Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, BS & Epidemiology, MPH
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science Major in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and Master of Public Health in Epidemiology
Interdisciplinary Health Sciences (or I-Health) is a unique and innovative undergraduate program that reflects the trajectory of the healthcare industry. I-Health teaches students to look at health care more holistically and draw from the knowledge of several other fields to develop innovative new solutions to health-related problems. Graduates leave the program not only armed with a deep knowledge of biology and other sciences, but with the ability to comprehensively care for the whole person.
The Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, BS degree program includes a set of three concentrations, of which a student must complete at least one:
Health Behavior Change Concentration
Health Diversity Concentration
A 5 year BS MPH joint degree program is available for students majoring in Community Health, I-Health, or Kinesiology. Students apply for the program in the latter part of their third year (junior year) of study. Students accepted into the BS MPH joint degree program take 12 credit hours of coursework in their senior year that apply to both BS and MPH degrees. In the 5th year of study, students complete the remaining requirements for the MPH degree, and graduate simultaneously with both BS and MPH degrees. A summary of the requirements for the MPH degree is provided here. The requirements are explained in more detail on the MPH program page.
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science Major in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and Master of Public Health in Epidemiology
The curriculum requires certain existing courses from the approved lists be taken as noted below. The prescribed courses prepare the student for upper division study and may be used to satisfy General Education Requirements provided they are on the appropriate General Education List.
for the Interdisciplinary Health Science, BS
Summary of Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 36-39 | |
| Health Major Requirements | 42 | |
| Concentration Requirements | 22-23 | |
| Free Electives | 24-28 | |
| Total Hours | 128 | |
The curriculum requires certain existing courses from the approved lists be taken as noted below. The prescribed courses prepare the student for upper division study and may be used to satisfy General Education Requirements provided they are on the appropriate General Education List.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Arts | ||
| Composition I | 3-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning I & II | ||
| From approved campus list | 6 | |
| Humanities and the Arts | ||
| From approved campus list | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | ||
| From approved campus list | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences and Technology | ||
| From approved campus list | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies 1 | ||
| From Western cultures approved campus list | 3 | |
| From non-Western cultures approved campus list | 3 | |
| From U.S. minority cultures approved campus list | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 39-42 | |
- 1
Courses in cultural studies may be completed through other categories where appropriate.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Health Major Requirements | ||
| CHLH 101 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| CHLH 274 | Introduction to Epidemiology | 3 |
| CHLH 456 | Organization of Health Care | 2-4 |
| KIN 122 | Physical Activity and Health | 3 |
| RST 100 | Recreation, Sport, and Tourism in Modern Society | 3 |
| SHS 170 | Intro Hum Comm Sys & Disorders | 3 |
| FSHN 120 | Contemporary Nutrition | 3 |
| PSYC 100 | Intro Psych | 4 |
| STAT 100 | Statistics | 3 |
| REHB 330 | Disability in American Society | 3 |
| IHLT 101 | Introduction to i-Health | 1 |
| IHLT 102 | Survey of Interdisc Health | 1 |
| IHLT 375 | Interdis Collab in Health Serv | 4 |
| IHLT 474 | Pre-Field Experience in Health | 1 |
| IHLT 475 | Field Experience in i-Health | 4 |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
Free Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Free Electives | 24-28 | |
| Total Hours | 24-28 | |
Course List
for the Epidemiology, MPH
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHLH 410 | Public Health Practice | 4 |
| CHLH 469 | Environmental Health | 3 or 4 |
| CHLH 550 | Health Policy: United States | 4 |
| CHLH 568 | Computer Packages in Health Research | 2 |
| CHLH 572 | Principles of Epidemiology | 4 |
| CHLH 573 | Biostatistics in Public Health | 4 |
| CHLH 576 | Analytical Epidemiology | 4 |
| CHLH 578 | Applied Epidemiology | 4 |
| CHLH 581 | Professionalism in Public Health (2 semesters) | 2 |
| CHLH 582 | Advanced Biostatistics | 4 |
| CHLH 587 | MPH Applied Practice Experience | 4 |
| CHLH 589 | MPH Integrative Learning Experience | 2 |
| Electives | 2 courses, 3-4 hours each | 8 |
| Total Hours | (minimum required) | 48 |
Other Requirements
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Minimum 500-level hours Required Overall: | 12 (8 within the unit) |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 |
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science Major in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and Master of Public Health in Epidemiology
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information see the corresponding section on the Degree General and Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours | ||
| IHLT 101 | 1 | RST 100 | 3 | ||
| IHLT 102 | 1 | FSHN 120 | 3 | ||
| KIN 122 | 3 | Language Other than English (3rd level) or Composition I | 4 | ||
| CHLH 101 | 3 | General Education course | 3 | ||
| Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Free Elective | 3 | ||
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective | 1 | ||
| 15 | 17 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours | ||
| PSYC 100 | 4 | STAT 100 | 3 | ||
| SHS 170 | 3 | REHB 330 | 3 | ||
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | General Education course | 3 | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective course | 4 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours | ||
| CHLH 274 | 3 | IHLT 375 | 4 | ||
| Concentration Elective course | 3 | Concentration Elective course | 4 | ||
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 2 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours | ||
| IHLT 474 | 1 | IHLT 475 | 4 | ||
| CHLH 410 | 4 | CHLH 469 | 3 | ||
| CHLH 456 | 3 | Concentration Elective course | 3 | ||
| Concentration Elective course | 3 | Concentration Elective course | 3 | ||
| Concentration Elective course | 3 | Free Elective | 3 | ||
| Concentration Elective course | 3 | ||||
| 17 | 16 | ||||
| Fifth Year | |||||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours | Summer Semester | Hours |
| CHLH 568 | 2 | CHLH 550 | 4 | CHLH 587 | 4 |
| CHLH 572 | 4 | CHLH 573 | 4 | CHLH 589 | 2 |
| CHLH 576 | 4 | CHLH 581 | 1 | ||
| CHLH 578 | 4 | CHLH 582 | 4 | ||
| CHLH 581 | 1 | Free Elective from Approved List | 3 | ||
| Free Elective from Approved List | 3 | ||||
| 18 | 16 | 6 | |||
| Total Hours 168 | |||||
Programs in Kinesiology and Community Health
Undergraduate Programs
- Majors
- Community Health, BS
- Kinesiology, BS
- optional concentrations
- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, BS
- Minors
- Joint Programs
Graduate Programs
- Majors
for the degrees of Bachelor of Science Major in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and Master of Public Health in Epidemiology
Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences website
I-Health Faculty and Staff
Public Health Program
Department Head: Kim Graber
Director of Graduate Studies: Laura Rice
Director of Program: Pedro Hallal
Public Health Website
Graduate Office: Julie Jenkins
906 South Goodwin Ave, 112 Freer Hall MC-052, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-1083
Graduate Email
College of Applied Health Sciences
Applied Health Sciences College Catalog Page
Applied Health Sciences College Website
Admissions
University of Illinois Undergrad Admissions
MPH Admissions Questions email