Biological Sciences Major, BS - The Biology of Global Health Concentration (GloHeal)

Or (a)

• MATH 141* - Calculus I 4 Credit Hours
• MATH 142* - Calculus II 4 Credit Hours

Or (b)

• MATH 151* - Mathematics for the Life Sciences 3 Credit Hours
• MATH 152* - Calculus for the Life Sciences 3 Credit Hours

I. Introduction to Global Health, Epidemiology, and History

This section introduces students to the foundations of global health, disease patterns, and health systems through historical, cultural, and epidemiological perspectives. Courses emphasize the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, comparative healthcare systems, and the social determinants of health across diverse populations. Students gain an understanding of how global health challenges are shaped by biological, environmental, and socioeconomic factors.

• ANTH 413* - Dynamics of Health and Illness 3 Credit Hours
• MICR 305 - Global Emerging Infectious Diseases and One Health 3 Credit Hours
• PUBH 400 - Comparative Healthcare Systems 3 Credit Hours
• PUBH 401 - Global Public Health 3 Credit Hours

II. Foundation of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Physiology and Anatomy

These courses provide biological and biochemical basis for understanding health and disease. Students explore molecular genetics, cell signaling, metabolism, neurobiology, and human anatomy and physiology. Emphasis is placed on integrating cellular and systemic processes with disease mechanisms, preparing students for advanced study in biomedical and health-related research fields.

• BCMB 230 - Human Physiology 5 Credit Hours
• BCMB 311 - Advanced Cellular Biology 3 Credit Hours
• BCMB 321 - Introductory Plant Physiology 3 Credit Hours
• BCMB 330 - Developmental Biology 3 Credit Hours
• BCMB 401 - Biochemistry I 4 Credit Hours
• BCMB 412 - Molecular Biology and Genomics 4 Credit Hours
• BCMB 415 - Foundations in Neurobiology 3 Credit Hours
• BCMB 416 - Neurobiology Laboratory 2 Credit Hours
• BCMB 433 - Analytical Techniques in Human Disease 3 Credit Hours
• BCMB 440 - Advanced Human Physiology and the Pathophysiology of Disease 3 Credit Hours
• CHEM 260 - Foundations of Organic Chemistry 3 Credit Hours

•  

• EEB 250 - Human Anatomy 3 Credit Hours and
• EEB 251 - Human Anatomy Laboratory 1 Credit Hours

•  

• EEB 403 - The Evolution of Cancer: An Integrative Approach 3 Credit Hours
• MICR 321 - Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phage 3 Credit Hours
• MICR 410 - Microbial Physiology 3 Credit Hours
• MICR 411 - Microbial Genetics 3 Credit Hours
• NUTR 311 - Physiological Biochemistry 4 Credit Hours
• NUTR 314 - Energy Metabolism and Metabolic Integration 3 Credit Hours

III. Environment and Ecology of Global Health

This section explores how environmental systems, ecological interactions, and global change influence disease dynamics and human health. Courses address topics such as disease ecology, toxicology, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Students examine the relationships between human activities, environmental stressors, and the emergence or transmission of infectious and chronic diseases within the One Health framework.

• EEB 310* - Evolution, Disease, and Medicine 3 Credit Hours
• EEB 315 - Parasites, Disease, and Behavior 3 Credit Hours
• EEB 402* - Disease Ecology 3 Credit Hours
• EEB 406* - Models in Biology 3 Credit Hours
• EEB 419* - Global Change Ecology 3 Credit Hours
• EEB 430 - Invasion Biology 3 Credit Hours
• EEB 432 - Conservation Genomics 3 Credit Hours
• EEPS 456 - Global Climate Change 3 Credit Hours
• EEPS 466 - Water and Air Pollution 3 Credit Hours
• MICR 470 - Microbial Ecology 3 Credit Hours
• WFS 401* - Ecology and Management of Wildlife Health 3 Credit Hours

IV. Hosts and Diseases

Courses in this category investigate the biological interactions between hosts and pathogens, as well as molecular mechanisms underlying infection, immunity, and disease progression. Students examine viruses, bacteria, parasites, and host defense systems, alongside special topics such as cancer biology and obesity. The section emphasizes translational connections between basic biological research and clinical or public health applications.

• BIOL 400 - Biology of Obesity: From Cells to Communities (with Service-Learning Integration) 3 Credit Hours or
• BIOL 400S - Biology of Obesity: From Cells to Communities (with Service-Learning Integration) 3 Credit Hours

•  

• BCMB 333 - Structural Biology and Human Health 3 Credit Hours
• BCMB 461 - Cancer Biology 3 Credit Hours
• EPP 425* - Medical and Veterinary Entomology 3 Credit Hours
• MICR 330 - Immunology 3 Credit Hours
• MICR 420 - Microbial Pathogenesis 3 Credit Hours
• MICR 440 - Virology 3 Credit Hours
• MICR 495* - Microbiology in Practice: Science Communication and Professional Skills 3 Credit Hours

V. Statistical Analysis and Mathematic Modeling

This section provides quantitative tools for analyzing biological and health data. Students develop skills in biostatistics, programming, bioinformatics, and computational modeling to interpret complex datasets and biological systems. Emphasis is placed on applying statistical reasoning and quantitative models to understand disease dynamics, evaluate health interventions, and conduct reproducible research.

• BCMB 422* - Computational Biology and Bioinformatics 3 Credit Hours
• BCMB 424 - Programming for Statistical and Graphical Analysis of Biological Data 3 Credit Hours
• EEB 411* - Biostatistics 3 Credit Hours
• EEB 476* - Theoretical Ecology and its Applications 3 Credit Hours
• HDFS 395 - Introduction to Research Methods and Statistics 3 Credit Hours
• MICR 435 - Quantitative Analysis of Biological Data 3 Credit Hours
• MICR 475 - Reproducible Data Analysis 3 Credit Hours
• MICR 480 - Genomics and Bioinformatics 3 Credit Hours

VI. Social, Economic and Political Sciences

Courses in this section bridge biological and social determinants of health, emphasizing how inequality, policy, and cultural context shape health outcomes globally. Students explore intersections of medicine, ethics, history, and communication across populations. This integrative perspective prepares students to understand and address health disparities through interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based advocacy.

• AFST 313* - Social Context of African American Health 3 Credit Hours
• AGNR 480* - How to Feed the World 3 Credit Hours
• ANTH 325* - Migration and Transnationalism 3 Credit Hours
• ANTH 422 - Anthropology of Global Inequality 3 Credit Hours
• ECON 362 - Environmental and Natural Resource Policy 3 Credit Hours
• ECON 436 - Economics of Health and Health Care 3 Credit Hours
• EEB 451* - Research Ethics 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 342* - Literature and Medicine 3 Credit Hours
• ENGL 461* - Global Communication for Science and Technology 3 Credit Hours
• GEOG 435 - Biogeography 3 Credit Hours
• HIST 410* - Infectious Disease: A Global History 3 Credit Hours
• HIUS 443* - Medicine and Healing in the Age of Slavery 3 Credit Hours
• JMED 450* - Writing about Science and Medicine 3 Credit Hours
• PUBH 330 - Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Management 3 Credit Hours
• PUBH 350 - Public Health Aspects of Aging 3 Credit Hours
• PUBH 420 - Environmental Public Health 3 Credit Hours
• SPAN 350* - Spanish for Medical & Healthcare Professions 3 Credit Hours

VII. GloHeal Electives

• The remaining 14 credit hours can come from any of the above six lists or courses below:
  
• Students complete additional coursework tailored to their academic and professional goals.
  
  • Options include undergraduate research, independent study, field or foreign study, internships, or advanced electives from previous categories.
    
  • Students pursuing health professions may select complementary courses in chemistry, physics, public health, or medical communication.
    
  • These flexible credits allow for individualized specialization and experiential learning within the Biology of Global Health framework.