Department of Public Health

HLTH 5097. Special Topics in Health. 3 Hours.

Students acquire professional knowledge and skills through an advanced research, grant, data analytic / surveillance, health quality, or program development / evaluation project with a Public Health or Health Care Quality and Safety faculty or professional. The focus and credit hours of the project will be approved by the graduate coordinator. Variable Credit (1 to 3).
Prerequisite: Permission of graduate coordinator.

HLTH 5317. Case Studies in Occupational Epidemiology. 3 Hours.

Students focus on epidemiology and its applications to healthcare facility quality and safety with an emphasis on the complex issues related to healthcare quality and safety, and the effects of policies on health quality and safety.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.

HLTH 5318. Current Topics in Environmental Health. 3 Hours.

Students focus on current environmental health issues that are fundamental in the field of public health. Students learn to apply and analyze the complex issues related to environmental health with a focus on research and policy implications.

HLTH 5331. Foundations of Community Health. 3 Hours.

Students apply the epidemiological, biostatistical methods of investigation to international, national, state, and local health issues. Additionally, the historical and philosophical foundations of community health are presented with an orientation to current health programs, medical care trends, and health problems experienced by diverse populations.

HLTH 5332. Human Ecology. 3 Hours.

Students study the major factors which determine health or illness, including how populations respond to various determinants of health including lifestyle, heredity, environment, and health care resources.

HLTH 5333. Colloquium in Human Sexuality. 3 Hours.

Students study all of the factors influencing growth and development with a consideration of the special problems, including developing family life, sexuality issues, intimate relationships, and the cultural impact they have on society.

HLTH 5334. Colloquium in Use and Abuse of Drugs. 3 Hours.

Student are presented a value education approach to the prevention of drug use and abuse is along with personal, family, community and school factors influencing drug use. The origins and derivations of drugs are explored. The mental, emotional, physical, social and physiological effects from the use of drugs are analyzed.

HLTH 5338. Colloquium in Consumer Health Education. 3 Hours.

Students study consumer goods and services as related to the health of individuals, their families, and their communities. Marketing principles for health promotion and current health care bioethical issues are addressed.

HLTH 5350. Public Health and Social Justice. 3 Hours.

This course examines the relationship between social justice and public health through the analysis of the social determinants of health in at-risk populations. Students describe, measure, and evaluate the consequences of societal injustices; critically analyze public policies, interventions, and services; and apply community-based methods for reducing population health inequities.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Master of Public Health Program, or permission of instructor.

HLTH 5351. Immigrant and Refugee Health. 3 Hours.

This course provides an integrative framework for analyzing the mental, physical, social, and health issues of immigrants, refugees, and migrant populations. Students analyze population health issues facing these diverse groups; the effect of their home country on their level and quality of health; the cultural, social, and religious barriers to health; the ramification of war zones and humanitarian crises; the effect of man-made and natural disasters in their home country; and the legal and economic constraints to health and social services in the US and other countries.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Master of Public Health Program, or permission of instructor.

HLTH 5353. Epidemiology. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on the role and importance of epidemiology in public health research and practice, and investigates the pathways and mechanisms in which diseases are transmitted within populations of people and communities. The course applies epidemiological principles to the investigation of disease outbreaks and their source, injury related data, and the prevention of the future recurrence of the disease through universal measures. Students will integrate epidemiological terminology, research methods, critical thinking, and basic analyses into disease distributions in the public health sector. Diseases discussed range from sudden-onset infectious diseases to non-infectious chronic diseases.
Prerequisite: Admission to Master of Public Health Program.

HLTH 5355. Health Services Administration. 3 Hours.

Students are introduced to the domain of health care administration and management. Topics discussed in the course may include organizational theories, leadership strategies, human resource constructs, ethical issues, and marketing initiatives. The content of the course serves as a foundation to the graduate programs in Health.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

HLTH 5360. Communication Theory and Practice for Health Professionals. 3 Hours.

Students engage in a laboratory experience built around research on motivational concepts as they influence changes, perception, attitudes, values and behavior. Diffusion patterns, group discussion, decision-making, and interviewing techniques will be covered. Attention is given to the selection, use, and evaluation of media, materials, visual aids, press, radio, mass media, etc.

HLTH 5361. Social and Behavioral Determinants of Public Health. 3 Hours.

Students study the history, philosophy, and practices of Health Education. Exploration and application of behavioral science concepts and methodologies to community health education and in-service training of health professionals. Case studies and other practice models are used.

HLTH 5363. Management and Leadership for Health Professionals. 3 Hours.

This course is designed for the individual who will assume some type of supervisory position in health promotion or sports management. The course's focal point involves exposure to administrative skills required of those who serve in a leadership capacity.

HLTH 5365. Aging and Health Promotion. 3 Hours.

Students engage in a discussion of health promotion issues for the elderly, including physical assessment, chronic care, health care maintenance, psychological adaptation, nutrition, and other current topics.

HLTH 5371. Health Care Quality & Safety. 3 Hours.

Students are introduced to foundational concepts in the domain of health care quality and safety. The fundamental topics discussed in the course may include the elements of patient safety and satisfaction, measures for improving organizational and patient quality, accountability standards, and the system approach for continuous improvement. The course is intended to be taken during the graduate student's first year in the program.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

HLTH 5373. Risk Management in Health Care Organizations. 3 Hours.

Students study the management and mitigation of risk in the health care environment. Topics may include process analysis using Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), root cause analysis, and the reporting of data relating to risk management. The management constructs of monitoring and reporting, risk prevention, and communication strategies to minimize risk and injuries in the health care environment are also covered.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, admission to the program, and HLTH 5371.

HLTH 5374. Research Seminar. 3 Hours.

Students study research techniques, identification of problems, research designs, and data gathering procedures. Students develop a proposal for a research project.

HLTH 5375. Statistical Design in Health. 3 Hours.

Students study the principles of advanced statistical techniques and measurement theory with emphasis upon their applications to Health, Kinesiology, and related areas.

HLTH 5376. Public Health Biostatistics. 3 Hours.

This applied biostatistics course focuses on the development and application of statistical reasoning and methods in addressing, analyzing, and solving problems in public health; health care; and biomedical, clinical and population-based research. The course provides students with the ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret, and apply statistical concepts for exploring, describing, reorganizing, and analyzing public health data to obtain insight about populations from which data were drawn. Students examine data description and exploratory data analysis used in health-related journals, develop and design medical and health studies, analyze and articulate the role of statistical inference in public health and medical studies, and apply statistical methods for evaluating the association of factors with health outcomes. Credit: 3.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of one college level course in statistics with a grade of "C" or higher prior to enrollment, or with approval of instructor.

HLTH 5377. Independent Studies. 3 Hours.

The student with specific interest and background experience in a specialized area will have the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in a laboratory situation. The student may have practical experiences in a clinic, agency, special school or other types of institutions.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Graduate Coordinator.

HLTH 5378. Health Care Informatics. 3 Hours.

Students are provided an in-depth study of digital technologies in health information management systems. Topics discussed in the course may include approaches to data acquisition, storage systems, retrieval constructs, analysis of information, and technological use to provide information to drive decisions that address opportunities and problems in health care organizations.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

HLTH 5380. Global Health Partnerships. 3 Hours.

Students analyze health problems, policies, and challenges beyond national boundaries that require cooperative actions of global partners and multilateral agencies. Students investigate current and emerging global health priorities, infectious diseases, poverty, political conflicts, manmade and natural disasters, emergencies, health inequities, health system reform, and major global initiatives for disease prevention and health promotion. The course content and assignments provide students with the comprehensive contexts for linking the global developmental issues to social justice.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Master of Public Health Program, or permission of instructor.

HLTH 5381. Health Economics and Finance. 3 Hours.

Students explore and analyze select financial management topics commonly used in nonprofit health care organizations including health care related economics principles, not-for-profit accounting statements, and financial project selection techniques. Credits: 3.

HLTH 5384. Quality and Safety Public Reporting Systems. 3 Hours.

Students focus on the quality and safety reporting requirements that foster continued improvement and financial efficiencies by making publicly available report cards and rankings of providers. Students access, manipulate, and create customized reports on health service delivery settings as requested by federal and state governmental entities and accreditation organizations. In addition, students prepare plans of action to manage public perception of report cards and to lead evidence-based organizational initiatives for improvement of quality and safety measures. Credit 3 hours.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.

HLTH 6098. Thesis I. 1-3 Hours.

This phase of the thesis investigation includes the completion of the review of the related literature, formulation of the research design and procedures and related pilot studies. Some data collection may also occur, and the thesis symposium must be completed to the satisfaction of the advisor and members of the thesis committee. Variable Credit (1 to 3). Course Equivalents: HLTH 6398 .

HLTH 6099. Thesis II. 1-3 Hours.

This phase of the thesis work includes the completion of the data collection, as well as the actual writing and defense of the thesis. Variable Credit (1 to 3). Course Equivalents: HLTH 6399 .

HLTH 6352. Public Health Grant Writing. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to provide students with the competencies required to be successful in the health grant writing process. The course discusses the procedures to locate appropriate funding agencies and requests for proposals, the process of interpreting the grant instructions, and the methodology necessary to complete the required sections of the grant narrative. In addition, the course includes an introduction to the electronic grant submission process and the forms required by funding agencies.
Prerequisite: HLTH 5355 and HLTH 6396, or permission of instructor.

HLTH 6365. Health Care Policy. 3 Hours.

Students examine the impact of managed care, the dynamics of competition in the healthcare industry, and the role of government in medical care. Students investigate forces pressuring for change in healthcare, and the reasons why the health system has evolved to its current state. Emphasis is placed on the role of the Affordable Care Act (2010) and how healthcare reform and related legislation and regulation influences the manner in which the public pays for and receives its medical services.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Master of Public Health Program, or permission of instructor.

HLTH 6371. Advanced Concepts in Health Care Quality. 3 Hours.

In this advanced course in health care quality and safety, students use a systems approach to examine quality philosophies and frameworks with a focus on design, validation, quality measure applications, metrics for processes and outcomes, benchmarking concepts, strategic quality management, and the management of human factors.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, 3 Hours of Statistics, and HLTH 5371.

HLTH 6373. Leading Change in Health Care Organizations. 3 Hours.

Students focus on advanced theoretical concepts and applications in the areas of leadership, organizational development, team building, change management, and the particular challenges involved with leading change in health care organizations. The effects of the culture of change initiatives are examined as well as approaches to motivating organizations to create more openness to the capacity of change through competent leadership.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.

HLTH 6384. Health Quality & Safety Capstone. 3 Hours.

This culminating course is designed to integrate all of the contextual material from the coursework included in the MS in Health Care Quality and Safety program. Emphasis is placed on the assimilation and application of health information, organizational processes, continuous improvement constructs, and operational and patient safety strategies. This course includes a student capstone project that focuses on assessment, planning, and evaluation about an emerging healthcare quality and safety issue. HLTH 6384 serves as the comprehensive exam component for the MS in Health Care Quality and Safety Degree. Students must earn a "B" or higher in the course to be eligible for graduation.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, admission to the program, completion of HLTH 5355, HLTH 5371, HLTH 5373, HLTH 5378, HLTH 5384, and HLTH 6373.

HLTH 6396. Health Program Planning/ Pre-Capstone. 3 Hours.

Students engage in a comprehensive review of the components of health program planning with emphasis on the socio-economical, cultural, and political factors that influence the health status of a community. Emphasis is focused on a comprehensive approach to health program planning and behavior change models.

HLTH 6397. Public Health Capstone / Practicum. 3 Hours.

Students engage in a professional field experience conducted in an approved setting for health education within the medical community, workplace or school setting. The 300 hour practicum is facilitated under the supervision of a qualified health educator or approved preceptor. HLTH 6397 serves as a comprehensive exam component for the MPH program. Students must earn a "B" or higher in the course to be eligible for graduation.