Few universities offer undergraduate degrees specifically in epidemiology. The undergraduate degree in public health is a common degree for a future epidemiologist, especially for an applied epidemiologist looking to work within school systems or communities.
An epidemiologist typically needs an educational background in medicine. Thus, a pre-med undergraduate degree serves as an appropriate beginning for a future epidemiologist, especially for a research epidemiologist. Even if an epidemiologist does not administer medication, he or she may work closely with someone who does and thus should be at the very least familiar with the medical profession. Epidemiologists with medical degrees do scientific work in the field, researching the source of disease and then treating the infected.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, most jobs in epidemiology require as a base a master's degree in epidemiology. A number of universities offer a Masters of Science degree in Epidemiology. A large number of epidemiologists choose to complete doctoral degrees in epidemiology. Others have advanced degrees or doctoral degrees in genetics or cancer research, with specialization in epidemiology.
According to the United States Labor Bureau, the outlook for employment in epidemiology is good. To regularly educate working epidemiologists about recent and current disease outbreaks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers ongoing training, fellowships and programs for both research and applied epidemiologists. Additionally, a professional in the medical field can take a two-year course in applied epidemiology through the CDC to further his or her understanding of epidemiology.