New MSPH in Data Science Coming to Rollins Fall 2026

Starting in fall 2026, data-minded students at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health will be able to enroll in the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Data Science program. 

This full-time, in-person, 48-credit-hour program trains students to address real-world public health problems with data. Unlike the MSPH in Biostatistics, this program is catered to students who do not have an extensive background in math.

“We wanted to have a degree program that had a lower quantitative barrier for entry while still offering a lot of good training,” says David Benkeser, PhD, associate professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics and program director. “Students who haven’t taken three semesters of calculus, for example, can join this program, and after two years here at Rollins they will be able to contribute in a meaningful way to quantitative research and health sciences.”

Courses like Introduction to Data Science, Applied Machine Learning, and Database Development for Public Health will help students gain broad foundational data skills. Those interested in specializing their knowledge can choose to complete a concentration in environmental health.

Applications for the MSPH in Data Science open on SOPHAS on August 13, 2025. Learn more about how to apply here.