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 government agencies; domestic and global nonprofit organizations; hospitals, outpatient clinics, and 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 coursework, students complete an internship in which they gain practical experience 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.

Program Learning Objectives:

• Public Health Communication: Students should be able to communicate public health information, in both oral and written forms, through a variety of media and to diverse audiences; diverse audiences include non-academic, non-peer audiences, with attention to matters such as literacy and health literacy
• Information Literacy: Students should be able to locate, use, evaluate, and synthesize public health information

Degree Requirements

This is a four-year program leading to a B.S.P.H. in Sexual and Reproductive Health. Graduation requirements include:

• completion of general education requirements.
• completion of sexual and reproductive health 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 (83-90 credits)

A combined 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses used to complete the Anatomy and Physiology, Public Health Core, Sexual & Reproductive Health Courses, Additional Required Courses, and Related Content courses.

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.)

OPTION 2: Alternatively, students may meet this requirement by completing both of the courses below in Anatomy and Physiology:

• ANAT-A 225 Human Anatomy (5 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

Sexual and Reproductive Health Courses (32 cr.)
A minimum grade of C- is required in each course.
Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-F 255 Human Sexuality (3 cr.) +S&H (minimum grade of B is required in this course to take SPH-H 330).
• SPH-H 326 Sexually Transmitted Infections (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 330 Human Sexuality Education in Diverse Settings (3 cr.) (P: Sophomore, Junior, -or- Senior standing -and- a grade of B or higher in SPH-F 255)
• SPH-H 333 Strategies for Effective Peer Education and Advocacy (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 395 Practicum in Sexual and Reproductive Health Education (3 cr.) (P: SPH-F 255 and Permission of Instructor)
• SPH-H 420 Current Events and Controversies in Sexual and Reproductive Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 430 Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellness (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 455 Sexual Consent and Sexual Violence (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 466 What's Law Got to do with it? Rights, Restrictions, and Justice in Sexual and Reproductive Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 496 Internship in Sexual and Reproductive Health (5 cr.) (P: Department consent -and- all major classes completed -and- 2.0 cumulative GPA)

Additional Required Courses (12 cr.)
A minimum grade of C- is required in each course.
Complete each of the following courses:

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

Related Content Courses (21 cr.)
A minimum grade of C- is required in each course.
Complete any 21 credits from the following courses.

Public Health

• SPH-B 150 Introduction to Public Health (3 cr.) +S&H
• SPH-E 250 Public Health Surveillance and Monitoring (3 cr.) +N&M
• SPH-F 258 The Ties that Bind: Relationships, Marriage, and Family (3 cr.) +S&H
• SPH-H 305 Women’s Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 306 Men’s Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 350 Topical Seminar in Health Education (1-3 cr.)
• SPH-H 464 Coordinated School Health Programs (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 pursuing AASECT certification and supervised by AASECT Supervisor)
• SPH-H 491 Readings in Sexual and Reproductive Health (1-3 cr.) (max 3 cr.)
• SPH-H 492 Research in Sexual and Reproductive Health (1-3 cr.) (max 3 cr.)

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 cr.)

Gerontology

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

Human Development and Family Studies

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

Topical Courses

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

Gender Studies

• GNDR-G 225 Gender Sexuality, and Pop Culture (3 cr.) +A&H
• GNDR-G 250 Race, Sexuality, and Culture (3 cr.)
• GNDR-G 310 Representation and the Body (3 cr.)
• GNDR-G 435 Health, Sex, and Gender (3 cr.)

Psychology

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

Statistics

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

Media

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

Education

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

History

• HIST-A 240 Get Me Out! The History of Birth (3 cr.) +S&H

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

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

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

Suggested Courses for the First-Year Sexual and Reproductive Health Student

Fall Semester (15 cr.)
IUB GenEd: Mathematical Modeling (3 cr.)
SPH-F 255 Human Sexuality (3 cr.) +S&H
SPH-B 250 Public Health Communication (3 cr.)
Related Content (3 cr.)
Related Content (3 cr.)

Spring Semester (15 cr.)
IUB GenEd: English Composition (3 cr.)
SPH-H 333 Strategies for Effective Peer Education and Advocacy (3 cr.)
SPH-H 326 Sexually Transmitted Infections (3 cr.)
Related Content (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, teaching, and service projects. Students will have the knowledge needed to assist them in obtaining a national sexuality educator certification through the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists.

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 with 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 Master of Public Health degree 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. A public health degree in sexual and reproductive health can lead to career positions such as:

• 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
• Health Coordinator for Community Organization
• Marketing, Sales, Project Coordinator