- Essential Skills
- Required Education and Training
- Average Salary and Salary Range
- Common Work Environments
- Job Outlook
There are several things that every public health student should know about epidemiology specialization before choosing this concentration. Epidemiologists study community diseases and research appropriate prevention methods to reduce risk. This is a moderately flexible field that offers several great career opportunities. But before choosing this specialization, public health students may want to consider the following five aspects pertaining to this concentration.
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Essential Skills
One thing that every public health student should know about epidemiology specialization concerns the skills that are necessary for this specialty. These professionals must have excellent communication skills so that they can interact with both coworkers and the public. They must also have outstanding researching skills and an eye for detail. Since much of their job will involve examining quantitative research, they will need exceptional mathematical and statistical skills as well. Finally, critical-thinking skills help epidemiologist respond to urgent public health issues.
Epidemiology Education and Training Required
Another thing that every public health major specializing in epidemiology will want to know is what type of education and training is required to work in their chosen field. Public health students specializing in epidemiology typically need to earn a minimum of a master’s degree in public health from an accredited higher education facility. Students who wish to work in research after graduation may need to earn a higher-level degree such as a PhD or a medical degree. Typical coursework will often include studies in such areas as public health, statistics, physical sciences, and biomedical research.
Average Salary and Salary Range
Most every public health student wishing to specialize in epidemiology will want to know about the average salary for persons working in this area of public health. According to information provided by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall average annual salary for epidemiologists in 2017 was $69,660. Actual salary, however, will depend on such things as educational level, experience, employer, and location. Because of this, salaries for persons working in this field ranged from $42,810 to $113,560 per year during the same year.
Common Work Environments
Where they will be able to work after graduation is another thing that every public health student specializing in epidemiology should know. A large portion of epidemiologists are employed by state and local health departments and spend much of their time working in laboratories and offices. On the other hand, some choose to work in such work settings as higher education facilities, hospitals, medical clinics, research centers, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for epidemiologists is yet another thing that every public health student specializing in epidemiology will want to know. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that positions for persons in this field will increase at a rate of about nine percent until the year 2026. Since available positions in public health are highly dependent on local and state governmental budgets, those states with larger budgets will see greater demand for public health professionals who choose to specialize in epidemiology.
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Epidemiology is an important field that strives to reduce risk of various diseases in community populations. And public health students specializing in epidemiology will want to consider the five aspects of epidemiology described above.