Minor Programs

The Biostatistics minor provides quantitatively oriented students with conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills in applied statistics and data science techniques commonly employed in the field of biostatistics. The curriculum seeks to prepare students to interpret and contribute to quantitative research in health-related fields, including community and population health. The minor serves to broaden student employment possibilities post-Lehigh while making them more competitive as applicants to health-related graduate programs that favor prior training in applied statistics. Total credits 17.

BSTA 101 & BSTA 102: Population Health Data Science I and 
Population Health Data Science I Algorithms Lab *
BSTA 103 & BSTA 104: Population Health Data Science II and 
Population Health Data Science II Algorithms Lab *

Electives (choose 3)   
BSTA 307 Applied Machine Learning for Health Sciences 
BSTA 308 Advanced R Programming 
BSTA 309 Outbreak Science & Public Health Forecasting    
BSTA 320 Independent Study or Research in Biostatistics   

*Students who have completed BSTA 101 & 102 (formerly BSTA 001 & BSTA 002) and BSTA 103 & BSTA 104 (formerly BSTA 101 &103) as part of their major requirements must substitute another BSTA course for either BSTA 101/102 (formerly 001/002) or BSTA 103/104 (formerly 101/103). Only one course can be counted for both a major and a minor.

The minor in Community and Global Health is for students not pursuing a major in community and population health. Students explore the multiple determinants of health and learn how to take a qualitative approach to investigate these determinants. Total credits 16-19.

• CGH 001 Community Health
• Methods Requirement (BSTA 101 & 102 Population Health Data Science I and Lab, BSTA 005 Statistical Literacy in Health, or CGH 106 Qualitative Methods in Health Research)
• Determinant Class (CGH 103 Biological & Environmental Determinants of Health, CGH 104 Sociocultural & Political Determinants of Health, or CGH 105 COmmercial Determinants of Health)
• Two electives, including at least one cross-cultural and one at the 300-level 

The Epidemiology minor fulfills the critical needs of a range of different types of students: (i) those pursuing health degrees who seek a broader quantitative skill set to measure the distribution and determinants of human health, (ii) students in environmental sciences, business, engineering, social or biological sciences who seek to learn how to impact health at the population level through public health methods, (iii) students interested in positions such as epidemiologist, food safety specialist, or community health workers in the public or private sector, and (iv) students wishing to pursue graduate studies in epidemiology, public or population health who are interested in applied research. Total credits 15-18.

Core courses    
EPI 104        Fundamentals of Epidemiology1 
EPI 305        Intermediate Epidemiology 2 

Choose 3 electives at the 300 level from the list below:    
EPI 306        Lifecourse Epidemiology    
EPI 308        Spatial Epidemiology    
EPI 309        Chronic Disease Epidemiology    
EPI 310        Environmental Epidemiology & Exposure Science    
EPI 311        Psychiatric Epidemiology and Global Mental Health    
BSTA 309     Outbreak Science & Public Health Forecasting    
Or another in consultation with adviser

1 & 2
Students who have taken EPI 104 and EPI 305 for their major can only count one of these courses toward the EPI minor; for the other, they would need to replace it with another comparable course (selected in consultation with an adviser) that is at least 3 credits. 

Students in the Global Health minor will gain an understanding of global health concerns and their determinants and comparative approaches for health promotion, disease prevention, and health care delivery in the international sphere.  Total credits 15-18.

• CGH 004 Introduction to Global Health
• POPH 106 Global Environment and Human Welfare
• Field or Research Experience
• Two electives chosen in consultation with the adviser

The minor in Health Policy & Politics is intended for students interested in receiving more advanced training and experiences in healthcare policy-making processes and the political factors that influence this process.  Courses introduce the theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding the different phases of the policy-making process; the important roles that politicians, bureaucrats, and civil society play in the design and implementation of policy; as well as the role of the international community, such as the World Health Organization (WHO).  Total credits 18-22.

• CGH 004 Introduction to Global Health
• CGH 313 Health Policy and Politics
• CGH 104 Sociocultural & Political Determinants of Health or CGH 105 Commercial Determinants of Health
• Field or Research Experience
• Two electives in consultation with the adviser. One elective must be at the 300-level.

The minor in Indigenous People's Health is currently inactive. 

The minor in Indigenous Peoples Health provides students with a basic understanding of the concepts and perspectives needed to work with the Indigenous peoples of the Americas and their communities.  Students will learn about issues such as sovereignty, colonialism, historical trauma, and the connections these concepts play in the health disparities, inequalities, and inequities Indigenous peoples face today.  Students will also learn the basics of developing and implementing health programs with Indigenous peoples and their communities. Total credits 15-16.

• CGH 122 Indigenous Healing Traditions
• CGH 322 Contemporary Indigenous Health
• Independent Study or Research
• Two electives from the list below or in consultation with the adviser.
  • CGH 004 Introduction to Global Health
  • CGH 021 Culture and Health
  • CGH 104 Sociocultural & Political Determinants of Health
  • CGH 151 Special Topics in Indigenous Peoples Health
  • CGH 351 Special Topics in Indigenous Peoples Health
  • POPH 003 Justice, Equity, and Ethics in Population Health
  • POPH 106 Global Environment and Human Welfare
  • HMS/EDUC 375 Community Based Participatory Research Methodology

The Maternal & Child Health minor provides students a deeper understanding of the lifecourse approach and the multiple determinants that shape the health and wellbeing of women, children, and families across the life course and intergenerationally. Students will apply these foundational concepts to evaluate maternal and child health research, programs, and policies in the US and globally. Total credits 15-18.

• POPH 001 Introduction to Population Health
  or CGH 001 Community Health
• POPH 105 Introduction to Maternal and Child Population Health
• EPI 306 Lifecourse Epidemiology
  • or CGH 332 Aging, Health & Social Policy
• Two electives chosen in consultation with the adviser

The minor in Population Health is for students not pursuing a major in population health interested in taking a data science approach to investigating the multiple determinants of health.  Total credits 15-16.  

• POPH 001 Introduction to Population Health
• BSTA 101 Population Health Data Science I & BSTA 102 Algorithms Lab I
• EPI 104 Fundamentals of Epidemiology
• One elective chosen in consultation with the adviser