Courses
GPBH-501 Intro to Publ & Comm Hlth (3)
This course introduces students to a range of topics, issues, perspectives, and frameworks shaping modern public health systems, priorities, policies, and practices as well as the major challenges confronting public health professionals as they strive to carry out the core functions of public health?surveillance monitoring, prevention and containment strategies, and public education and reassurance. The course is organized five foundational areas. These are: (a) public health?s historical and contemporary contributions and the role of community health programs, (b) the ethical bases for policies and actions, (c) key terms and concepts in the field, (d) systems and organizations that comprise public and community health, and (e) the unique social, economic, behavioral, cultural, and environmental factors impacting health outcomes.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-503 Biostatistics (3)
This course introduces students to descriptive and inferential statistics as they pertain to the health sciences and public health in particular. Descriptive topics include the roles and applications of frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, and the measures of variability. Inferential topics include probability theory, the binomial distribution, the normal distribution, the t-distribution, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, multiple regression analysis, and survival analysis. Other specific topics include methods for deriving population means (and proportions) from sample data, statistical hypothesis testing and its application to group comparisons, as well as random sampling and other aspects of population-based study designs. In addition students will develop proficiency with an appropriate statistical package for the analysis of population and clinical datasets. The practical applications of biostatistics techniques and procedures for the advancement of public health strategies, interventions, and priorities will be emphasized.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-505 Epidemiology (3)
This course introduces students to a broad range of epidemiologic methods and procedures for the study of the distribution and determinants of health and diseases, mortality, morbidity, injuries, and disability across different populations and subpopulations. Distinguishing between descriptive and analytic epidemiologic techniques and research designs allows students to explore how various tools are used to control and prevent conditions such as infectious and chronic diseases, mental disorders, and environmental health hazards. Other topics addressed are the quantitative and qualitative aspects of epidemiology, including data sources, measures of morbidity and mortality, the evaluation of association and causality, study designs, and screening for disease and risk measurements. The links between epidemiologic research and public health policies is also an area of focus along with the impact of genetics and genomics on epidemiology and public health strategies.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-507 Social & Preventive Health (3)
A basic premise of this course is that health needs and health outcomes at the individual and community levels are linked to the social, economic, and environmental conditions under which people live and work. Students examine the critical connections between health outcomes and poverty, illiteracy, family instability, malnutrition, inadequate housing, food insecurity, and low-paid, unstable employment. A basic aim of this course is consideration of such factors when developing effective prevention strategies to promote healthy individuals and communities. While ensuring standard sanitary and hygienic measures can help in the prevention of disease, it remains the case that the eradication of disease also requires addressing the social, economic, and environmental conditions that exacerbate the spread of disease. Students in this course will thus consider (a) how social, economic, and environmental conditions contribute to the spread of disease, (b) how societies contribute to the perpetuation of these conditions, and (c) what strategies and policies have been most effective in alleviating morbidity and mortality for populations living under these conditions.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-509 Pub Hlth Policy & Delivery (3)
This course focuses on both the implications of public health policy and the structures and major components of healthcare delivery systems. We analyze current U.S. health policy issues and the critical processes and forces that shape these. The major public health policy issues include: access, Medicare, Medicaid, the uninsured, public health, the impact of welfare policy on health care, managed care development and regulation, and state and federal healthcare reform at the state and federal level. In addition, this course examines global public health care policy issues affecting US healthcare policy. The course also introduces students to the main features of the organization, financing, and delivery of health care services. This provides students with an understanding of the evolution of the US health care delivery system and the social, legal, and economic factors and government regulations shaping that system. The sources of financing for the delivery of healthcare are given particular attention along with leadership and management models and theories and the use of technologies in health care for the documentation of community health problems.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-511 Environmental Health (3)
This course examines current and emerging global environmental health concerns, providing students with the scientific knowledge to inform future practices and policy decisions. Students will develop an understanding of the causes and conditions related to health problems in industrialized and developing countries. This includes the study of physical, chemical, and biological agents of environmental contamination and their impact on the body along with examining the spread of contaminants through the air, water, and soil, identifying susceptible populations, and understanding methods for conducting risk assessment and analysis.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-512 Hlth Disparit Acro Populat (3)
This course explores the causes and implications of health disparities across differing cultures, regions, and ethnicities. Patterns of ethnic/racial and class segregation and inequality shape modern societies and greatly impact the work of public health professionals in the planning and delivery of health services. Students conduct descriptive and analytic research to identify systemic causes and influences on public health policy, both globally and nationally. Working with our community-based partners, students will also research the health disparities that exist in our region. Students consider the critical impact of health disparities across populations when formulating health policies and priorities.
Attributes: TGPUGPBH-513 Behavioral Health (3)
While environmental, social, and genetic factors greatly shape healthcare outcomes, the behavior of individuals remains a paramount concern in this mix of determinants. This course examines mental health, substance abuse, and other behaviors affecting overall health and well-being. Included in this will be the study of socio-economic, cultural, and societal norms that influence and define needs, treatments, and resource allocations. Students will explore popular behavior change models and interventions designed to help individuals alter negative behaviors and navigate difficult situations and relationships. The essential role of behavioral health strategies within public health planning and priorities will be emphasized.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-514 Aging Populations & Health (3)
This course introduces students to the unique concerns pertaining to aging and elders as this impacts public health planning, delivery, and priorities. Aging is a critical consideration for public health professionals. First, persons 55 and older present a host of specialized health needs and requirements. Second, the growth of elders as a proportion of the US population will continue to have a significant impact on the distribution of health resources and services. Students examine and evaluate global, national, regional, and community-based programs developed to address the needs of diverse populations of elders and students consider the possible causes for health disparities and generational differences in health outcomes. Students explore and identify the specific health concerns of an aging population.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-515 Hlth Admin, Plann, & Eval (3)
This course introduces students to the basic principles guiding the management and administration of public health systems, agencies, and programs. Students explore the unique needs and administrative responsibilities associated with the delivery of public health services and how global, national, regional, and community-based programs and initiatives intersect and interact to meet the needs of diverse populations. This course identifies the skills and competencies essential for exercising leadership in the planning, delivery, and advocacy for health care services. Core managerial tasks pertaining to overseeing personnel, budgeting, program assessment, and strategic planning are also explored.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-517 Data & Hlthcr Info Systems (3)
The shift to digital records and the expansive reliance on information systems across public health requires a greater familiarity with the technological base for these developments. This course allows students to develop the technical skills necessary to make use of the quantitative techniques associated with data analytics to analyze and evaluate public health metrics and to gauge the effectiveness of various programs and interventions. Particular attention is given to the ethical, legal, and regulatory limitations regarding the collection and dissemination of public health data and records. This course introduces the basic infrastructure necessary to support an efficient and effective use of technology throughout a public health system.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-518 Special Populations (3)
Public health professionals must tailor programs and initiatives to meet the needs of both the population as a whole as well as specific populations within a community. In this course students explore the needs of specific populations (e.g., refugees, immigrants, LGBTQ, rural) and the cultural and socioeconomic factors shaping the design and priorities of public health services in general. This is a community-based course that works directly with organizations established to serve particular populations. As part of the course, students will conduct a research project for an organization that will result in a collaborative advocacy project or initiative.
Attributes: TGPUGPBH-519 Advanced Epidemiology (3)
Building on GPBH 503 and 05, this course focuses on advanced research methods used in the study of the distribution and determinants of health, diseases, mortality, morbidity, injuries, and disability across different populations and subpopulations. Particular attention will be given to the connections between specific epidemiologic findings and public health policies and priorities for particular communities.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-520 Global Health (3)
The intricate global linkages between local health concerns in disparate regions of the world are increasingly influencing the planning and priorities of of public health professionals. In this course students examine the great diversity of determinants of health and disease across continents and cultures. This course asks students to critically analyze emerging global health priorities, such as the spread of infectious disease, poverty, conflicts, and environmental emergencies and to examine current public health policies and government interventions in the delivery of appropriate and strategic health services. These are important trends throughout the field of public health that shape work of public health professionals at the local, national, regional, and global level.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-611 Community-Based Practicum (3)
The experiential learning component is essential for all MPH students. This course will place students in a public health setting for the purpose of working alongside public health professionals to experience the work environment, institutional context, and mix of everyday issues and challenges presented by careers in public health. It is expected that a practicum will involve a range of assignments and activities, including working with data (e.g., surveillance reports), framing issues for different audiences (e.g., members of the public, other public health professionals), reporting protocols (e.g., morbidity/mortality reports), and standards of professional conduct. Our expectations of students throughout their time in a practicum are professionalism, accountability, and a respectful and empathetic attitude.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: GraduateGPBH-613 Capstone (3)
This capstone course serves as a cumulative experience for students in the MPH program. This results in an applied project that combines the use of epidemiological and biostatistics skills and tools, contemporary public health theoretical frameworks, and an empirical research question pertaining to a current public health topic. Identifying and describing the practical applications of their findings for public health practitioners will be a key element of the capstone project.
Attributes: TGPU
Restrictions: Including: -Level: Graduate