Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness (BSDP)

BSDP 5100 - Public Health and Disasters

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course introduces the growing threat and potential public health consequences of all types of disasters. Content includes an introduction to public health and public health's role in disaster preparedness and response. In this course, threats to public health are introduced. Intentional disasters (chemical, biological, and radiological terrorism) and natural disasters are covered; emphasis is placed on infectious disease emergencies such as biological terrorism and emerging infections. (Offered annually)

Attributes: MPH-Behavior Sci & Health Equi, MPH-Global Health, MPH-Health Management & Policy, MPH-Maternal & Child Health, MPH-Public Health Practice, Social Work PhD Specilization

BSDP 5101 - Fundamentals of Disaster Planning

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course provides an overview of strategies for and challenges to planning for all types of disasters. All phases of the emergency management model will be addressed: mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery. Content includes tools and resources needed to develop and/or evaluate a facility or community all hazards response plan and create exercises to test this plan.

BSDP 5103 - Communicable Diseases and Infection Control

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course teaches the fundamentals of communicable diseases. Content includes the microbiology of contagious pathogens, disease transmission, and infection control measures to prevent or stop the spread of communicable diseases. Emphasis is placed on the pathogens that are likely to be used in a bioterrorism attack and new or re-emerging infectious diseases. (Offered annually)

Attributes: MPH-Behavior Sci & Health Equi, MPH-Global Health, Social Work PhD Specilization

BSDP 5104 - Public Health Ecology

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course will present the public health triad (interactions between humans, animals, and the environment). Content includes: general human and ecological factors contributing to zoonotic and other disease transmission; notable public health threats of infectious origin; scenarios of transmissible disease outbreaks in the wake of certain ecological changes; risk assessments for biohazards.

Attributes: MPH-Global Health, MPH-Maternal & Child Health

BSDP 5105 - Medical and Public Health Intelligence

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course introduces students to the rationale for the emerging role of the public health and medical communities in the intelligence gathering, analysis and dissemination process. Focusing on early detection of emerging physical threats and novel/emerging infectious diseases it will give the students the requisite knowledge and skills to provide the homeland security community with threat indications and warnings. Students will be given the analytical tools to allow them to gauge the impact of physical threats that would result in mass casualties and novel/emerging infectious diseases. They will be expected to develop and recommend rational and viable courses of action to those threats.

Attributes: MPH-Biosecurity & Disaster Prp

BSDP 5106 - Disaster Communications and Media Relations

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course will provide an overview of crisis communication challenges associated with disasters, including basic human communications and communication needs, the impact of stressors in communications, risk communications to communities and to crisis communications. Students will learn the theoretical foundations of risk communication, how to apply those principles during a public health crisis, and how to formulate and institute appropriate communications plans for a variety of audiences and disaster response organizations. (Offered annually)

Attributes: MPH-Biosecurity & Disaster Prp

BSDP 5201 - Terrorist Organizations and Their Motivations

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course is designed to provide students a broad understanding of terrorist organizations and their motivations. History of terrorism, current movements and organizations (both domestic and international) will be covered. Emphasis will be placed on terrorist use of chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear weapons of mass destruction. (Offered annually)

Attributes: MPH-Behavior Sci & Health Equi, MPH-Biosecurity & Disaster Prp, MPH-Global Health

BSDP 5203 - Disaster Planning for Infectious Disease Disasters

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course provides an overview of strategies for and challenges to planning for all types of disasters; emphasis is placed on biosecurity emergencies such as bioterrorism and outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases. Content includes tools and resources needed to develop and/or evaluate a facility or community all-hazards response plan and create exercises to test this plan.

Prerequisite(s): BSDP 5103

Attributes: MPH-Behavior Sci & Health Equi, MPH-Global Health, MPH-Public Health Practice

BSDP 5206 - Disaster Management and Risk Analysis

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course will give the student an overview of the importance of biosecurity and the performance of vulnerability and risk assessments. It will also teach them the skills necessary to be a competent manager/leader during an emergency. Management case studies will be used to help students identify limits to their knowledge and to help them recognize when they need to obtain additional resources. (Offered annually)

Attributes: MPH-Behavior Sci & Health Equi, MPH-Global Health, MPH-Health Management & Policy

BSDP 5208 - Facing the Challenge of International Bioterrorism

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course will examine bioterrorism- the hostile infliction of disease, and how National and Global governance should manage the challenges it raises. The issue will be addressed from a variety of perspectives including: political, legal, medical and public health, with a special focus on international cooperation in dealing with bioterrorism.

Attributes: MPH-Behavior Sci & Health Equi, MPH-Biosecurity & Disaster Prp, MPH-Global Health

BSDP 5209 - Emerging Infections: Epidemiology and Public Health Importance

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course will present to the student an overview of Emerging Infectious Diseases, not only in the United States, but internationally. The course will lead off with an overview of the topic, emphasizing topical issues and concerns. Selected topics in order of importance to public health will be examined, with an emphasis on the epidemiology of the infection and its public health impact, either potential or actual.

Attributes: MPH-Behavior Sci & Health Equi, MPH-Biosecurity & Disaster Prp, MPH-Epidemiology, MPH-Global Health, MPH-Maternal & Child Health, Social Work PhD Specilization

BSDP 5210 - Preparing for Disasters: Resiliency and Stress Inoculation

Credit(s): 3 Credits

While many private and public agencies have some sort of disaster response plan, few take into account the mental and emotional ramifications of disaster upon general and vulnerable populations. This course will investigate the use of resiliency and stress inoculation before disasters to lessen disaster impact and encourage effective and prompt recovery.

BSDP 5211 - Business Continuity and Pandemic Planning

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course will give the student an understanding of Business Continuity Management and Pandemic Planning concepts. It will lay a foundation for recovery of people, places and technology in a business setting. This class will also focus on the unique aspects of planning for a pandemic.

Attributes: MPH-Biosecurity & Disaster Prp

BSDP 5930 - Special Topics

Credit(s): 1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

BSDP 5980 - Graduate Reading in Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness

Credit(s): 1-3 Credits

This course provides specialized study in environmental health to enhance skills in literature review and problem solving. Content is developed jointly between the student(s) and a faculty mentor.

BSDP 6930 - Special Topics

Credit(s): 1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

BSDP 6980 - Independent Study

Credit(s): 1 or 3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)