Courses Master of Public Health (MPH)

This course prepares learners for master’s-level course work in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Throughout the course, learners analyze how the role of the practitioner-scholar guides leadership in the health care field and determine the ways in which they can effectively use communication strategies expected of health care professionals. In particular, learners examine the attributes that contribute to effective and ethical health care leadership, including professional collaboration, communication, inclusion, and decision making. Must be taken during the learner’s first quarter. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer.

This course provides an overview of organizational and managerial principles and practices. Learners study organizational theory and behavior, principles of evidence-based decision making, health problem analysis, intervention strategies, and monitoring and evaluation. Throughout the course, learners further develop their public health practice knowledge and gain a better understanding of specific career opportunities within health service organizations. Prerequisite(s): NHS5004, MPH5500, MPH5506.

Learners in this course develop knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods that focus on social and behavioral sciences related to public health. Learners investigate major research methods and techniques and examine how social, behavioral, and public health theories are used to develop research questions and hypotheses. In addition, learners analyze how public health research results are disseminated to appropriate audiences. Prerequisite(s): NHS5004, MPH5500, MPH5503, MPH5506, MPH5509, completion of or concurrent registration in MPH5512.

Learners in this course examine the social factors contributing to health and health care disparities on a local, regional, national, and global basis, calculating their impact on overall health status and health service use. Learners also develop community-based intervention strategies to address identified disparities.

Learners in this course work with a coach to evaluate their leadership values and vision in order to set goals that support the process of leadership development. Learners also formulate team leadership strategies that facilitate interprofessional team performance, collaboration, and networking, both inside and outside of public health organizations.

This course provides an overview of the elements of the public health system and reviews the administrative processes that foster integration and managerial effectiveness across the system. Learners study the organizational, financial, and managerial structure and function of the public health system and analyze the impact of health policy on administrative systems, including health insurance and reimbursement policy.

This course surveys the major issues related to environmental and occupational health and health hazards. Learners identify the sources of biological, chemical, and physical agents found in the environment and analyze their effects on water, food, and land resources in community and occupational settings. Learners also examine concepts about climate change, as well as the legal framework, policies, and practices associated with controlling environmental and occupational hazards.

Learners in this course explore social and behavioral science theories and concepts applied to population health. Learners identify and increase their understanding of the biological, social, economic, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence the health of individuals, populations, and subgroups. Learners also examine the resources needed to develop social and behavioral policies and public health evidenced-based programs to reduce disparities and improve health.

This course provides an introduction to the objectives, principles, and methods of biostatistics for health sciences. Topics include statistical vocabulary; methods for descriptive data analysis; fundamentals of probability and sampling distribution; methods for statistical inference and hypothesis testing; and data analysis and linear regression for continuous, binary, and survival data.

This course provides an overview of epidemiology, including an evaluation of the nature of disease; the interaction among agent, host, and environment; and the chain of transmission. Learners examine epidemiological research methods for identifying and describing variables, evaluate measures of disease occurrence, determine key data sources, and formulate interventions to control disease occurrence and transmission. Prerequisite(s): MPH5509.

In this course, learners examine issues that impact health and health equity while advocating for political, social, and economic change to improve health in diverse populations. Learners investigate and implement systems improvements to create sustainable change that leads to social justice, and empower others to influence public health outcomes and equality for all. Learners also propose strategies for different audiences and stakeholders while intentionally addressing these issues and measuring the impact on current and future generations. Prerequisite(s): MPH5500, MPH5503, MPH5506, MPH5509.

The first in a series of two public health practicum courses, this course is an online-directed, supervised experience during which learners fulfill a minimum of 40 required practicum hours over the course of one academic quarter at an approved public health agency of interest. Learners collaborate with their instructor to develop and complete agreedupon goals and objectives and demonstrate and apply proficiency in the program’s core and CEPH competencies. Learners conclude the experience by preparing a presentation for approval by the instructor and preceptor. Special permission is required for registration. Grading for this course is S/NS. Prerequisite(s): NHS5004, MPH5100, MPH5500, MPH5503, MPH5506, MPH5509, MPH5512. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer.

The second in a series of two public health practicum courses, this course is an online-directed, supervised experience during which learners fulfill a minimum of 40 required practicum hours over the course of one academic quarter at an approved public health agency of interest. Learners collaborate with their instructor to develop and complete agreed-upon goals and objectives and demonstrate and apply proficiency in the program’s core and CEPH competencies. Learners conclude the experience by preparing a presentation for approval by the instructor and preceptor. Grading for this course is S/NS.  Prerequisite(s): MPH5921. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer.

Learners in this course focus on applying the knowledge, competencies, and skills acquired during their program. Learners demonstrate proficiency in understanding evidence- and practice-based strategies in public health; interpreting biostatistical results and concepts and the fundamentals of epidemiology methods and concepts concerning public health disparities; and analyzing environmental, behavioral, social, and cultural determinants that affect a community’s health. Prerequisite(s): NHS5004, MPH5100, MPH5500, MPH5503, MPH5506, MPH5509, MPH5512, MPH5921. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer.

This course helps learners develop and demonstrate concepts, principles, issues, and trends in health care economics and the economic decision-making practices employed in the health care environment. Learners analyze the political, legal, regulatory, organizational, demographical, and multicultural implications of business decisions on health care economics; explore the ways economic and stakeholder influences affect operational planning and decision making; and practice applying performance monitoring and process management measures as part of the decision-making process. Learners also examine cost-effective problem solving; community- and population-based orientation; and effective use of health care market research, analysis, and assessment.