epidemiology- best major?

College Majors Science Majors
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<p>I'm a high school freshman and I would really like to study epidemiology, preferably studying the anthropological factors of the spread of disease. I'm taking currently taking advanced biology and human disease really interests me. </p>

<p>Which major would be best for someone pursuing a career in epidemiology, and what schools have the best programs for that major? (i would love liberal arts schools that offer science, like U of Michigan-Ann Arbor)</p>

<p>My biology teacher suggested pre-med, but I've heard math majors are very useful. The problem with this is that although I am taking every possible prob. and stat. class at my school, I'm not very good at math as a subject.</p>

<p>Also, I live in Indiana (my dad teaches @ purdue) and I'm wondering if any in-state schools would be okay for undergraduate degrees. IU is supposed to be good, but the school is too big and it has almost no diversity.</p>

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<p>Statistics or biology would be good choice. Public Health would be the best if any of the schools offer it.</p>

3

<p>I’d recommend that you major in anthropology with an emphasis on biological anthropology and medical anthropology. You also could combine an anthropology major with a bioscience major. This could be a general biology major, a major in ecology & evolution, or a major in zoology. (What bioscience options are available depends, in part, on the particular university you attend as different schools will organize their departments in different ways.) A major in microbiology also might be something to consider. Some schools offer a major called “human biology” or some similar name that combines aspects of anthropology and biology. Many universities now offer a major or minor in “global health”. I wouldn’t recommend it as a major as it’s too limiting, but it might be OK as a minor or a certificate program. Another field to consider as a double major or as a minor is the history of science. Several universities with programs in this field offer coursework in history of medicine and public health, the historical role of plagues and epidemics (Some older works that might be of interest in this area are: [Amazon.com:</a> Plagues and Peoples (9780385121224): William H. McNeill: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Plagues-Peoples-William-H-McNeill/dp/0385121229]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Plagues-Peoples-William-H-McNeill/dp/0385121229), [Amazon.com:</a> Rats, Lice and History (9781412806725): Hans Zinsser, Gerald N. Grob: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Rats-Lice-History-Hans-Zinsser/dp/1412806720/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Rats-Lice-History-Hans-Zinsser/dp/1412806720/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1)) and an emerging area is the historical aspects of medicine and public health in non-Western societies. See my post in this thread for links to history of science and medicine programs: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/1016821-sts-major-science-technology-society.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/1016821-sts-major-science-technology-society.html&lt;/a&gt; Also see my post in this thread for a link to “Darwinian medicine”, which is another area that might touch on some of your interests: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/901650-medical-anthropology-undergrads.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/901650-medical-anthropology-undergrads.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>For epidemiology, a statistics major or minor would be useful, but your math skills might limit you. In fact, your interests can be pursued in the fields mentioned above and epidemiology is not the only pathway to pursue them.</p>

<p>You’re right that IU is quite large, and that’s one of its biggest drawbacks. For its size, however, it operates pretty well compared even to some smaller public universities. On the other hand, you mentioned that you might like Michigan, yet it is nearly as large. It’s arguable in what respect it lacks diversity. Certainly, American minorities seem under-represented, but it has a very large and diverse population of international students. Unfortunately, the American students and the international students seem to self-segregate. </p>

<p>This might have some relevance for your stated interests: IIRC, IU plans to start two new schools of public health, one in Indy and one in Bloomington. Nonetheless, you have time to explore your interests and early interests often change. I would caution against premature specialization. There is plenty of time to focus on epidemiology proper in graduate school. At the undergrad level, the broader route is the better one, IMO.</p>

<p>Your biology teacher’s suggestion of pre-med would be useful only if you wanted to go to medical school. In any case, “pre-med” is not a major. If you wanted to go to med school, you could major in just about any field as long as you complete the pre-med requirements (usually 2 semesters each of general biology, general and organic chemistry, calculus, and general physics). You probably would have to complete these requirements anyway if you major in a bioscience field as most biolscience majors require these courses.</p>

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<p>I’m not sure about any colleges near you, but the one I attend offers an accelerated BS/MS degree in Mathematics and Biostatistics. The University of Oklahoma.</p>