BSPH Health Geographics and Biomedical Data Management
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is an essential tool in today’s health practices. The health geographics and biomedical data management program combines public health practice with state-of-the-art management of biomedical data. BSPH curriculum is comprehensive and flexible to train professionals for maximum effectiveness as leaders in health geographics and the management of data within many disciplines.
Who should enroll
People interested in having expertise in both public health and GIS applications for health sciences; also in developing high-level skills that are equivalent to traditional GIS degree programs. Students will acquire skills in data collection, data management, data analysis, and presentation using the industry standard for innovative computer software.
There are two options for entering the BSPH degree program. Students may elect to complete all the prerequisite course work in a college setting of their choice, apply for admission to the BSPH degree program, and spend their junior and senior years at the School of Public Health. Students desiring to obtain early entrance to the BSPH degree program have the option to complete a minimum of 65 semester hours at a community college of their choice, submit an application, and obtain permission to begin their study at the School of Public Health while concurrently taking course work at a nearby community college in order to complete their outstanding prerequisite requirements.
Learner outcomes
Upon completion of this degree, the graduate should be able to:
- Use state-of-the-art GIS software applications and appropriate statistical techniques to perform biomedical data analysis.
- Describe and apply geographic data models used in GIS and design data-collection protocols, databases, and data-entry applications in a variety of formats— including SPSS, Excel, Access, and SAS.
- Employ GIS data-capture techniques, sources and formats of digital geographic health data, and spatial databases for public health and independently supervise all phases of data entry, management, and archiving.
- Plan, design, and create geo-databases that will effectively capture and organize public health data so that pertinent spatial information can be analyzed, shared, or displayed as map.
- Use effective spatial data display techniques while producing and publishing customized maps and other visual displays of health data.
- Manage GIS projects in a variety of settings, including government, academic, and community. Collaborate to improve public health practice through GIS technology.
Indicators of Educational Effectiveness
Apart from GPA, we will use both direct and indirect indicators to ensure that graduates have achieved the stated outcomes for the degree as indicated below.
- Standardized Tests
Students in this program will be encouraged to participate in a qualifying test offered every year by Skills USA, an organization that has partnered with the geospatial industry to develop a competition program that provide universities, colleges, and their students with a way to validate their geospatial program and measure them against national standards. - Institutional Challenge Examinations
Students will be evaluated on a continuous basis at multiple levels by fellow students, faculty, and administration. LLUSPH will administer qualifying exam equivalent to comprehensive final exam towards the end of the program. The format of the exam may be written, oral, demonstration, or a combination of all three.
Required Lower Division Courses (Semester Units)
- (8) Freshman English
- (3) General psychology
- (4) General biology
- (3) Cultural anthropology or diversity
- (6) Electives
- (3) Intro to computers & information systems
- (5) Language - Spanish preferred
- (3) General sociology
- (4) Intermediate algebra
- (3) Programming-visual basic
- (2) Database systems - dBase
- (6) History*
- (1) Physical education
- (3) Environmental science
- (1) Physical education
- (3) Geoscience - geography preferred
* US history or western civilization (or equivalent) depending on history courses taken in high school
Freshman + Sophomore = 58 Semester Units (87 Quarter Units)Required Upper Division Courses (Quarter Units)
Public Health Core Courses (18 Units)- (4) PHCJ 401 - Intro to Public Health
- (4) ENVH 414 - Introduction to ENVH
- (4) STAT 414 - Introduction to Biostatistics
- (3) EPDM 414 - Intro to Epidemiology
- (4) HPRO 414 - Personal Health/Fitness
- (3) ENVH 421 - Cartography
- (4) ENVH 422 - Principles of GIS
- (4) ENVH 423 - Practical Issues in GIS
- (4) ENVH 424 - Desktop GIS Application
- (3) ENVH 434 - Advanced GIS Applications
- (3) ENVH 435 - Sources, Capture & Integ. GIS data
- (4) ENVH 436 - Spatial Analysis with GIS
- (4) ENVH 437 - GIS in Public and ENVH
- (4) ENVH 498 - Senior Project (GIS) ENVH
- (1) STAT 415 - Computer appl. in Biostatistics
- (4) STAT 417 - Biomedical Data Management 1
- (4) STAT 418 - Biomedical Data Management II
- (4) STAT 448- Analytical Applications of SAS
- (4) STAT 464 - Survey Methods
- (3) STAT 468 - Data Analysis
- (4) STAT 498 - Senior Project (BIOMED-STAT)
- (4) AHCJ 4xx - Anatomy & Physiology
- (3) BIOL 4xx - Geology/Biology Elective
- (2) REL 4xx - Religion Elective
- (2) REL 4xx - Religion Elective
- (2) REL 4xx - Religion Elective
- (2) REL 4xx - Religion Elective
- (4) XXX - General Electives
- (3) XXX - General Elective
- (3) XXX - General Elective
Junior + Senior = 105 Quarter Units (at LLU SPH)
Complete BSPH = 192 Quarter Units Total
