• Description of Program
• Degree Requirements
• Careers

Description of Program

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health (B.S.P.H.) in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) degree is a four-year undergraduate program offered through the Department of Applied Health Science in the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington. The field of sexual and reproductive health promotes and strives to protect the health of all people. Professionals in this field address the behavioral and socio- ecological factors that impact sexual and reproductive health around the globe. Graduates of this program work for local, state, and federal governmental agencies, domestic and global nonprofit organizations, hospitals, outpatient clinics, birthing services, law firms, corporations, schools, and universities, and may also be self-employed. This degree program aligns with the criteria for a BSPH degree program established by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the accrediting body for public health academic programs. Students who select this degree option study the core disciplines in public health and concentration specific disciplines in SRH. Core public health courses are focused on community health, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, and public health administration. Concentration coursework includes theoretical and applied sexual and reproductive health promotion and disease prevention, health disparities, and sexual and reproductive health-related research methods, evaluation, program planning, and intervention design. Related courses focus on specific topics that cover contemporary sexual and reproductive health issues, including healthy sexuality, sexual health promotion, contraception and fertility, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual orientation and identity, sexual and reproductive health-related policies, laws, and advocacy, as well as sexual assault and relationship violence prevention. Students can expect to learn best practices in teaching and teaching methodologies as well as skills related to conducting research, interpreting surveillance data, and mastering positive and respectful oral and written communication that supports sexual and reproductive health initiatives. At the conclusion of their course work, students complete an internship where they gain practical experiences working alongside sexual and reproductive health professionals and advance their skills and knowledge to support positive sexual and reproductive health initiatives in a variety of settings. 

Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Concentration in Sexual and Reproductive Health- Requirements Degree Requirements

This is a four-year program leading to the B.S.P.H. in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) degree. There is a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) entrance requirement. Graduation requirements include:

• completion of general education requirements;
• completion of S.P.H. in sexual and reproductive health major requirements;
• a minimum of 120 successfully completed credit hours which count toward the degree program;
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA;
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses used to complete the portions of this degree entitled: public health core, additional required courses, and related content courses; and
• At least a C- or better is required in the classes designated as the Public Health Core, the Sexual and Reproductive Health courses, and the Related Content courses.
• No Pass/Fail except for free

General Education (20–39 credits)

All undergraduate students must complete the IU Bloomington General Education Common Ground Requirements. Visit gened.indiana.edu to review them.

Major Degree Requirements (83-90 credits)

 Foundational Anatomy and Physiology (3-10 cr.) This requirement may be met in one of two ways:

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 Basic Human Anatomy (5 cr.) +(N&M) PHSL-P 225 Basic Human Physiology (5 cr.) +(N&M)

Public Health Core (15 credits): CEPH Required Courses for B.S.P.H. in Sexual and Reproductive Health

A minimum grade of a C- or better is required in each course.

 Complete each of the following courses:

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

 Sexual and Reproductive Health Courses (32 credits specific to SRH and 12 additional required)

A minimum grade of C– or better is required in each course.

Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-F 255 Human Sexuality +S&H (3 )
• SPH-H 455 Sexual Consent and Sexual Violence (3 )
• SPH-H 466 What's Law Got to do with it? Rights, Restrictions, and Justice in Sexual and Reproductive Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 430 Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellness (3 )
• SPH-H 420 Current Events and Controversies in Sexual and Reproductive Health (3 )
• SPH-H 333 Strategies for Effective Peer Education and Advocacy (3 )
• SPH-H 326 Sexually Transmitted Infections (3 )
• SPH-H 330 Human Sexuality Education in Diverse Settings (3 ) P: SPH-F 255
• SPH-H 395 Practicum in Sexual and Reproductive Health Education (3 ) P: SPH-F 255 and Permission of Instructor
• SPH-H 496 Internship in Sexual and Reproductive Health (min 5 ) P: Permission of Instructor

 Additional Required Courses (12 credits)

Complete the following courses:

• SPH-B 250 Public Health Communication (3 )
• SPH-B 310 Health Care in Diverse Communities (3 )
• SPH-H 360 Writing in Public Health (3 )
• SPH H 494 Research and Evaluation Methods in Public Health (3 )

 Related Content (21 credits)

A minimum grade of C– or better is required in each course. Complete any 21 credits from the following related content courses. Public Health

• SPH-B 150 Introduction to Public Health (3 ) +S&H
• SPH-F 258 The Ties that Bind: Relationships, Marriage, and Family (3 ) +S&H
• SPH-H 350 Topical Seminar in Health Education (1-3 )
• SPH-H 464 Coordinated School Health Programs (3 )
• SPH-E 250 Public Health Surveillance and Monitoring (3 )
• SPH-H 305 Women’s Health (3 )
• SPH-H 306 Men’s Health (3 )
• SPH-H 491 Readings in Sexual and Reproductive Health (1-3 - max 3 cr.)
• SPH-H 492 Research in Sexual and Reproductive Health (1-3 - max 3 cr.)
• SPH-H 475 Practicum for AASECT Certification (1 credit per semester, 2 concurrent semesters required – fall, spring 25 hours) P: Permission of Instructor; only for students pursing AASECT certification and supervised by AASECT Supervisor

Maternal and Child Health

• SPH-H 304 Healthy Children: Human Milk Feeding and Infant Health in Global Communities (3 Cr)
• SPH-H 380 Maternal and Child Health (3 )

Public Health, Gerontology

• SPH-B 315 Health in the Later Years (3 )
• SPH-B 335 Aging, Health, and Diverse Populations (3 )

Human Development and Family Studies

• SPH-F 150 Introduction to Life Span Development (3 ) +S&H
• SPH-F 341 Today’s Families: Understanding Change in Family Dynamics (3 )
• SPH-F 345 More Than Just a Relationship: Parents, Parenting, and Children (3 )
• SPH-F 346 The Prenatal Period Through Early Childhood-Human Development I (3 )
• SPH-F 347 Middle Childhood Through Adolescence-Human Development II (3 )
• SPH-F 348 Early Through Late Adulthood-Human Development III (3 )
• SPH-F 350 Topical Seminar in Human Development and Family Studies (3 )

Topical Courses

• SPH-R 101 Introduction to Resource Development/Fundraising (3 )

Gender Studies

• GNDR-G 250 Race, Sexuality, and Culture (3 ) (fall only)
• GNDR-G 255 Gender Sexuality and Pop Culture (3 ) +A&H
• GNDR-G 310 Representation and the Body (3 ) +A&H
• GNDR-G 435 Health, Sex, Gender (3 )

Psychology

• PSY-P 375 (WEB) Intimate Relationships (3 ) P: PSY P 101 and PSY P 102

Statistics

• STAT-S 350 Introduction to Statistical Inference (3 ) P: P: MATH-M 118 and M 119 and a previous statistics course; or MATH-M 212; or permission of the instructor.

Media School

• MSCH-F 375 Race, Gender, and Representation (3 ) +S&H
• MSCH-S 410 or TEL-T410 Sex and the Media (3 cr.) P: A grade of C- or higher in MSCH-C 213; or consent of instructor +S&H

Education

• EDUC-G 272 Intro to Sexuality Counseling (3 )

History

• HIST A 240 Get Me Out! The History of Birth (3 ) +S&H (gen ed) Notes:

+ Courses with an A&H notation may apply toward both major requirements and the general education, arts, and humanities 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.

 Suggested First Year Courses
Semester 1 Year 1
Math Modeling (3cr.) IUB Gen Ed Common Ground
SPH-F 255 Human Sexuality (3 cr.)
SPH-B 250 Public Health Communication (3 cr.)
Related Content Course
Related Content Course

Semester 2 Year 1
English Composition (3 cr.)  IUB Gen Ed Common Ground
SPH-H 333 Strategies for Effective Peer Education and Advocacy (3 cr.)
SPH-H 326 Sexually Transmitted Infections
Related Content Course
Related Content Course 

Careers

Public health is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field focused on promoting and supporting individual and population health and quality of life by addressing social, environmental, and behavioral determinants of health. This degree program reinforces the job-related knowledge and skills of someone in public health while providing students specific knowledge, skills, and experiences specific to a graduate who will work in a sexual and reproductive health-related field through education, research, and service. Students will gain the knowledge and skills required to earn a degree in a Master of Public Health at institutions with concentrations in maternal/child health, behavioral, social and community health, public health administration, social epidemiology, health promotion, disease prevention, and family/population health. Students will be prepared to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam and may earn additional credentials such as sexuality educator and public health certifications.

• Health Educator
• Sexual Health Educator
• Sexual Assault Advocate
• Research Strategist
• Public Policy Advocate
• Consultant
• Disease Intervention Specialist
• Program Director
• Peer Educator Coordinator
• Community Health Worker
• Maternal and child health Specialist
• Health Promotion Specialist
• Curriculum developer
• Implementation Manager
• Reproductive health specialist
• Outreach and Engagement Specialist
• Author/film/documentary Producer