Master's of Public Health Program
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Masters in Public Health (M.P.H.)
MPH Core Competencies - Courses Addressing Competencies
Biostatistics HK 51000 Quantitative Methods of Public Health
Acquaints students with the basic concepts and methods of statistics, their applications, and their interpretation as used in public health. Students learn basic terminology and its meaning, how to calculate various statistical measures and indices, how to quantify health relationships, and how to compute and interpret inferential statistical techniques. Students will acquire the ability to utilize the statistical software package SAS as a tool to facilitate the processing, editing, storing, displaying, analysis, and interpretation of health research-related data.
Epidemiology HK 56700 Epidemiology for Public Health Practice
This course presents the fundamental principles, methods, and applications of epidemiology, including the quantification of morbidity, mortality, and disease risk. Epidemiologic study designs and the use of public health vital statistics, disease transmission evidence, and risk assessment data are explored. Historically significant epidemiological cases provide a framework for the application of ethical principles to epidemiologic research. This course meets the epidemiology core competency requirement for the Master's in Public Health (MPH) degree.
Environmental Health Sciences HK 57500 Introduction to Environmental Health*
An introduction to chemical, physical, or biological factors in the environment that affect the health of the community. This course examines health issues, scientific understanding of causes, and approaches to the control of major environmental health problems in industrialized and developing countries. This is a core course for the Master's in Public Health (MPH).
Social and Behavioral Health HK 67600 Theoretical Foundations of Health Behavior
Examines the theoretical foundations of health behavior. Emphasizes the development of a conceptual framework for understanding and facilitating behavior enhancement, elimination, and/or maintenance in health promotion and education. Focuses on current theories regarding health-related behaviors.
Public Health Administration HK 68700 Public Health Administration
An introduction to the principals of management as applied to public health organizations, particularly local health departments. Topics include the organization of the U.S. public health system, legal and ethical obligations of public health administrators, the public health workforce and human resource issues, public health budgeting and finance, and leadership in the public health agency. The course is designed to introduce master's level students in public health to the management skills necessary to successfully implement a public health program.
Internship HK 59200 Public Health Practicum
This course integrates public health theory and practice in a professional setting. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts from core and concentration courses, conduct projects, and interact with a range of professionals in the designated setting.
Community Health Concentration Courses
Competencies include assessment-of-need, planning, administration and evaluation of community-based public health interventions.
HK 67500 Design and Analysis of Public Health Interventions
Professional competencies in design, implementation, evaluation and diffusion of health health interventions in community settings. Program planning paradigms, determinants of health behavior, and behavior change strategies serve as a basis for analyzing health interventions.
HK 57600 Diversity and Health
This course is designed to examine the health status and the politics of representation of the U.S. ethnic minorities (e.g., African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Alaskans, etc.). Emphasis is placed on factors that influence health and health-related behaviors. The course is intended to provide students with an overview of historical, political, social, and cultural factors related to the health behavior and status of minority groups in American society.
HK 58100 International Health
An introduction to public health priorities from an international perspective, recognizing the interdependent nature of health promotion and disease prevention issues across diverse regions and populations. Students analyze historical, epidemiological, environmental, ecological, and behavioral influences on population health status. Technological advances in communication, travel, medicine, and industry have dramatically shaped global health priorities. Using contemporary public health theories and analytic models, students examine population health determinants, contrasting industrialized and developing countries and how these influence health goals established by public health institutions, such as the World Health Organization, philanthropic foundations, and governmental agencies.
HK 62100 Seminar in Public Health
Critical analysis of current issues in public health, with emphasis on reviewing current literature and research pertinent to community public health programs.
Additional HK Public Health Courses
HK 52700 Weight Management and Eating Disorders
Examination of current theories of, research into, and therapeutic approaches to eating disorders. Emphasis on adult obesity, with a secondary focus on anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Concentration on design and evaluation of treatment programs.
HK 56600 Biomedical Principles Public Health
Biological foundation underlying priority actions related to public health promotion and disease prevention. Review of current professional literature in preventive medicine/public health promotion. Development of critical thinking skills to distinguish health information based on scientific inquiry.
HK 57100 Health Counseling
Interview and health counseling techniques associated with implementing and operating health promotion programs. Emphasizes the practical application of such strategies as empathic and active listening, assertiveness skills, behavior change principles, and social problem-solving methods.
HK 62500 Physical Activity and Public Health
In this course students will be exposed to epidemiological, behavioral, and public health issues relevant to effective promotion of physical activity. The course is appropriate for students training to be practitioners or researchers from a range of disciplines including exercise science, nutrition, psychology, and public health. Major topic areas will include physical activity epidemiology, determinants of physical activity in youth and adults, and current evidence for physical activity interventions ranging from individual, behavioral strategies, to environmental or policy approaches.
HK 68600 Theories and Concepts of Stress Management
Development of a conceptual understanding of stress and stress management. A seminar focused on the review of literature regarding psychophysiology of stress, relationship between stress and disease, and methods of preventing/relieving stress, models of stress research, and issues surrounding stress research methodology. Prerequisite: BIOL 20300, 20400. Permission of instructor required.
HK 68800 Health Policy in the United States
Examines the formation, implementation, and evaluation of health policies, with emphasis on the legislative and regulatory processes that are involved. Discusses legislation in areas specific to public health promotion. Students are encouraged to consider their role in future policy initiatives