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Arnold School of Public Health

Epi/Bio student working

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics prepares future public health researchers, scientists and practitioners to understand the patterns, causes and consequences of disease. Through rigorous training, applied research and community-engaged scholarship, we use data to identify health risks, evaluate solutions and improve population health.

Our work spans chronic and infectious disease, environmental health, health disparities and clinical and community-based research. By combining the two disciplines in a single department, we create synergy for both training and research to inform policy, strengthen health systems and improves lives.


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Degree Programs

 

Meet the Department Chair

"The future of public health depends on our ability to understand complex health challenges, generate actionable evidence, and prepare the next generation of leaders to respond with skill, creativity, and purpose. We are building on a longstanding commitment to advancing the public’s health through rigorous research, innovative methods and exceptional training." —Anthony Alberg, Chair

Meet The Chair
Tony Alberg

Improving public health from behind the scenes

Behind many of the most impactful medical advances are mathematical savants – behind-the-scenes superheroes who are working with vast stores of data to improve public health, like Ph.D. in Biostatistics candidate Zichun "Liela" Meng.

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Leila Meng

 

Woman studying ticks in a lab

Department Research

Through a diverse research portfolio and strong partnerships with public and private health agencies, our faculty and students generate evidence that informs decisions, strengthens prevention and improves health.

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Department News

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Lingering under the radar

Melissa Nolan, associate professor of epidemiology and director of USC’s Institute for Infectious Disease Translational Research, and Arnold School alumnus Matthew Haldeman have found a rare intestinal parasite that could affect 1 in 20 South Carolinians.

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Closeup of a microscopic worm

Certificate Programs

Two certificate programs in Biostatistics and Maternal and Child Health help students build focused public health expertise while already enrolled in a graduate program at USC.

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Pregnant mother with daughter

Faculty Spotlight: Beniamino Hadj-Amar

Wearable trackers, heart monitors and sleep sensors are transforming modern health care by generating powerful new data. Biostatisticians like Beniamino Hadj-Amar help turn that data into meaningful insight, advancing research in neuroscience, neuroimaging and human health.

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Beniamo Hadj Amar

BY THE NUMBERS

  • 11+ million

    In Extramural Support

    FY 2025

  • 32

    Faculty and Staff

The training goes far beyond the classroom; the department strongly encourages applying what you learn to real-world public health problems and in-class projects, which I found extremely valuable in shaping my research and professional growth.

Daniel Amoatika, Ph.D. ’26, Epidemiology
Daniel Amoatika

Lead What's Next

Prepare to make a difference. Apply to a graduate program today.

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More to Explore

Learn more about the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of South Carolina.

Meet Our Faculty For Students

Arnold School of Public Health

My Arnold School
Arnold School of Public Health
921 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29208