Public Health was defined by C-E.A. Winslow as the science and the art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts with the goal of enabling every citizen to realize his/her birthright of health and longevity.
The disciplines of epidemiology and biostatistics are essential to achieving the goals of public health, and combining these two disciplines in a single department creates synergies for both training and research. Epidemiologists study the distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations. Biostatisticians develop and apply statistical theory, methods and techniques to public health research data and the planning, implementation and evaluation of public health programs. Given the strong overlap, epidemiologists and biostatisticians often collaborate to work toward the shared goal of generating and analyzing data to advance the public’s health.
Within the department, the degree programs are administered under two separate streams, the Division of Epidemiology and Division of Biostatistics.
Find out more about the department and what we offer in our welcome from the Chair.
We offer eight advanced degrees in epidemiology and biostatistics. Each graduate degree has specific application deadlines and requirements.
Director:
Dr. Robert Moran, Graduate Director for Biostatistics
Directors:
Directors:
The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics is proud to announce the recipients of their 2025 Student Awards. These students were selected for their outstanding performance both academically and outside the classroom.
The Office of the Vice President for Research has announced the recipients of the 2025 Advanced Support for Innovative Research Excellence (ASPIRE) and ASPIRE AI awards to fund 27 scholarly projects.
These awards are designed to recognize alumni, faculty, staff and students (graduate and undergraduate) who have made exceptional contributions to advancing access and collective engagement.
With a passion for using data to guide the planning and design of health programs and evaluating the impact of public health interventions, Adrienne Parkinson accepted a position as a researcher with CARE following her May graduation.
Epidemiology assistant professor Mufaro Kanyangarara is one of 43 scholars to be awarded a Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship from the Institute of International Education this year.
With Zach Drechsler's full-time position as a laboratory researcher his priority, USC's 100 percent Online Master of Public Health in Epidemiology program offered the perfect path to pursuing a graduate degree in the field.