BSPH in Epidemiology

Improve Population Health with Epidemiology

Do you want to help identify and address serious health disparities that influence entire populations? Does improving population health by focusing more on prevention than treatment sound interesting to you? Earn your Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) with a concentration in Epidemiology. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, life expectancy was around 48 years of age, but by the end of the 20th century, our life expectancy had grown to 78 years, and much of that success is due to public health and discoveries using epidemiology. While the lifespan of the typical American has increased, chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and pulmonary disease have increased.

Drugs and medical interventions are helpful sources of treatment, but knowledge of epidemiology can help us better understand the social and environmental factors, or policies that influence us to make healthier lifestyle choices. In the BSPH in Epidemiology program, you will learn how to embrace prevention and population health as an approach to treatment, and gain the skills necessary to enter the growing field of public health.

Faculty

The Department of Epidemiology is comprised of highly effective researchers, educators and practitioners to meet the educational needs of our students. You will learn and work closely with renowned, award-winning faculty who have expertise in cancer epidemiology and cancer prevention, cardiovascular disease epidemiology, metabolic disease epidemiology, clinical epidemiology, infectious disease epidemiology, injury epidemiology, genetic and molecular epidemiology, nutritional epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology.

Epidemiology Faculty

Curriculum

To complete this degree, you will take general education courses, major courses, and general electives that together total at least 120 credits. 

Students who are interested in this degree are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Services at (317) 274-2000. Our advisors can answer questions about degree requirements, eligible classes, course substitutions, and course waivers. We’re here to help you. 

Email an Advisor

Competencies

Upon completing this degree, you will be able to:

  • Recognize the existence of a public health problem
  • Collaborate with others inside and outside the agency to identify the problem
  • Identify surveillance data needs
  • Assist in design of investigation, including creating hypothesis
  • Develop an understanding of the social and behavioral determinants of health
  • Analyze the complex economic and financing systems in Public Health and Health Administration
  • Analyze the people-pollution-environmental-health interrelationships
  • Analyze and understand complex biological and disease risk factors in the US and globally
  • Describe fundamental research methods used in the field of Public Health

Students will also have opportunities to develop research skills, team work and leadership skills, and have international health experiences through additional coursework and practical opportunities.