Social Epidemiology Certificate Program

The Social Epidemiology Certificate Program trains students and public health professionals in social epidemiology theory and methods, and equips them to translate social epidemiology knowledge into research, practice, policy, and beyond.

Individuals who complete the certificate program will be able to:

• Articulate what social factors are and the fundamental role that social factors play in shaping the distribution of health and disease in and across populations.
• Identify and apply analytic methods to assess how social factors influence population health patterns.
• Demonstrate skills to address and evaluate social determinants of health and programs or policies that intervene on social determinants of health.
• Apply social epidemiology principles into research, practice, and real-world policy, to advance health equity. 

The program is designed for full-time students and part-time working professionals who wish to obtain foundational skills in how to measure and address social factors. 

Program Requirements

Students will be required to successfully complete a minimum of 18 didactic credits, with an option of two tracks: The Analyst track focuses on academic research methods and theory and is geared toward existing graduate students and academics; and the Implementation track focuses on practical skills and is geared toward public health professionals and practitioners in the field.  

The Analyst track will be only available for BSPH degree-seeking students who plan to take or have already completed prerequisites of: one introductory epidemiology course (340.601, 340.721, 340.751, or equivalent) and biostatistics series (140.611-612, 140.621-622, 140.651-652, or equivalent), within the past 5 years. The Analyst track includes 9 credits of required courses and a minimum of 9 credits from elective courses, and participation in at least two Social Epidemiology journal club (monthly during the semester) meetings per school year.

The Implementation track is available for degree-seeking and non-degree seeking students who have proficiency in basic epidemiology and biostatistics either through prior coursework or work experience.  The track includes 7 credits for required courses and a minimum of 11 credits from elective courses.

In AY 2025-2026 the program will only be open to Hopkins degree-seeking students.  In AY 2026-2027, the program will be open to anyone meeting the entry requirements. 

This program will begin in Academic Year 2025-26. Please reach out to Sheila Small to request the full certificate curriculum requirements. The curriculum will be available in the JHU e-catalogue beginning in July 2025. Please also review the certificate completion requirements.