Department of Behavioral Sciences and Community Health

Frank Baker, Ph.D.
Department Chair

M.P.H. Program - Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion

Dr. Martin K. Diner, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.,
Program Director

Chia-Ching Chen, EdD, CHES
Director of Health Education

	School of Public Health Departments/Programs:
		Department of Behavioral Sciences and Community Health
		Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion
		Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
		Epidemiology (M.P.H.)
		Epidemiology (Dr.P.H.)
		Department of Disability and Human Development
		Department of Environmental Health Science
		Department of Health Policy and Management
		Health Policy Management (DrPH)
		Health Policy Management (M.P.H.)
		Department of Physical Therapy
		Department of Speech-Language Pathology

The following courses are all 3 credits, unless otherwise noted.

 M.P.H. Curriculum - 46 credits

1. Required courses: 22 credits
   
   Health Care in the United States
   Health Economics
   Behavioral and Social Factors in Public Health
   Environmental Influences on Human Health
   Introduction to Biostatistics
   Introduction to Epidemiology
   Thesis
   Practicum (1 credit)
   
2. Required concentration courses: 12 credits
   
   Principles and Techniques of Behavior Change
   Stress and Health
   Fundamentals of Research Methodology
   Health Program Planning and Evaluation
    
3. For Practicum and electives (12 credits): see program director

A graduate of the MPH program in Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion must satisfy the competencies listed below:

1. Identify the major behavioral sources of morbidity and mortality including poor stress management, and failure to use seat belts.
2. Describe the major theories and techniques for changing lifestyle health behaviors.
3. Compare the strengths and limitations of major theories in designing different types of health behavior interventions.
4. Describe the major issues in health education and effecting change in individuals, groups, and communities.
5. Apply principles and theories of behavioral change to attempting to change one of their behaviors and that of another person.
6. Identify social environmental and personal stressors that evoke stress responses in individuals.
7. Identify the major emotional states associated with the stress response.
8. Identify those personality characteristics associated with both vulnerability to stress and stress hardiness.
9. Describe the major modalities for managing stress both individually and in the community.
10. Identify critical stakeholders and the importance of their involvement at each stage of the planning, implementation and evaluation of public health programs, policies and interventions.
11. Describe steps/procedures for the needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of public health programs, policies and interventions.
12. Describe the appropriateness/applicability of different research designs for the evaluation of a health program.
13. Identify key sources of data and the advantages/disadvantages of different data collection methods.
14. Describe the process of conceptualization and measurement of variables for a research effort.
15. Evaluate the strengths/weaknesses of research studies (including design, sample, variable conceptualization/measurement, analysis).
16. Communicate evaluation/research findings to lay and professional audiences.

Graduate Certificate in Health Education

This 27-credit certificate is designed as a focused learning experience for students interested in health education. Certificate courses facilitate their understanding of the basics of health education in public health, prepare them to undertake research, and expose them to a more-in-depth understanding of health education program planning, implementation, evaluation, and the various social and behavioral factors that influence health. The certificate may be taken independently or as part of an MPH in Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion.

Students who complete the Certificate in Health Education are eligible to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. The CHES examination is a competency-based tool used to measure possession, application and interpretation of knowledge in the Areas of Responsibility for health educators delineated by A Competency-Based Framework for Health Educators 2006. The seven areas of responsibility of health educators are:

• Assess individual and community needs for health education
• Plan effective health education strategies, interventions, and programs
• Implement health education strategies, interventions, and programs
• Conduct evaluation and research related to health education
• Administer health education strategies, interventions, and programs
• Serve as a health education resource person
• Communicate and advocate for health and health education

Required Courses: 27 credits

Behavioral and Social Factors in Public Health
Principles and Techniques of Behavior Change
Stress and Health
Introduction to Health Education
Fundamentals of Research Methodology
Communication and Health Behavior; theory and Practice
Health Program Planning and Evaluation
Introduction to Biostatistics
Introduction to Epidemiology

Graduate Certificate in Public Health

This 18-credit certificate is designed for those who are not currently interested in obtaining an MPH degree, but who nevertheless wish to pursue studies in public health. The certificate courses will facilitate their understanding of the basics of public health, prepare them to undertake research, and expose them to a more-in-depth understanding of health economics, as well as law and health, environmental health or behavioral and social aspects of public health, depending upon their own special interest.

Earning the certificate involves a focused learning experience in public health. Certificate credits may be applied toward the MPH degree.

Required Courses: 18 credits

Introduction to Biostatistics
Introduction to Epidemiology
Applied Epidemiology
Critical Analysis of Public Health Issues
Health Economics

Plus one of the following:

Behavioral and Social Factors in Public Health
Environmental Influences on Human Health
Law and Health
Fundamentals of Research Methodology

Health Care in the United States

This course provides comprehensive overviews of the American healthcare systems, their organization and financing. Lectures are structured to provide an understanding of the major stakeholders involved in health care and the critical health care issues. Discussion focuses on the changing delivery systems and the forces that are affecting them.

Introduction to Biostatistics

This course presents the fundamental statistical approaches employed in clinical and public health research. Lectures cover basic probability, common distributions, samples and populations, interval estimation, and inferential statistical approaches. Students learn how data are presented and interpreted in the professional literature by considering published articles, professional reports and public health data.

Introduction to Epidemiology

This course introduces students to the principles and practices of epidemiology and provides them a population-based perspective on health and disease. Students learn the basic measurements of frequency and association and the methods employed in describing, monitoring, and studying health and disease in populations.

Health Economics

This course explores the concepts of scarcity, social choice, rationing, resource allocation, efficiency, investment, and market forces and their relationship to health services delivery and health policy. A variety of analytical principles and methods are examined and applied to issues including healthcare financing, cost containment, regulation, access, insurance, productivity, and program evaluation.

Behavioral and Social Factors in Public Health

An overview and introduction to the way in which behavioral and social factors contribute to health. The course covers a wide range of topics: theories of behavioral sciences which have been applied to health behaviors; socio-cultural factors in disease etiology and the role of social conditions and social policy in addressing critical public health problems; individual, group, community, and technology-based strategies for health behavior change; and current issues in behavioral sciences for health promotion including its application to achieving the Healthy People 2010 goals.

Environmental Influences on Human Health

This survey of the major environmental determinants of human health covers physical, chemical and biological sources of exposure; routes of exposure in humans; etiology of environmental disease and mortality; and the complexities of environmental public policy. Topics include airborne pollution, contaminated water and food, solid and hazardous waste, and risk assessment as a tool for regulation. Students have the opportunity to tour a local public works facility.

Law and Health

This course provides an overview of the legal system, legal issues, and the convergence of public health policy and the law through analysis of contemporary topics using the case method approach.

AIDS and Other Manifestations of HIV Infection

This course examines in detail one of the most devastating epidemics of our day. Outstanding guest speakers who are experts in their fields present lectures on epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical adult manifestations, pediatric issues, gastro-intestinal, neurological and biopsychosocial aspects, occupational issues, clinical trials, nursing issues, ethics, public health strategies and international considerations.

Behavioral and Psychosocial Aspects of Terrorism: A Public Health Perspective

This course is designed to explore the emergence of terrorism as it affects public health in general, and more specifically, in behavioral/psychological causes and consequences. The potential for biological, chemical, and nuclear agents to be used in a terrorist attack, has received wide publicity. Less prominent, has been the role of behavioral science in an attempt to understand present terrorism, as well as concern with the immediate and long term behavioral consequences of terrorist acts. Since one of the major purposes of terrorism is to instill fear in the population and to change the behavior of governments, public health educators need to pay attention to the psychological effects on the general public, many of whom would not be directly affected by the specific agent used in the terrorist act. The course surveys the research that has been done, and provides an introduction to the concepts and variables involved in understanding the causes, effects, and especially the challenges for public health organizations, in addressing the unique behavioral and psychosocial health issues associated with terrorism.

Behavioral Epidemiology

This course examines the literature, explores in-depth and quantifies the determinants of behavior that are risk factors for several chronic and infectious disorders. These risk factors include, but are not limited to, smoking, drinking, obesity, drug abuse and sexual behavior. Appropriate behavioral intervention strategies to eliminate or minimize the impact of disorders are reviewed.

Biopsychosocial Aspects of Health and Illness

This course is designed to investigate illness using the biopsychosocial model. The fundamental assumption of the biopsychosocial model is that health and illness are consequences of the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. The model will be applied to various illnesses, such as cardiovascular disorders, AIDS, cancer, diabetes, inflammation disorders, issues of adolescence, and other target areas of the health promotion field. An understanding of these influences can assist in the development of strategies to facilitate preventive health behaviors in high-risk populations and/or contribute to the modification of maladaptive health behaviors in individuals living with health conditions/diseases.

Clinical Topics in International Maternal and Child Health

A global perspective of the health problems of mothers and children is given. Topics include nutritional assessment, growth monitoring, oral rehydration therapy, breast feeding, weaning foods, female literacy and women in development, food supplementation, nutritional deficiencies, socio-cultural factors and community participation, health education, and organization of maternal and child health services.

Communications and Health Behavior: Theory and Practice

Communications can be powerful mechanisms of behavior change; communications can promote or inhibit health behaviors. This course examines the theoretical underpinnings in the field of communications and reviews how communication strategies are used to influence health behavior. The focus is on print and electronic media and touches on individual communication. Topics include: how communication theory informs health behavior change interventions; steps involved in planning communication campaigns about health; and skills useful in the execution of communications, such as, pre-testing, designing health materials and writing press releases.

Critical Analysis of Public Health Issues

Selected issues critical to the health of the public are analyzed to gain an understanding of the processes of public health practice. For each issue an in-depth analysis of the relationships among existing data, public policy, policy implementation, and future policy needs is undertaken. Strategies for policy change are explored.

Directed Research in Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion

This course provides advanced study and research in an area chosen by the student in consultation with the professor. Opportunities for work on special problems are given.

Disease Prevention and Control in Maternal and Child Health

This course provides a bridge between clinical epidemiology and maternal and child health, and helps the MCH specialist understand and apply basic epidemiologic tools in assessing and addressing critical health problems of women and children. Primary prevention of chronic diseases and conditions such as heart disease, cancer, suicide, accidents, lead poisoning, congenital malformations, and infectious diseases such as AIDS, vaccine-preventable diseases and perinatal infections are addressed.

Emerging Infections

Emerging and reemerging infectious diseases are posing a serious threat to the health of the world’s people. This course examines the underlying mechanisms of microbial emergence, the technology used to detect them and the strategies available to contain them.

Entomology and Human Health

Anthropoids cause considerable human suffering and death throughout the world. This course is designed to provide the health professional with the fundamental information necessary for understanding the role arthropods play, both as parasites, and in the transmission of pathogens causing human disease. Topics covered include the accurate identification and classification of medically-important insects and arachnids, the biology and ecology of vectors, the epidemiology and pathogenesis of important vector-borne disease, vector surveillance and control, and bioterrorism. Course includes a world-wide perspective, but emphasizes local tick and mosquito vectors and associated diseases, including Lyme disease, West Nile virus, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis.

Evidence Based Approaches to Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The growth of Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM) is widespread in the United States. While many healthcare professionals support their use, there are others who remain quite skeptical about efficacy and usefulness. The course teaches the fundamentals of the most important and widely applied forms of alternative therapies, approaches the subject in a scientific way, while preserving the founding theories of different disciplines. Issues surrounding efficacy, effectives, and safety are discussed. Government regulations and reimbursement concerning various CAM therapies are summarized.

Field Experience in Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion

Students engage in the application of theory by working in an approved corporate environment, public health organization or equivalent. Field work is supervised by a faculty member who serves as liaison to the health organization.

Fundamentals of Research Methodology (formerly Outcomes Assessment)

The course provides an overview of the principles of research as applied to public health practice. Students gain experience in designing research studies, and in the analysis, interpretation, and reporting of data.

Grant and Contract Development and Administration

The fundamentals of grant and contract administration, proposal development and research administration for the public health and social welfare professional are presented. Topics include funding sources and proposal development, financial issues, contracting for sponsored programs, post-award management, governmental regulations and compliance, and ethical aspects of research administration.

Health Promotion in Clinical Practice

Health providers can implement health promotion programs to change health behavior, improve health status and enhance the value of treatment. This course examines approaches to clinical practice in which the assessment and modification of health behaviors assumes a central role. Topics include the integration of health promotion into clinical practice and managed care programs, and steps in developing meaningful, lasting, behavior change. Resources to support health promotion and behavior change programs as part of the process of delivering care are reviewed.

Health Program Planning and Evaluation

This course covers the basic concepts and principles of the health planning process. Topics include: needs assessment, program planning, and implementation and evaluation of public health interventions and programs. The use of quantitative and qualitative data is discussed. Examples are drawn from health education, health promotion, disease prevention and community health services.

Introduction to Maternal and Child Health

This course provides an overview of maternal and child health including history, legislation, key public health issues, and programmatic responses. Maternal and infant mortality, maternity care, child and adolescent health, and the special needs of children with disabilities form the core of this introductory course.

Legal and Ethical Issues in Maternal and Child Health

This course explores the legal and ethical issues facing women and children throughout the maternal-child life cycle from pre-conception through menopause. Lectures and class discussions focus on classic and recent case law and on relevant rules, regulations, and statutes.

Nutrition in Health and Disease

A theoretical background for understanding the clinical implications of nutrition in maintaining good health throughout the life cycle is provided. The role of nutrition in the prevention and management of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and immunological disease, hyperlipidemia, and endocrine disorders, and the negative aspect of alcoholism on multiple systems of the body, and discussed.

Practicum

All students pursuing an M.P.H. degree must complete a practicum. This is to ensure that students have an opportunity to apply in a public health setting, the knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom. To fulfill this requirement, students will generally register for a one credit pass/fail course. Students who can demonstrate an exceptional practice experience prior to beginning their M.P.H. studies may apply for a waiver in writing eighteen months prior to graduation. Under the advisement of their faculty advisor and practicum coordinator, students must apply for the waiver in writing and attach accompanying documentation addressing the waiver criteria. The waiver application and documentation of the waiver criteria must be approved by the practicum waiver committee.

Principles and Techniques of Behavior Change

This course is designed as a practical and theoretical approach to health behavior change. It explores the principles and methods of health behavior change for problems such as obesity, smoking, and alcohol and substance abuse. Strategies for individual behavior change, worksite wellness programs, self-help groups, 12-step programs and public health programs are examined. Techniques such as cognitive behavior therapy, deep muscle relaxation, imagery and self-monitoring are practiced, and students are given experience in the design, development and evaluation of health behavior change.

Seminar in Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion

This course looks at contemporary trends and recent developments in an area of study not examined in other elective courses. Topics may change each term. Consult the professor for subject matter to be covered.

Seminar in Contemporary Topics in Public Health

This seminar series covers contemporary trends and recent developments in public health, both domestically and internationally. guest speakers with policy level experience address current issues. The seminar meets once a month on a Saturday morning during the fall and spring semesters, for a total of eight sessions per academic year. A minimum of 14 sessions of attendance are required in addition to coursework. (Permissions of instructor required for enrollment, but the Seminar is open to all who wish to attend, on a  non-credit basis, as the topic interests them.)

Stress and Health

This course covers a cross section of the many exciting recent developments in the area of stress and health. Substantive research in the field is examined, focusing on methodological and measurement issues as well as definitions of stress. Classic research and seminal ideas are discussed including the contributions of Selye, Lazarus and Janis. New research areas including HIV, immigration, concentration camps, disasters, Type A behavior pattern and coronary disease, stress and alcoholism, physical abuse, stress related to gender, and contemporary sex roles are also explored. Research in personality and individual differences, stress and brain chemistry, and the effects of emotion are also examined.

Introduction to Health Education

This course provides a conceptual framework for students who seek careers in health education and presents clear, succinct principles of health education, health promotion, and disease prevention. The course is designed to introduce students to the competencies necessary for being a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and the concepts and skills required for carrying out effective health education programs in a variety of different settings, including school, community, health care and worksite settings. Through a combination of text readings, online module sessions, and self-study, students will gain an understanding of the CHES competencies and certain core concepts in the fields of public health and health promotion.

Survey of Adolescent Health and Medicine

Adolescence is a developmental period of accelerating physical, psychological, social/cultural, and cognitive development. Many of the adverse health consequences experienced by adolescents are, to a large extent, the result of their risk behaviors. This course provides an overview of this developmental period and describes the epidemiological trends associated with specific risk behaviors. It also describes a broad array of preventive strategies and reviews models of health behavior change and efficacy. In addition, the topic of health services delivery for adolescents will be addressed.

Thesis

It is expected that the thesis will includes some independent research and integration of skills acquired by the student through coursework. The thesis includes formulation of research questions, methods to carry out the inquiry and presentation of results of the research. Some theses may requires approval of the university's Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior ro initiation of any thesis work. Students should work through their department chair/program advisor to determine if their thesis will require IRB review. Students must maintain regular contact with the program and thesis advisors during their thesis work.

Tutorial in Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion

This is a comprehensive individual study of a specific topic, guided by the professor.

Violence: A Public Health Issue

This course places the many forms of violence into a public health context, explores what is known and unknown about the roots of violence, identifies data on sources of violence to facilitate discussion, explores public health-modeled programs to control or end violence, and identifies the means and resources to combat violence at all levels of society.

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