About This Concentration

The ability to transform complex data into meaningful insights is essential in today’s public health and healthcare landscape. Data science plays a crucial role in processing, analyzing, and visualizing health data to support informed decision-making and improve health outcomes.

ODU’s MPH concentration in Applied Data Science equips students with the hands-on skills needed to apply data science principles in public health and the health sciences. You’ll learn to process and analyze data effectively, extract valuable insights, and use industry-standard tools such as R, SAS, SQL, and Tableau.

Through an applied and interdisciplinary approach, this program provides a strong foundation in data science methodologies while emphasizing their impact in real-world public health applications.

Adult male student sitting at a computer
ODU's online Master of Public Health degree program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

The Master of Public Health (MPH) program is accredited through December 31, 2025 by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The program received its initial CEPH accreditation in June 2000 and was last re-accredited in June 2020 in a report demonstrating full compliance across all CEPH criteria. Currently the program is an approved applicant as a multi-partner school of public health. For more information, see CEPH Applicants. For more information about CEPH, please visit their website.  

For questions about CEPH accreditation and to obtain copies of the final CEPH self-study and accreditation report, please contact Ms. Stephanie Ewers, Director of Accreditation at sewers@odu.edu.

 

Additional accreditation information

The Joint School of Public Health is undergoing a review by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for accreditation. Part of this process includes the provision of a third-party comment period, which allows anyone, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, community and practice partners, and members of the public, to share relevant information about the Joint School of Public Health directly with CEPH. If you have any information about the Joint School of Public Health you would like to share with CEPH to inform their review, send your comments to submissions@ceph.org by October 9, 2025.

Careers in Applied Data Science

Data science professionals are in high demand across various industries, and those with expertise in public health applications are especially valuable. This concentration prepares graduates for careers in:

  • State and federal public health agencies
  • University research institutions
  • Pharmaceutical and healthcare industries
  • Business and nonprofit organizations focused on health data analytics

With specialized training in data science and public health, you’ll gain the skills and experience needed to drive data-informed solutions in a rapidly evolving industry.

Data Scientists
Growth
36.0%
Median Salary
$108,020
Clinical Data Managers
Growth
36.0%
Median Salary
$108,020
Clinical Research Coordinators
Growth
7.5%
Median Salary
$157,740
Biostatisticians
Growth
11.8%
Median Salary
$104,110

Bright Outlook

Employment of data scientists is projected to grow 36 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.
— Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, August 2024

Helpful Resources

Find more helpful resources

< Back to the Online MPH Overview