Global Infectious Disease Master of Science Program
The Master of Science in Global Infectious Disease is an in-person part-time or full-time course of study. We encourage recent graduates as well as working professionals to apply— our Global Infectious Disease students learn about the many ways to approach global infectious disease problems, such as through life science research, mathematical modeling of outbreaks, epidemiology of pandemics, and diplomacy to advance health outcomes. Our faculty come from diverse backgrounds in the sciences, medicine, health, and policy. Most courses are scheduled during the evening hours to accommodate working professional schedules.
The Georgetown Advantage
Finding solutions to some of the most complex public health issues of our time will require an integrative understanding of both hard science and science policy. There are many programs that will give you one or the other, but our program will give you solid background in both.
The Master’s in Global Infectious Disease offers:
- Unique combination of training in science, health, technology, modeling, social sciences, economics and governance.
- Faculty with diverse expertise, from the sciences, medicine, health and policy.
- Location in Washington, DC, allows for opportunities for renowned speakers, enhanced learning and networking opportunities.
Choice of Two Concentrations
Modeling & Informatics
Science Policy
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Support
The cost of attendance for Global Infectious Disease students is based on a per-credit tuition rate, and is thus dependent on the number of credit hours for which a student is enrolled in each semester. Please see the Graduate Programs Cost of Attendance Pages under the “Arts & Sciences” tab for detailed tuition and fees information. All qualifying applicants are considered for Merit-Based Aid by the admissions committee; no additional materials are required. Graduate students may work up to 20 hours per week. On-campus opportunities can be found in the Student Employment Office database (available for matriculated students only).
Fees include a Graduate Student Activity fee and, if registered for eight or more credit hours, a Georgetown University student health insurance charge.
The Graduate School’s Financial Resources page has helpful resources about merit aid, financial aid, and external awards, and we encourage applicants to review these. Students applying for scholarships external to Georgetown should ideally speak with us a year in advance of admittance to ensure alignment with the deadlines for many external scholarships. Unlike undergraduate admissions, where most applicants apply for admission first and then apply for aid, applications for national scholarships often have their deadlines at the same time or prior to admissions dates.
Deepen Your Impact
The Master’s in Global Infectious Disease includes 30 credits of integrative learning. Eighteen credits are core courses taken by all students. Students will then select between two concentrations in Modeling and Informatics and Science Policy, each of which has its own required courses that will deepen students’ understanding of their chosen concentration.
Post-Graduation Outlook
The Global Infectious Disease curriculum is ideal for intellectually curious individuals dedicated to interdisciplinary approaches to global infectious disease problems. It offers both fundamental and advanced teaching on topics that include microbiology, epidemiology, data science, and domestic and global policy and governance. It can prepare you to join a growing workforce and find employment in federal, state or local health departments, emergency management departments, pharmaceutical companies, advocacy organizations, or global health implementers. Some students may wish to pursue an internship during their course of study. Georgetown faculty can help connect students with contacts at organizations such as the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency at the Department of Health and Human Services, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Talus Analytics, New York City Health and Hospitals Special Pathogens Unit, USAID Emerging Pandemic Threats program, and the National Academies of Science.
Georgetown University offers its students an array of options related to infectious disease, health security, and global health career paths. Learn more about many of Georgetown’s global health-related degree programs on the Global Health Initiative web page.