Courses
Public Health
5001. Fundamentals of Public Health (3
s.h.)
This course encompasses historical and socio-cultural approaches to understanding public health and bioethics. Emphasis is on understanding public health systems from the dawn of history to the 21st century and the evolution of bioethical issues, including the application of bioethical principles, regulations, and strategies in research and health practice. This seminar emphasizes the integration of conceptual and experiential learning. This is reflected in the course design and in teaching and learning processes.
5002. Biostatistics (3
s.h.)
This course offers an introduction to applied biostatistics as used in research in public health, including statistical methods used for descriptive and analytic research, inferential statistics, surveillance systems, and statistical software used in public health.
5003. Spatial Analysis in Public Health (3 s.h.)
This course offers an introduction to the skills needed to conduct spatial research in response to public health issues. The course addresses internal and external spatial analysis as a tool for public health professionals to expand and strengthen their research. The course introduces core competencies of spatial analysis in both geographic and behavioral public health issues, including resource identification, emergency preparedness, environmental health, epidemiology, and health care delivery systems (considered ‘external’ spatial analysis) and issues pertaining to health communication, behavioral modification, perceptions of health and disease (considered ‘internal’ spatial analysis).
5005. International Health Studies Abroad (3 s.h.)
This course offers an exciting opportunity for students with a background in health, medicine, social work, political science, psychology, sociology, economics, and international studies to see and experience a developing country’s health concerns firsthand. The program is designed to give students direct hands-on experience in the Costa Rican health care system; an understanding of the country’s health concerns ranging from environmental health to occupational health hazards; and social concerns such as domestic violence.
5008. Seminar in International
Health (3 s.h.)
This course focuses on global public health issues, including morbidity and mortality across the life span for populations, strategies to improve health status, and the role of governmental and non-governmental international organizations in public health.
5009. Risk Communication and Public Health (3 s.h.)
This course focuses on risk communication within the context of terrorism, infectious disease outbreaks, and health problems that occur because of natural disasters. It includes core principles of risk communication, examines special challenges of risk communication with diverse audiences, and prepares students to create a crisis and emergency risk communication plan.
5101. Epidemiology (3
s.h.)
Prerequisite: Matriculation in
Environmental Health, Public Health, or Health
Studies or permission of instructor.
This course offers an introduction to descriptive and analytical epidemiology. The focus is on concepts and methods used in public health with emphasis on the calculation and interpretation of indices of community health, morbidity and mortality rates, age adjustment, risk ratios, sensitivity and specificity, and predictive value of screening tests. The course also provides an overview of epidemiological research designs, surveillance systems, and evidence-based practice guidelines.
Note: Master's and doctoral students who have strong quantitative skills and plan to conduct epidemiological research should enroll in PH 5201.
5102. Theoretical Foundations
of Health Behavior (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Matriculation in
Environmental Health, Public Health, or Health
Studies or permission
of instructor.
This course covers theories of decision making related to health behavior. Emphasis is on the dynamic interaction of attitudes, values, and situational and other factors that influence health-promoting and health-damaging behavior.
5103. Environmental
Health (3 s.h.)
This course explores the effects of interactions between the environment and human health, and the ways that adverse effects may be mitigated. Environmental health hazards, including chemical, biological, and physical pollutants in air, water, soil, and food are addressed, as are risk analysis and risk communication as applied to environmental health. This course examines how problems and solutions are identified globally, nationally, and locally. The use of biological and chemical agents as weapons is also explored. This course is available online.
5104. Models of Teaching
Health and Patient Education (3
s.h.)
This course describes and applies teaching models used in health and patient education in communities, health care systems, and schools. Emphasis is on creating learning environments, communication skills, tailoring for diverse populations, and teaching techniques.
5107. Complex Emergencies and Forced Migration (3 s.h.)
This course uses case studies and research literature to examine the multifaceted causes of complex emergencies and their subsequent impact on the health of the population, including populations that stay in place, are internally displaced, and cross international borders (refugees). The policies and practices of the humanitarian response among both governments and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and their impact on population health are explored. A framework for three issues that affect population health in complex emergencies is provided and their consequences and possible interventions iterated. These issues are mental health, gender-based violence, and nutrition. Assessment, program implementation, and evaluation are looked at in the context of the particular barriers and issues found in complex emergency situations.
5111. Special Populations: Strategic Community Outreach (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Matriculation in Environmental Health, Public Health, or Health Studies or permission of instructor.
This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and models of strategic community outreach as it pertains to the special population communities, within the context of emergency management planning, response, and recovery. It is designed to assist health care and allied health professionals, public health professionals, and emergency responders in understanding how accessible information and technology is part of the community outreach strategy. Students utilize problem-based learning by analyzing actual and scenario-based disaster events and applying the theories, principles, and practice of strategic community outreach pertaining to emergency response and recovery. In addition, students learn about the issues faced by special population communities and how to address these special needs in all hazard response and recovery.
5112. Public Health
Program Evaluation (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PH 5101 and PH 8111 or equivalent
and permission of instructor.
This course covers research methods and techniques used to evaluate public health programs. Students develop an evaluation design, including defined evaluation questions, study design, specific measures and methods, and human subjects’ protocols.
5201. Epidemiological Research Methods I (3 s.h.)
This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of conducting epidemiological research and protocol development. It covers definitions of epidemiology; measures of disease frequency and risk assessment; measures of effect and association; epidemiological study designs, including randomized clinical trials, cohort, case-control studies, and cross-sectional surveys; assessment of screening programs; an overview of the role of bias and confounding in epidemiological study results; and analytic techniques, including modeling using multiple variables, survival analysis, and issues related to quality assurance.
Note: This course is the introductory epidemiology course for students in the M.S. in Epidemiology or related public health degree programs that require advanced quantitative methods. May be taken in place of PH 5101 for students in the M.P.H., M.S. in Environmental Health, and Ph.D. programs.
5202. Man-Made Disasters (3 s.h.)
This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and models of public health preparedness, mitigation, and response in the context of man-made disasters, including radiological, chemical, and biological incidents. The course addresses identified core competencies of emergency preparedness for public health professionals, which include disaster management, risk assessment, risk communication, governmental resources, functional roles, surveillance, and preparedness evaluation. Man-made disasters are looked at in an historical, environmental, and psychological context in order to elucidate the role of public health in man-made disaster preparedness and response. In addition, the role of cultural competency in emergency management and preparedness is addressed. Public perception of risk and media views of man-made disasters is explored.
5204. Mental Health Epidemiology (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PH 5101 or PH 5201 or permission of instructor.
This course covers epidemiology of psychiatric disturbances, including alcohol and other drug dependencies as well as psychosocial aspects of health and illness. Emphasis is on epidemiological methods and theories in psychosocial and mental health research.
5301. Industrial Hygiene (3
s.h.)
This course deals with anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of occupational and environmental health hazards. Topics include recognition of hazards from chemical, physical, and biological agents; analytical and survey methods of hazard evaluation; and engineering solutions, administrative actions, and personal protective equipment for hazard control. This course is available online.
5302. Industrial Safety (3
s.h.)
This course offers an in-depth presentation of the safety hazards that can be found in a work environment and methods for their control. Students identify different classes of safety hazards, and design and present solutions for them.
5303. Radiological Health (3
s.h.)
This course explores the physical nature and the biological and health effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Topics include nuclear reactions, the sources and nature of natural and induced radioactivity, methods of radiation detection and determination, and the practice of radiological safety. A laboratory exercise provides familiarization with instruments for detection and determination, and demonstrates the properties of ionizing radiation. This course is available online.
5304. Environmental Noise (3
s.h.)
This course addresses the physics of noise, the physiology of hearing, and the nature of noise-induced hearing loss. It explores the recognition, evaluation, prevention, and control of noise in the workplace and community, with emphasis on preventing noise-induced hearing loss and other adverse health effects of noise. This course is available online.
5305. Environmental Toxicology (3
s.h.)
This course offers a review of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of environmental toxicants. Methods used to measure acute and chronic toxicity, including carcinogenesis, are explored.
5306. Analytical Instrumentation (3
s.h.)
This course covers sampling and analysis of chemical and physical agents using laboratory-based methods and real-time monitoring. It demonstrates sample collection and proper handling; analytical applications of absorption spectroscopy in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared; atomic absorption; emission spectroscopy; mass spectrometry; and separation methods, including liquid chromatography.
5307. Industrial Ventilation (3
s.h.)
This course covers the use of ventilation to maintain suitable environmental conditions in work areas. Topics include dilution ventilation; comfort ventilation; local exhaust ventilation system design, including fan, duct, and hood selection; and ventilation system testing. This course is available online.
5308. Medical Aspects
of Occupational Health (3 s.h.)
This course deals with physiology and the relationship to occupational health of the following: allergies; cardiovascular system; ear, nose, and throat; eye; hematology; lung; neurology; neuromuscular-skeletal system; occupational hepatitis; psychiatry; and skin.
5309. Ergonomics: Human
Factors in Occupational Health (3
s.h.)
This course covers both the observational, programmatic elements and the technical tools of ergonomics, including a number of computer-based applications for assessing specific situations. Ergonomic concepts and solutions are discussed covering low back pain, manual handling tasks, cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive tasks, human fatigue, job design, anthropometry, workplace design, human error, equipment design, vibration, and illumination. This course is available online.
5401. Curriculum Construction
in Health Education (3 s.h.)
This course offers an in-depth examination of constructing, delivering, and evaluating curricula. It provides opportunity to develop curricular materials for teaching in school situations.
5500. Seminar in Current
Issues: Public Health (3 s.h.)
Seminar topics rotate to address current issues in public health research, policy, and practice.
8001. Research Design
in Public Health (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PH 5101
(or equivalent for Ph.D. students with Advanced Standing)
and 6 credits of graduate
statistics.
This course examines how to develop and test models, formulate research problem statements and hypotheses, and implement and evaluate research designs and methods of data collection in public health research. It concentrates on fundamental concepts in research design and measurement that help prepare the student in planning and implementing theoretically informed and methodologically sound scientific studies in public health and to be able to critically evaluate and discuss public health research. The course emphasizes ethical and practical methods of studying and evaluating causal relations (efficacy and internal validity); determining generalizability of observations (effectiveness, external and ecological validity); and accurately and reliably measuring and conceptualizing variables (construct validity). In addition, it covers systematic literature searches and randomized controlled trials, which are both increasingly important methods for conducting research in public health.
8002. Research Seminar
in Health Studies (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PH 8001 or permission of instructor.
This research seminar covers linkages between theory and research in public health studies.
8003. Political-Economic
Aspects of Public Health (3 s.h.)
The course provides an introduction to the structure and delivery of healthcare in the United States, as well as an introduction to health policymaking. In addition to required reading materials, students are asked to examine current health policies at the local, state, and/or national level.
8004. Understanding Stress and Change (3 s.h.)
This course focuses on the impact of stress on physical and emotional health and quality of life. It focuses on the causes, types, and physiology of stress and stress reduction methods, including relaxation, biofeedback, fear control, cognitive restructuring, and social psychological interventions in community settings.
8005. Theories of Health Policymaking (3 s.h.)
The purpose of this course is to introduce and engage students in critical analysis of the primary theoretical frameworks for the development of health policy from problem definition through policy evaluation. Students are expected to examine external social and political factors and how these factors facilitate or impede the development of health policies. The course also provides an opportunity to demonstrate how theory could be applied to the development and implementation of current health policies and how theory can guide the development of research projects.
8006. Addictions and
Dependencies (3 s.h.)
This course covers social, psychological, cultural, clinical, and biological factors associated with addictions and dependencies, including the use of psychoactive drugs and lifestyle behaviors. It reviews prevention and treatment approaches based on the causes and correlates of addictions and dependencies.
8007. Maternal
and Child Health (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Matriculation in Environmental Health or Public Health or permission
of instructor.
This seminar covers social, economic, and political issues in maternal and child health policies from the national to agency levels. Students undertake an analysis of a maternal and child health issue using a policy analysis framework developed throughout the seminar. It includes definitions of MCH, the organization and funding of services, literacy and cultural issues, and the evidence base for policies and programs.
8009. Health Psychology (3 s.h.)
Through class lecture, readings, and discussions, students learn how characteristics of persons (e.g., personality, behavior, coping, biological reactivity) and their environments (e.g., stress, social support) influence health outcomes at the individual and population level. In addition, the course examines the potential of health psychology to explain population-level health problems and to ameliorate public health problems through behavioral and community-based interventions.
8011. Social Determinants of Health (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PH 5101 or PH 5201.
The purpose of this course is to introduce graduate students to the key social factors that are thought to influence health, including constructs such as gender, race, socioeconomic status, and social support. Understanding these social factors is important for public health research and practice. These factors can be considered “fundamental causes” of health outcomes insofar as they may cause or modify other factors that are known to influence health, such as individual behaviors or genetics. The course focuses on the conceptual and theoretical basis of these social factors, how these social factors are measured in epidemiologic research, and the mechanisms by which these social factors are thought to affect health. Students have the opportunity to improve their skills in critically evaluating empirical data about the association between these social factors and health.
8012. Multivariate Biostatistics (3 s.h.)
The objective of the course is to provide basic theory and application of regression models, analysis of variance, nonparametric statistics, and survival analysis applied to the analysis of population-based data. Emphasis is on generating and interpreting results and health-related applications rather than statistical theory. The course is designed for graduate students in public health who are already familiar with basic statistical concepts, including descriptive statistics, the components of statistical inference (p-values, hypothesis tests, confidence intervals, etc.), as well as concepts of confounding and effect modification.
8105. Health Communication (3
s.h.)
This course covers levels of communication processes and effects in intrapersonal health communication related to personality, attitudes, cognitive style, and quality of life; interpersonal communication in the patient-caregiver relationship, including dynamics of stress, conflict, and social support; organizational communication in health-care settings; mass communication processes, including media campaigns to promote good health and disease prevention; and risk communication across settings and strategies.
8111. Public Health
Program Planning (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Matriculation in Environmental Health, Public Health, or Health
Studies or permission
of instructor.
This course covers program planning in public health practice, as well as analysis of national health objectives and their applications at the state and community levels. Emphasis is on program planning as a change strategy to alter knowledge, attitudes, and health behavior to achieve positive health outcomes.
8201. Structural Equation Modeling (3 s.h.)
The extremely rapid pace of change in statistics and methodology in the fields of developmental processes and family systems requires that graduate students (and newly minted Ph.D.’s in academic and applied settings) be well versed in current data analytic techniques and able to keep abreast of emergent techniques by being aware of contemporary methodological literature. This course illustrates the uses of structural equation models for cross-sectional, longitudinal, and family data analysis. The course is organized to take participants through each of the cumulative steps in the analysis: deciding which type of model is appropriate, setting up the data file and coding variables, interpreting and displaying empirical findings, and presenting results in both verbal and written form. Class time is devoted primarily to lectures, examples, group discussions, and hands-on application of course material.
8202. Epidemiological Research Methods II (3 s.h.)
The main objective of the course is to expose students to a variety of key epidemiological concepts and the use of these concepts when designing and analyzing epidemiological studies. By exposing students to more advanced concepts in epidemiology, the course builds on material presented in PH 5201: Epidemiological Research Methods I, and introduces a more thorough assessment of confounding, interaction, bias, and issues related to quality control and measurement of risk. In addition, this course introduces concepts such as multivariate modeling using logistic and log linear regression and survival analysis. Although the course is organized around the presentation and discussion of advanced concepts in epidemiology, it also presents analytic techniques and epidemiological methods that have been selected because they are widely used, can be applied by students, and serve as fairly simple models, thereby providing a sound introduction to understanding more advanced statistical techniques using SPSS.
8203. Public Health Data Reporting (3 s.h.)
The content of this course illustrates concepts, methods, and strategies used in epidemiology studies, beyond the principles discussed in PH 5101. Topics include basic study designs, analysis of birth cohorts, measures of disease frequency and association, bias, confounding effect modification and interaction, stratification and adjustment, quality control, causal relationship, and reporting of epidemiological results. Because this course focuses on observational studies, issues related to randomized clinical trials (RCT) are not covered.
8205. Chronic Disease Epidemiology (3 s.h.)
This intermediate course covers selected topics in chronic disease epidemiology through critical examination of the current literature. Students have the opportunity to study methodological issues, strategies for prevention, and contemporary issues in research. Coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, chronic lung diseases, and others are addressed.
8206. Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PH 5101 or PH 5201 or permission of instructor.
This course provides the basis for understanding infectious diseases, disease transmission, risk factors, outbreak investigation and study designs, surveillance methods, and current infection control strategies and mechanisms. The purpose of this course is to expose students to the principles and practice of infectious disease epidemiology and how communicable diseases and their control affect public health locally, nationally, and internationally.
8207. Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PH 5101 or PH 5201 or permission of instructor.
This course covers selected topics in occupational and environmental epidemiology through a focus on specific recent events of note, e.g., Gulf of Mexico oil spill, fires in Moscow, 9/11, and BP refinery explosion. Students have the opportunity to critically examine the current literature and to design an epidemiological study to evaluate health effects in communities or in workers that may be caused by exposure to environmental health hazards in the context of man-made or natural disasters. Exposure assessment, biomarkers, and emerging diseases within the context of the workplace and the environment are addressed.
8208. Database Management and Analysis (3 s.h.)
As part of this course, students obtain a working knowledge of SAS. Items covered include data import, data merging and data cleaning skills, descriptive statistics generation, basic data display, and selected SAS procedures and functions. The course is hands-on and lab driven, with applied research experience gained through the requirement of a final data analysis project. Emphasis is on the development and management of population-based, research-oriented databases within the Windows environment.
8209. Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PH 5101 or PH 5201 or permission of instructor.
This course covers epidemiology of HIV/AIDS, including application of epidemiological principles and concepts in infectious disease epidemiology with emphasis on surveillance, research, prevention, and control.
8307. Systematic Reviews in Health Ecology (3 s.h.)
Systematic reviews are essential tools for health care workers, researchers, consumers, and policy makers who need to keep abreast of the accumulation of knowledge within their field. Systematic reviews provide more objective evaluation of the evidence than has been possible with traditional narrative reviews; thus, they can help resolve uncertainty and point toward promising future directions in research and practice. When appropriate, meta-analyses can help increase the precision of estimates regarding treatment effects and ways to improve treatments. For example, identification of subgroups of individuals most (or least) likely to benefit from treatment can generate new questions to be addressed.
9083. Readings and
Conference in Public Health (3
s.h.)
This course offers an advanced tutorial in public health with an appropriate faculty member.
Note: Requires a written contract with the supervising faculty member and approval of advisor and the Director of Graduate Programs.
9187. Biostatistic Consult Practicum (3 s.h.)
This course is for students who want to engage in face-to-face consulting experiences with Temple University research faculty and ultimately become co-authors on journal articles by writing statistical methods and results sections. The course training includes developing verbal and non-verbal communication skills in consulting; clarifying study aims, objectives, and research hypotheses; understanding data collection and quality assurance issues; gaining knowledge of professional codes of ethics for statisticians; and building potential interdisciplinary collaborations with health professionals.
9189. MPH Capstone
Seminar (3 s.h.)
This seminar is required of M.P.H. students during their final year of study. It includes integration of coursework with practice skills to develop a fieldwork project or internship in a public health agency.
9289. Fieldwork
I (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PH 9189.
This course entails a fieldwork project or internship in a public health agency. It includes seminars, oral and written reports of progress, and joint supervision by a preceptor and faculty member.
9389. Fieldwork
II (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PH 9189; may be taken concurrently
with PH 9289.
This course evaluates the fieldwork project or internship using a full range of research methodologies. Data are collected, analyzed, and reported in a comprehensive final report. Oral and/or poster presentations are presented to public health organizations. It includes a final oral defense of the project or internship.
9583. Independent Research
in Public Health (2-12 s.h.)
Independent research in public health is undertaken as supervised by an appropriate faculty member.
Note: Requires a written contract with the faculty member supervising the research, human subjects’ certification and documentation of IRB approval, and approval of advisor and the Director of Graduate Programs.
9991. Independent Project
in Public Health (1-3 s.h.)
Under the direction of an appropriate graduate faculty member, students tie together their coursework in a project that poses a problem, gathers data to help analyze the problem, and provides a solution.
Note: Requires approval of advisor and the Director of Graduate Programs.
9994. Preliminary Examination
Preparation (1 s.h.)
Prerequisite:
All coursework for degree, completion of area paper requirement, and clearance by the Ph.D. Program Director.
This course allows for preparation for the preliminary examinations in the Public Health Ph.D. Program. To enroll, students must have completed all required coursework for the Ph.D., completed the area paper requirement, and obtained the approval of the Ph.D. Program Director. Students must be enrolled to take the preliminary examinations.
9996. Master's Research
in Public Health (3-6 s.h.)
Limited to students who fulfill the master's degree by writing
a thesis.
9998. Pre-Dissertation
Research (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Completion of preliminary
examinations.
Preparation of the dissertation proposal is undertaken. Required for students who have passed the preliminary examinations and who have not yet defended the dissertation proposal.
9999. Doctoral Dissertation
in Health Studies or Public Health (1-6 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Advanced to candidacy with
approved dissertation proposal.
Limited to Ph.D. candidates who have completed and defended a dissertation proposal that is filed with the Graduate School by the last day to add a course in the semester. Continuous registration in PH 9999 in the Fall and Spring semesters is required until the dissertation is successfully defended.
Updated 3.10.11