• Description of Program
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

The B.S.P.H. in Epidemiology degree is a four-year undergraduate degree offered through the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Students who choose this degree program take courses related to five core areas: epidemiology, health administration, environmental health, biostatistics, and social and behavioral health. They also take courses that expose them to the basic fundamentals required of a public health professional in the areas of disease surveillance, study design, data collection and analysis, identification of risk factors for infectious and chronic diseases, and interpretation of findings from research studies.

At the conclusion of their coursework, students complete an internship, which provides them with an opportunity to apply, within an actual work environment, their newly acquired skills and competencies. Students completing this degree will be well-positioned to begin employment as epidemiologists or to pursue an advanced degree.

Degree Requirements

This is a four-year program leading to a B.S.P.H. in Epidemiology. Graduation requirements include:

• completion of general education requirements.
• completion of Epidemiology major requirements.
• a minimum of 120 successfully completed credit hours that count toward the degree program.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• no pass/fail except for free electives.

General Education (20–39 credits)

All undergraduate students must complete the IU Bloomington General Education Common Ground Requirements.

Major (65–72 cr.)

Anatomy and Physiology (3-10 cr.)
Complete one of the following options for Anatomy & Physiology:

OPTION 1: This requirement may be met by completing the following one-course combination of Anatomy and Physiology:

• MSCI-M 115 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology (3 cr.) +N&M

OPTION 2: Alternatively, students may meet this requirement by completing the following individual courses in Anatomy and Physiology:

• ANAT-A 225 Human Anatomy (5 cr.) +N&M -or- SPH-K 205 Structural Kinesiology (3 cr.) +N&M
• PHSL-P 225 Human Physiology (5 cr.) +N&M

Public Health Core (15 cr.)
A minimum grade of C- is required in each course.
Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-B 366 Community Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 311 Introduction to Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-P 309 Public Health Administration (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 381 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 241 Foundations of Environmental Health (3 cr.) +N&M

Epidemiology Courses (20 cr.)
A minimum grade of C- is required in each course.
Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-E 250 Public Health Surveillance and Monitoring (3 cr.) +N&M
• SPH-E 350 Infectious Diseases: Outbreaks and Field Investigations (3 cr.) (P: SPH-E 311)
• SPH-E 353 Distribution and Determinants of Chronic Diseases (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 358 Epidemiologic Methods: Concepts (3 cr.) (P: Epidemiology majors -and- minors)
• SPH-E 359 Epidemiologic Methods: Applications (3 cr.) (P: Epidemiology majors -and- minors)
• SPH-E 496 Field Experience in Epidemiology (5 cr.) (P: Epidemiology majors -and- Department consent)

Additional Major Courses (15 cr.)
Complete each of the following courses:

• MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.) -or- MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus 1 (3 cr.) +MM
• SPH-H 494 Research and Evaluation Methods in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 400 Introduction to Biostatistical Computing (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 235 Introduction to Public Health Biology (3 cr.) +N&M
• STAT-S 330 Biometry (3 cr.) -or- Approved Statistics Course (P: SPH-Q 381 -or- equivalent statistics course -or- department consent)

Related Content Courses (12 cr.)
A minimum grade of C- is required in each course.
Complete any 12 credits from the following courses:

Mathematics and Statistics

• MATH-M 211 Calculus I (4 cr.) +MM
• MATH-M 212 Calculus II (4 cr.) (P: see schedule of classes)
• MATH-M 301 Linear Algebra and Applications (3 cr.) (P: see schedule of classes)
• MATH-M 311 Calculus 3 (4 cr.) (P: see schedule of classes)
• STAT-S 431 Applied Linear Models I (3 cr.) (P: see schedule of classes)
• STAT-S 432 Applied Linear Models II (3 cr.) (P: see schedule of classes)

Writing and Public Speaking

• COLL-P 155 Public Oral Communication (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.) (P: IUB General Education English Composition)

Behavioral and Community Health

• PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology 1 (3 cr.) +N&M
• PSY-P 102 Introductory Psychology 2 (3 cr.) +S&H
• SPH-B 310 Health Care in Diverse Communities (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 403 Public Health Program Planning (3 cr.)
• SPH-F 150 Introduction to Lifespan Development (3 cr.) +S&H
• SPH-F 255 Human Sexuality (3 cr.) +S&H
• SPH-H 263 Personal Health (3 cr.) +S&H
• SPH-E 493 Independent Study in Epidemiology (3 cr.) (P: Department consent)
• SPH-E 450 Special Topics in Epidemiology (3 cr.)

Topical Health and Health Promotion

• SPH-H 172 International Health and Social Issues (3 cr.) +S&H
• SPH-H 235 Obesity and Health (3 cr.) +S&H
• SPH-H 305 Women's Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 306 Men's Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 320 The Nature of Cancer (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 334 Heart Health and Diabetes (3 cr.)
• SPH-N 220 Nutrition for Health (3 cr.) -or- SPH-N 231 Human Nutrition (3 cr.) +N&M

Environmental Health

• SPH-V 201 Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 214 Environmental Regulations and Code Compliance (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 215 Food Pathogens, Toxins, and Surveillance (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 422 Issues in Global Environmental Health: Investigations & Interventions (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 450 Understanding and Preventing Environmental Risks to Human Health (3 cr.) (P: see schedule of classes) 
• SPH-V 460 Environmental Health Problem-Solving and Communication (3 cr.) (P: SPH-V 450)

International Studies

• INTL-I 202 Global Health and Environment (3 cr.) +S&H +WC

Sociology

• SOC-S 358 Social Issues in Health and Medicine (3 cr.)
• SOC-S 370 Research Methods in Sociology (3 cr.)

Pre-Health Professions

• BIOL-L 111 Foundations of Biology: Diversity, Evolution, and Ecology (4 cr.) +N&M -or- BIOL-L 211 Molecular Biology (3 cr.) (P: see schedule of classes)
• BIOL-L 112 Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms (4 cr.) +N&M
• BIOL-L 113 Biology Laboratory (3 cr.) (P or C: BIOL-L 112)
• BIOL-M 200 Microorganisms in Nature and Disease (3 cr.) (P: see schedule of classes)
• CHEM-C 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I (3 cr.) (P: Department consent) +N&M
• CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry 1 Lectures (3 cr.) -or- CHEM-J 341 Principles of Organic Chemistry I (3 cr.) (P: CHEM-C 117 -or- equivalent)
• CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry Lectures 2 (3 cr.) -or- CHEM-J 342 Principles of Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.) (P: CHEM-C 341 -or- equivalent with C- or higher)
• CHEM-C 343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1 (2 cr.) -or- CHEM-J 343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Majors (2 cr.) (P: see schedule of classes)
• CHEM-N 331 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry (3 cr.) (P: see schedule of classes)
• CHEM-N 337 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (2 cr.)
• PHYS-P 201 General Physics 1 (5 cr.) +N&M
• PHYS-P 202 General Physics 2 (5 cr.) (P: see schedule of classes) +N&M

+ Courses with an MM notation may apply toward both major requirements and the general education math modeling requirement.

+ Courses with an N&M notation may apply toward both major requirements and the general education, natural and mathematical sciences requirement.

+ Courses with an S&H notation may apply toward both major requirements and the general education, social and historical studies requirement.

+ Courses with a WC notation may apply toward both major requirements and the general education, world languages and cultures requirement.

Suggested Epidemiology Courses for the First-Year Student

Fall Semester (15 credits)

• SPH-V 241 Foundations in Environmental Health (3 cr.) +N&M
• MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.) -or- MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus 1 (3 cr.) +MM
• IUB General Education English Composition (3 cr.)
• IUB General Education Arts and Humanities (3 cr.)
• Related Content (3 cr.)

Spring Semester (15 credits)

• SPH-V 235 Introduction to Public Biology (3 cr.) +N&M
• SPH-E 250 Public Health Surveillance and Monitoring (3 cr.) +N&M
• IUB General Education Arts and Humanities (3 cr.)
• IUB General Education Social and Historical Studies (3 cr.)
• Related Content (3 cr.)

Special Opportunities

Degree programs in public health balance theoretical knowledge with professional experience through internships and opportunities to work with faculty on research projects.

Careers

Public interest is increasing the demand for public health professionals. The work of a public health professional is diverse and includes activities such as documenting the spread of disease and illness, developing and managing programs designed to change health-related behaviors, implementing regulatory initiatives, and working with policymakers to facilitate societal changes that promote well-being. Public health careers can be found in local, state, and federal government; nonprofit organizations; businesses and corporations; hospitals; county health departments; universities; and with health foundations and health-based grant projects. A public health degree can lead to careers such as: