PUBH 6003	Principles and Practices of Epidemiology
PUBH 6080	Pathways to Public Health
Program-specific courses
8 credits
PUBH 6245	Infectious Disease Epidemiology
or PUBH 6486	Global Health Programs and Approaches to the Control of Infectious Diseases
PUBH 6247	Epidemiologic Methods I: Design of Health Studies
PUBH 6853	Use of SAS for Data Management and Analysis
Selectives
One course selected from each of the categories below:
Microbiology selective
PUBH 6276	Public Health Microbiology
PUBH 6278	Public Health Virology
BISC 6212	Virology and Antiviral Immunity
MLS 6117	Advanced Clinical Bacteriology II
MLS 6119	Advanced Parasitology, Mycology, and Virology
MLS 6216	Microbial Pathogenesis
Immunology selective
PUBH 6291	Infection and Immunity
MLS 6141	Advanced Immunology and Serology
Genomics selective
PUBH 6861	Public Health Genomics
MICR 6236	Fundamentals in Geonomics and Proteomics I
Methods selective
PUBH 6252	Epidemiologic Methods II: Advanced Epidemiologic Methods
PUBH 6260	Applied Epidemiologic Data Analysis
PUBH 6275	Essential Public Health Laboratory Skills
PUBH 6860	Principles of Bioinformatics
Infectious disease selective
PUBH 6259	Epidemiology Surveillance in Public Health
PUBH 6468	Preparation and Response to Epidemics, Pandemics, Mass Health Emergencies, and Disasters
PUBH 6484	Prevention and Control of Vector Borne Diseases
Electives
6 to 9 credits in graduate-level courses. Pre-approved options are listed below. Other courses may be appropriate; students should consult their academic advisor prior to registration.
PUBH 6011	Environmental and Biological Foundations of Public Health
PUBH 6127	Introduction to Environmental Health Microbiology
PUBH 6146	Microbiomes and Microbial Ecology in Public Health
PUBH 6233	Epidemiologic Principles and Practice of Disease Eradication
PUBH 6234	Epidemiologic Methods in Neglected Tropical Disease Control
PUBH 6238	Molecular Epidemiology
PUBH 6239	Epidemiology of Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases
PUBH 6240	Pediatric HIV/AIDS
PUBH 6242	Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health: Reading the Research
PUBH 6243	Topics in Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health: Reading the Research
PUBH 6250	Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS
PUBH 6251	HIV Prevention Epidemiology and Methods
PUBH 6253	Issues in HIV Care and Treatment
PUBH 6255	Organizational Responses to the Local, National, and Global HIV/AIDS Epidemics
PUBH 6262	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
PUBH 6263	Advanced GIS
PUBH 6271	Disaster Epidemiology
PUBH 6279	Next Generation Sequencing Laboratory Skills
PUBH 6358	Vaccine Policy
PUBH 6386	Public Health Preparedness Policy
PUBH 6455	Global Vaccinology
PUBH 6487	Emerging Zoonotic Diseases and Global Food Production
PUBH 6850	Introduction to SAS for Public Health Research
PUBH 6851	Introduction to R for Public Health Research
PUBH 6852	Introduction to Python for Public Health Research
PUBH 6856	Advanced SAS for Public Health Research
GEOG 6304	Geographic Information Systems I
GEOG 6305	Geospatial Statistics
GEOG 6306	Geographic Information Systems II
GEOG 6309	GIS for Emergency Management
MICR 6292	Tropical Infectious Diseases
MICR 8230	Molecular and Cellular Immunology
Final project
PUBH 6280	Microbiology and Emerging Infectious Diseases Final Project (2 credits)

SPH MS graduation requirements

1. Graduate credit requirement: Successful completion of 36 graduate credits.
2. Curriculum: Successful completion of required courses.
3. Grade-point requirement: A minimum program grade-point average of 3.0 (B average).
4. Time limit requirement: The degree must be completed within five years.
5. Culminating experience: Successful completion of a culminating experience (e.g., thesis, final project, internship, and comprehensive exam).
6. CITI training requirement: All students are required to complete training regarding human subject protection regulation and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
7. Integrity quiz and plagiarism requirement: All students are required to review the George Washington University Code of Academic Integrity and take the SPH Academic Integrity Quiz within their first semester of study.
8. Professional enhancement requirement: Students must participate in eight hours of public health-related lectures, seminars, and symposia, related to their field of study.
9. PUBH 6080 Pathways to Public Health is a zero-credit, free-of-charge online course. Students may waive this requirement if they have earned a prior degree from a CEPH-accredited program or school. More information is available here.