Master of Public Health Curriculum

Designed to examine the current theory and research about contemporary public health, students will utilize qualitative and quantitative approaches to assess population level public health topics by describing the major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and other global communities, especially in areas where the U.S. military and government are providing assistance. Emphasis is on discussion of supporting, training, and encouraging others in the pursuit of well-being in all dimensions of life and encouraging others to adopt and maintain wellness lifestyles given their respective population and cultures.

Designed to examine the social and cultural determinants of health and illness in which students will explore the various principles and models for equitable health, analyzing the conditions and environments where people are born, live, work, recreate, worship, and age, and the effects of socioeconomic status, education level, geography, cultural identity, social inclusion and integration, and employment. Students will identify barriers to achieving equitable health and the resources needed to mitigate those barriers by evaluating health care systems in countries across the globe.

This course examines the healthcare system and guides students to assess and analyze the healthcare system in the context of advanced practice healthcare professional and the role of advanced practice healthcare professionals. The student explores organizational and system science, change theories and social change theories in its application to healthcare. Healthcare leadership including theory and styles as well as contemporary approaches, ethical practice and leadership strategies are examined. Inter/intra professional communication, teamwork, consultation, diversity and collaboration are discussed as cornerstones for patient safety, optimal health outcomes and accountability in health care. The student analyzes and evaluates the intersection of current and emerging healthcare system challenges and advanced practice role dimensions.

This course examines healthcare delivery in the United States, to include the role of public policy, advocacy, and industry regulation. Health policy perspectives and the analytical tools to understand the national policy-making environment are integrated throughout the course. Key policy issues and core constructs for analysis include national health expenditures and cost containment strategies, patient access and health disparities, health care quality and performance improvement, and workforce policy. Health care reform, future directions and trends, and policy innovations are examined for their impact on advanced nursing practice, service delivery, and health outcomes. Health systems of other developed and developing countries are examined to gain a global perspective and appreciation for a variety of health system attributes.

This course examines the research, information, and data needed to plan, manage, and assess health programs and to promote community health education. Students will learn core concepts for planning a communication framework as well as key strategies for educating the public about health issues, including understanding and reporting science, communicating for policy and advocacy, and health literacy and numeracy. Students will design a health program that is culturally, population, and audience appropriate. Additional emphasis will be placed on risk and emergency communication strategies, especially in resource poor countries.

This course provides a foundation of key concepts essential to population-focused healthcare professionals, the aggregate, community or population as the unit of care. The focus of the course is on health promotion/disease prevention with emphasis on the advanced role of healthcare professionals in clinical prevention of disease and care of populations. Applying concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary health promotion across the lifespan, the student relates the basic concepts of epidemiology to multiple domains of population health, using epidemiology to better understand, characterize and promote health at a population level. Disease prevention and health promotion of populations are examined through the study of the occurrence and distribution of health-related states or events, including the study of social determinants of health.

This course focuses on the use of the research process in developing new healthcare professional knowledge and applying that to an evidence-based practice. The student examines and develops research questions, considers theoretical frameworks, methods of data collection and analysis, and the interpretation and use of study findings in providing evidence-based care of individuals, families, and communities. The importance of scientific integrity and ethical standards are emphasized and ethical issues in the conduct of research are explored. The student is prepared to critically appraise and utilize research and identify researchable problems within the context of his/her own practice.

This course examines how to identify and improve public health outcomes in various global populations and cultures by analyzing the effect of cultural norms on socioeconomic inequalities. Students examine global regulatory issues and address emerging global public health concerns and acquire an understanding of how global health epidemiology, international public health, and global medicine are foundational to promoting global public health.

Examines the various perspectives and research that informs disaster planning. Students will evaluate the strength of disaster plans and analyze how the strength of the plan affects disaster preparedness, disaster response, management, and community recovery. Emphasis is placed on interprofessional and intersectional practice and systems thinking, which are essential to formulating and enacting sustainable disaster plans.

Examines the complexities of confronting public health critical incidents and crisis management. The role of leadership, how decisions are made and implemented, information communication formats and distribution, and stakeholder input are examined. Students will utilize theories of crisis management and foundational concepts to strategize how to respond comprehensively to a public health crisis. Emphasis will be placed on the roles and responsibilities of local, state, national, and international organizations, including the U.S. military and first responders, in crisis management and response.

An application of public health experiences through utilization of knowledge and skills obtained in the MPH program and previous experiences. The student will work individually to define and develop a public health project from project scoping, formulating a question or problem statement, obtaining data sources and information, formulating an assessment plan, implementing the project, and communicating the results.

Students will synthesize program learning with a particular focus on public health scenarios. Students work as small teams to analyze public health scenarios and case studies that are situational to a military, first-responder, or a health care professional, and the respective body of knowledge needed for that individual. Learning experiences allow students to collaborate across professions to enhance the attitudes, skills, and behaviors necessary to work effectively in health care teams. Scenarios and case studies will focus on particular use of various foundational public health skills students have acquired throughout the MPH program of study.