600

This course provides an introduction to public health concepts and practice by examining the philosophy, purpose, history, organization, functions, tools, activities, and results of public health practice at the national, state, and local levels. The course also addresses important health issues and problems facing the public health system. Case studies and a variety of practice-related exercises serve as a basis for learner participation in real world public health problem-solving simulations. This course also fosters and enhances skills related to the use of technology for accessing information and communicating with colleagues.

The course examines the application of social and behavioral sciences knowledge to public health. The basic principles of psychology, sociology, anthropology, and other social sciences are used to underscore the social determinants and consequences of health and health-seeking behaviors, and to understand the contribution of socio-behavioral science to our understanding of the distribution, etiology, and solution of public health problems through planned interventions.

This course provides a foundation for planning health promotion programs for diverse populations. It facilitates discussion of contemporary issues and challenges of health promotion and program planning. Students are provided with the knowledge and skills necessary to collaborate with communities to develop effective, efficient, culturally appropriate health promotion programs.

This course emphasizes knowledge and skill development to provide a foundation for excellence in front-line, supervisory, management, and/or leadership positions. It is structured to engage participants in the complexities associated with managing and/or working with people on a defined project and/or to develop a program. The fall semester focuses on leadership and management principles, self-assessment, and experiential learning from class assignments and in-class activities. The spring semester focuses on personnel and resources management.

This course examines environmental principles, methods, risk factors, prevention and control, and policies related to human health. It also examines the biological, physical and chemical factors in the environment at the local and global levels, and how they impact human health.

This course provides an understanding of the structure and function of the U.S. Health Care System. The general principles of planning, management, evaluation, policy, and behavior of the public health system on the local, state and federal levels are addressed. Students learn how the public health system is organized and the roles of essential stakeholders. Students analyze critical management concepts through discussion, case analysis, and practical applications in a variety of health care settings.

This course examines the models and processes to systematically plan and evaluate public health interventions. It presents students with methods for identifying population-based needs for public health programs, developing strategies to meet those needs, and evaluating the effectiveness of these public health interventions. The course integrates knowledge and skills from research methods, epidemiology, biostatistics, proposal writing, budget planning, project management, and program evaluation.

This course introduces statistical concepts and analytical methods as applied to data encountered in public health research and biomedical sciences. It emphasizes the basic concepts of experimental design, quantitative analysis of data, and statistical inferences. The course provides students a foundation to evaluate information critically to support research objectives and product claims. Introduction to a statistical computer package such as SPSS is provided.

This course is a continuation of PH-660 and expands on the statistical concepts and analytical methods as applied to data encountered in public health research.  Emphasis is placed on the choice of the appropriate method for specific problems, common aspects of model construction, the testing of model assumptions through influence and residual analyses, and the use of graphical and other methods to present results that are readily understood by clinicians. 

This course engages students in economic and financial issues related to the operation of organizations, personnel, providers, and patients in the health care system. Specifically, it explores the sources and uses of financing and the built-in incentives of the health care system. It also explores this ever-changing industry, and explicitly considers the determinants of national health spending and the role of government in private and public health.

This course examines the use of information technology to transform the delivery of health information in health care systems around the world. The course also includes data access, interpretation, and evaluation for making decisions in public health. Legal and ethical principles concerning information technology in health are emphasized.

This course provides information that enables students to deal effectively with emergency management issues. Students develop an understanding of disaster preparedness, emergency management procedures and responsibilities, management mitigation, and response and recovery actions for different disasters. It also explores public health’s role in bio-terrorism and dealing with people with disabilities during and after a disaster.

This course provides public health students with a foundation of American health policy and law. It emphasizes health policy and legal issues affecting the health care system and public health. It also examines how the laws and policies are formulated, and emphasizes the need for collaboration between governmental and nongovernmental organizations. Furthermore, the course examines health policy issues relating to health insurance, and provides extensive discourse on the health care reform law of 2010.

This course reviews the main contributors to the global burden of disease and discusses current interventions and possible approaches for the future. This course addresses topics related to maternal and child health, nutrition, infectious disease, chronic illness, and environmental health. Each section provides a historical and cultural overview and includes consideration of cultural competence and humility. Sections engage students in learning about country-specific health data and descriptive information about the health system.