Master of Science in Epidemiology (Public Health)

The Master of Science in Epidemiology (Public Health) is designed to equip health professionals with the skills in the application of epidemiologic concepts, theories, and principles to the solution of public health problems. This program is the response of the College of Public Health to the shortage of epidemiologists who have adequate training.

June 1992

October 24, 2023

Graduates of the Master of Science in Epidemiology (Public Health) program are expected to:

1. apply evidence-based problem-solving strategies in public health;
2. implement epidemiology research while adhering to ethical standards;
3. manage research units, organizations and projects, with their respective resources;
4. conduct disease surveillance and outbreak investigations in a multidisciplinary setting; and
5. evaluate health interventions and research developments that will contribute to health program and policy development.

1. Good scholastic record from any recognized institution of higher learning
2. Possession of a baccalaureate degree with adequate credits in the biological and physical sciences
3. An examination will be administered to all applicants. Based on the result of this examination, the applicant may be required to enroll in bridging courses (Biostat 202 and/or Epi 201, as applicable) as a non-degree student. The student must pass Biostat 202 and/or earn a grade of 2.0 or better in Epi 201, before the student can re-apply for formal admission to the MS Epi (PH) program.
4. Shiftees from other programs with a GWA of 2.0 or better with no failing grade may be admitted provided they go through the application process required for all students who shift to another course
5. Duly accomplished Application Form (downloadable through the NGOHS website: ngohs.upm.edu.ph)
6. Comply with the NGOHS General requirements found on the 2nd page of the Application Form (UPM-NGS-OP-01F1)

1. Residence in the semester of graduation. Completion of a minimum of 24 units of formal courses (18 units of major courses, 2 units of cognate courses, 4 units of electives)
2. GWA of 2.00 or better in major courses and 2.00 or better in all courses taken provided there is no grade of 5.00 in any of them
3. Satisfactory completion and submission of 3 bound copies of a master’s thesis, and submission of a paper derived from the thesis (with proof of submission)

Course Code: Biostat 220.1
Course Title: Introduction to Statistical Software for Public Health Workers
Credit Units: 1.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Overview of common software packages used for quantitative research, basic computer programming language, and applications in the management of public health and biomedical data

Course Code: Epi 202
Course Title: Epidemiologic Research and Research Management
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: Biostat 202, Epi 201
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Basic principles and tools in each step of the research process and in managing the research process from both the institutional and researcher perspectives. The final student output is a detailed research proposal.

Course Code: Epi 204
Course Title: Epidemiology of Selected Diseases
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: Epi 201
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Epidemiology of diseases of public health importance

Course Code: Epi 205
Course Title: Evaluation Research
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: Epi 202
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Approaches in the assessment of effects of health intervention

Course Code: Epi 211.1
Course Title: Epidemiologic Methods I
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: Epi 202
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Design of epidemiologic studies

Course Code: Epi 211.2
Course Title: Epidemiologic Methods II
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: Biostat 202, Epi 211.1
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Analysis of data and interpretation of results from epidemiologic studies

Course Code: Epi 212
Course Title: Sample Surveys in Epidemiology
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: Biostat 202, Epi 202
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Principles and methods of sample surveys as applied to epidemiologic studies, including the development and validation of data collection tools and non-sampling errors

Course Code: Epi 215
Course Title: Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: Epi 202
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Applications of the epidemiologic approach in the public health surveillance of health problems and in the investigation of disease outbreaks

Course Code: Epi 297
Course Title: Special Topics in Epidemiology
Credit Units: 1.0
Pre-requisite: Epi 202
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Updates and emerging trends in the field of epidemiology

Course Code: Biostat 207
Course Title: Nonparametric procedures in biometric research
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: Biostat 202
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Clinical trials, application of sequential methods and standard nonparametric tests in the analysis of biological and health data

Course Code: Biostat 209
Course Title: Experimental Design
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: Biostat 202
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Design and analysis of experiments with emphasis on health-related and biological phenomena

Course Code: Biostat 213
Course Title: Applied Regression Analysis
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: Biostat 202
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Applications of simple and multiple regression and correlation analysis, poly-nomial regression and logistic regression to biomedical data

Course Code: Epi 203
Course Title: Communicable Disease Control
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: Epi 201
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: The principles and methods in the control of communicable diseases

Course Code: Epi 206
Course Title: Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: Epi 201
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Epidemiology of selected non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, etc.

Course Code: Epi 208
Course Title: Epidemiologic Methods in Health Technology Assessment
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: Biostat 202, Epi 202
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: The application of epidemiologic principles and approaches in the systematic evaluation of properties, effects, and/or impacts of health technology

Course Code: Epi 209
Course Title: Meta-Analysis in Health Research
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: Epi 201 and Biostat 202
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Statistical integration of independent health and health-related researches starting from planning to retrieval of studies/data sets to actual application of meta-analytic techniques, and finally, to report writing

Course Code: HPAd 202
Course Title: Practice of Health Administration
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: HPAd 201
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Application of planning and management principles to the health system

Course Code: HPAd 201
Course Title: Principles of Health Administration
Credit Units: 2.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: The course focuses on the theoretical framework for planning and managing the health system.