The Graduate Program in Epidemiology prepares students to investigate what factors are related to good and bad health in different populations, and the outcomes of people with given health conditions. This involves learning how specific health conditions and diseases develop, spread, can be prevented, and are treated, as well as how to assess health and its relationships to risk factors. The research uses existing big data, as well as data collected by researchers themselves. Epidemiologic methods build on biology, social sciences, genetics, and statistics. UWMadison Epidemiology faculty work on general health assessment, obesity, exercise, nutrition, genetics, heart disease, respiratory problems, cancer, diabetes, infectious disease, aging, disability, sleep disorders, maternal and child health, and environmental health.