Public Health (PUBH)

PUBH 2100 - Introduction to Global Health

Credit(s): 0 or 3 Credits

This course introduces students to the concepts of public health by tracing its historical evolution. By using classic public problems and their resolutions, the philosophy, values and mission of public health are examined. The trends in global health such as epidemic responses, disease-specific programs, funding mechanisms, and capacity-building are discussed. (Offered Fall and Spring)

Attributes: Global Citizenship (CAS), Global Local Justice-Global, International Studies, International Studies-Health, Service Learning, Urban Poverty - Health Care

PUBH 2300 - Contemporary Issues in Global Health

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course explores biological, environmental, social, and political factors impacting the health of populations across the globe. Topics covered will change depending on current events, but will likely include: environmental degradation, climate change, biosecurity, health education in diverse populations, and chronic and infectious diseases. (Offered Fall and Spring)

Prerequisite(s): PUBH 2100

Attributes: Global Local Justice-Global, International Studies, International Studies-Health, Public Health Minor Elective, Service Learning, Urban Poverty - Health Care, Urban Poverty - Immigration

PUBH 2700 - Public Health Issues in Emergency Management

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course will review the role and capacity of public health and health care systems in disaster preparedness and response to all disasters. Students will examine the growing threat and public health consequences of disasters. The course will cover theory and practice in emergency management and consider implications for policy makers. (Offered in Fall)

Attributes: Public Health Minor Elective

PUBH 2930 - Special Topics

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

PUBH 2980 - Independent Study

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

PUBH 3200 - Evidence Based Public Health

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course introduces students to approaches for developing and selecting public health interventions and evaluating their efficacy from a scientific perspective. With examples taken from health systems around the world, students learn how to access and interpret data systems and analytical methods and apply public health evidence to public policy making. This course will address the challenges of translating and disseminating research discoveries into communities. (Offered Fall and Spring)

Prerequisite(s): PUBH 2100

PUBH 3500 - Art & Public Health: Creating Relationships for Social Change

Credit(s): 3 Credits

The course will provide students with the opportunity to engage with practitioners of art and public health in discussions of current practices at the intersection of these two fields. This dialogue will provide students with the opportunity to further their understanding of key factors that influence this work. The students will actively engage in collaborative exploration of these issues. To do so the course will provide specific skills for mindfulness, listening, communication, and difficult conversations/ conflict management.

PUBH 3910 - Internship

Credit(s): 1-3 Credits (Repeatable up to 6 credits)

Attributes: UUC:Reflection-in-Action

PUBH 3930 - Special Topics

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

Attributes: Public Health Minor Elective

PUBH 3980 - Independent Study

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

PUBH 4000 - Politics and Public Health Advocacy

Credit(s): 3 Credits

Public health is inherently a political discipline. Practitioners require an understanding of the way public opinion and legislation on matters of public health are shaped. This course exposes students to the basics of public health policy, coalition-building, written and verbal advocacy tools, and includes several real-world experiences of advocacy work. (Offered Fall and Spring)

Prerequisite(s): Minimum Earned Credits of 60

Attributes: BHS-Professional, Global Local Justice-Elective, Public Health Minor Elective, Urban Poverty - Health Care

PUBH 4100 - Biological Basis of Public Health

Credit(s): 3 Credits

A basic understanding of public health biology is the cornerstone upon which rest the five core disciplines. A unique characteristic that differentiates public health from other social movements or social action is its grounding in science. The biological aspects of humans, microorganisms, and other factors such as physical environment will provide insight into this important relationship. (Offered Fall and Spring)

Prerequisite(s): Minimum Earned Credits of 60

Attributes: Public Health Minor Elective, UUC:Natural & Applied Science

PUBH 4930 - Special Topics

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

Attributes: Public Health Minor Elective

PUBH 4960 - Capstone in Public Health

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course enables students to demonstrate achievement of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program learning outcomes through individual and group projects. Students will also synthesize public health experiences with other undergraduate coursework and experiences and engage in professional development. (Offered Fall and Spring)

Prerequisite(s): HMP 1300, PUBH 2300, PUBH 3200, PUBH 4000*, PUBH 4100*, BST 3100*, EPI 4000*, and HCE 3100

* Concurrent enrollment allowed.

Restrictions:

Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Public Health.

PUBH 4970 - Directed Research in Public Health

Credit(s): 3-6 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

The course provides students with an opportunity to work closely with faculty on research in public health.

PUBH 4980 - Directed Readings in Public Health

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

PUBH 5010 - Mission and Practice of Global Public Health

Credit(s): 2 or 3 Credits

This course introduces students to the context of public health practice, including its legal basis, history, mission, the core functions of public health, and institutional structure of public health practice. Theoretical and practical perspectives are presented to illustrate the workings of public health at local, state, national, and global levels. Cross-listed with SWRK 5010.

PUBH 5020 - Ethical Issues in Public Health

Credit(s): 3 Credits

Through readings, lectures, discussions, and case studies, students develop: (1) knowledge of the basic ethical concepts operative in medical and public health ethics; (2) understanding of current ethical challenges facing those engaged in health promotion, disease prevention, and epidemiologic research; and (3) the ability to articulate ethical challenges and to make critical and informed ethical decisions. (Offered annually.)

PUBH 5030 - Methodological Approaches to Understanding Population Health

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course explores the determinants of a population’s health focusing on the analytic methods used to help identify, understand, and address inequities in health at the organizational, community, and societal levels. Emphasis will be placed on understanding and selecting appropriate quantitative and qualitative data collection methods for a given public health context while considering study design, sampling, causality, and threats to validity. Students will learn to interpret results of data analysis and translate this information to practice through reading the literature and considering how evidence is used to inform health policy, address population health challenges, and communicate with diverse audiences.

PUBH 5040 - Generating Evidence from Public Health Data

Credit(s): 3 Credits

The course introduces students to the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge, and the role of qualitative and quantitative analytic methods in describing and comparing health determinants and outcomes in a variety of public health contexts. The course has three primary focus areas: data collection, data analysis, and interpretation and communication of results. Course topics include study design and sampling, questionnaire development, data visualization, and statistical inference and modeling. Students will use software to analyze data and will learn how to appropriately report on findings both in writing and orally.

Attributes: Social Work PhD Specilization

PUBH 5050 - Health Care Across the Life Course: From Policy to Practice

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course provides an overview of and orientation to the US health care and public health delivery systems with a specific focus on access, delivery and utilization across the life course. Topics include the delivery, financing, regulation, and administration of health care and public health services for diverse health care organizational structures. The intersection of population health, public health, health policy, and advocacy will be discussed in relation to health services delivery.

Attributes: Social Work PhD Specilization

PUBH 5060 - Environmental and Biological Determinants of Health

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course addresses the interaction of the physical, biological, and social environments of individuals in which they work and live. It presents a broad survey of the major environmental issues facing contemporary society in both developed and developing countries. The course combines an overall ecological perspective with specific elements related to personal and community health, emphasizing the interrelatedness of the two and conveying an awareness of how current environmental issues directly affect our lives.

PUBH 5070 - Translating Evidence and Theory for Community Practice

Credit(s): 3 Credits

Assessment, planning, implementing and evaluating health promotion and health education programs are key skills to master in order to function effectively as a public health professional. Assessing community needs helps determine appropriate approaches for addressing needs. Using evidence and theory enhances the likelihood of program effectiveness. Evaluating programs is critical in order to ensure they are maximally effective and efficacious and able to be sustained over time for lasting improvements in health. This course provides an overview of these core public health competencies to prepare students to function effectively in public health practice.

PUBH 5110 - Managerial Aspects of Public Health Practice

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course presents concepts and methods of management tools useful for directing a public health agency. Topics concerning organizational design, finance and budgeting, human resources management, public relations, quality improvement, and planning are presented with examples primarily focused on state and local public health practice.

Prerequisite(s): PUBH 5010

PUBH 5500 - Place and Health

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course focuses on providing information and working knowledge to public health officers, healthcare professionals, and researchers. It incorporates the basic understanding and application of GIS to analyzing and addressing public health issues. It is intended for graduate level students and will provide information and experience to understand the basic concepts, language, and methodologies of GIS as it relates to the public health arena. This course will provide a platform of knowledge and experience from which informed decisions concerning GIS, public health studies, and designs can be made. This is a culminating experience in public health and GIS training.

Attributes: MPH-Behavior Sci & Health Equi, MPH-Epidemiology

PUBH 5620 - Politics and Public Health Advocacy

Credit(s): 3 Credits

Public health is inherently a political discipline. Practitioners require an understanding of the way public opinion and legislation on matters of public health are shaped. This course exposes students to the basics of public health policy, coalition-building, written and verbal advocacy tools, and includes several real-world experiences of advocacy work.

PUBH 5910 - Practice Experience in Public Health

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

This course provides supervised experience in application of public health techniques through work in a public health agency or other health care organization.

PUBH 5915 - Public Health Internship

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

Public Health Internship.

PUBH 5930 - Special Topics

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

PUBH 5950 - Special Study for Examinations

Credit(s): 0 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Registration in this class indicates student has completed coursework required to sit for the Certified in Public Health exam in the spring semester.

Prerequisite(s): PUBH 5010 with a grade of C or higher; PUBH 5030 with a grade of C or higher; (PUBH 5040 with a grade of C or higher or BST 5020 with a grade of C or higher); (PUBH 5050* with a grade of C or higher or HMP 5000* with a grade of C or higher); PUBH 5060* with a grade of C or higher; (PUBH 5070* with a grade of C or higher, BSH 5000* with a grade of C or higher, or BSH 5400* with a grade of C or higher); (HCE 5020* with a grade of C or higher or HCE 5930* with a grade of C or higher)

* Concurrent enrollment allowed.

PUBH 5960 - Capstone in Public Health Practice

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This culminating experience requires students to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired across the MPH curriculum to a situation approximating some aspect of professional practice. Each student will prepare a major paper focused on a program, service, or policy related to a significant public health problem or issue.

PUBH 5970 - Research Topics in Public Health Practice

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

This course provides direct research experience in public health. Content is developed jointly between the student(s) and a faculty mentor.

PUBH 5980 - Graduate Reading

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

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

PUBH 5985 - Independent Study

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

This course provides an independent study. Content is developed jointly between the student(s) and a faculty mentor.

PUBH 5990 - Research Project

Credit(s): 0-2 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

This course is an independent directed research project that culminates the Master of Science in Public Health. Under the guidance of the academic advisor and other qualified mentor(s), each student designs and implements a research project commensurate with their professional training and interests, using the skills developed in the Masters of Science in Public Health curriculum.