The IDEEEP Concentration
The Infectious Disease Ecology, Evolution, and Epidemiology Program (IDEEEP) is an interdisciplinary concentration for students who want to understand infectious disease as a biological, ecological, and quantitative phenomenon. Pathogens do not act in isolation — they move through populations, respond to selection, and are shaped by the environments and hosts they depend on. Understanding them requires drawing on ecology, evolution, mathematics, statistics, and field epidemiology together.
Biology is a comprehensive subject: principles build on one another, and insights from one discipline often intersect with others in unexpected ways. The courses and experiences below are designed so those connections become the point rather than the exception.
Program goals
Students who complete the concentration will be able to:
- Explain how ecological and evolutionary processes drive the emergence, transmission, and persistence of infectious diseases
- Read, build, and analyze mathematical and statistical models of disease dynamics
- Design and carry out field and laboratory investigations of infectious disease
- Use modern, reproducible computational tools to manage data and communicate results
- Apply a One Health perspective that connects human, animal, and environmental health
Curriculum
The concentration combines foundational biology coursework with a set of focused courses in disease ecology, quantitative methods, and field epidemiology. The courses below form the core of the concentration; specific requirements, prerequisites, and electives are coordinated with the Department of Biology and are subject to change.
Coursework
These courses provide instruction in topics central to infectious disease ecology, evolution, and epidemiology.
| Course | Title | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 301 | Mathematical Biology | Modeling biological and disease systems |
| BIO 340 | Infectious Disease Ecology | Ecology and evolution of host–pathogen systems |
| BIO 390 | Research Tools and Methods | Reproducible, computational research skills |
| BIO 301/302 | Field Epidemiology and Tropical Medicine | Hands-on field investigation in a tropical setting |
| TBD | Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention | Combating resistance and preventing transmission |
Note: Course numbers, credit hours, and offerings are illustrative of the current curriculum and should be confirmed against the official course catalog and the Department of Biology each academic year.
Getting involved
Students interested in the concentration are encouraged to:
- Meet with a concentration advisor to plan a course sequence early
- Explore research opportunities and connect with a faculty mentor
- Build foundational computing and quantitative skills that support independent research
- Consider the field epidemiology experience for immersive, applied training
To learn more or express interest, contact the program.