Public Health Program Courses
Sph 539 Topics in Public Health Preparedness (3)
This course provides an overview on a variety of public health topics with a focus on skill and knowledge building in the area of public health preparedness.
Sph 559 Selected Topics in Public Health (2-3)
This course focuses on a specific public health topic that might unexpectedly become significant or an interdisciplinary topic that may not fit neatly into the curriculum of a department of the School of Public Health. Possible topics include occupational ergonomics, disaster preparedness, preparedness for biological terrorism, confidentiality of medical data.
Sph 589 (Ehc 589) Emergency Preparedness: The Public Health Perspective (3)
Preparedness planning has been an essential but often overlooked aspect of public health. Events of this decade have clarified the need for preparedness training around issues such as bioterrorism and have emphasized a new role for public health workers in community response activities. This course will serve as an introduction to the knowledge, skills and competencies needed by public health staff in being prepared for these new concerns.
Sph 603 Advanced Topics in Population Medicine I (0-3)
This is the first course in a two-course sequence that serves as the core requirement for the MPH Population Medicine track and the Fellowship in Applied Public Health (FAPH) Program. The course is structured as an interactive weekly seminar that engages students in exploring a range of population health issues, perspectives, core skills, and competencies for public health leadership and practice. It emphasizes the synthesis, interpretation, critical analysis, communication, and generation of evidence alongside the implementation and application of that evidence to public health practice and policymaking. Individualized professional development is an additional core focus of the class. Students critically assess their own ongoing development as public health professionals and reflect on how course activities contribute to their progressive mastery of specific public health practice competencies. Prerequisite: Enrollment in is limited to MPH students in the Population Medicine track or on a limited case-by-case basis by permission of instructor.
Sph 604 Advanced Topics in Population Medicine II (0-3)
This is the second course in a two-course sequence that serves as the core requirement for the MPH Population Medicine track and the Fellowship in Applied Public Health (FAPH) Program. The course is structured as an interactive weekly seminar that engages students in exploring a range of population health issues, perspectives, core skills, and competencies for public health leadership and practice. It emphasizes the synthesis, interpretation, critical analysis, communication, and generation of evidence alongside the implementation and application of that evidence to public health practice and policymaking. Individualized professional development is an additional core focus of the class. Students critically assess their own ongoing development as public health professionals and reflect on how course activities contribute to their progressive mastery of specific public health practice competencies. Prerequisites: SPH 603. Enrollment in is limited to MPH students in the Population Medicine track or on a limited case-by-case basis by permission of instructor.
Sph 629 (Ehs 629) Protocol Development and Grant Writing (3)
This course will teach methods for developing research grant proposals in the population sciences. Exposure and outcome assessment, study designs and bias will be discussed in-depth. Application of these methods will be evaluated through written critiques of the peer-reviewed literature, in-class discussions and the preparation of a grant proposal.
Sph 681 Professional Practice in Public Health (3)
This course provides a foundation for your MPH degree and focuses on interdisciplinary concepts and skills essential to the practice of public health. It provides a foundation in the core principles and fundamentals of public health practice. It also addresses the professional skills needed to be a successful public health professional, including oral and written communication skills, advocacy, cultural competence, collaboration, negotiation, and interprofessional practice. Prerequisites: Matriculation in MPH program.
Sph 685 MPH Capstone Seminar (1)
As the capstone in the MPH degree, this course encourages students to reflect on competencies they have acquired during the academic and hands-on phases of the degree program. Using an evidence-based public health framework, it helps them to integrate their knowledge and apply it to new public health issues. Prerequisite: Completion of 6 or more credits of MPH internship (concurrent, with permission).
Sph 687 Independent Study and Research in Public Health Practice (1-6)
Supervised independent study or research of selected topics and problems of public health practice undertaken with a UAlbany instructor. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Sph 689 MPH Internship in Population Medicine (3 - 6)
This internship for physicians in the Fellowship in Applied Public Health (FAPH) provides hands-on experience in public health practice in the NYS or Albany County Health Departments or other approved settings, helping Fellows develop a range of public health practice competencies. It counts toward the MPH internship and FAPH practicum requirements. Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in Fellowship in Applied Public Health or permission of instructor.
Sph 690 Internship in Biomedical Sciences (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with biomedical science. Internship rotations may be full-time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. A paper and an oral presentation are required. Prerequisite: Admission to M.P.H. program.
Sph 691 Internship in Environmental Health (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with environmental health. Internship rotations may be full- time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. A paper and an oral presentation are required. Prerequisite: Admission to M.P.H. program.
Sph 692 Internship in Epidemiology (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with epidemiology. Internship rotations may be full-time part- time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with host agency. A paper and an oral presentation are required. Prerequisite: Admission to M.P.H. program.
Sph 693 Internship in Biostatistics (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with biostatistics. Internship rotations may be full-time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. A paper and an oral presentation are required. Prerequisite: Admission to M.P.H. program.
Sph 694 Internship in Health Administration (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with health administration. Internship rotations may be full- time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. A paper and an oral presentation are required. Prerequisite: Admission to M.P.H. program.
Sph 695 Internship in Behavioral Sciences (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with behavioral science. Internship rotations may be full-time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. A paper and oral presentation are required. Prerequisite: Admission to M.P.H. program.
Sph 696 Internship in Public Health Practice (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with public health practice. Internship rotations may be full-time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. Prerequisite: Admission to the Online M.P.H. in Public Health Practice Program.
Sph 698 Completion of Internship (1)
Continuation of an internship for which an MPH student has previously registered but has not completed the work. Course grading is Load Only and does not earn credit. Prerequisites: Sph690, Sph691, Sph692, Sph693, or Sph695 and completion of all other MPH requirements. Permission of Instructor.
Sph 701 Doctoral Seminar: Defining, Quantifying, and Presenting Evidence for a Public Health Problem (3)
This first year doctoral seminar prepares students to conduct research on a public health problem. Students learn to succinctly define, quantify and present a public health issue. The product of this course is a thoroughly researched, clearly written, and orally presented literature review which is the prelude to the spring semester's final product, a completed grant proposal. Additionally students attend weekly preventive medicine residency seminars to participate in journal clubs and discussions with guest speakers about timely topics in public health. Prerequisite: MPH core courses.
Sph 702 Leadership for Planning, Implementing, and Writing a Proposal for a Public Health Intervention (3)
This is the second in a sequence of doctoral seminars designed to complete the process of writing a grant proposal. Following the completed literature review from the previous semester, students develop implementation and evaluation plans for the proposed evidence-based public health intervention. The course culminates with a completed written proposal and oral presentation worthy of submission to a funding agency. As in the fall semester, students will continue to attend preventive medicine seminars and journal clubs for the second 90 minutes of course time each week. Prerequitistes: MPH core courses and Sph 701.
Sph 711 Advanced Topics in Public Health Research and Practice I (3)
This is the first course in a two-course sequence for doctoral students in public health (DrPH program) that covers advanced topics in public health research and practice. This is an integrative seminar that emphasizes the synthesis and generation of evidence, by including critical analysis of research and evaluation methods, and also the implementation and application of that evidence to high-level public health practice and policy-making. The course also includes a focus on high-level leadership in public health practice. Prerequisites: Completion of MPH core courses.
Sph 712 Advanced Topics in Public Health Research and Practice II (3)
This is the second course in a two-course sequence for doctoral students in public health (DrPH program) that covers advanced topics in public health research and practice. This is an integrative seminar that emphasizes the synthesis and generation of evidence, by including critical analysis of research and evaluation methods, and also the implementation and application of that evidence to high-level public health practice and policy-making. The course also includes a focus on high-level leadership in public health practice. Prerequisites: Sph 711; Completion of MPH core courses.
Sph 713 Translating Research Into Public Health Policy & Program Implementation (3)
In this course students will explore the theory and practice of program and policy implementation, combining an introduction to principles and tools of implementation science with 'real world' applications and practical aspects of implementation, including analysis of examples from New York State and a focus on health equity in implementation. Over the course of the semester students will develop a comprehensive implementation plan for a public health intervention. Prerequisites: Sph 711 and 712, and Hpm 727, or permission of instructor. Required for DrPH students. Open to other students by permission of instructor.
Sph 780 DrPH Professional Development Seminar (0)
A professional development seminar for students in the DrPH program. This seminar will prepare students to successfully complete their DrPH program milestones and will address other topics important to future professional practice. In this seminar, DrPH students will also present their practicum projects. This seminar is to be taken twice, once in the fall and once in the spring.
Doctoral-level individual directed internship with an appropriate organization relevant to public health. Internships may be full or part-time. One 9-credit internship experience is required, distributed over 2-3 semesters. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency.
Sph 791 DrPH Teaching Practicum (0 - 6)
This required teaching practicum for DrPH students will provide students with substantial mentored teaching experience, and will meet required DrPH competencies related to education. The mentored teaching experience can occur in a variety of settings, chosen to align with the student’s professional goals, including academic settings at UAlbany or another academic institution, or in community-based or healthcare organizations. The student will gain experience with multiple aspects of teaching, and will be responsible for planning and delivering at least two class sessions, incorporating different best practice pedagogical techniques into these sessions. Pre-requisite: Sph 780.
Sph 898 Dissertation Research Pre-candidacy (3-12)
Research credits for DrPH students preparing their dissertation proposal. Prerequisite: Consent of advisor.
Sph 899 Doctoral Dissertation (1-12)
Required of all doctoral students in the DrPH program when engaged in research and writing of the dissertation. Registration for this course is limited to doctoral students who have been admitted to candidacy.
