Course Descriptions

PUBH 6101 Principles of Communication in Public Health (2 cr.)
This course provides students with the written, oral, and online communication skills they need to be successful as scholar-practitioners and as public health professionals. Students learn theory and strategy-based communication principles for effectively disseminating public health information to varying audiences. Topics include risk communication, communication program planning, problem analysis, audience analysis, message strategies, media channels, and the impact of media on the public health. Emphasis is placed on scholarly writing, critical thinking, professional goal setting, and academic integrity in publications and research. Note: It is recommended that this course be taken concurrently with PUBH 6002.

PUBH 6002 Essentials of Public Health: A Case Study Approach (4 cr.)
This course evaluates key aspects of public health, including its history, mission, essential services, core functions, infrastructure, resources, workforce, achievements, challenges, and career options. Students explore these facets through case studies, a hypothetical scenario, and journal articles. Although the main focus of this course is on the U.S. public health system, students are also exposed to global issues and views of public health. Note: It is recommended that this course be taken concurrently with PUBH 6101.

PUBH 6115 Social, Behavioral, and Cultural Factors in Public Health (4 cr.)
This course presents an examination and analysis of the major social, behavioral, and cultural variables and issues that affect the health of populations, including community, gender, age, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and environment, as well as behavioral risks. Research, theoretical, and conceptual frameworks from the social and behavioral sciences are explored as applied to public health problems and the reduction of health disparities.

PUBH 6125 Biostatistics (4 cr.)
This course addresses the application and interpretation of biostatistics in public health research and practice, including descriptive methodologies, statistical inference and probability, analysis of variance, and simple linear regression. Students are introduced to a statistical computer package such as SPSS.

PUBH 6135 Leadership, Professionalism, and Ethics in Public Health Practice (4 cr.)
This course examines theories of leadership as well as the professional attributes, skills, styles, and strategies required to advance public health goals. Ethical choices, values, professionalism, opportunities for advocacy, and the application of principles of social justice implicit in public health decisions and practice are considered with emphasis on the importance of a collaborative approach to working with diverse communities and constituencies.

PUBH 6145 Epidemiology (4 cr.)
This course provides an epidemiological approach to the study of incidence, prevalence, and patterns of disease and injury in populations and the application of this study to the control of public health problems. Key sources of data for epidemiological purposes are identified, and principles and limitations of public health screening programs are addressed. Students learn to calculate basic epidemiological measures and to draw appropriate inferences from epidemiological data and reports. (Prerequisite: PUBH 6110 or PUBH 6125.)

PUBH 6155 Research in Public Health (4 cr.)
This course provides an examination of the research that informs public health programs, policy, and practice. Topics include the logic that underlies scientific research, study design, sampling, identification of variables, methods of data collection and analysis, key concepts in measurement including reliability and validity, program evaluation, and research ethics. Students will be introduced to methods of participatory research as well as statistical software that is used to support research. Strategies and skills for presentation of research results will be presented. (Prerequisites: PUBH 6110 or PUBH 6125 and PUBH 6120 or PUBH 6145.)

PUBH 6165 Environmental Health (4 cr.)
This course offers a study of the environmental factors that affect the health and safety of a community. Topics include causal links between chemical, physical, and biological hazards in the environment and their impact on health, and the genetic, physiologic, and psychosocial factors that influence environmentally compromised health outcomes. Environmental risk assessment methods, strategies for effective management and control of environmental exposures, and legal, regulatory, and ethical considerations at the federal, state, and local levels are explored. Examples of environmental threats including waste, water, air, vectors, and global warming are examined as well as issues related to bioterrorism and disaster preparedness and management.

PUBH 6170 Public Health Biology (4 cr.)
This course explores the implications that advances in biology have on approaches to public health practice. Topics include the biological and molecular basis of public health, ethical issues related to public health biology, the effects of genetics and genomics on health and disease, the application of biological principles and behavioral theories to disease prevention, control, and management programs, as well as the role of the immune system in individual and population health. A review of anatomical and pathophysiological processes will be included.

PUBH 6175 Health Policy and Management (4 cr.)
This course examines the factors that influence and improve health outcomes of individuals and populations, with attention to the goals of Healthy People 2010 and the main components and issues of organization, financing, and delivery of health services and public health systems in the United States. Topics include management theories and processes, systems thinking, strategic planning and partnerships, quality and performance improvement, leadership, and organizational behavior. The policy process as well as the advocacy role of the public health professional in influencing local, state, and federal policy is addressed. The impact of global trends on public health practice, policy, and systems is also considered.

PUBH 6227 Health Informatics (4 cr.)
This course examines the use of information technology in public health practice to access, interpret, and evaluate data for decision support and effective communication. Consideration is given to the application of legal and ethical principles in the dissemination of information in public health settings as well as the use of informatics methods and resources as strategic tools to promote public health. The collaborative approach to the design, implementation, and evaluation of informatics programs is also addressed.

PUBH 6235 Program Design, Planning, and Evaluation (4 cr.)
This course focuses on the competencies required of the public health professional in planning for the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of community health promotion and disease prevention initiatives. Attention is given to needs assessment and the social, behavioral, environmental, biological, and economic factors that contribute to health outcomes. Strategic approaches to planning, implementation, and evaluation including cost benefit analysis are addressed. Health behavior theories are considered in the development of educational programs, the application of evaluation findings, and prioritization of community concerns and resources.

PUBH 6260 Legal and Regulatory Aspects of Public Health (2 cr.)
This course examines the role of federal, state, and local government in the assurance of public health through legislation and regulation. Consideration is given to contemporary legal and regulatory issues arising in public health practice and emergencies with attention to public health security and preparedness in response to bioterrorism and disasters.

PUBH 6635 Practicum I: Field Experience in Public Health (4 cr.)
The practicum provides an opportunity for applying and integrating, in a public health setting, the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the M.P.H. Program of Study and for further developing key professional competencies. This student-arranged experience is in alignment with students’ academic and professional goals and proceeds under the supervision of an instructor. Supervision by an on-site preceptor is a critical component of the practicum. Students begin a 240-field-hour practicum, participate in an accompanying online seminar course, and begin development of an ePortfolio based on the field experience. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation is provided by the on-site supervisor and the course instructor.

PUBH 6636 Practicum II: Capstone Experience in Public Health (4 cr.)
This course is the continuation of PUBH 6635 Practicum I: Field Experience in Public Health. To synthesize the practicum experience and the accompanying learning, students are required to complete an ePortfolio based on their field experience as well as a substantive written paper or project.