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Epidemiology

Advancing the core quantitative sciences of public health.
Running along the coast.

New in Epidemiology: The Advantages of Being a Weekend Warrior


A weekend warrior is someone who just works out once or twice per week, but still meets the physical activity recommendations of 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity weekly.  When you keep a hectic week schedule, it’s often easy to de-prioritize working out or write it off altogether. A recent study gives some evidence of health benefit for those who think exercise is a lost cause if they cannot exercise every day.

About the Study

What is Epidemiology?


Epidemiology explores how diseases affect populations and communities and allows us to understand the social and medical determinants of health. After graduating from our programs, students from our department are prepared to conduct epidemiologic research, undertake evaluation studies and monitor population health status in academic, government, private sector and community health settings. Our research helps drive understanding of how infectious diseases, like Ebola or HIV/AIDS, spread and which communities are most vulnerable so we can better treat and prevent future outbreaks.

Program Offerings


Graduate Programs

Our selection of MPH, MS and PhD programs offer a variety of options to students

The Department of Epidemiology not only provides students with options to pursue different degrees, but to also get unparalleled, hands-on experiences right here in the nation's capital. With first-rate research opportunities and faculty in the classroom, this is the place to launch your career.

MPH and MS Programs

PhD Programs

Explore Epidemiology

Research


Departmental faculty members have an extensive portfolio of sponsored research projects in many different areas of expertise.

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Practice Experience


Our extensive partner network enables students to work with top Washington, D.C. health organizations as practice settings.

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Careers and Alumni


Earning one of our degrees can lead to a wide range of professional opportunities. Click for a sampling and alumni profiles.

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Meet Our Faculty


Manya Magnus, PhD, MPH

Interim Department Chair

Effective July 1, Manya Magnus began serving as the Interim Chair for the Department of Epidemiology as Alan Greenberg goes on a year-long sabbatical. Heather Young will continue to serve as the Vice Chair. Dr. Magnus is an Associate Professor in and Associate Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Co-Director of both the school’s MPH Program in Epidemiology and the Clinical and Population Sciences Core of the NIH-funded DC Center for AIDS Research (DC CFAR). In her spotlight, Dr. Magnus talks about how she accidentally fell into epidemiology, her affinity for people watching and how she believes she will witness the cure for HIV AIDS in her lifetime.

Watch Faculty Spotlight

Our Department's Faculty

Department News


NIH Awards $2M to Whitman-Walker to Develop State-of-the-Art HIV Research Space at the New Max Robinson Center

WASHINGTON (October 3, 2022) - Whitman-Walker, a leader in LGBTQ health, research, and policy with special expertise in HIV care, today announces a $2 million dollar...

George Washington University Launches Novel COVID-19 Testing Protocol

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 17, 2020) — Testing relies on GW-developed diagnostic test and GW COVID-19 testing lab that returns results to prevent virus spread.

GW Researchers Develop Miniature Device to Diagnose COVID-19

The project was funded by a $50,000 COVID-19 Technology Maturation Grant from GW’s Technology Commercialization Office (TCO).