This course gives students a foundational look at how diseases spread, how outbreaks are detected, and how health systems respond at both the local and global level. Students are introduced to the core concepts of epidemiology and learn how public health professionals gather, analyze, and interpret data. They also explore how social, economic, and environmental factors influence health outcomes around the world. Through case studies and a team-based outbreak investigation, students practice applying these ideas to real-world situations and sharing their findings with confidence.

Throughout the course, students can build their biology, data analysis, and critical thinking skills, both individually and as part of a team. No prior science or statistics experience is required. The course begins with the fundamentals of disease transmission and the basic tools for reading and interpreting health data, so every student starts with the same foundation.