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

Accreditation Information

ODU's online Master of Public Health degree program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredited the Old Dominion University MPH Program. The program was initially accredited on June 6, 2000, and its most recent accreditation term concluded on December 31, 2025. The MPH Program holds continuing accreditation and is not under probation. If an accredited school or program complies with all procedural requirements and hosts a site visit before the end of the accreditation term, the accreditation term automatically continues until the Council meets to consider reaccreditation. The program has complied with all procedural requirements and hosted a site visit on November 10-12, 2025, as part of the Old Dominion University & Norfolk State University Joint School of Public Health, an applicant for initial accreditation. The Council will review the school and all of its programs for accreditation during the spring meeting on June 11-12, 2026.

The Old Dominion University & Norfolk State University Joint School of Public Health is listed as an applicant for accreditation on the CEPH webpage: https://ceph.org/about/org-info/who-we-accredit/applicants/

For more information about CEPH, please visit www.ceph.org. For questions about CEPH accreditation please contact Dr. Ewers, Director of Accreditation at sewers@odu.edu.

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

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