Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness

Saint Louis University is a pioneer in biosecurity and disaster preparedness training and was one of the first to offer a degree program in the field. Faculty and students in this concentration have been heavily involved in the COVID-19 response. 

At SLU, you can get a Master of Public Health with a concentration in biosecurity and disaster preparedness or pair your study of biosecurity and disaster preparedness with coursework focusing on epidemiology or global health. You can also get a certificate in the discipline. Each prepares you for a wide range of senior leadership roles in the prevention of and response to both natural and manmade disasters and can be completed entirely online or in a traditional classroom setting.

Training in biosecurity and disaster preparedness trains you to help prevent biological terrorism and build effective rapid response capabilities for organizations throughout the public and private sectors. You can work to curb emerging infectious disease outbreaks in crops and livestock that threaten our food supplies. Or, you can develop, implement and assess strategies for governmental agencies, first responders and industry to effectively respond to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods and earthquakes.

Program Highlights

• You can choose to study biosecurity and disaster preparedness at Saint Louis University in an entirely online format, or in a "hybrid" format, which combines online and in-person classes. All of our programs are fully accredited and competency-based.
• Designed for the self-motivated, mature and action-oriented learner, the online M.P.H. and certificate in biosecurity and disaster preparedness are taught asynchronously, providing students with access to lectures, discussion boards and coursework from any location, at any time, through Canvas, an industry-leading standard for higher education.
• Our instructors are well-established in their professional fields and have extensive experience in online teaching techniques. Our online classes are not correspondence courses; student-faculty interaction is an invaluable component of the BSDP learning environment.

Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health

• Graduates will be able to apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
• Graduates will be able to select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
• Graduates will be able to analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.
• Graduates will be able to interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.

Public Health and Health Care Systems

• Graduates will be able to compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
• Graduates will be able to discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels.

Planning and Management to Promote Health

• Graduates will be able to assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities' health.
• Graduates will be able to apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
• Graduates will be able to design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
• Graduates will be able to explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
• Graduates will be able to select methods to evaluate public health programs.

Policy in Public Health

• Graduates will be able to discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
• Graduates will be able to propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
• Graduates will be able to advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
• Graduates will be able to evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.

Leadership

• Graduates will be able to apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making.
• Graduates will be able to apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community.

Communication

• Graduates will be able to select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
• Graduates will be able to communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
• Graduates will be able to describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.

Interprofessional Practice

• Graduates will be able to perform effectively on interprofessional teams.

Systems Thinking

• Graduates will be able to apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.

• Completed application​
• Undergraduate degree (most successful applicants have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better)
• Official transcript from a degree-granting institution
• Statement of purpose (about 500 words)
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• External reference recommendations (encouraged but not required)

Upon admission, a new student must successfully complete a virtual meeting with their academic coach to be enrolled in first term coursework.

• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Driven by globalization, emerging infectious diseases, the threat of terrorism, and more, the field of biosecurity is rapidly expanding. You will be able to work in the military, law enforcement, public health, and state and local governments.

There are also a variety of private-sector or nonprofit employers that require emergency management specialists for situations where emergencies are prone to happen or could be potentially devastating. Examples of these employers include: hospitals and health systems, large companies, colleges and universities and various community relief organizations such as the Red Cross.

Within the first year of graduation, the vast majority of M.P.H. graduates are beginning their careers, participating in fellowships or furthering their graduate education.

Our alumni are working as:

• Biological safety or biosecurity officer
• Bioterrorism epidemiologist
• Business continuity consultant
• Director of emergency management
• Disaster coordinator
• Ebola specialist
• Emergency response coordinator
• Infection preventionist
• Public health emergency preparedness manager

Step 2: Set up your SLU Net ID

Step 3: Log into MySLU

Step 4: Check with your academic department

Step 5: Read the Saint Louis University Graduate Catalog

Step 6: Submit your immunization and health insurance forms

Step 7: Visit parking and card services to obtain your SLU ID card