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** BSH - Behavioral Science, BST - Biostats, EPI - Epidemiology

Overview

The Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) degree is offered to those with terminal degrees (including MD, DO, DC, DDS, DVM or PhD) who seek training in population based research methods to support their clinical research activities. There are two concentrations in the MSPH, Epidemiology and Behavioral Science.

The MSPH in Epidemiology includes a core of coursework in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, supplemented by a general course in the public health or health care system, and Ethical Issues in Public Health.

The MSPH in Behavioral Science includes core coursework in Behavioral Science Research Methods and Biostatistics, supplemented by a general course in the public health or the health care system, and Ethical Issues in Public Health.

Each curriculum culminates in a Research Project and an Oral Examination.

 

Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Epidemiology

Prerequisite
A doctoral degree (e.g., M.D., Ph.D.) in the field of health or a health-related social science.

Required Courses
Each student must complete the following:

• BST.500 Principles of Biostatistics
• BST.510 Introduction to General Linear Modeling
• BST.540 Applied Data Management
• CMH.500 Health Care Organization or CMH.501 Public Health Administration
• CMH.502 Ethical Issues in Public Health
• CMH.595 Special Study for Examinations
• CMH.596 Research Project/Essay Guidance
• EPI-500 Principles of Epidemiology
• EPI-502 Epidemiology Methods II
• EPI-601 Advanced Epidemiology Methods

At least twelve credit-hours of electives must be taken from approved courses.

The minimum total credit-hours requirement: 36.

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Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Behavioral Science

Prerequisite
A doctoral degree (e.g., M.D., Ph.D.) in the field of health or a health-related social science.

Required Courses

Each student must complete the following:

• BSH.500 Behavioral Science and Public Health
• BSH.600 Health Promotion Program Evaluation
• BSH.601 Research Methods in Behavioral Science
• BSH.603 Applying Theory in Research and Practice
• BST.500 Principles of Biostatistics
• BST.510 Introduction to General Linear Modeling
• BST.540 Applied Data Management
• CMH.500 Health Care Organization or CMH.501 Public Health Administration
• CMH.502 Ethical Issues in Public Health
• CMH.595 Special Study for Examinations
• CMH.596 Research Project/Essay Guidance
• EPI.500 Principles of Epidemiology

At least six credit-hours of electives must be taken from approved courses.

The minimum total credit-hours requirement: 36.

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Course Descriptions

BSH.500 Behavioral Science and Public Health (3)
This course introduces concepts, theories and methods employed by behavioral scientists to develop, implement and evaluate public health interventions. Selected theories of health behavior are presented. Principles of program evaluation methodology are introduced. Emphasis is placed on the application of theory and method to the design and assessment of approaches to solving current public health problems. (Offered twice each year.)

BSH.600 Health Promotion Program Evaluation (3)
Prerequisite: BSH.500 or permission of Instructor. The course focuses on principles and procedures to evaluate health promotion and disease prevention programs. Evaluation design, reliability and validity, formative and process evaluation, and meta-analysis are introduced. The course includes intensive critique of case studies from the disease prevention program and policy literature. Case studies designed to reflect the diversity of methods and the range of possible applications are selected. (Offered annually.)

BSH.601 Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences (3)
Prerequisite: BSH.500 or permission of Instructor. This course provides an
overview of selected methods used in conducting behavioral science research. The course will address all methodological aspects of behavioral science research, with an emphasis on data collection methods and survey research. (Offered annually.)

BSH.603 Applying Theory in Research and Practice (3)
Prerequisite: BSHE concentrator or permission of instructor Theory is a fundamental conceptual tool in the design and assessment of public health programs. Students will learn to critically assess relevant theories and evidence in relation to specific public health problems, and will be trained in the application of theory to inform and benefit program planning, development, implementation and evaluation. (Offered annually.)

BST.500 Principles of Biostatistics (3)
This course is designed as an introduction to statistical analysis for students in public health, health administration and research. It is for persons interested in learning the fundamental concepts and techniques of descriptive and inferential statistics with particular emphasis on application in health care administration, business, marketing, and epidemiology. Basic statistics, including probability, descriptive statistics, inference for means and proportions and regression methods are presented. (Offered twice each year.)

BST.510 Introduction to General Linear Modeling (3)
Prerequisite: BST.500 or permission of Instructor. This course is intended for graduate students in epidemiology, biostatistics, psychology, clinical health sciences, and health services research who seek skills in reading scholarly research, designing studies, and conducting statistical analyses. Emphasis is on research design, statistical modeling and analysis methods relevant to epidemiological and clinical research, as well as applied research in behavioral, social, and health sciences. A general linear models approach is taken to data analysis strategies using linear, logistic, and poisson regression, as well as ANOVA methods for repeated measures. Basic statistics is required. Calculus and matrix algebra familiarity are helpful. The analytic methods and applications will be linked to topics developed in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics curricula. (Offered annually.)

BST.540 Applied Data Management (2-3)
Prerequisite: BST.510 or 511, or permission of Instructor. This course is an advanced course on data management for students in public health, health administration and health services research. Students will learn advanced concepts and techniques of research data management with particular emphasis on applications in public health. Students will learn to use SAS statistical software. (Offered annually.)

CMH.500 Health Care Organization (3)
This course provides an overview of and orientation to the US health care delivery system. Topics include the delivery, financing, regulation, and administration of health care services, and the economic, legal, political, and social factors which influence the health care system. Historical and contemporary issues are addressed. (Offered annually.)

CMH.502 Ethical Issues in Public Health (3)
Prerequisite: CMH.500 or 501, or permission of Instructor. Through readings, lectures, discussions, and case studies, students develop: (1) knowledge of the basic ethical concepts operative in medical and public health ethics; (2) understanding of current ethical challenges facing those engaged in health promotion, disease prevention, and epidemiologic research; and (3) the ability to articulate ethical challenges and to make critical and informed ethical decisions. (Offered twice each year.)

CMH.595-02 Special Studies for Exam for MSPH
The oral examination is scheduled with an examination panel composed of three members of the faculty, one of which is the student’s advisor, and the other two of which are to be members of the faculty with knowledge of the student’s research area and/or methods.

The student prepares a professional 20-minute PowerPoint presentation with the following components:
Introduction/Background and Research Question
Research Methods
Results
Discussion and Implications

The presentation will be followed by questions and discussion with the faculty examination panel to ascertain the student's grasp of key areas of public health, health care, research and statistical methods.

The student will be graded on the presentation as follows:
Pass/fail on the oral exam

Pass on the written manuscript as presented
Pass on the written manuscript with revisions

CMH.596 Research Project for MSPH/Epidemiology or Behavioral Science (0)
The student works with his or her advisor, and other mentors as appropriate and as approved by the advisor, to conduct original research using either archival or original data collection. This research may be clinical or population-based, using research principles of epidemiology and/or behavioral science. The student is to prepare a manuscript of publishable quality (but there is no requirement that it be submitted for publication).

The research project is started only after the student has completed Advanced Epidemiology Methods (EPI- 601) or Research Methods in Behavioral Science (BSH-601), so that the student has acquired the necessary research skills. Exceptions to this policy are rare and only with the prior approval of the faculty advisor.

While working on this project, the student enrolls in CMH-596-01, Research Project/Essay Guidance, for 0 credits; the student may register for this class in two semesters if necessary. This course will be graded when the Oral Examination is completed and the manuscript is approved in final form. Grading is satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U).

The advisor’s approval of the research proposal is to be documented on the MSPH Project Description form available from the Community Health Internship Coordinator or on-line. Upon completion of the project, a copy of the manuscript is also submitted to the MPH Internship Coordinator. To document that the requirement is met, the Project Description Form and the research paper are kept on file with the MPH Internship Coordinator: Completion and submittal of paperwork is the responsibility of the student.

Drafts of the research project are to be reviewed by the advisor in process. When a near-final draft is completed and approved by the advisor, the CMH-595 oral examination may be scheduled. A copy of the manuscript is to be provided to each member of the examination panel at least one week prior to the examination. Revisions may be made to the manuscript following the oral examination.

EPI.500 Principles of Epidemiology (3)
This course is a comprehensive overview of epidemiologic research of the distribution and determinants of disease risk factors in human populations. The application of epidemiological evaluations in public health practice is emphasized. Topics include analytic reasoning in public health and causal inference; disease surveillance; descriptive, analytic observation and experimental study designs; infectious disease outbreak analysis and health outcome evaluation. Basic statistical measures, including measures of disease frequency and measures of absolute and relative effects, are covered. (Offered twice each year.)

EPI.502 Epidemiology Methods II (3)
Prerequisites: EPI-501 (completed with a B- or better grade). This course, in conjunction with EPI.501 (Epidemiology Methods I), is offered to graduate students who desire more intensive training in epidemiologic research methods than offered in the EPI.500 (Principles of Epidemiology) course. This course covers observational study designs, infectious disease outbreak analysis, sampling methods, statistical power, multivariate analysis, types of bias, and causal inference. (Offered annually.)

EPI.601 Advanced Epidemiology Methods (3)
Prerequisites: EPI.500 and BST.510 or permission of Instructor. The purposes of this course are 1) to develop the practical statistical skills to analyze an epidemiologic data set, and 2) to learn to write a scientific paper in the form of a journal article from the results of epidemiologic data analysis. Stratified analysis and modeling using main effects logistic regression will be emphasized. (Offered annually.)

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