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Public Health Course Descriptions
PUBH 500 Epidemiology I
Four Hours: 4 Credits
This course introduces epidemiological definitions, review of vital statistics
and other sources of public health data, methods for calculating distributions
and behavior of diseases, rates of morbidity and mortality, sensitivity
and specificity, and life tables.
PUBH 501 Biostatistics I
Four Hours: 4 Credits
This is the basic course in Biostatistics, which will cover rates and
ratios, graphical presentation of data, measures of central tendency and
dispersion, probability, probability distributions, sampling distributions,
estimations, confidence interval, estimation of sample size, odds ratios,
and relative risks with application in health related data.
PUBH 502 Introduction to Behavioral Health
Sciences
Four Hours: 4 Credits
Fundamental elements and concepts of community health education, health
promotion and disease prevention; their association with social, behavioral,
and physical sciences in relation to health maintenance, optimal health,
disease prevention and control of various forms of community health problems.
PUBH 503 Introduction to Policy and Health
Services Planning and Management
Four Hours: 4 Credits
This course includes an overview of the basic institutions and key health
policy issues which shape the current health care delivery system in America,
including a basic analysis of providers and consumers of health care.
The capacity and interrelationship of federal, state, and local public
health agencies will be explored with emphasis placed on the core public
health functions which promote the health improvement imperative for all
individuals and communities.
PUBH 504 Introduction to Public Health and
Health Disparities
Four Hours: 4 Credits
The course provides an introduction to the history of public health as
well as the science, politics, and health care agencies at the federal,
state, and local levels. These agencies are examined regarding their legislative
mandate, budget, scope of services, and future directions. The varying
ideologies by which public health services are delivered will also be
examined.
PUBH 506 Environmental Health
Four Hours: 4 Credits
This course examines the effects of biological, chemical, and physical
environmental agents on humans. The course will focus on the health issues,
scientific understanding of causes, and approaches to control of environmental
health problems. Students will develop an understanding of the effects
of various environmental issues on the health of populations.
PUBH 510 Principles, Theories, and Practice
of Community Health Education
Three Hours: 3 Credits
The purpose of this course is to give students an opportunity to acquire
knowledge and understanding of the principles, models, and theories utilized
in health education and health promotion, disease prevention, research,
program planning, and development.
PUBH 512 Biological Basis of Public Health
Module
O Hours: 0 Credits
Students will gain an understanding of the basic pathophysiology, natural
history, clinical manifestation, prevention and control of common chronic
and communicable diseases prevalent in domestic urban environments.
PUBH 514 Health and Safety Hazards of the
Workplace
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course is a prevention-focused course for graduate students that
emphasize the identification of chemical, biologic, physical, ergonomic,
psychological, and safety hazards at work; the identification of environmental
monitoring methods; selection of health surveillance and safety measures;
and discussion of methods to control exposures and injuries in the workplace.
PUBH 601 Epidemiology II
Three Hours: 3 Credits
The course focuses on a comprehensive review of the distribution and determinants
of disease in human populations. Special attention will be given to understanding
the basis for interventions designed to modify and curb disease's natural
progression and the applications of epidemiology to major health issues.
Topics include sampling methods, study designs, outcomes measurement,
communicating results of epidemiological studies and policy development
and implementation. Prerequisite: Completion of PUBH 500 Epidemiology
I or its equivalent.
PUBH 603 Public Health Community Needs Solutions
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course allows students to understand the methods used to develop
and implement community assessments. Following analysis of data, the course
will focus on drawing conclusions and providing recommendations for community-related
programs.
PUBH 604 Research Methods I
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course examines issues in conceptualizing and determining the appropriate
study design for research problems, strengths, and weaknesses of research
designs, review processes for preparation of proposals including budgeting
for research and program grants.
PUBH 605 Policy, Advocacy, and Ethics
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course is designed to provide students with the concepts and complexities
of policy, ethics, and advocacy presented in public health and research.
The principal features, critical ideological issues, development of the
future national and global policy, and contemporary public health issues
will be discussed.
PUBH 608 Substance Abuse in Minority Populations
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course will acquaint the student with theories of addiction that
aim to elucidate causes of drug and alcohol use/abuse. Additionally, students
will learn about the impact of substance use/abuse on special populations
and communities (e.g., women, African Americans), and will examine and
critique the strategies for preventing the problem of substance use/abuse.
PUBH 609 Biostatistics II
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This is the second course in the series of Biostatistics, which covers
tests of hypotheses (the means, the proportions and the variances), type
I and type II errors, non-parametric tests, chi-square, one-way and two-way
ANOVA, simple and multiple correlation, and linear and multiple regression,
with applications in health-related data. Prerequisite: Completion of
PUBH 501 Biostatistics I or its equivalent.
PUBH 610 Public Health Research and Systems
Thinking
Three Hours: 3 Credits
Examine issues in conceptualizing and determining the appropriate study
design for research problems, strengths and weaknesses of research designs,
review processes for preparation of a grant for the MPH student.
PUBH 613 Public Health Nutrition and Family
Health Issues in Urban Communities
Three Hours: 3 Credits
The course focuses on the relationship between diet and health with the
goal of providing a foundation for informed dietary decisions as well
as an appreciation of the strengths and limitations of the present knowledge
of nutritional science. The nutritional needs of different populations
will be studied and the way in which public policy programs affect these
needs will be explored.
PUBH 615 Public Health Seminar
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course is designed to provide an opportunity for students to be exposed to current topics in public health practice and research. This course will be team taught each week to critically review the literature in public health.
PUBH 617 Application of Statistical Packages
in Public Health
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course will introduce and promote mastery of SPSS and STATA software
in the construction of simple and complete data sets and the analysis
of data. The course is designed to make application of knowledge gained
in Biostatistics courses to the analysis of epidemiological data. Prerequisites:
PUBH 501 Biostatistics I, PUBH 609 Biostatistics II, and completion of
the comprehensive examination or consent of instructor.
PUBH 618 Community Outreach: Public Health
Issues and Principles
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course allows advanced students the opportunity to apply theories
and models of public health to the solution of community problems. Issues
related to funding for public health programs are also discussed.
PUBH 708 Research Methods II
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course continues to examine issues in determining the appropriate
study design for research problems, strengths and weaknesses of research
designs, and review processes for preparation of grants. Prerequisite:
PUBH 604 Research Methods I.
PUBH 709 Biostatistics III
Four Hours: 4 Credits
This is an advanced level course in Biostatistics. The course will cover
simple and multiple regression; hypotheses testing in multiple regression;
confounding and interactions; residual analysis; treating of outliers
and colinearity; the use of dummy variables; logistic regression estimation
and interpretation; and survival analysis. Pre-requisites: Completion
of PUBH 501 Biostatistics I and PUBH 609 Biostatistics II, or its equivalent.
PUBH 710 Strategies for Health Promotion,
Planning, and Program Development
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course focuses on the concepts and issues in health promotion and
program development with the emphasis on modifying group and individual
high-risk behaviors which includes planning, program development, and
implementation of preventive health services. Topics will also include
the Healthy People 2010 objectives as the framework for addressing programming
demands.
PUBH 711 Public Health Principles of Social
Marketing
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course will examine issues in the relationship between public health
marketing methodology and social systems using qualitative methods. Individual
knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices that can be used to develop
public health messages and marketing strategies that influence healthy
behavior will be analyzed.
PUBH 712 Health Policy, Politics, and Law
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course includes a description and critical evaluation of major public
and private attempts to change the organization, delivery, and financing
of health care in the U.S. Contemporary political issues are discussed
with reference to legislative attempts to effect changes in specific aspects
of population health, and the rationale for such change or policy modification.
PUBH 713 Community and Social Epidemiology
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course introduces students to the basic principles for assessment
of psychosocial determinants within communities unduly burdened by health
disparities. Topics include research ethics, design and implementation
methodologies appropriate for community-based entities, including non
profit, public, and private CBO and FBO agencies.
PUBH 716 Introduction to Complementary and
Alternative Medicine in Public Health
Three Hours: 3 Credits
The course will introduce students to historical and contemporary issues
facing the use and practice of CAM modalities, globally and in the United
States. Topics covered include an overview of the basic concepts and characteristics
of CAM; historical perspectives of complementary health practice and development
of integrated health care; factors influencing CAM use and practice; ethical
issues in biomedical CAM research; federal regulation and policies related
to the access and practice of CAM.
PUBH 717 Bioterrorism as a Public Health Problem
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course will increase student understanding of the political, economical,
and cultural implications of Bioterrorism and the government's role in
preparing and protecting Americans. The course will emphasize the cultural
implications of an all-hazards approach to disaster preparedness, response,
and recovery planning.
PUBH 718 Maternal, Child, and Family Health
Epidemiology
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course will provide an in-depth analytical framework of the epidemiology
of maternal and child health (MCH) from pre-conception to late adolescence
to pregnancy. Factors contributing to pregnancy decision-making, adverse
pregnancy outcomes, and early and late childhood growth and development
will be systematically reviewed. In addition, geographic, environmental,
demographic, behavioral, genetic, and medical impacts on pregnancy outcomes
will be presented.
PUBH 719 Critical Public Health Issues on
Minority Drug Use
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course provides a comprehensive review of drug problems among minority
and underserved populations in the U.S., and in Maryland, and provides
opportunities to review, discuss, and develop alternative solutions to
health disparities and hazards associated with substance use.
PUBH 720 Qualitative Research in Public Health
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course will focus on the use of both quantitative and qualitative
methodologies to answer research questions. It will discuss the epistemology
of both research designs, describe the evaluation of mixed method utilization,
contrast and compare the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative and quantitative
methods, assess how to match specific methods to the appropriate research
questions, and critically analyze the controversy regarding the integrity
of the methods. Lastly, the course will provide opportunities for developing
specific qualitative research skills while gaining familiarity with theories,
issues, and problems in qualitative research.
SPECIAL STUDIES COURSES
PUBH 714 Special Studies
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course will examine special topics in the field of public health.
The specific course content and faculty will vary each semester. Topics
will vary from semester to semester to address contemporary population
issues.
PUBH 715 Research Seminar and Public Health
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This course will provide an opportunity for students to critically examine
current literature related to public health problems, understand the role
and value of academic/institutional sponsored research, discuss issues
and concepts relevant to public health and begin to examine critically
the scientific merit of at least one research project within the School
of Public Health and Policy.
PUBH 999 Research
Three Hour: 3 Credits
This course will examine special topics in the field of public health.
The specific course content and faculty will vary each semester. Student
evaluation will be based on class participation and assigned projects.
Topics will vary from semester to semester to address contemporary population
issues.
INTERNSHIP PRACTICE COURSES
PUBH 551 Application of Public Health Principles
(Internship I)
One Hour: 1 Credit
This web-enhanced course is intended for new or beginning MPH practitioners
with limited or no experience in the health care marketplace. The focus
of the course is the application of public health principles and skills
to practical problems with supervision provided by an agency mentor and
faculty advisor. Acquiring competency in assessment, goal-setting and
planning is the intended outcome for the student. Prerequisites: Completion
of all core courses or its equivalent.
PUBH 651 Practicum Experience in the Field
(Internship II)
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This web-enhanced course is intended for MPH practitioners with previous
work experience in the health care industry. Acquiring competency in developing
a strategy, analyzing the process, and implementing the plan for an identified
public health problem is the intended outcome for the student. Prerequisites:
Completion of all core courses or its equivalent.
PUBH 751 Practicum Experience Synthesis (Internship
III)
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This web-enhanced course is an advanced level practicum intended for MPH
or DrPH practitioners with extensive previous work experience in the health
care industry. Acquiring competency in leadership and systems skills and
policy development/program planning skills is the intended outcome for
the student. Prerequisites: Completion of all core courses or its equivalent.
RESEARCH REQUIRED COURSES
PUBH 607 Integrating Experience
Three Hours: 3 Credits
This web-enhanced course is intended to be the capstone experience for
all MPH students. This course provides students an opportunity to demonstrate
their ability to integrate and apply core MPH competencies to a relevant
public health problem. The framework for development of the Integrating
Experience may include one of four options for the student: Program Evaluation
Proposal; Program Plan; Problem Solving Analysis; or a Research Report.
The students' process culminates in the last semester when students present
their final projects in a formal symposium. The students' deliverables
for this course are a practicum paper, a scientific presentation, and
a professional poster session held during the annual symposium organized
for this course.
PUBH 797 Thesis Guidance
Two Hours: 2 Credits
Provides the MPH student with continuous faculty supervision until the
thesis is approved by the departmental committee. Thesis Guidance courses
earn "S" grades.
PUBH 798 Thesis Seminar
Three Hours: 3 Credits
Provides the MPH student with group and one-on-one study between the student
and thesis advisor. The advisor will provide the student with the framework
for researching and writing a topic of mutual agreement. The grade is
"CS" until the thesis is completed and approved. When the thesis
is completed, a letter grade is awarded.
PUBH 997 Dissertation Guidance
Three Hours: 3 Credits
Provides the DrPH student with continuous faculty supervision until the
dissertation is approved by the departmental committee. The grade automatically
becomes "S." No other grade is permitted.
PUBH 998 Dissertation Seminar
Six hours: 6 Credits
Provides the DrPH student with group and one-on-one study between the
student and the dissertation advisor. The advisor will provide the student
with the framework for researching and writing a topic of mutual agreement.
The grade for this course is "CS" while the dissertation is
still in progress. When the dissertation is accepted or completed, a letter
grade is awarded.
