Public Health (PHTH)

PHTH-101 Introduction to Public Health (2 credits)

This course is an introduction to public health. Students will explore beginning public health concepts, its history, and public health occupations.

PHTH-201 Foundations of Public Health (3 credits)

Students will learn basic public health concepts and apply them to a variety of community settings. They will conduct a community survey, identify applicable social determinants of health and compare findings locally, nationally, and globally. Students will research a public health issue, apply a public health framework and health equity lens, and describe its history and influence of health policy.

PHTH-253 Stories of Illness & Recovery (4 credits)

This course provides an understanding of the new Health Humanities field in ways, especially, that apply to preparing for a career in Public Health care. Using a wide variety of genres, including graphic medicine (also called graphic novels or graphic memoirs), fiction, poetry, autobiographical essays, and different kinds of film, including animation, documentary film, and feature length film, students will explore the many dimensions (both private and social) of the theme of this class: stories of illness and recovery. Through its examination of intersectionality, (race, gender, class, and sexuality), this course positions students to reflect on and respond to the public or social dimensions of health and to set the stage for a commitment to public health advocacy.

Prerequisite(s): FA-110 Series, HUM-150 Series; CM-125 or GECM 235 Preference given to students req to take this course if enrollment exceeds limit.

PHTH-260 Epidemiology (4 credits)

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of human health and disease. In this introductory course, students will explore the fundamental concepts and terminology that are used to describe and understand the complex causes of population health problems. Students will explore biological, behavioral, sociocultural, economic, and environmental determinants of human health and disease and begin to evaluate strategies that are used to prevent these health problems. Through this work, students will develop skills to read, interpret and evaluate health information from published epidemiologic studies and gain an introductory understanding of the biostatistical methods used to collect, analyze, and interpret data used in population health studies.

Prerequisite(s): PHTH-101, PHTH-201, SC-119 & SC-119L , SC-120 and SC-120L completed., QL-156 or MT-123 or MP-2 completed Or with consent from the instructor.

PHTH-310 Health Policy and Advocacy (2 credits)

Health educators communicate with individuals, small groups, and through mass communication strategies to provide health-related information in a variety of settings. Their communication is the foundation for Health Educators to advocate for health and health/education promotion. As advocates, health educators create, implement, and evaluate plans that influence both policy and systems (NCHEC, 2015). This course teaches students how to analyze factors affecting development, implementation, and evaluation of health and health education policies. Students will select an area of personal concern and develop and deliver a health advocacy message to a local, state, federal legislative, or international body.

Prerequisite(s): PHTH-201

PHTH-330 Global Health (4 credits)

In this course, you will investigate contemporary health issues throughout the world. You will analyze the impact of historical, political, ecological, economic, environmental, and behavioral factors on the health of individuals, communities, and populations. In planning and implementing health education strategies, you will examine the use of social marketing, support groups, print materials, work with the media, coalition building, advocacy, and policy to positively influence health, health education and the health education profession.

Prerequisite(s): PHTH-201

PHTH-341 Environmental Health (4 credits)

Course Offered Fall Term Only. The student examines relationships of organisms to their environment and interrelations among organisms, including those that cause disease. Students explore how human activities and policies influence the environment. Students use case studies, fieldwork, and a research project to practice scientific inquiry and analyze complex environments. Throughout the course, students develop data analysis and scientific communication skills.

Prerequisite(s): QL-156 or MT-123 or MT-152 or MP-2; BI-221 or BI-222 or BI-223 or BI 231 or PHTH-201

PHTH-399 Formal Intro to Advanced Work (0 credits)

PHTH-460 Epidemiology for NSMT (4 credits)

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of human health and disease. In this introductory course, students will explore the fundamental concepts and terminology that are used to describe and understand the complex causes of population health problems. Students will explore biological, behavioral, sociocultural, economic, and environmental determinants of human health and disease and begin to evaluate strategies that are used to prevent these health problems. Through this work, students will develop skills to read, interpret and evaluate health information from published epidemiologic studies and gain an introductory understanding of the biostatistical methods used to collect, analyze, and interpret data used in population health studies. PHTH-460 is for non-PHTH majors.

Prerequisite(s): SC-119 & SC-119L , SC-120 & SC-120L, QL-156 or MT-123 or MP-2 Or with consent from the instructor.

PHTH-490 Senior Seminar in Public Health (2 credits)

PHTH-610 Foundations of Public Health (3 credits)

Students will learn public health equity frameworks and apply those frameworks to evaluate public health issues. Through assignments and assessments students will choose a public health issue, apply frameworks, and the final assessment will be a presentation to the class.

Prerequisite(s): One graduate level course completed.

PHTH-611 Health Policy and Advocacy (2 credits)

This course focuses on the analysis of regulations and policies that impact health and health care. Students analyze health issues and the social, economic, and political implications of current and proposed policies. Students compare health policies and health outcomes to evaluate alternative approaches to advancing health equity. Health in All Policies will be the guiding framework.

Prerequisite(s): One graduate level course completed., PHTH-610

PHTH-612 Global Health Contemporary Issues (4 credits)

Through application of public health and health equity frameworks, students will analyze global health issues including health disparities and health equity. This course provides the student with the perspective of the global community in terms of health.

Prerequisite(s): One graduate level course completed., PHTH-610