Columbia University

What you'll study

The programme combines the core competencies of an MPH with specialised training in veterinary epidemiology, zoonoses and One Health. Core public health topics include biostatistics, epidemiologic methods, environmental health, health policy and social and behavioural determinants of health. Specialist modules cover the ecology of infectious diseases, animal disease surveillance, outbreak investigation and response, diagnostic and laboratory methods relevant to animal health, spatial epidemiology and disease modelling.

• Core MPH courses: Biostatistics for Public Health; Principles of Epidemiology; Environmental and Occupational Health; Health Systems and Policy; Social and Behavioural Determinants of Health.
• Veterinary epidemiology & One Health courses: Comparative and Veterinary Epidemiology; Zoonotic Disease Ecology; Animal Disease Surveillance and Reporting Systems; Outbreak Investigation in Animal and Human Populations; Risk Assessment and Management for Animal Health.
• Methods and tools: Infectious disease modelling; Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for disease mapping; diagnostic test evaluation; laboratory biosafety and biosecurity principles.
• Applied experience: Field practicum with public health or animal health agencies, a methodological practicum or a supervised research capstone/thesis addressing a veterinary public health problem.

Entry requirements

Applicants typically need a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline such as veterinary medicine, animal science, biology, ecology, public health or a related life science. Admissions assess academic achievement, quantitative preparation (for example coursework in statistics or epidemiology), professional or research experience in animal or public health, and potential for graduate study.

• Academic transcripts showing a completed undergraduate degree in a relevant field.
• Evidence of quantitative preparation (undergraduate statistics, epidemiology or related coursework) or willingness to complete preparatory coursework.
• Curriculum vitae or résumé detailing relevant experience in veterinary, laboratory, fieldwork or public health settings.
• Statement of purpose describing research or career goals and reasons for pursuing veterinary epidemiology within an MPH framework.
• Letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees who can attest to the applicant’s readiness for graduate study.
• Proof of English language proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English, when required by the school.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles that bridge animal and human health. Typical employers include governmental animal health and public health agencies, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, academic and research institutions, and private-sector companies in diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and agricultural health.

• Roles in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation and epidemiologic analysis for agencies responsible for animal and zoonotic disease control.
• Positions in One Health programmes that design and evaluate interventions spanning veterinary, environmental and human health sectors.
• Analyst or scientist roles in laboratories, diagnostic companies and biotech firms working on animal health diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics.
• Research positions in academic or policy research centres focusing on zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and transboundary animal diseases.
• Consultancy and programme management posts with international organisations and NGOs engaged in epidemic preparedness, livestock health and food security.

Why study at Columbia University

Columbia’s public health faculty bring interdisciplinary expertise in infectious disease epidemiology, modelling and policy, offering students strong methodological training alongside applied One Health perspectives. The school's location and institutional networks provide access to public health agencies, research centres and partners engaged in local and global responses to zoonotic threats. Students benefit from opportunities for collaborative research, cross‑disciplinary seminars and practicum placements that connect academic training to real-world veterinary public health challenges.