The Master's in Epidemiology program, attached to the School of Public Health of the Faculty of Health of the Universidad del Valle, seeks to train human talent through a comprehensive academic process with emphasis on the understanding and application of research methods in the health-disease process.

General

• Provide quality training in epidemiology, in an interdisciplinary academic environment that allows the development of research, technical assistance and teaching, with appropriate methodologies for the identification of factors associated with health phenomena, the evaluation of intervention strategies and the formulation of public health policies.

Specific

• Train in the use of the tools of epidemiology methods through a continuous pedagogical process. Promote the transfer of knowledge generated by epidemiological studies for decision-making related to individual and collective health.
• Ensure the development of comprehensive training for epidemiology professionals, with a humanistic and interdisciplinary vision of health problems.
• Promote the development of epidemiological research on priority health problems, at the regional, national and international level.
• Develop in students a spirit of self-evaluation and self-training, which allows them to stay updated throughout their professional performance.

Professional Profile

Master's graduates work as epidemiologists in different types of organizations as researchers or in the practice of their professions in institutions in the health and related sectors, in public health agencies or in academic institutions.

The graduate of the Master's Program in Epidemiology will be able to:

• Design and execute descriptive and analytical designs of the health situation of a population or a region and the associated factors of lifestyle, the environment, human biology and health services, generating the necessary information for decision making. and/or planning the provision of health services.

• Design and conduct epidemiological investigations to evaluate hypotheses through appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods, and the use of biostatistics tools.

• Design, execute and evaluate prevention and health promotion interventions, including impact and cost-efficiency evaluations.

• Design and execute experimental studies to evaluate new treatments or diagnostic or preventive procedures.

• Design and evaluate epidemiological surveillance systems to monitor health events of interest and their risk factors.

• Direct the design and implementation of information systems that provide the basis for knowledge of the characteristics of a target population, the profile of the morbidity felt and attended to, the analysis of trends, the projection and calculation of indicators and the monitoring and evaluation of policies and programs.

• Disseminate knowledge through publications of scientific articles in national and international magazines, conferences and mass or individual social communication programs.

Occupational Profile

The fields of work of the graduate of the Master's Degree in Epidemiology are multiple: in government organizations such as health secretariats where they carry out processes within the programs and in epidemiological surveillance actions; in EPS, IPS and other entities related to the provision of services, carrying out strategy evaluation and service planning; and in research institutions.

Currently, there is a high demand for professionals with postgraduate training in epidemiology to coordinate local public health teams within the general social security system. Also in the clinical field, professionals in medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, dentistry and other clinical specialties seek to develop skills that allow them to conduct research projects to evaluate therapies so that they can strengthen their practice and that of their colleagues.

Additionally, the need to establish similar programs in other regions creates the imperative to develop teaching skills, so the performance of program graduates also includes teaching practice.

The curricular structure of the Master's program in epidemiology is based on the scientific, technical, social, biological and human areas that are integrated through theory and practice in order to generate in professionals attitudes, aptitudes and abilities that allow them to during their professional practice, use them appropriately for the benefit of Health in the Community.

First Semester

• Epidemiology I - Credits 3
• Biostatistics I - Credits 2
• Demographics - Credits 1
• Introduction to Public Health - 5 Credits
• Social Security - Credits 2
• Total Credits 13

Second Semester

• Epidemiology II - 3 Credits
• Biostatistics II - Credits 4
• Research Project I - Credits 2
• Epidemiology of services - Credits 2
• Total Credits 11

Third Semester

• Epidemiology III - 3 Credits
• Research project II - Credits 3
• Epidemiology of services II - Credits 3
• Applied Epidemiology I - 3 Credits
• Total Credits 12

Fourth Semester

• Epidemiology IV - Credits 3
• Applied Epidemiology II - 3 Credits
• Teaching Strategies - Credits 2
• Research Work - 6 Credits
• Epidemiological Surveillance - Credits 2
• Total Credits 16

• Possess a professional title.
• Accredit professional and investigative activities.
• Complete the registration form correctly and accompany it with the documents required by the Universidad del Valle for registration in Postgraduate programs.
• Submit and approve an essay regarding your study expectations.
• Present interview.

1. Fill out the "Degree Application" form.
2. Enlarged photocopy of the Identity document.
3. Photocopy of Diploma or Undergraduate Degree Certificate.
4. Graduate Card Application Form.
5. Original Payment Receipt "Grade Rights".
6. Peace and Safe.
7. Take an English proficiency exam.

In 1977, the Academic Council of the University, through Resolution 384 of the same year, approved the Master's Degree in Epidemiology and in 1982 the first cohort of students began. The Master's Degree has graduated around 110 professionals in the 25 years of its existence, who have stood out for their practice both in the region, in the country and internationally. Some of its students have come from research and teaching centers in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, the United States and Argentina. In September 1983, modifications were made in accordance with regulatory decree 3191 of 1980. Finally, by Agreement No. 163 of September 17, 1987 of the ICFES, the operation of the program was approved.

The Master's Degree in Epidemiology in its beginnings and in accordance with the conditions of the time was, along with the other programs in Public Health, Health Administration and Occupational Health, for full-time dedication by the student. Starting in 1999, for structural reasons inherent to postgraduate training at the local and global level, the program was changed to a part-time program. The above has meant a challenge from an academic and logistical point of view.

Relying on ICFES legislation, the School of Public Health decided to carry out the Qualified Registration process voluntarily. Teachers, active students, graduates and administrative staff participated in this process, resulting in the renewal of the operating authorization through Resolution 320 of February 19, 2003, with some recommendations regarding the curricular structure. These recommendations were adopted and formalized through the new curricular structure in Resolution 066 of 2003 of the Academic Council, which currently governs the Master's degree.