Thinking of epidemiology as a career but have a few questions

College Majors Science Majors
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<p>First of all don’t mind my writing I’m doing this on my cell phone.</p>

<p>Now I been thinking about study epidemiology for quite some time, I research the field for the better part four months but now I come to a point where I can’t find the information I’m looking for. As of now I am interested in doing field work as an epidemiologist, so what I’m asking for is would a MPH/MS be enough so I would be able to get into field work or is that a PHD thing? If not then what would I be doing with an MPH? I ask because working in a lab/office all day everyday is just not my thing. I’m not saying I don’t want a PHD but I would like to take some time off after my Masters to work a little, maybe try and get my employer to help pay for the PHD. Also some other questions, how is the job market for epidemiologists, I read that its fairly easy to land employment. And how is the job market in New York City especially, I would think its pretty good because of the large population and the amount of foreign visitors that come to city everyday but I could be wrong and the market is pathetic lol.
Thanx for any and all help that you all give me</p>

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<p>Your employer doesn’t ever pay for a PhD. The school pays you instead; 20k-30k per year in fact along with no tuition.</p>

<p>epidemiology is basically applied statistics so just major in math, stats or computer science at the undergrad level, and get a MS epidemiology. don’t think PhD is that needed.</p>

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<p>You know, your right about the PHD thing. I forget that your payed by the school but I still would like to take some time of before a PHD.</p>

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<p>I generally don’t recommend Ph.D.'s People with Ph. D.'s often face severe job issues and wind up post-docing for long periods of time until their career dead ends at age 40. It is a bad deal in general which is why fewer Native-born Americans are going for it. </p>

<p>In most fields there is a huge glut of Ph. D.'s compared to actual job openings. Whether epidemiology is an exception I do not know specifically but I would check it out and be absolutely sure. A Ph. D can wind up closing a lot of doors on you with the mark of overqualified and academic who has no idea how the real world works can end up holding you back like a ball and chains.</p>

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<p>This article covers it nicely.</p>