Dartmouth College

What you'll study

The programme combines core public health training with specialised study in animal health, zoonoses and surveillance. Core modules typically cover epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, health systems and health policy, and social determinants of health.

• Foundations of Epidemiology — measures of disease occurrence, study design, bias and confounding.
• Biostatistics and Data Analysis — statistical inference, regression methods, analysis of longitudinal and clustered data, and use of statistical software.
• Veterinary Epidemiology — population-level study of animal diseases, transmission dynamics, and control strategies across livestock, companion animals and wildlife.
• Zoonotic Diseases and One Health — ecology of zoonoses, spillover risk, intersectoral approaches to prevention and control.
• Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation — design and evaluation of surveillance systems, field investigation methods and reporting for animal and human health events.
• Spatial Epidemiology and Modelling — GIS for disease mapping, spatial statistics and basic infectious disease modelling for risk assessment.
• Laboratory and Diagnostic Methods (conceptual) — interpretation of diagnostic tests, sample collection considerations and integration of lab data with surveillance.
• Practicum and Capstone/Thesis — an applied placement or research project in collaboration with public health departments, veterinary services, research centres or NGOs to demonstrate applied skills.

The programme structure is typically modular: core public health courses alongside elective units in veterinary and One Health topics, completed with a supervised practicum and capstone project or master's thesis.

Entry requirements

Applicants are generally expected to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Suitable academic backgrounds include biological sciences, veterinary science, animal health, environmental science, or public health. Typical application components include:

• Transcript(s) demonstrating strong quantitative and science coursework;
• Personal statement outlining interest in veterinary epidemiology, One Health and career goals;
• Letters of recommendation attesting to academic or professional potential;
• Relevant practical experience — for example, work or internships in veterinary practice, animal health surveillance, laboratory settings, public health agencies, or research;
• Proficiency in English demonstrated by prior education or standardised testing where required.

Applicants without extensive quantitative coursework may be asked to complete preparatory modules in statistics and epidemiology. The programme may consider applicants from a range of professional backgrounds provided they can demonstrate motivation and potential for graduate study in epidemiology and public health.

Career prospects

Graduates leave equipped to work at the interface of animal and human health in roles such as:

• Veterinary epidemiologist or animal health surveillance officer in government veterinary services;
• Epidemiologist or disease surveillance specialist in public health agencies and international organisations focused on zoonoses and outbreak response;
• Researcher in academic, not-for-profit or industry settings studying infectious disease ecology, food safety or antimicrobial resistance;
• Field epidemiologist supporting outbreak investigations, risk assessment and control programmes for zoonotic diseases;
• Policy adviser or programme manager for One Health initiatives, agricultural development projects, or NGOs involved in animal and human health.

Graduates also commonly progress to doctoral study in epidemiology, infectious disease ecology or related disciplines if they wish to pursue research or academic careers.

Why study at Dartmouth College

Studying this specialist MPH at Dartmouth allows students to learn within a small, research-led environment where interdisciplinary collaboration is emphasised. The programme typically draws on expertise from Dartmouth’s medical and public health faculty, providing strong mentorship and opportunities to work with research centres and clinical partners.

• Close supervision and a cohort-based learning environment that supports applied, hands-on training.
• Access to faculty with expertise in infectious diseases, epidemiology, health policy and health systems.
• Opportunities for field placements and collaborative projects with regional public health and animal health agencies, leveraging a One Health approach.
• Preparation for practical careers in outbreak response, surveillance and health policy through a practicum and capstone project.

Overall, the programme is suited to students who want rigorous public health training focused on animal-associated health risks and who value interdisciplinary research and applied field experience.