University of San Diego

What you'll study

The programme delivers a foundation in population health, biostatistics, environmental health, health policy and health promotion, alongside specialised coursework in veterinary epidemiology and zoonoses. You will study how infectious and non‑infectious diseases emerge, spread and are controlled across animal and human populations, and how surveillance, diagnostics and risk‑management strategies are designed and implemented.

• Core public‑health modules: introduction to public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, health systems and policy, social and behavioural determinants of health.
• Veterinary epidemiology and animal health modules: principles of veterinary epidemiology, infectious disease ecology, zoonotic diseases, diagnostic methods and laboratory basics, livestock and wildlife health management, outbreak investigation and response.
• Supporting science and skills: microbiology and immunology fundamentals, laboratory techniques, GIS and spatial analysis for health, data analysis using statistical software, research methods and scientific communication.
• Practical experience: fieldwork and lab placements, a supervised internship with a public‑health or animal‑health agency, project‑based learning and a capstone research or practicum focusing on a One Health problem.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to have completed secondary education with a competitive academic record. Recommended preparation includes courses in biology, chemistry and mathematics, and evidence of lab experience is advantageous. Admissions decisions take into account academic transcripts, personal statement, and any relevant extracurricular or volunteer experience.

International applicants must demonstrate equivalent qualifications and English language proficiency. Where required, applicants may be asked to provide references or attend an interview.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles that address the intersection of human, animal and environmental health. Common entry positions include disease surveillance technician, public‑health analyst, laboratory assistant, animal‑health inspector, and programme coordinator for NGOs or government agencies. Many graduates proceed to further training such as veterinary medicine (DVM), a professional public‑health degree (MPH), or research masters and PhD programmes focused on epidemiology, infectious diseases or One Health.

Employers for graduates in this field include national and local public‑health departments, animal‑health agencies, international organisations, non‑governmental organisations working on zoonoses and food safety, research institutes, and private sector companies in diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Why study at University of San Diego

Studying at the University of San Diego offers a student‑centred undergraduate experience with small class sizes and opportunities for close faculty mentoring. The university’s campus location provides proximity to a wide range of public‑health, veterinary and biomedical organisations, enabling practical internships and collaborative projects.

The programme emphasises experiential learning — combining classroom instruction with hands‑on laboratory work, field placements and a capstone practicum — to build skills in outbreak investigation, surveillance and applied research. Students benefit from interdisciplinary teaching that reflects the One Health approach, preparing graduates to work across sectors that protect both human and animal health.