Home Epidemiology Epidemiology may be defined as the study of the distribution and determinants of disease and disability in populations.
Epidemiology is one of the basic sciences of public health and preventive medicine.
The Department of Epidemiology was established as a separate entity in January 1999. Until that time biostatistics and epidemiology had been combined in a single department. Because the two disciplines are intimately related, the Department of Epidemiology continues to work closely with the Department of Biostatistics. This collaboration is facilitated by the contiguous location of the two departments on the same floor. Students majoring in epidemiology are required to take at least two additional courses in biostatistics beyond the core requirement.