Master of Public Health

This course brings together graduate students in public health, education, social work, nutrition, and health informatics to work collaboratively to learn the fundamentals of policy-making as applied to the broad issue of student mental health in an educational setting. Students work in interprofessional groups to identify the social problem, describe the policy context, map potential policy solutions, and make final recommendations in an individual written policy analysis that incorporates learning from their interprofessional peers. Students will explore the structure and function of government systems as they relate to values-driven policy decisions.

This course provides an overview of the history, content, scope, and processes of public health administration. Emphasis is placed on administration, public health structure and framework, organizational culture, management functions and roles, leadership, motivation, and performance management. Basic principles and tools of budget and resource management will be addressed.

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles of epidemiology as they apply to public health practice. Content will include: a historical perspective on epidemiology, descriptive epidemiology, effect measures, study designs, bias, surveillance, and screening for disease. Emphasis will be placed on investigative techniques, epidemiological methodology, and critical thinking about epidemiological studies and data.

This course will examine public health principles and concepts. It will provide a broad framework for understanding public health’s role in community health, prevention, and medicine. Using the five core public health knowledge areas and the ten essential public health services as a foundation, students will explore public health infrastructure, surveillance, social determinants of health, policy, and emerging issues. In addition, the course will weave public health areas such as chronic disease, infectious disease, environmental health, maternal and child health, and injury into discussions and assignments.

This course provides you with an introduction to the procedures used in the summarization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of research data. Topics include sampling, experimentation, measurement, descriptive statistics, correlation, probability, confidence intervals, testing hypotheses, 2-way tables, and simple linear regression. This course is deliberately broad and not intended to give students an in-depth understanding of statistical testing, analysis of categorical data or regression analysis. Rather, its intent is to provide an overview of some of the main areas of statistics and a working knowledge of basic summary statistics, graphs, and simple statistical tests for hypothesis testing. At the end of the course a student should be able to evaluate simple statistical usage in everyday life and their own discipline, especially in relevant research publications; and interact knowledgeably with statisticians in planning, conducting, analyzing, and reporting research projects. Prerequisite: GPH 712. SAS statistical software is required for this course.

This course is designed to introduce core topics necessary to understand and conduct ethically sound and scientifically valid public health research. It is designed to build on the skills gained in other fundamental public health courses such as principles of epidemiology and biostatistics. Students will work to understand the importance of proper study and experimental design, using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. Students will also gain skills in the design and execution of secondary data analysis and manuscript preparation. Foundational issues in sampling, data collection and structure, survey design and administration, and analytic interpretation will be covered. Prerequisite: GPH 712 and GPH 716.

This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the field of environmental health in a public health context. This course will emphasize the exposure risks, health effects, evaluation, and control of hazards including infectious agents, toxic chemicals, air pollutants, and ionizing radiation. Public health applications are incorporated through a comprehensive key assessment project.

In this course, students will prepare for their Applied Practice Experience (APE) and broaden interprofessional education (IPE) skills that are pivotal to effective public health practice. During the planning process, students will submit a current resume for review, secure an approved site for their practicum experience, identify and confirm a public health topic and a preceptor to oversee the experience, develop a Learning Contract, and submit a fully executed Affiliation Agreement with the practicum site. To gain IPE experience and develop valuable, interdisciplinary skills for effective public health practice, students will complete assignments focused on integrating perspectives from diverse sectors and professions outside the field of public health and combining their public health training with the knowledge and expertise of other disciplines to address a real-world public health issue.

Using an ecological approach, health behaviors will be considered within the context of influences on individual behaviors. The course will address the use of behavioral and social science theory to inform the development and implementation of health promotion and disease prevention programs, and consider the inherent ethical dilemmas involved in planned social and behavioral change efforts.

This course provides an overview of the development of public health programs and the evaluation of those programs. The course will help students develop skills required to assess community needs and assets, identify and adapt evidence-based programs, evaluate program effects, and seek funding for these programs. Prerequisite: GPH 726.

The goal of the applied practice experience (APE) is for students to demonstrate the application of public health concepts and to enhance skills such as leadership, communication, and collaboration. Students will work with experienced public health practitioners in a community-based setting to create products of use to the host organization and demonstrate mastery of public health competencies.

This course is designed to guide students through the process of developing an ILE project proposal in line with the specific ILE track and topic chosen by the students. With guidance from assigned Faculty Mentors, students conduct preliminary background and topical research to inform their official ILE project proposal. Upon the approval of the proposal and successful completion of this course, students enroll in their ILE project course selected from GPH 751-Advanced Policy Analysis, GPH 752-Advanced Research Methods, or GPH 753-Advanced Program Evaluation.

Advanced Policy Analysis offers the opportunity for students to develop and complete their own analysis of public health issue that intersects with government actions as partial fulfillment of the requirements for their MPH degree. All MPH students must create a high- quality written product, synthesizing competencies established by the program and The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Based on their selected topics, students will analyze data related to a real-world problem and present their findings in a high-quality written document. Readings and lectures will provide further education and guidance, and all assignments are designed to guide students through the analysis and writing process.

Advanced Research Methods offers the opportunity for students to develop and complete their own focused research study as partial fulfillment of the requirements for their MPH degree. All MPH students must create a high-quality written product, synthesizing competencies established by the program and The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Based on their selected topic, students will analyze data related to a real-world problem and present their findings in a high-quality written document. Readings and lectures will provide further education and guidance, and all assignments are designed to guide students through analysis and writing process.

Advanced Program Evaluation offers the opportunity for students to conduct their own program evaluation and collaborate with a public health site that they have identified to evaluate an aspect of a program as partial fulfillment of the requirements for their MPH degree. All MPH students must create a high-quality written product, synthesizing competencies established by the program and The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Based on their selected topic, students will analyze data related to a real-world problem and present their findings in a high-quality written document. Readings and lectures will provide further education and guidance, and all assignments are designed to guide students through the analysis and writing process.

A fundamental goal of government is to protect and support the health of the public, but implementation of health policies may infringe on the protected rights and liberties of individuals and businesses. This conflict is sometimes characterized as “private interest versus public good.” This course explores the inherent tension between promoting the public health and protecting the legal and ethical rights and interests of individuals. The course will focus on the legal foundations of the American public health system and resulting ethical dilemmas that must be reconciled when the interests of the larger community may be at odds with those of individuals.

We will examine key elements of the U.S. legal system that govern and influence public health, including federal and state constitutions and laws, administrative law, and judicial decisions. Students will use the case study method approach to scrutinize ethical and legal issues in public health practice, administration and research, and analyze functions and interactions between courts, legislators and regulators. Class activities and assignments will provide students with opportunities to read and discuss case law, statutes and regulations, and probe relevant legal and ethical principles in public health.

Prerequisite: GPH 702.

Why do some public health issues receive so much political attention and others do not? How can advocates create political interest in a public health issue to generate legislative or regulatory change? Under what circumstances do public health issues tend to precipitate public funding?

Government action is a frequent driver of the practice of public health on the ground. From executive decisions to funding decisions to laws and regulations, our public health system- both its structure and its function – is built on public policy. In this course, you will gain a firm understanding of public health policy from the perspective of the public policy theories and frameworks we use to better understand the motivations, implementation, and impact of government action at the federal, state, and local levels.

Prerequisites: GPH 702.

This course is designed for students who would like build on the basic principles of epidemiology to study infectious diseases in populations. By the end of this course, students will be able to: 1) describe the general principles of infectious disease epidemiology, 2) analyze epidemiologic study designs and measures in the context of infectious diseases, 3) apply outbreak investigation steps to an infectious disease outbreak, 4) describe infectious disease dynamics, 5) apply principles of disease transmission to develop disease prevention and control practices, 6) design data collection tools to investigate an infectious disease outbreak using computer-based software, 7) Analyze quantitative data about infectious diseases using biostatistics, 8) Interpret results of data analysis of an infectious disease investigation, 9) communicate audience-appropriate content reporting on an infectious disease outbreak both in writing and through oral presentation, and 10) describe the use of system thinking tools in infectious disease epidemiology.

Prerequisites: GPH 712

Applied Epidemiology is for individuals who want to practice and refine their epidemiological skills and ultimately participate in investigating health and disease in communities. This course will focus on the application of epidemiological tools and skills and offer a more in-depth experience for students who have completed the required courses.

Prerequisites: GPH 712 and GPH 716. Stata statistical software is required for this course.

This course is a continuation of GPH 716 (Biostatistics). The course will assume familiarity with the basic principles of data collection, one-and two-sample confidence intervals and hypothesis testing, as well as one-way ANOVA and the fundamentals of simple linear regression. It will focus on a more in-depth look at simple linear regression extending to multiple linear regression. Additionally, it will cover topics in probability, diagnostic and screening tests, nonparametics, and logistic regression.

Maternal and child health provides a foundation for a community’s development and sustainability. Students will apply public health frameworks to maternal and child health concepts and issues; in the process, they will gain a broad understanding of the field of maternal and child health from local and global standpoints. By the end of this course, students will be able to use data for action, apply evidence-based information, examine systems-based approaches to addressing issues, and examine cultural effects on maternal and child health.

Prerequisites: GPH 738

This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the field of Occupational Health. The course will emphasize the recognition, evaluation and control of hazards in the work environment. General principles and global processes will be linked to local issues and the regulatory environment through case studies.

This course provides students with an understanding of the importance of financial planning in healthcare, the difference between financial and managerial accounting, and using financial data to aid in business decisions. This course builds on students’ understanding of the basic concepts to enable them to plan, budget, control, and evaluate financial performance. This course covers fixed and variable expenses, capital management, and revenue streams. The course uses a combination of case-studies and exams to enable students to gain necessary analytical skills in health care finance.

Recommended: GPH 706

In this course students will have the opportunity to focus on the grant writing process (as it is designed and directed by a federal or state public health funding agency). Particular emphasis will be placed on identifying and applying the requisite skills to have a potential public health program funded. The course will feature hands-on assignments based on (current) real world topics, resources, and grant funding guidelines. While students do not need to have a background in accounting, many components of a grant application (including a line-item budget) will be addressed.

The interconnectivity of one’s environment and the choices made by individuals are undeniable. As we work on addressing socio-ecological factors that hinder health, we must also address personal choices and behaviors. Health education is an essential tool used to target behaviors that are directed by knowledge and attitudes held by the individual. Building on the skills learned in GPH 726 and GPH 738, students will learn how to design and evaluate health education interventions using a human-centered approach.

This course examines the concepts, methods, and practices for assessing the health of a community. Topics include measuring community health status, developing community health profiles, identifying the determinants of health, and the utilization of community health assessment in developing public health interventions.

Recommended: GPH 738

Chronic or non-communicable diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and account for about 7 of the 10 leading causes of death globally, with over 41 million deaths per year. In addition to these deaths, several millions more people in the U.S. and across the world live with chronic diseases and experience reduced quality of life. This course introduces students to the burden of several major chronic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, and cancer on individuals, populations, and society. Students will gain an understanding of the etiology, prevalence, risk factors, and health consequences, and learn strategies for the prevention and control of these diseases within the framework of epidemiology. To further highlight the importance and consequences of these diseases, students will learn about the clinical perspectives of lifestyle medicine practitioners who work with these populations on an individual level. A fundamental understanding of the epidemiologic principles gained from the required prerequisites is assumed.

Prerequisites: GPH 712, GPH 716, GPH 719, GPH 722

Communities have preparedness protocols for emergencies like hurricanes, tornados, and earthquakes, but what do communities have for pandemics? The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), a respiratory virus, required a response that matched its unique properties and the severity and intensity of the associated infection and disease. How do we prepare for the next pandemic? What would our preparation and response look like if the next pandemic is due to a fomite? What about a combination of fomites and inhalants? Is there potential to create a biohazard that is waterborne, foodborne, an inhalant, and a fomite? How would public health professionals prepare communities for this new biohazard?

This course equips students with the skill set necessary to prepare for the next pandemic. Students will be able to develop audience-appropriate resources and engage and effectively communicate best practices and prevention and mitigation strategies to key stakeholders.

This course introduces you to critical issues in global health emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach to understanding global health problems. The concepts and issues of global health will be considered as well as emerging issues and future concerns. Selected critical global topics in such areas as maternal and child health, food security, environmental health, chronic disease, and infectious disease will be covered.

Social marketing practice supports social and behavioral changes that increase the well-being and quality of life for individuals, families and societies. This course will equip students with public health skills needed to tackle complex health problems by applying marketing principles and social change tools to inform, design, and implement societal level behavioral changes that are efficient, inclusive, just, equitable, and sustainable.

In this course, students will explore the many and varied interrelationships among human, animal, and environmental health from a public health framework. Readings, lectures, and course activities are designed to guide students through a transdisciplinary exploration of national and global One Health initiatives. Students will apply One Health principles through case studies and the application of systems thinking tools to visually represent public health issues.

Students enrolled in the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program may propose independent or directed studies to further special scholarship or research interests. Students should complete all core MPH courses prior to the independent/directed study course. The proposed course requires the approval of the faculty sponsor, the Program Director, and the Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Applied Epidemiology is for individuals who want to practice and refine their epidemiological skills and ultimately participate in investigating health and disease in communities. This course will focus on the application of epidemiological tools and skills and offer a more in-depth experience for students who have completed the required courses.

Prerequisites: GPH 712 and GPH 716. Stata statistical software is required for this course.

This course is a continuation of GPH 716 (Biostatistics). The course will assume familiarity with the basic principles of data collection, one-and two-sample confidence intervals and hypothesis testing, as well as one-way ANOVA and the fundamentals of simple linear regression. It will focus on a more in-depth look at simple linear regression extending to multiple linear regression. Additionally, it will cover topics in probability, diagnostic and screening tests, nonparametics, and logistic regression.

This course is designed for students who would like to build on the basic principles of epidemiology to study infectious diseases in populations. By the end of this course, students will be able to: 1) describe the general principles of infectious disease epidemiology, 2) analyze epidemiologic study designs and measures in the context of infectious diseases, 3) apply outbreak investigation steps to an infectious disease outbreak, 4) describe infectious disease dynamics, 5) apply principles of disease transmission to develop disease prevention and control practices, 6) design data collection tools to investigate an infectious disease outbreak using computer-based software, 7) Analyze quantitative data about infectious diseases using biostatistics, 8) Interpret results of data analysis of an infectious disease investigation, 9) communicate audience-appropriate content reporting on an infectious disease outbreak both in writing and through oral presentation, and 10) describe the use of system thinking tools in infectious disease epidemiology.

Prerequisites: GPH 712

Chronic or non-communicable diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and account for about 7 of the 10 leading causes of death globally, with over 41 million deaths per year. In addition to these deaths, several millions more people in the U.S. and across the world live with chronic diseases and experience reduced quality of life. This course introduces students to the burden of several major chronic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, and cancer on individuals, populations, and society. Students will gain an understanding of the etiology, prevalence, risk factors, and health consequences, and learn strategies for the prevention and control of these diseases within the framework of epidemiology. To further highlight the importance and consequences of these diseases, students will learn about the clinical perspectives of lifestyle medicine practitioners who work with these populations on an individual level. A fundamental understanding of the epidemiologic principles gained from the required prerequisites is assumed.

Prerequisites: GPH 712, GPH 716, GPH 719, GPH 722.

Most public health programs and initiatives are funded by grants. How do you ensure that your grant proposal stands out from the competition? In this course, students have the opportunity to focus on the grant writing process as designed and directed by a federal or state public health funding agency. Particular emphasis will be placed on identifying and applying the requisite skills to have a potential public health program funded. Students learn about Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and how to write a grant proposal that adheres to the guidelines provided. This course will feature hands-on assignments based on actual grant components including a statement of need, goals and objectives, scope of services, partnerships and collaborations, and a program budget.

Prerequisites: GPH 706, GPH 738

The interconnectivity of one’s environment and the choices made by individuals are undeniable. As we work on addressing socio-ecological factors that hinder health, we must also address personal choices and behaviors. Health education is an essential tool used to target behaviors that are directed by knowledge and attitudes held by the individual. Building on the skills learned in GPH 726 and GPH 738, students will learn how to design and evaluate health education interventions using a human-centered approach.

Prerequisites: GPH 726, GPH 738

Social marketing practice supports social and behavioral changes that increase the well-being and quality of life for individuals, families and societies. This course will equip students with public health skills needed to tackle complex health problems by applying marketing principles and social change tools to inform, design, and implement societal level behavioral changes that are efficient, inclusive, just, equitable, and sustainable.

Good maternal and child health provides a solid foundation for the development and sustainability of healthy, successful communities and societies. In this course, students gain an understanding of the historical events that inform the field today, learn about current issues affecting these populations, and how to apply public health frameworks to maternal and child health concepts and issues. Students will gain a broad understanding of the field of maternal and child health from local and global standpoints. By the end of this course, students will be able to use data for action, apply evidence-based information, examine systems-based approaches to addressing issues, and understand the effects of culture on maternal and child health.

Prerequisites: GPH 738

This course focuses on the health of populations and public health responses from a global perspective. Students will be introduced to global health goals, principles, and concepts. Students will explore global health challenges and opportunities with an emphasis on understanding the burden of disease, advancing health equity, and implementing strength-based approaches. Selected critical global topics in such areas as maternal and child health, environmental health, chronic disease, infectious disease, and humanitarian response will be covered.

Prerequisites: GPH 722, GPH 738

In this course, students explore the many and varied interrelationships among human, animal, and environmental health from a public health framework. Readings, lectures, and course activities are designed to guide students through a transdisciplinary exploration of national and global One Health initiatives. Students will apply One Health principles through case studies and the application of systems thinking tools to visually represent public health issues.

Prerequisites: GPH 722