Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, BS and Public Health, MPH

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


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. The requirements are explained in more detail on the MPH program website.

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


Only students who have completed their junior year but have not yet completed their senior year are eligible to apply. The curriculum, degree requirements, and faculty for the 5-year BS-MPH program (MPH portion) are the same as the regular MPH program.

The BS-MPH program is accelerated. Students take a heavier course load during the fifth year, called the MPH year. The MPH year consists of one Fall semester, one Spring semester, and one Summer semester.  For students in the Epidemiology concentration, the MPH portion of the degree consists of one Fall semester, one Spring semester, one Summer semester, and a second Fall semester, with students graduating in December.

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


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 four-year 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 and General 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 274IHLT 3754 
Concentration Elective course3Concentration Elective course4 
General Education course3General Education course3 
Free Elective 3Free Elective 3 
Free Elective 3Free Elective 2 
 12 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 5404CHLH 5504CHLH 5874
CHLH 5724CHLH 5734CHLH 5892
CHLH 5754CHLH 5774 
CHLH 5944Concentration Course of Choice from Approved List4 
Seminar1Seminar1 
 17 17 6
Total Hours 162

Programs in Health and Kinesiology

Undergraduate Programs


Graduate Programs

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


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