PH-190 Intro to Public Health (3 credits)

Introduces students to the concepts, principles, and outcomes of public health. Students will explore theories of health, illness behavior, and health education considering community health data sources, classical health intervention approaches, and the planning and evaluation of community health interventions. Course provides basic knowledge and skills needed for conducting community needs assessment with diverse populations. Additional topics such as infectious diseases, environmental health, chronic diseases, maternal and child health and women's health are also covered.

PH-195 Global Health Issues (3 credits)

Provides an overview of important health problems of the world's populations, including improving health globally, reducing health disparities and examining key areas of disease burden. Particular attention will be paid to health status of women, children and the poor.

PH-340 Public Health Nutrition (3 credits)

This course focuses on food and nutrition problems in the setting of the general community. The course is designed to provide students with an understanding of theoretical and practical issues underpinning population-level assessment in nutrition and an appreciation of nutrition within the broader context of public health. Specific topics include the derivation and application of nutrient requirement estimates and nutrition recommendations, the measurement of food intake and food insecurity, current issues and controversies in food policy, and the development of individual vs. population-based intervention strategies. Prerequisite: Public Health 190.

PH-400 Food Science (3 credits)

Knowledge of basic groups of foods in the food supply and their nutrient profiles, their harvesting, processing and storage procedures and policies. This course will provide students a broad overview of certain aspects of the food supply both locally and worldwide and will examine issues affecting food safety including some of the mechanisms by which food-borne pathogens that cause disease in humans, as well as the human consequences of infection by major food-borne pathogens. Prerequisites: Public Health 190.

PH-401 Epidemiology (3 credits)

Introduces students to epidemiology and epidemiological methods. Students will explore study designs and measures of effect used to study disease in human populations, as well as concepts of causal inference and threats to study validity. This course will prepare students to critically evaluate public health and medical literature based on the major criteria used to assess causality.

PH-409 Environmental Health (3 credits)

Environmental health is concerned with the biological chemical, and physical influences on human health. The course will examine topics such as environmental health determinants, general mechanisms of toxicity, genetic, physiologic, and psychosocial factors related to environmental health, environmental risk assessment methods, federal and state regulatory guidelines and programs, environmental justice, risk communication, and prevention and management of environmental hazards. Fall.

PH-415 Health Behavior (3 credits)

Health Behavior Change is an overview of the health behaviors contributing most dramatically to increased morbidity and mortality in the United States. The course emphasizes public health interventions, theoretical models and strategies to promote healthy behaviors and discourage unhealthy behaviors. The course examines consequences, patterns, risk factors, and change/interventions for each behavior or problem. Behaviors are examined from multiple perspectives (e.g., individual, social, environmental) and with a systems perspective in mind, illuminating the interconnecting influences on behaviors. Health behaviors and behavior change interventions are presented in the context of current research and theory. The course also examines the role of health disparities, public health policy, current debate, health behavior theory and emerging research. Fall.

PH-425 Biostatistics (3 credits)

This course will cover biostatistical methods and applications related to public health. Topics will include descriptive statistics, probability theory, and a wide variety of inferential statistical techniques that can be used to make practical conclusions about empirical data. Learned statistical knowledge will be applied to understanding and designing research studies.

PH-480 Programs, Probs, & Policies in Ph (3 credits)

This course examines the myriad of programs and policies in public health via a developmental approach to learning about health problems. The course will cover a variety of topics, including state programs and policies, maternal and infant health, program planning, research, monitoring, and advocacy.

PH-488 Internship (1-12 credits)

Offers the public health major practical experience in a specialized career area. Fosters development of skills, competencies, and organizational and administrative techniques needed for successful entry into the public health workforce or entry into a professional graduate program, while working under direct supervision of selected professionals.

PH-490 Integrative Experience (3 credits)

Examines decision making in health services administration by extensive use of case studies. Integrates material from other HSA courses into the study of decisions facing all types of health care organizations.

PH-499 Special Topics Public Health (1-3 credits)

Study of topics of special interest not covered in regular course offerings. Topics announced. Course may be repeated, but the topic must be different. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

PH-501 Epidemiology (3 credits)

This course covers applications of epidemiologic methods and procedures and the study of the distribution and determinants of health and diseases, morbidity, injuries, and mortality in populations. Epidemiologic methods for the control of conditions such as infectious and chronic diseases, mental disorders, community and environmental health hazards, and unintentional injuries are discussed. Other topics include quantitative aspects of epidemiology, for example, data sources, measures or morbidity and mortality, evaluation of association and causality, and study design. Spring.

PH-509 Environmental Health (3 credits)

Environmental health is concerned with the biological chemical, and physical influences on human health. The course will examine topics such as environmental health determinants, general mechanisms of toxicity, genetic, physiologic, and psychosocial factors related to environmental health, environmental risk assessment methods, federal and state regulatory guidelines and programs, environmental justice, risk communication, and prevention and management of environmental hazards. Fall.

PH-515 Health Behavior (3 credits)

Health Behavior is an overview of the health behaviors contributing most dramatically to increased morbidity and mortality in the United States. The course emphasizes public health interventions, theoretical models, and strategies to promote health behaviors and discourage unhealthy behaviors. The course examines consequences, patterns, risk factors, and change/interventions for each behavior or problem. Behaviors are examined from multiple perspectives (e.g. individual, social, environmental) and with a systems perspective in mind, illuminating the interconnecting influences on behaviors. Health behavior and behavior change interventions are presented in the context of current research and theory. The course also examines the role of health disparities, public health policy, current debate, health behavior theory, and emerging research. Fall.

PH-525 Biostatistics (3 credits)

This course will cover biostatistical methods and applications related to public health. Topics will include descriptive statistics, probability theory, and a wide variety of inferential statistical techniques that can be used to make practical conclusions about empirical data. Learned statistical knowledge will be applied to understanding and designing research studies. Fall and Spring.

PH-530 Health Economics (3 credits)

The course is designed to introduce students to the field of Health Economics. The provision and production of health care have different characteristics and incentives from other consumer goods making health related markets a unique topic for study. Topics that will be examined include economic concepts, why health is different from other goods, aspects of the U.S. health care market, health care in other countries, health care reform, and economic evaluation techniques. Fall.

PH-535 Public Health Law & Ethics (3 credits)

The course is focused on the use of law and policy tools to promote access to healthy living conditions as an important determinant of population health and community well-being. Priorities and opportunities will be identified for public health law and policy interventions that seek to characterize, prevent, and ameliorate risks to population health. Legal powers and duties of the state will be discussed. We will also discuss individual rights as limitations on the power of the state to act in furtherance of the common good. Through case studies and simulations on topics such as sexually transmitted infections, tobacco control, obesity, exposure to environmental hazards, and public health emergencies, students will engage in an experiential and problem-based study of law as a tool for promotion of population health, well-being, and equity. Fall.

PH-540 Strategic Mngt in Health Prog (3 credits)

The course is designed to provide students with the tools they need to take their place as leaders of public health or healthcare organizations. The course introduces concepts of governance, strategic thinking, systems thinking, and implementation science. Students will learn the principle tenets of governance, strategy, and financial leadership. Spring.

PH-542 Health Systems & Policy (3 credits)

The aim of this course is to provide students with an overview of the U.S. health care system, its components, and the policy challenges created by its organization. The course will focus on the major health policy institutions and important issues that cut across institutions, including private insurers and the federal/state financing programs. Attention will also be given to disparities in access to care, the role of pharmaceuticals in health care and the pricing and regulation of the pharmaceutical industry, the quality of acre, the challenges of long-term care, and the aging of the population, and the drivers of cost growth. Spring.

PH-543 Population-Based Health (3 credits)

This course presents selected information, concepts, and methods from the field of public health. Topics concerning the history, organization, financing, and services of the public health system are discussed. All topics are presented from a population-based perspective. Summer.

PH-547 Survey Research Methods (3 credits)

The course provides an introduction to population surveys typical in descriptive and analytic epidemiologic research. The course has a strong emphasis on telephone questionnaire methods, but also includes other data collection modes and their relative advantages and disadvantages. Survey sampling, survey planning and data collection, computer interviewing and data management techniques for research surveys are emphasized. The course includes generalized methods and didactic materials as well as case studies. Spring.

PH-580 Programs, Problems, & Policies (3 credits)

This course examines the myriad of programs and policies in public health via a developmental approach to learning about health problems. The course will cover a variety of topics, including state programs and policies, maternal and infant health, program planning, research, monitoring, and advocacy. Spring.

PH-590 Integrative Experience (3 credits)

This class serves as the capstone course for public health students. It provides an opportunity for students to work on public health practice projects that are of particular interest to them. The goal is for students to synthesize, integrate, and apply the skills and competencies they have acquired to a public health problem that approximates a professional practice experience. Spring.

PH-598 Public Health Internship (3 credits)

A comprehensive and integrated application of the curriculum required by the MPH program which allows students to demonstrate professional competency in public health within a practice setting. The internship is an integral part of the MPH curriculum. It is intended to broaden the student's public health perspectives and provide experience in applying the theory and content learned in didactic courses in public health practice. It is therefore expected that through the internship experience the student will have the opportunity to interact with public health professionals and participate in activities that constitute public health. It is further expected that the student will be exposed to various paradigms and ways to solve public health problems, with experiences that reinforce communication principles, use of relevant information technology, sensitivity to diversity and cultural issues, and enhance a student's leadership, program planning, and systems thinking skills. Fall, Spring and Summer.