Introductory course covering public health principles, epidemiology, evidence-based practice, and major subject domains like infectious disease and health care systems.
Lectures were long and accompanied by significant reading. Quizzes were open book and open note, while exams were open-note and not timed, though one student noted tests could be lengthy.
What you’ll be able to do
Define public health and its core functions
Describe the difference between individual- and population-based strategies for improving health, including primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention approaches
Describe major causes and trends in morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and globally
Demonstrate knowledge of the 5-step public health approach (define the problem, find the causes, develop effective programs, implement programs, and evaluate impact)
Describe the challenges and opportunities for evidence-based public health practice, focusing on health equity and social justice
Raw average: 5.00/5 from 6
quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average
(3.66/5), weighted as 20
additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each
captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who
chooses to leave a review.
RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.
Past student reviews · Malia Jones
Malia Jones structured the course around engaging guest lectures that were recorded for flexible viewing. Students found the assessments manageable because tests were not timed, and quizzes were open book and open note.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 3.75 GPA, 88.6% A/AB (n=297 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.84 GPA, 94.4% A/AB (n=287 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.91 GPA, 96.8% A/AB (n=285 letter grades).
Historical instructors & teaching patterns
Past student reviews · Patrick Remington
Patrick Remington led the course with engaging lectures featuring guest speakers and a heavy reading load. Students described weekly quizzes as tough and noted the cumulative final exam covered extensive material. While many praised his knowledge and support, others found the exam volume overwhelming or the quizzes stressful due to errors. Attendance in discussion sections was emphasized for grading, and lectures were often considered optional since materials were posted online.
MALIA JONES is recorded teaching in Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
PATRICK REMINGTON is recorded teaching in Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2022, Spring 2023. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future
schedule.
Calendar & sections
Spring 2027
Schedule loads here as you scroll.
Section
Mode
Enrolled / capacity
Waitlist
LEC 001
Classroom Instruction
0 / 400
0
DIS 301
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 302
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 303
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 305
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 306
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 307
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 308
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 309
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 310
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 311
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 304
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 312
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 313
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 314
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 315
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 316
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
LEC 001
Classroom Instruction
0 / 400
0
DIS 301
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 302
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 303
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 304
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 305
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 306
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 307
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 308
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 310
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 309
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 311
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 312
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 313
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 314
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 315
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
DIS 316
Classroom Instruction
0 / 23
0
Times are Central. Select a meeting for
details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.
Malia Jones taught a course built around engaging guest lectures that students found interesting and well-done. Reviewers described her as a chill and understanding professor who made the class enjoyable.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 3.75 GPA, 88.6% A/AB (n=297 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.84 GPA, 94.4% A/AB (n=287 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.91 GPA, 96.8% A/AB (n=285 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
Past student reviews · Malia Jones
Lectures were long and accompanied by significant reading. Quizzes were open book and open note, while exams were open-note and not timed, though one student noted tests could be lengthy.
Past student reviews · Malia Jones
Students appreciated the clear structure and assignments, with one noting the class sparked their passion for public health. All lectures were recorded, allowing students to watch them at their convenience.
Topics
Infectious disease, non-communicable disease, environmental health, injury prevention, and health care systems.
Theoretical models and empirical approaches of public health.
Major causes and trends in morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and globally.
Skills
Apply the 5-step public health approach including defining problems, finding causes, developing and implementing programs, and evaluating impact.
Distinguish between individual- and population-based health improvement strategies and prevention levels.
Analyze challenges and opportunities in evidence-based public health practice related to health equity and social justice.
Grades
Historical instructor
Spring 2027 · Projected
Before grades are released
3.413.41–4.004.00average GPA
Approximate 80% prediction interval
0.04.0
About this estimate
The course’s semester-average GPA, not an individual student’s grade.
The center uses 5
same-season terms, weighted toward
recent results.
The range uses the finite-sample 80th-percentile rank of absolute errors
from earlier same-season forecasts. Each forecast uses only records from
earlier terms. At least four forecasts are required; bounds are rounded
outward and limited to 0–4. This is an empirical estimate: changing
instructors or grading policies can reduce its coverage.
8 earlier forecasts · 0.16 GPA average error.
Grades over time
Through Spring 2027
More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data
Where this course fits relative to
Latest available grades · Spring 2026 · all course levels
3.913.91GPA
Higher than 8181% of other courses in this group.
Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range
285285letter grades
More recorded grades than 9292% of other courses in this group.
Typical course in this group: 66.066.0 letter grades.
About this comparison
1280 courses over the same term, each with at least 30 recorded
letter grades. Cross-listed courses count once. GPA is not a measure
of difficulty or teaching quality. The typical course is the median by
recorded grade count; tied values are not counted as lower. Grade
counts describe course scale, not unique students or typical section
size.
Descriptions compare GPA with this group’s average: at least 0.20
higher or lower; otherwise close to average. Section size uses median
recorded enrollment: small up to 30, mid-sized 31–99, large 100+.
Lectures and discussion/lab sections are described separately.
Sources & history
UW–Madison
Catalog & offerings
Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.
Catalog observation history
Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.