Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences

PUBH.5010 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3cr)

This course introduces core concepts of social and behavioral determinants of health and provides a foundation for the analysis of social, political and economic influences on health and their role in contributing to health inequities. The core functions of public health and essential services are discussed as well as the history of public health, its philosophy and values. Upstream and downstream reforms to addressing fundamental determinants are evaluated. The influence of behavioral and psychological factors on health and disease are analyzed.

PUBH.5021 Public Health Policy (3cr)

The course focuses on expanding students' knowledge and skills for developing and evaluating contemporary public health policy in the United States and international settings. Students will gain information about the current US national health care system as it relates to emergent public health topics and priorities in the US and globally. This course will focus on competencies for designing, implementing, evaluating and advocating for evidence-based policy, program and practices.

PUBH.5061 Environmental Health (3cr)

This environmental health course explores the links between human activities and environmental systems and examines how these interactions can impact human health. The course is designed to provide knowledge and skills necessary to understand how human and industrial activities such as population growth, methods of food production, pollution of the air and water, waste, the built environment, toxic substances, pest control, and global climate change can result in human diseases and impact the environment. Understanding the links between human activities and environmental systems is essential to developing effective prevention strategies and building sustainable communities.

PUBH.5070 Leadership and Management in Public Health (3cr)

The purpose of this course is to enhance the students' ability to effectively build and lead high-performing Public Health organizations. This course will integrate fundamental principles from the behavioral and social sciences to provide students with a coherent set of strategies and techniques to effectively collaborate with internal external stakeholders as well as to influence meaningful, sustainable change. This course will also provide students opportunities to self-reflect on their own leadership styles and develop growth plans.

PUBH.5130 Assessment and Planning in Public Health (3cr)

This course presents methods, concepts and techniques required for the identification of resources and needs, and planning of public programs and advocacy efforts to meet those a community, state, national, and global levels. Students will engage in community assessment and planning activities based on ethical and professional principles. This course will enhance skills needed for a health education specialist.

PUBH.5750 Epidemiology and Biostatistics (3cr)

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease in human populations, and the risk factors associated with diseases. This course provides an introduction to epidemiology and the associated biostatistical methods that constitute the principal quantitative methods for disease prevention. Topics include: measures of disease frequency, measures of central tendency and spread, rates and risks, precision and validity, bias, simple linear regression, and the important study designs (population surveys, cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies).

Requirements:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

PUBH.6660 MPH Practicum (3cr)

This practicum is the first of two culminating experiences in the MPH program that requires a student to apply theories and principles from coursework in a public health setting. The practicum is a planned, supervised and evaluated practice experience under the supervision of a qualified preceptor. Students meet in a seminar with a faculty member who oversees the practicum experience. Students will finish work on their final applied practice project during the practicum and integrated practical learning courses.

PUBH.6670 Integrated Practical Learning (3cr)

This course is designed as the second of two applied learning courses following PUBH.6660 MPH Practicum. It is a culminating experience for students in the MPH program. Students in this course will demonstrate the mastery of a body of public health knowledge and achievement of the MPH competencies. They will do this through completing their practicum experience and developing a high-quality written product.

PUBH.6850 Applied Public Health Research and Practice (3cr)

The focus of this course is to provide students with advanced skills necessary to collect quantitative and qualitative data for public health research and practice. Students will learn quantitative methods including questionnaire development, survey planning, data collection, data coding and data management. The course will prepare students to design, conduct, analyze and interpret qualitative research. Strategies for mixed methods research in social and behavioral sciences will be discussed.

PUBH.6860 Program Development and Implementation (3cr)

This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to systematically develop and implement public health programs. Models for program planning are utilized to inform program design. In addition to didactic work, students are guided through the creation of a program and implementation strategies to accelerate the translation of evidence into practice.

PUBH.6871 Health Communication and Technology (3cr)

Students will explore the theories and practice of communication in public health, with a particular emphasis on the role of technology in sharing public health information. The impact of social and environmental factors on the success of health messages, and the relevance of social media and other technology to positively impact issues in population health will be analyzed. The strategic and ethical use of media in developing and implementing effective public health communications is a focus of the course. The targeting of health communication campaigns to populations for the purpose of influencing behaviors and health policy will be examined.

PUBH.6910 Advanced Program Evaluation (3cr)

The focus of this course is the development of skills needed to plan, conduct, and critique evaluations. Students will learn the major principles and methods associated with systematic evaluation of public health initiatives.