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MPH Selective Courses
This course introduces the methods of surveillance and control of infectious diseases in the community and in health care organizations including the design, implementation, and evaluation of surveillance systems and the analysis of surveillance system data. The course focuses on infectious diseases common in the United States, but also discusses the global situation. Bioterrorism will be discussed. 3 credits, term varies, Public Health Faculty
This course presents current topics and issues in population health studies. 1-3 credits, term varies, instructor varies
This is a graduate level course covering the theory and application of geographic information systems (GIS) for public health. Geography and the underlying physical and social environments influence public health. Through this class, students will gain a conceptual understanding of: (1) how geography and health are inter-related; and (2) how GIS can be used to study this relationship. Both the theoretical and practical components of the course are important. Theoretical understanding of GIS methods will allow students to make sound geographic modeling decisions. Practical understanding of GIS/health issues engenders sound creation and interpretation of public health maps. This class will combine lectures and discussions of readings, presentations demonstrating how geographic methods can be used to address public health issues, and hands-on computer laboratory activities. Students will also complete a substantial final project in which they investigate a public health GIS application in depth. Students will learn based on a multidisciplinary framework that stresses the connections between various fields including public health, epidemiology, and the social sciences. Instructor consent required. 3 Credits, term varies, Professor Meliker
Intensive reading, under supervision of one or more instructors, of material not covered in the formal curriculum, or execution of a research project under the supervision of one or more faculty members. Instructor consent required. 1-6 credits, term varies, Public Health Faculty
This is an intermediate level graduate course that offers an overview of selected important topics in environmental epidemiology. Major classes of environmental contaminants and environmentally-related diseases will be reviewed. Epidemiologic methods will be considered for studying environmental determinants of disease (e.g., air, water, and food pollutants) in relation to specific health outcomes, such as cancer, non-malignant respiratory diseases, adverse reproductive outcomes, and neurologic diseases. Challenges associated with assigning exposure to environmental contaminants will be discussed in depth. Emphasis will be placed on developing a research question and designing a study to address the research question. Prerequisite: HPH 514 and HPH 516 3 credits, term varies, Professor Meliker
This course is a survey of legal and policy issues that have special relevance for public health professionals. Topics may vary, but typically will include many of the following: structure of the U.S. legal system; power of state governments in matters affecting health care; governmental power and the right to privacy; constitutional issues in social welfare benefits; governmental regulation of health care providers and payers; the scope and discretion of administrative agencies in health care; the antitrust laws; the fraud and abuse laws; and negligence in the delivery and financing of health care. Prerequisite: HPH 508. 2 credits, spring term, Professor McCrary
This course will allow students to gain practical evaluative science skills through a semester-long research assistantship. It will introduce students to study design, measurement and analysis of research for community populations, and strengthen collaborative research skills of public health students. To promote these objectives, students will work on research projects within the Center for Public Health and Health Policy Research. Students will learn to conduct systematic reviews of literature, learn the utility of public use data sets to address community health questions, develop and/or implement research projects including development of sampling plan, data collection and management, data analysis, and program measurement and evaluation. Topics include but are not limited to community-based participatory research, survey instrument development, Institutional Review Board procedures, grant writing, summarizing and presenting data, communicating study results to diverse public health and lay audiences, research involving human subjects, and HIPPA. Instructor consent required. 2-3 credits, fall, winter, spring, & summer terms, Professor Goodman
This course is an applied internship in a public, not-for-profit, or private sector organization that provides a public health service. Students will gain practical public health skills though a semester long internship. The student will work in the organization and prepares a weekly journal of activities, as well as a paper at the conclusion of the course, applying program knowledge to the internship activities. MPH Academic Coordinator consent required. 0-12 credits, fall, spring, & summer terms I & II. Graduate Graded and may be repeated for credit
HPH 586 Health Literacy This course examines and analyzes the issues and challenges of low health literacy. The course includes an examination of the data on national literacy levels and populations at risk for low literacy; research on health literacy; measurement tools; health disparities and cultural competencies as they relate to health literacy; development of health literacy in plain language; effective communication techniques; and organizational/institutional approaches to the challenges of health literacy. 3 Credits, Various Terms, Dr. Aldustus Jordan, Dr. Evonne Kaplan-Liss, and/or Susanne Mendelson |
