Public Health Core Courses

PHCO 0501 Health Systems and Policy (3) Against the background of changes in population health, this course introduces the history, organization, financing, and regulation of medical and public health services in the United States. Special emphasis is placed on the social and behavioral factors that shape health and inequalities in health and health services. A central theme is the tension between the need for health care organizations to position themselves for success in the changing economic environment and the basic public health principles of access, equity, quality care, health promotion, and prevention. This course is offered at all school locations.

PHCO 0502 Principles and Methods of Epidemiology (3) Introduces students to the study of disease and ill health through their patterns of occurrence in human populations. The approaches of epidemiology in estimating the burden of disease; in making inferences about cause of disease; and in evaluating primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies are presented. Prerequisite: Quantitative Skill Assessment Test. This course is offered at all school locations.

PHCO 0503 Introduction to Environmental Health (3) Please note this course is taught exclusively in-person or mostly online, as announced. This course explores the ways in which particular characteristics of our environment potentially affect health. Examines health problems associated with biological, chemical, physical, and radiological agents, and how they impact food safety, infectious disease, air quality (indoor/outdoor), water quality, and land resources in community and occupational settings. Also, policies intended to improve public health through mitigation of environmental impacts are reviewed. This course is offered at all school locations.

PHCO 0504 Introduction to Biostatistics (3) An introduction to biostatistical concepts and methods commonly encountered by public health professionals. Students are also expected to complete several computer-based exercises for this course. Prerequisite: Quantitative Skill Assessment Test. This course is offered at all school locations.

PHCO 0505 Social and Behavioral Health Sciences in Public Health (3) Introduces the M.P.H. student to learning and behavioral science principles, theories, and practices that provide the framework for the practice of health education. Students will be introduced to health education in a public health context, will be required to perform tasks frequently requested of health educators, and will be introduced to nationally endorsed competencies of certified health education specialists. This course is offered at all school locations.

PHCO 0508 Issues in Introduction to Environmental Health (1) Explores the ways in which particular characteristics of our environment potentially affect our health. Examines health problems associated with biological, chemical, physical, and radiological agents and how they impact food safety, infectious disease, air quality (indoors, outdoors), water quality, wastewater and solid waste (hazardous and nonhazardous) management, and land resources in community and occupational settings. Also, policies intended to improve public health through mitigation of environmental impacts will be reviewed. Prerequisite: Student must be in the M.S. or Ph.D. program of study. Pass/fail course.

PHCO 0510 Issues in Social and Behavioral Health Sciences (1) Introduces the Ph.D. student to behavioral science principles, theories, and practices that provide the framework for the practice of public health education. Students will be introduced to fundamental principles of behavioral science in the public health context and current trends and issues in behavioral science research and methods. Prerequisite: Student must be in the M.S. or Ph.D. program of study. Pass/fail course.

PHCO 0511 Issues in Health Systems and Policy (1) A series of five, three-hour lectures covering salient features of the U.S. health care system and critical issues in health care delivery and policy. It is intended for doctoral students specializing in areas other than health systems and policy (HSAP). The specific focus of the lectures is as follows: Overview: What Every Doctoral Student Should Know About the U.S. Health Care System; Reforming the U.S. Health Care System; Health Care Markets and Providers; State and Local Governments and Public Health; Determinants of Risky Health Behaviors and Their Implications. Prerequisite: Student must be in the M.S. or Ph.D. program of study. Pass/fail course.

PHCO 0512 Public Health Foundations (3) This course will introduce M.S. and Ph.D. students to the general principles, theories, and practices of public health. Students will be introduced to history and functions of public health, strategies and methods used in public health research, and the determinants of health. Prerequisite: Student must be in the M.S. in biostatistics or Ph.D. program of study.

PHCO 0513 Public Health Essentials (3) This course will introduce M.P.H. students to the general leadership and management principles, theories, and practices in public health. Students will be also be introduced to cultural competence and interprofessional education, as well as develop basic negotiation and mediation skills. This course is offered at all school locations.

PHCO 0514 Public Health Foundations for MS-HOPE (1) This course will introduce MS-HOPE students to the core functions of public health, globalization and its effects on disease, as well as the biological, genetic, environmental, behavioral, and psychological factors that affect a population's health. Students will also gain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health, and ecosystem health (e.g., One Health). Prerequisite: Student must be in the M.S.-HOPE program of study.