FYS Fall 2026 College of Health First-Year Student Courses
The following courses offered by the College of Health are open to first-year students (they can also be found online here). Some are major core or distribution classes, and others are electives. Questions about a specific course can be sent to cohadvising@lehigh.edu.
BSTA 005 | Statistical Literacy | 3 cr.
Section 010 | MW 9:20-10:35a | CRN: 43026
This course is designed to introduce students who fear all things mathematical to the importance of statistics in health research. Students will learn how to read and understand basic statistical concepts used in health research and popular discussions about health in the media. Students will also learn how to present statistical health data in a way that people without a statistical background can understand it.
Instructor: Dr. Hsuan-Wei Lee
BA Community & Global Health - method requirement option
BA Health, Medicine, & Society - health research methods requirement option
BS Population Health - elective
BSTA 007| Frontiers of AI in Health | 3 cr.
Section 010 | MW 1:35-2:50p | CRN: 43613
This course presents a broad contemporary survey of the actual and potential contributions of Artificial Intelligence and Health Data Science in addressing public health challenges. By reading recent articles that describe case studies of AI in health and healthcare and by engaging in discussions both in class and remote, students will come to appreciate the many unsolved problems in public health and how one may evaluate the potential benefits and risks of exciting new data-centric solutions made possible by AI.
Instructor: Dr. Gideon Gogovi
BS Biostatistics & Health Data Science - Society Cluster requirement option
BA Community & Global Health - elective
BS Population Health - elective
BSTA 008| The Art of AI Conversation: Prompting GPT & Its Peers | 3 cr.
Section 010 | TR 12:10-1:35p | CRN: 44326
This introductory course explores Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Claude, emphasizing effective prompt engineering and critical evaluation of AI-generated content. Students will learn how to formulate queries, assess outputs, and refine prompts while addressing ethical and domain-specific challenges. Using health-related examples, the focus is on general, cross-disciplinary interactive AI methods, not computer science or software development. Students will learn to use AI dialogue systems responsibly and creatively, with an understanding of the tradeoffs of various prompting techniques.
Instructor: Dr. Bilal Khan
BS Biostatistics & Health Data Science - Society cluster requirement option
BA Community & Global Health - quantitative method requirement option
BS Population Health - elective
CGH 001 | Community Health | 3 cr.
Section 010 | MW 3:00-4:15p | CRN: 42733
The interdisciplinary field of community health focuses on improving the health of communities through health promotion and disease prevention, education, policy development, and community empowerment. This course provides students with an overview of theoretical, methodological, and practical aspects of community health, focusing on working in diverse communities. Students will gain an understanding of how community-level health issues relate to broader contextual issues within the community and externally.
Instructor: Dr. Michelle Thompson
BA Community & Global Health - requirement
BA Health, Medicine, & Society - public health requirement option
BS Population Health - elective
CGH 002 | Introduction to LGBTQ2+ Health | 3cr.
Section 010 | TR 9:20-10:35 | CRN: 43763
This course introduces students to the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and two-spirited (LGBTQ2+) populations in the United States and globally. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the course focuses on determinants of health, LGBTQ2+ health disparities, the history of LGBTQ2+ health, and major health issues faced by LGBTQ2+ people across the lifespan. Students explore individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy influences on LGBTQ2+ health, as well as LGBTQ2+ affirming health policies, programs, and services.
Instructor: Dr. Mohammed Jibriel
BA Community & Global Health - elective
BS Population Health - elective
COH Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Distribution Option
CGH 004 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 cr.
Section 011 | TR 3:00-4:15 | CRN: 43964
In this course, students will receive an introduction to global population health. We begin by analyzing the rise of the international community in addressing population health needs and the international norms guiding healthcare delivery systems. We will also focus on healthcare delivery systems, innovations, and policy reforms in response to healthcare needs in several developing nations. Finally, students will understand the political, social, and more recent commercial determinants of population health in these countries.
Instructor: Dr. Krista Liguori
BA Community & Global Health - core requirement
BA Health, Medicine, & Society - public health requirement option
BS Population Health - elective
CGH 007 | Seven Dimensions of Health & Wellness | 3 cr.
Section 010 | TR 12:10-1:25p | CRN: 44979
Much has been discussed in the public sphere about happiness and how an individual can achieve peak happiness. This course delves more holistically into health and wellness, moving beyond individual happiness and towards a multi-level understanding of how interactions with others and the environment impact the self. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, students will learn the seven dimensions of health and wellness, including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, cultural, environmental, and community, and how they interact to create healthy people and communities.
Instructor: Dr. Christine Daley
BA Community & Global Health - elective
BS Population Health - elective
CSE 012 | Introduction to Programming w/ Python | 3 cr.
Section 011 | MW 9:20-10:35a | CRN: 44156
Introduction to computational thinking and problem solving through programming in Python. Algorithm design and solution implementation using fundamental programming concepts, built-in data structures, and standard libraries. Emphasis on writing, testing, debugging, and documenting code, and evaluating alternative solution strategies to develop reliable and well-structured programs.
Instructor: Dr. Rui Hua
BS Biostatistics & Health Data Science - foundational requirement (Recommended first semester)
BA Community & Global Health - elective
BS Population Health - elective
HLTH 090 | First Year Seminar | 3 cr. (Lecture + Recitation Required, must be registered at the same time)
Section 110 | HLTH 090 (Lecture) | F 10:45-12:00p | CRN: 44252 | Instructor: Dr. Krista Ligouri
AND Select one recitation below along with lecture:
Section 111 | HLTH 090 (Recitation)|W 7:55-9:10a |CRN 44253| Instructor: Dr. Qingyun Zhang
Section 112|HLTH 090(Recitation)|W 10:45-12:00p|CRN 45237|Instructor: Dr. Qingyun Zhang
Section 113 | HLTH 090(Recitation) | R 9:20-10:35a | CRN: 45299 | Instructor: TBA
Section 114 | HLTH 090(Recitation) | R 1:35-2:50p | CRN: 45300 | Instructor: TBA
What is the purpose of a university education? What are the benefits of studying community and population health? How should you approach your time at Lehigh University? Throughout the semester we will provide opportunities for you to reflect on these questions and invite you to think about what you plan or hope to do in your four years here. You will learn about your major, get to know your peers and the college, and develop the skills you need to be successful at Lehigh and beyond. You will also participate in co-curricular activities that will help you become an active member of the college and university communities. You will explore your educational and career goals. The seminar will also connect you with the many resources available at Lehigh, including the university libraries, the writing center, and the Center for Career and Professional Development.
Required of all first-year students
POPH 001 | Introduction to Population Health | 4 cr.
Select one:
Section 010 | MW 12:10-1:25p| CRN: 42425 | Instructor: Dr. Eric Delmelle
Section 011 | TR 3:00-4:15p| CRN: 44210 | Instructor Dr. Allison Carrier
Despite significant advances in medicine and public health, inequities in health persist. Understanding health on a population level is an approach that seeks to improve the health of the whole population, unravel variations in health outcomes, and identify effective strategies for reducing or eliminating inequities. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of 1) how population health is defined and measured and 2) the determinants of population health (from cell to society).
BS Biostatistics & Health Data Science - requirement
BA Community & Global Health - elective
BA Health, Medicine, & Society - public health requirement option
BS Population Health - core requirement
POPH 003 | Justice, Equity, & Ethics | 3 cr.
Section 010 | MW 3:00-4:14p| CRN: 44996 | Instructor: Dr. Michael Gusmano
The goal is to examine the historical and emerging issues in population health ethics. The course will introduce both the historical contexts and contemporary issues in population health dilemmas. Topics of interest include: 1) resource distribution and social justice; 2) self-sufficiency and paternalism; 3) health promotion & disease prevention; 4) patients’ right to privacy; 5) research integrity; and 6) newly emerging issues. Students will debate, research, and propose solutions and intervention strategies through group discussions, role play, and presentations.
- COH Bioethics Distribution Requirement for all majors
First-Year Student Courses Outside of the College of Health
Students are encouraged to take courses outside the college and will need to if they plan to take pre-health courses and to complete the first-year writing (WRT) distribution requirements (WRT 001 or ENGL 003). Some classes will have a lecture and a lab, or a recitation. Recitations are smaller subsets of the larger lecture designed to provide time for small-group discussion and problem-solving.
When planning your schedule, if a course has several sections, it’s a good idea to have another option in case your first choice is full. As a reminder, unless you received transfer credit for it from an AP exam or other source, all College of Health students will have to take WRT 001 in their first semester.