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Epidemiologists design and conduct investigations aimed at improving the health of groups of people by combining knowledge from the social sciences, medicine, biology, the environment, and statistics.
February 2, 2026 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
Ben Bailey assumed most online education programs were about the same – a step below an in-person experience. But with his own course load and leadership responsibilities at Presbyterian College, the associate professor knew that a distance education program would be the best fit for his busy schedule. He chose the Arnold School based on its affordability and stellar reputation as a top school of public health.
“I was pleasantly surprised at how integrative the online Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology program is,” Bailey says. “I expected it – incorrectly – to be similar to other online graduate programs, but the engagement of the faculty and staff at the Arnold School has made me feel no different from the students taking the traditional face-to-face/in-person program.”
A resident of South Carolina since 2018., Bailey’s journey began at Texas Tech University where he studied German followed by a master’s in political science at Northern Illinois University. He returned to Texas Tech for a Ph.D. in political science before accepting a tenure-track appointment at Presbyterian College.
In parallel with rising the ranks to achieve tenure, Bailey has taken on several leadership roles over the years. He currently serves as Director of Public Health Studies, Director of Service Entrepreneurship Program, and Interim Chair for the Department of Political Science & Public Polity. Off campus, he has spent five years (four of them as chair) as a member of the Laurens County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Bailey’s service on this commission built on his personal experiences observing the impacts of substance use among family and friends. Curious to learn more, his interest in behavioral epidemiology prompted him to look for master’s programs in the field. During his time at the Arnold School, Bailey found a mentor in clinical professor Myriam Torres, who is the director for both the in-person MPH program and the 100% online, asynchronous format.
“Dr. Torres has demonstrated a real commitment to my success as a student and budding epidemiologist through her empathetic interactions with me, as well as her inclusion of me in in-person departmental/school functions, even though I am an online MPH student,” he says.
After graduating in May, Bailey plans to use his degree to expand the course offerings in his department. He looks forward to teaching his students about a variety of public health topics and appreciates that he will have the credentials to serve as an epidemiologist if he chooses to pursue that career path.
As Bailey begins his final semester of the program, he looks at the experience as incredibly rewarding and extremely challenging. In addition to balancing his coursework with a full-time job, he also inherited his family’s working farm during the program. Regardless of his packed calendar, he recommends the program to others – especially individuals who are working full-time or live too far away to attend classes in person.
“Be ready for a challenging, but exciting and interesting experience,” Bailey advises.
“Be open to working with teams of people from different walks of life and be confident
in sharing your expertise and using your voice.”