Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE)

The MSCE is an intensive program for accomplished medical professionals who seek to further their skills as academic investigators. Applicants who possess an advanced degree in medicine, nursing or another health field learn to design controlled epidemiological studies and acquire biostatistical skills that relate directly to their research interests. With close guidance from a primary mentor and a mentorship team, students will gain the ability to hone precise research questions and pursue reliable, complex answers.

The MSCE is one of the nation’s top offerings in clinical research training with more than 150 active faculty members. It is designed to be completed in two to three years of full-time study and prepares students to:

  • Design, implement and analyze an original research project. 
  • Master the elements of various research designs—randomized clinical trials, cohort and case-control studies, surveys, and quasi-experiments.
  • Learn the concepts of health measurement as they apply to epidemiologic research.
  • Apply a sophisticated critical perspective in appraising medical literature.
  • Understand the principles of biostatistics, especially as they apply to epidemiologic research.
  • Be able to use and interpret various statistical programs for analyzing a data set.

Through the program's dedicated faculty mentorship, comprehensive curriculum, study protocol and thesis development, students are poised for academic research careers. Students can focus their elective training in areas such as pharmacoepidemiology, clinical trials, patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR), genetics, and bioethics.

The Perelman School of Medicine also offers a PhD in epidemiology.