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Core Course Descriptions

MPH Student Handbook (PDF -- 600 KB)
Required Courses by Department (for MPH)
Elective Courses by Department (for MPH)

Core Course Descriptions, Full-Time MPH Program


First Year Students

Introduction to Public Health
PBHL 516 Fall Quarter

Introduces and investigates the history, issues, function and context of public health, community health and health systems.
2 credits
Biostatistics
PBHL 520 Fall Quarter

Introduces and applies the biostatistics tools and analytical base for population-based and community health assessment and evaluation. The focus is on providing a broad and basic understanding of biostatistics, with more advanced methods included as appropriate.
4 credits
Epidemiology
PBHL 530 Winter Quarter

Introduces and applies the principles of epidemiology and study design needed to support population-based and community-health assessment and evaluation. Basic and more advanced methods are covered as appropriate, with applications to public health and community contexts, and integration with biostatistics.
4 credits
Behaviorial Assessment
PBHL 540 Fall Quarter

Focuses on how individuals and groups approach issues of health behavior, health communication, and health promotion. The goal of this course is to provide basic knowledge of social and behavioral science theories, models and research methods.
4 credits

Community Assessment
PBHL 550 Spring Quarter

Provides students with the competencies needed to enhance the health of the community. Critical in this course is the role of empowerment in the context of community health, and the central role of community residents in the identification of local issues, goals, and priorities affecting their lives and neighborhoods. (Offers a four-week practicum enabling students to develop community-health assessment skills in a community setting.)
4 credits

Management, Leadership, Assurance and Health Services
PBHL 600 Winter Quarter

Explores critical elements of the assurance from the premise that effectiveness of program delivery and the assurance role itself requires understanding of organizations, leadership and change, in economic, strategic, and systemic context. Applies management concepts and theories through an integrated model of the management process. Extends, applies, and integrates previously developed concepts and theories with those of strategy, planning, accounting, financial management, and information systems.
4 credits

Environmental Health
PBHL 640 Winter Quarter

Introduces environmental health issues and effective management of environmental exposures. The specific topics covered during this course include safe drinking water, air quality, hazardous waste disposal, environmental disease clusters and bioterrorism.
4 credits

Policy and Advocacy
PBHL 650 Spring Quarter

Introduces the fundamentals of public-health law and the concepts and theories of health-policy development, adoption, and evaluation. Introduces the advocacy process and its importance to development of sound public health policy. Emphasizes systemic integration and the integration of the assessment, assurance, and policy development roles of public health.
4 credits

Occupational Health
PBHL 660 Spring Quarter

Introduces occupational health issues and demonstrates effective control activities related to workplace exposures. The specific topics covered during this course include working in a nursing home, agricultural work and exposure to pesticides, industrial hygiene, and asbestos as a workplace carcinogen.
4 credits

Second Year Students

Click here for Required Second Year Courses by Department
Click here for Elective Second Year Courses by Department