Certificate in Field Epidemiology

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The Certificate in Field Epidemiology is a 12-credit hour program of study. The curriculum addresses the core functions of:

• outbreak investigation,
• surveillance systems and methods,
• infectious disease epidemiology,
• field epidemiology methods.

All courses have been specially designed and developed for delivery via the Internet. Students will be able to register, receive materials, interact with faculty, order books, and successfully complete this program without traveling to campus. A connection to the Internet is all that is required!

Certificate in Field Epidemiology Brochure

As the practice of public health changes, so do the educational needs of public health practitioners, particularly in the area of field epidemiology. Since the terrorist events of September 11, 2001, the bioterrorism-related anthrax exposures of November of 2001, the recent emergence of SARS and West Nile virus, and the continued threat of influenza viruses, the need to help prepare the public health workforce to respond to emerging and re-emerging health threats in general, and bioterrorism in particular, has never been so crucial.

The 1988 Institute of Medicine report on the Future of Public Health indicates there has been a consistent demand for focused efforts that address the infrastructure and core services of public health. In addition, a survey conducted by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) showed that as of November 2001, 42% of epidemiologists working in state and territorial health departments had no formal training in epidemiology. To address this need and fill the gap in educational programs available to practitioners, the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has developed the Certificate in Field Epidemiology program.