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Certificate of Graduate Study

Public Health Surveillance and Preparedness

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Protect People from Environmental Hazards and Acts of Bioterrorism

Be ready to swiftly and effectively respond to local or national public health crises that arise after engineering disasters, catastrophic weather events, and acts of malevolence.

Coursework for the 15-credit graduate certificate in public health surveillance and preparedness provides you with broad knowledge of epidemiology and infectious disease transmission, and formal training in emergency planning for public health professionals.

Through engaging practical instruction, you learn how to prevent, contain, manage, and minimize serious and immediate threats to public health, such as the contamination of water by flooding, or the release of chemical poisons or virulent biologic agents by terrorists.

Program of Study

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Coursework for this program is completed fully online. You can earn this certificate as a stand alone program or add on to another degree. If you have completed previous graduate-level study in public health, you may be able to transfer one course from another school towards the program requirements.


Courses Include

Principles and Methods of Epidemiology I

Learn how to describe patterns of illness in populations and design research that investigates the etiology of disease. Material includes quantitative measures of risk and procedures for standardization of rates.


Infectious Disease Epidemiology – OR – Zoonoses Epidemiology

Increase your knowledge of infectious, communicable diseases, their modes of transmission, the role of surveillance, and ways to control and prevent the spread of sickness. Study diseases transmitted from human to human, such as tuberculosis, measles, and syphilis or focus on those transmitted from animal to human, such as rabies, West Nile virus, and Lyme disease (zoonosis).

Introduction to Environmental Health

Study how environmental stressors travel from source to host, and learn how to reduce their impact on human populations and manage environmental risks.


Topics in Public Health Preparedness

This course provides an overview of a current issue related to public health preparedness.


Emergency Preparedness: The Public Health Perspective

Gain the knowledge and skills you need to succeed as a public health professional and emergency responder when cataclysms, mass violence, biological terrorism, or infectious disease strikes your community.


Additional Information

See the Graduate Bulletin for details.

For more information, contact Online Education at [email protected].

Career Development and MPH Pathway

Demonstrate your commitment to the growing field of public health preparedness with our graduate-level certificate. This certificate is ideal for public health professionals including law enforcement agents, health care providers, hospital administrators and first responders interested in gaining the knowledge needed to more fully participate in emergency preparedness activities in their agency. 

Current or future MPH students with an interest in emergency public health planning may also position themselves for opportunities in this field by adding this certificate to their course of study.

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Admission Requirements

Deadlines

Rolling Fall, Spring, Summer

Certificate in Public Health Surveillance and Preparedness Application

The application and all supporting materials must be submitted directly to The Graduate School at the University at Albany.


Application Requirements

  • Must hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing
  • An undergraduate level course in mathematics (algebra) or statistics

For application specific questions, contact us at [email protected].


International Requirements

  • International students must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 98 or IELTS score of 7.0. We will only accept official scores sent by the testing institution.
  • UAlbany SOPHAS TOEFL code is 2532. We do not use department codes. For electronic IELTS score results reporting, provide the following information to your test center:
    University at Albany (SUNY)
    1400 Washington Avenue
    Albany, NY 12222
  • The TOEFL or IELTS is not required for international students who have completed at least four semesters of full-time study within a four-year time frame from time of application, and maintained at least a B average at a college or university in the United States or a country from an approved list.  For questions regarding English Language Proficiency waivers, please email Soha Acosta at [email protected].
  • Applicants on an F1 or J1 visa are not permitted to enroll in a fully online program, due to visa restrictions.


Required Application Materials

Official transcripts

  • Official transcripts from EVERY post-secondary academic institution attended, including college coursework completed during high school, must be sent directly from the institution to University at Albany Office of Graduate Admissions. You must report all colleges and universities attended and submit official transcripts, even if your transfer credits are listed on your primary transcript. 

Personal Statement

  • Why do you wish to pursue this certificate and why are you interested in your chosen area of concentration?
  • 1500 word limit

CV/Resume

Application Information for Current UAlbany Students

Current UAlbany students should login to MyUAlbany and follow these steps to apply:

  1. In the MyUAlbany portal, select the Graduate Education tab at the top of the page.
  2. At the bottom left of the page under Application and Graduation Information, select Supplemental Degree Application.
  3. Click on the Supplemental Degree Application icon.
  4. Click the Add To Cart button.
  5. Fill out the form. Select your current degree level and current program name. Make sure to enter "Graduate Certificate in Public Health Surveillance and Preparedness" in the Requested Supplemental Degree Program Name field and select CGS in the Requested Supplemental Degree dropdown menu.
  6. Click Continue to submit your supplemental application form.
  7. Select Checkout to submit your payment information.


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