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 four concentrations, of which a student must complete at least one:


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

General Education36-39
Health Major Requirements42
Concentration Requirements22-23
Free Electives24-28
Total Hours128

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

Communication Arts
Composition I3-6
Advanced Composition3
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 list3
From U.S. minority cultures approved campus list3
Total Hours39-42
1

Courses in cultural studies may be completed through other categories where appropriate.

Health Major Requirements
CHLH 1013
CHLH 2743
CHLH 4562-4
KIN 1223
RST 100Recreation, Sport, and Tourism in Modern Society3
SHS 170Intro Hum Comm Sys & Disorders3
FSHN 120Contemporary Nutrition3
PSYC 100Intro Psych4
STAT 100Statistics3
REHB 3303
IHLT 1011
IHLT 1021
IHLT 3754
IHLT 4741
IHLT 4754
Total Hours42
Free Electives 
Free Electives24-28
Total Hours24-28

Course List

for the Epidemiology, MPH

CHLH 4104
CHLH 4693 or 4
CHLH 5504
CHLH 5682
CHLH 5724
CHLH 5734
CHLH 5764
CHLH 5784
CHLH 581 (2 semesters)2
CHLH 5824
CHLH 5874
CHLH 5892
Electives 2 courses, 3-4 hours each8
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 SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours 
IHLT 1011RST 1003 
IHLT 1021FSHN 1203 
KIN 1223Language Other than English (3rd level) or Composition I4 
CHLH 1013General Education course3 
Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level)4Free Elective 3 
General Education course3Free Elective 1 
 15 17 
Second Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours 
PSYC 1004STAT 1003 
SHS 1703REHB 330 
General Education course3General Education course3 
Free Elective 3General Education course3 
Free Elective 3Free Elective course4 
 16 13 
Third Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours 
CHLH 2743IHLT 3754 
Concentration Elective course3Concentration Elective course4 
General Education course3General Education course3 
Free Elective3Free Elective 3 
Free Elective3Free Elective 2 
 15 16 
Fourth Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHours 
IHLT 4741IHLT 4754 
CHLH 4104CHLH 4693 
CHLH 4563Concentration Elective course3 
Concentration Elective course3Concentration Elective course3 
Concentration Elective course3Free Elective 3 
Concentration Elective course3  
 17 16 
Fifth Year
First SemesterHoursSecond SemesterHoursSummer SemesterHours
CHLH 5682CHLH 5504CHLH 5874
CHLH 5724CHLH 5734CHLH 5892
CHLH 5764CHLH 5811 
CHLH 5784CHLH 5824 
CHLH 5811Free Elective from Approved List3 
Free Elective from Approved List3  
 18 16 6
Total Hours 165

Programs in Health & Kinesiology

Undergraduate Programs


Graduate Programs

for the degrees of Bachelor of Science Major in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and Master of Public Health in Epidemiology


Department of Health and Kinesiology

Department of Health and Kinesiology website

Interdisciplinary Health Sciences

Interdisciplinary Health Sciences website
Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Faculty and Staff

Public Health Program

Department Head: Kim Graber
Director of Graduate Studies: Laura Rice
Director of Program: Pedro Hallal
Public Health Website

College of Applied Health Sciences

Applied Health Sciences College Catalog Page
Applied Health Sciences College Website

Admissions

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions
mph-admissions@ahs.illinois.edu