Epidemiology University of Basel

Overview

The Master’s degree program in Epidemiology at the University of Basel centers around teaching the basics of epidemiology and biostatistics, and the pursuit of an epidemiological research project. 

Epidemiologists investigate the health of populations, study disease and possible risk factors, propose actions and then measure whether the situation has improved. They also study disease outbreaks, conduct disease surveillance, identify possible health risk factors and propose measures of disease screening. To this end, epidemiologists design field studies, collect and analyze data using a variety of methods, often in the frame of large teams. Multi-disciplinarity is often important, as is the ability to deal with societal and cultural factors.

Focal area of teaching and research

The main goals of the MSc course in epidemiology are the following:

• To understand the issues raised by health problems at individual and population level, and the standard methods and measures to describe them.
• To understand the key concepts in epidemiology and biostatistics, and their interrelationships.
• To have an in-depth understanding of the standard methods and study designs in epidemiologic research.
• To be able to plan and execute independently basic epidemiologic studies, to analyze and interpret them, and to report them orally and in writing.
• To be able to understand research questions and studies in the field of epidemiology, to place them in a wider public health concept, and to review them critically.

Career opportunities

Holders of a Master of Science in Epidemiology have good possibilities to work in academia, for governmental health departments, for international organizations, for NGOs in Switzerland or elsewhere, or alternatively in the health industry, including drug companies. Work opportunities exist both in developing and in industrialized countries, working on both chronic and infectious diseases.