Graduate Program in Public Health Course Descriptions

MPH COURSES TAKEN BY ALL MPH STUDENTS:

MPH-610: Introduction to Public Health Practice (3 credit hours)

An introduction to the multi-disciplinary field of public health; will use a series of lectures, readings, discussions and interactive sessions to provide students with a framework for studies during the course of the program. Emphasis is on identifying ethical issues in public health practice using lectures, readings and group discussions.

MPH-611: Social & Behavioral Sciences for Public Health (3 credit hours)

An introduction to the underlying principles of health education and behavioral science as used in public health. Emphasis on the primary social-psychological variables that may influence health and disease, strategies that can influence behavior change, community assessment, risk communication and evaluation designs to measure outcomes of health education efforts. Lectures, reading and individual assignments.

MPH-612: Introduction to Biostatistics (3 credit hours)

An introduction to the use of statistics in the health field. Emphasis is on descriptive statistics, estimation, linear regression and contingency tables. Lectures, reading, demonstrations, experiential activities in a laboratory setting and written and oral assignments.

MPH-613: Principles of Environmental Health Science (3 credit hours)

An introduction to the chemical, physical and biological factors affecting human health and disease. Emphasis is on the skills to detect environmental factors in health problems and to determine methods of control to prevent disease and maximize environmental quality. Lectures, readings and required assignments.

MPH-614: Principles of Epidemiology (3 credit hours)

An introduction to epidemiology as a body of knowledge and a method for analyzing community health problems. Emphasis is on how to measure and describe the health of populations, the natural history of diseases in population groups, standardization of rates, sources of data, study designs, measurements of risk, evaluation of screening tests, causal inferences and outbreak investigation. Lectures, reading and individual and group assignments.

MPH-615: Public Health Administration & Management (3 credit hours)

An introduction to the understanding of the structure and functions of the American health-care system, public health practice in the United States and basic managerial responsibilities. Emphasis is on management tasks and styles, structure and trends in the health-care system, legal and regulatory framework for public health, organizational and community assessment, public health settings and services. Lectures, reading and written assignments.

MPH-767: Introduction to Project Methods (2 credit hours)

Introduces students to the practical application of research methods, outcome measurement and project management to practicum projects. The course also introduces the basics of the Community Practicum that they will be involved in during the Spring Semester.

MPH-768: Community Practicum (2 credit hours)

An opportunity to apply knowledge and skills gained in academic courses in a working environment or community setting under the supervision of a preceptor. Written report to the preceptor and the course director; oral presentation.

MPH-770: Capstone Seminar (2 credit hours)

A synthesis and integration of knowledge gained through the coursework and other learning experiences, with the application of theory and principle to various public health issues. Students from both tracks will take this seminar.

TRACK SPECIFIC AND ELECTIVE COURSES:

ENVH-501: Occupational Health (3 credit hours)

An introduction to the industrial environment relative to health problems and the etiologically related agents.

ENVH-502: Environmental Health Administration and Law (3 credit hours)

A review of the concepts and practice of administering environmental health control programs within agencies at the federal, state and local levels. The principles of administration and leadership of programs in the private sector are also discussed. The constitutional, statutory and administrative law bases for organizing and conducting such programs and developing environmental policy as well as the legal implications of enforcement will be addressed. A review of all major environmental statutes and their agencies that enforce them will be addressed.

ENVH-506: Principles of Occupational Safety and Health (3 credit hours)

A broad overview of the field of safety. A study of the factors influencing the occurrence of accidents and incidents is set in the context of safety legislation, current issues in the practice of safety and the ethical and professional responsibilities of the safety practitioner. The course also includes discussions of product safety, fire prevention and protection systems safety and human elements in loss prevention.

ENVH-507: Occupational Safety Standards, Laws and Regulations (3 credit hours)

A review of the important Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Codes with particular emphasis on application of these codes to typical work situations. Governmental enforcement methodologies are also discussed.

ENVH-520: Communicable Diseases and Their Control (3 credit hours)

An in-depth study of the communicable disease processes as they pertain to environmental sources. A detailed discussion of specific communicable diseases that are manifested by various environmental etiologic agents. Various environmental control measures to prevent the incidence of communicable diseases are presented.

ENVH-521: Food Safety (3 credit hours)

A comprehensive study of food and milk production, processing and preservation and controls exercised for the prevention of foodborne illnesses and spoilage.

ENVH-522: Water and Wastewater Technology (3 credit hours)

Introduction to water quality management and wastewater treatment technology. Topics include the effect of organic, inorganic and thermal pollutants in water quality streams, waterborne diseases, monitoring concepts, methods of water quality management, regulatory considerations, theory and application of wastewater treatment concepts, wastewater characterization, and treatment methods and disposal methods.

ENVH-523: Vector Control (3 credit hours)

A study of the vectors of human disease and the methods utilized in their control. (offered spring)

ENVH-525: Occupational Safety and Health Program Management (3 credit hours)

The establishment, implementation and maintenance of occupational safety and health programs. Paradigms of safety, techniques for safety training and creation of value for safety among business managers and employees are emphasized.

ENVH-526: Physical Hazards and Their Control (3 credit hours)

An in-depth examination of the varied types of physical hazards in the work environment and the methods of prevention, recognition and control.

ENVH-540: Principles of Ergonomics (3 credit hours)

An introduction to the terminology, concepts and applications of physiology, anthropometry, biomechanics and engineering to workplace and work methods design. Emphasis will be given to workplace design and work methods for job safety and health.

ENVH-541: Industrial Hygiene (3 credit hours)

An in-depth study of the chemical and physical agents responsible for occupational illness and the methods used for their measurement, evaluation and control.

ENVH-542: Sampling and Analysis Laboratory (2 credit hours)

Use and application of sampling and analytical equipment for measurement of chemical agents in the environment. Includes collecting media selection, sampling strategy, sample preparation and analysis.

ENVH-545: Air Pollution and Its Control (3 credit hours)

The study of air pollution in relation to air quality criteria, pollutant production, atmospheric evolution, measurement and control techniques.

ENVH-546: Physical Hazards Laboratory (2 credit hours)

Use and application of sampling methods and equipment for measurement of physical hazards in the work environment. Includes aspects such as ergonomics, noise, vibration and radiation.

ENVH-548: Environmental Epidemiology and Biostatistics (3 credit hours)

An introductory course in the principles and practices of epidemiology and the application of statistical and mathematical design and analysis of health research studies for the understanding and control of population health and disease with emphasis on environmental applications.

ENVH-561: Hazardous Waste Management (3 credit hours)

Description of the hazardous waste problem, the fundamentals of the chemistry involved with hazardous waste transport, methods of identification, assessment, control, and disposal of toxic and hazardous waste are discussed. In addition the relevant legal statutes, risk assessment emergency response and case studies are presented. Introduction to the toxicological effects of exposure to hazardous waste is discussed.

ENVH-566: Environmental Risk Assessment and Decision Analysis (3 credit hours)

The principles of quantitative health risk assessment of toxicants are presented. Qualitative and quantitative skills necessary to evaluate the probability of injury, disease, or death in the general population from exposure to environmental contaminants are discussed.

ENVH-602: Environmental Health Administration and the Law (3 credit hours)

ENVH-603: Environmental Epidemiology (3 credit hours)

Collection methods, analysis and interpretation of epidemiologic data with environmental and occupational disease emphasis.

ENVH-643: Principles of Toxicology (3 credit hours)

This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of toxicology with emphasis on the interaction of environmental and industrial chemicals with humans. Exposure, dose response, kinetics and distribution of toxicants, metabolism of toxic agents, factors that affect toxicity and introductory chemical carcinogenesis are discussed.

HPRO-650: Health Promotion and Education Methods and Materials (3 credit hours)

The teaching/learning process is the focus of this course for application to the many teaching roles which the health professional faces. The course is designed to meet the needs of the health professional in the areas of patient instruction, educational programs, and continuing education. The course is designed to assist students in identifying and gaining proficiency in the application of a variety of skills utilized by the health professional in designing, organizing, coordinating and evaluating health-education programs.

HPRO-660: Program Planning and Evaluation (3 credit hours)

This course emphasizes the principles and processes of program planning, including a consideration of Description, priorities, policy choices, assessment of resources, implementation, and evaluation. The student will gain practical experience in program development by developing a planning document in this course.

HPRO-670: Cultural Issues in Health Promotion and Education (3 credit hours)

Scholars will gain an understanding of social and cultural issues associated with public health and illness through discussion, application of principles and theories and an interactive case study. Scholars will identify personal and social influences on public health and discuss health disparities and community health needs. Special attention will be paid to populations bound by shared risks and behaviors.

MPH-670: Coalitions & Partnerships In Community Health (1 credit hour)

Coalitions mobilize people, expand resources, and focus on community issues better than any single group or agency can do alone. This course is based on a public health model for building and sustaining these complex partnerships. It includes practical approaches, resources for further study and examples from actual coalition work.

MPH-672: Disaster Preparedness (1 credit hour)

This course will present an introduction to disaster preparedness and response. The course will consist of lectures and exercises on such topics as bioterrorism, pandemic influenza, isolation and quarantine, natural disasters, chemical emergencies, radiation emergencies, incident command, and the national incident management system. The class will visit a city Emergency Operations Center to learn how public health interacts with other agencies in a disaster.

MPH-673: GIS Mapping (1 credit hour)

This graduate level course will emphasize the use of GIS as an applied tool for a better understanding of infectious disease and environmental health interactions as well as brief exposure to approaches in modeling and simulation. The goal of the course is to give students a combination of theoretical background, examples of applications in the literature and hands-on experience in using hardware and software that will enable them to use GIS in their work.

MPH-674: SAS For Non-Epidemiologists (1 credit hour)

No time to learn programming in SAS? Here is a 15 hour short course where you can learn just do point and click to perform data manipulation and statistical analysis in powerful JMP software. JMP is another statistical analysis application by SAS Institute, Inc. and it lets you interactively explore your data, instantly visualize it using powerful analytics and easily share your discoveries with others.

MPH-675: Social Marketing (1 credit hour)

Social Marketing is one strategy for addressing social issues like smoking, breast cancer, teen pregnancy, obesity. Simply put, social marketing uses marketing principles to influence behavior change for social benefit. Students will understand the definition, identify appropriate uses, identify research applications, learn the 10-step model for planning; design a social marketing plan, apply the social marketing mindset and discuss ethical principles. Class format will be varied and include case studies, dialogue and small group work.

MPH-676: Health Disparities (1 credit hour)

This course will help you to explore the ways that race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status influence the health. You will learn about the classic findings in medical and epidemiologic literature on health disparities. This course will prepare you to identify health disparities and develop causal explanations between the socio-demographic factors and health disparities. We will also discuss the public policy to reduce health disparities. You will gain knowledge and experience from this class that will be valuable in your future career.

MPH-677: Field Epidemiology (1 credit hour)

This course will provide an introduction to field epidemiology methods used when conducting outbreak investigations. At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to describe the operational steps of an outbreak investigation, how systems surveillance are used to identify outbreak patterns, essential functions and roles of various agencies/healthcare facilities in responding to a public health event.

MPH-678: Leadership Theories, Skills, & Applications (1 credit hour)

This one credit hour course will equip the student with the basic managerial background, fundamentals, and theories which will be applicable at any level in management and in a leadership position. Technical skills are essential in accomplishing public health goals, but these skills must be evidenced in an organization where professionals and non-professionals are managed and leadership is provided.

MPH-679: Global Health (1 credit hour)

This course will present the basic concepts and tools of Global Health. It will prepare students for a meaningful short-term Global Health experience overseas, including basic language training.

MPH-680: Pediatric Health Policy and Economics (1 credit hour)

A detailed, research-oriented look at the inspiration, development and implementation of pediatric health policy programs, including but not limited to Medicaid, CHIP, WIC and Head Start. The course will also look at how policy affects actual provision ofclinical care and will get into the economics of healthcare, to give the learner a strong understanding ofthe real fiscal effects that drive decision-making in policy comers and patient bedsides.

MPH-680: Pediatric Health Policy and Economics (1 credit hour)

MPH-684: Community Assessment (1 credit hour)

Community assessment focuses on a community’s health and determinants, and the community’s capacity to improve health. To this end, we collect, analyze, and disseminate information concerning a broad range of health topics. As outlined in the 1989 IOM report, assessment is one of the three core functions of public health.

MPH-798: Research (1 credit hour)

Research in public health, under supervision of a faculty member. Requires approval of the Program Director.

MPHE-624: SAS Statistical Package for Windows (3 credit hours)

A beginner's course in data management, statistical programming and basic data analysis using the SAS system. The course will introduce the students to database construction, database management and statistical programming and analysis. This is a hands-on course which will be taught using demonstrations and experiential activities in the computer laboratory.

MPHE-682: Public Health Biology (1 credit hour)

Selective course offered to students who wish to advance their knowledge of biological principles as applied to public health issues.

MPHE-702: Biostatistics II (3 credit hours)

Topics from inferential statistics and probability modeling will be discussed and illustrated using data selected from real-life health-related applications. Data analysis emphasizing proper interpretation of results and familiarity with SAS software will be a key component of the course.

MPHE-711: Epidemiologic Methods I (3 credit hours)

Introduces elements of study design, data analysis and inference in epidemiologic investigation.

MPHE-715: Current Issues in Epidemiology (3 credit hours)

Discussions with experts experienced in the diverse applications of epidemiology in current research and practice. Emphasis on emerging infectious diseases, environmental and occupational health, chronic diseases and community intervention trials. Lectures, discussions, class presentations and development of research project.

MPHE-718: Epidemiologic Methods II (3 credit hours)

Coverage of statistical design and analysis concepts and methods in epidemiologic research.

MPHE-721: Healthcare Strategy (3 credit hours)

Examination of strategy-making issues for health-care organizations, including analysis of economic incentives, financial strategies, development of mission and goals and formulation and implementation of long-range strategies to accomplish those goals.

MPHE-722: Methods of Program Evaluation (3 credit hours)

Examination of methods for designing and conducting program evaluation and research in health-care settings. Experimental, quasi-experimental and non-experimental procedures will be covered.

MPHE-723: Policy and Politics of Health (3 credit hours)

An introduction to the policy process, frameworks for understanding health policy issues, background research necessary for policy implementation and implementation strategies.

MPHE-727: Organizational Management (3 credit hours)

Examine issues and principles in the management of individuals, groups and organizations. Topics include motivation and reward systems, group dynamics and organizational design and change.

MPHE-733: Financing Healthcare (3 credit hours)

Students examine financial evaluation of the healthcare industry, the source of funds and effects of changing patient policies. Other topics of interest will be financial strategies, budgets and capital outlay.

MPHE-736: Conflict Resolution & Negotiation (3 credit hours)

Examine issues and principles in the management of conflict and negotiation, within organizations. Topics include resolution strategies and organizational design and change.

MPHO-630: Social Marketing for Health Populations (3 credit hours)

This course focuses on key social marketing principles and techniques (including the marketing mix, audience segmentation, positioning) and their application to public health. Ethical guidelines in social marketing, community-based social marketing, the key role of collaborative community partnerships, and development of culturally-sensitive and tailored health communication messages will also be covered. Through this course, students will become familiar with and be able to apply health behavior and communication theories commonly used in social marketing, and understand how to develop a strategic design informed by theory and practice/evidence. Contemporary examples of effective local and global social marketing programs will demonstrate how social marketing principles can be employed to impact public health practice and to influence social norms and public health policy.

MPHO-650: Global Health Issues. (3 credit hours)

This course includes the political, social, cultural, and ethical issues for disease prevention and health promotion in developing countries. Students learn to identify international health prerogatives aimed at improving health status through education and intervention.

MPHO-672: Policy and Politics in Public Health. (3 credit hours)

This course enables the student to develop systematic and analytical frameworks for understanding health and healthcare policy issues. The course will introduce the policy process, background research necessary for policy implementation, and implementation strategies.

MPHO-687: Legal Aspects of Health Services. (3 credit hours)

This course provides information concerning the legal requirements affecting public health. The course provides a survey of the basic concepts and content in the major areas of health law, an explanation and identification of sources of legal authority, and a familiarity with legal language.

MPHO-691: Grant Writing for Public Health Practice. (3 credit hours)

This course provides students with an overview of the grant proposal planning and writing process. Students will learn how to seek, write, and submit competitive grant proposals to federal and private funding sources as well as how to review and analyze grant announcements and sample proposal to understand what constitutes a solid proposal. Students will learn about and write several sections of a grant proposal. Ethical principles underlying research design and implementation and the evaluation plan will also be covered. The course covers how funding agencies review grant proposals and aims to provide students with the requisite skills to review their own proposals.

MPHO-695: Topics – Health Disparities (3 credit hours)

This course provides an introduction to the topic of health disparities through an in-depth examination and discussion of the relationship between social injustice and inequitable health outcomes. The purpose of the course will be to introduce the social and environmental determinants of health disparities and the pathways and mechanisms leading to inequitable health outcomes in vulnerable groups, as well as to identify strategies for addressing these determinants in order to improve health.