Public Health (PH)

This course introduces concepts and methods in examining social determinants of health. This area of research describes and analyzes the social factors related to etiology of health attitudes, behaviors, and outcomes in populations. As a component of social epidemiology, it is closely linked to other disciplines, including biology, and the social and behavioral sciences. This course will provide an overview of the social determinants of health, health disparities, social epidemiology broadly, social epidemiology research methods, and health policy. This course follows the life course and the relationship between social factors and health consequences by age. Letter grade only.

Students will be introduced to the range of global environmental changes and their consequences for human health and well-being, with a focus on climate change and its consequences. Global environmental changes include climate change, ozone depletion, biodiversity loss, nitrogen fertilization, and ocean acidification. Climate change will alter the geographic spread of infectious diseases; water availability; and the nutritional value and productivity of agricultural crops. Letter grade only.

The course focuses on the epidemiological tools used by public health professionals, such as the development and validation of surveys, a variety of advanced biostatistical analysis, and written and oral presentation of scientific literature and results to a variety of audiences. This course emphasis is on social epidemiology which examines the relationship between social factors, social structures, and population health using epidemiological method and theory. Students will learn how to apply social epidemiological theories and concepts in the planning, implementation, interpretation, and evaluation of advanced social epidemiological studies. Letter grade only.

This course builds on basic epidemiology and biostatistics foundational content to develop skills in designing and implementing social epidemiological studies. This course explores study design, measurement, analytic, and interpretation issues applicable to research on social and contextual determinants of health and health disparities. This lecture/seminar course is offered to students interested in understanding complex relationships between social/contextual factors and health. Letter grade only.

This course examines the growing disproportionate burden of disease globally in low income countries. Key health threats in the maternal mortality, child under-nutrition, HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB, zoonotic diseases, mental health, and chronic disease. These health threats are closely related to evolving social processes and phenomena, including urbanization, migration, political conflict, economic disparities, and gender dynamics. In turn, these health threats can severely influence economic, social, and political development. This course focuses on developing effective and appropriate solutions at the global, regional and local levels. Letter grade only.

This course builds on basic epidemiology and biostatistics foundational content to introduce students to applied social epidemiological methods and theory. The course focuses on the application of: 1) epidemiologic theory, grounded in the history of the field; 2) theories and measurement of social position in society, such as based on race/ethnicity, economic status, sexual orientation, etc.; 3) macrosocial theories of population characteristics, such as income inequality, welfare state structures, etc.; 4) linking theory and study design tightly; 5) introducing methods commonly used in social epidemiology, such as multilevel modeling and time series analysis. Letter grade only.

This course introduces the concepts and methods of spatial epidemiology. Students will gain hands-on experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial data analyses. Recent developments in location intelligence applied to healthcare and public health research will also be introduced. Letter grade only.

This course is an introduction to the measurement and monitoring of population health. Fundamentals of measuring population health including the measurement of life expectancy, healthy life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality, fertility, reproductive and contraceptive measures, and the population attributable risk fraction will be covered. Letter grade only.

This course provides an overview of the processes and politics of mental health policy and programming. Alternative approaches to defining mental health and mental illness, developmental and other disabilities, and substance related disorders will be addressed. Epidemiological findings about the incidence and prevalence of disorders and the utilization of mental health services will be examined. A review of local, state, and national models for mental health programs and systems, along with consideration of self-help services and advocacy programs, will provide students with an opportunity to understand a range of approaches to promotion, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services, financing, and service delivery. Letter grade only.

Medical anthropology explores the interaction between health, culture and disease; examines other biomedical traditions in how they understand and treatment disease; and studies biocultural approaches to contemporary health problems. This is a seminar style course. Letter grade only.

This is the capstone course for the Masters in Public Health. Letter grade only. Not challengeable.

Participation in and observation of the activities of a public health agency, institution, or other organization concerned with public health and/or health services delivery. Letter grade only.