To become an epidemiologist, students should attend a college or university that offers a degree in epidemiology. High school students interested in this field should take science classes and consider taking foreign language classes. Extracurricular activities and a strong academic record can support college applications. Graduate work may also be necessary.
Students interested in earning a degree in epidemiology will need to attend a college or university that offers a degree in epidemiology. There are several applications for a degree in epidemiology that the student may want to think about when preparing for school and filing applications to ensure that he or she selects a program that will be most helpful and effective. Some examples of careers in epidemiology include public health advocacy, employment with a government agency that responds to epidemics and outbreaks, and science journalism.
Epidemiology is the study of disease epidemics, analyzing why epidemics arise, how they spread, and ways in which they can be controlled. It requires a broad understanding of the sciences, as epidemiologists need to be able to study disease-causing agents, disease vectors, and other scientific topics. It also requires sociological and anthropological skills as epidemiologists interact with real people in communities around the world and it helps to have good communication skills and a sense of history when working as an epidemiologist.
The sooner someone knows they are interested in a career in epidemiology, the better preparations that can be made. High school students who know they want a degree in epidemiology should plan on taking a lot of science classes so they can start college. They should try to take science courses, and many want to consider taking biological sciences at a college in high school so that they can take care of some of the college prerequisites before applying to schools. It is also a good idea to take foreign language classes, as epidemiologists may travel to foreign countries in the course of their work, and foreign language skills may be required for an epidemiology degree at some colleges.
When applying to colleges and universities for an undergraduate degree in epidemiology, it also helps to have extracurricular activities to support the application, as well as a strong academic record. Some extracurricular activities that may support an application include an internship at a physician’s office, hospital, or medical laboratory, membership in a scientific organization or club, or internship specifically with an epidemiologist, if such an opportunity is available. Students may also consider volunteering with a public health department or taking public health education at their schools.
For an undergraduate degree in epidemiology, a student must follow the requirements set by the department when they arrive at college. Some schools offer degrees specifically in epidemiology, while others may tie epidemiology to the biological sciences. Many students interested in epidemiology undertake graduate work, which will require a graduate application to a school of public health or a school with a graduate-level department of epidemiology and preparation in the form of sufficient coursework. and extracurricular experience to impress the admissions committee.
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