Courses in Public Health
Public Health Courses
T SPH 105 Demystifying Public Health (3)
This course is designed to introduce students to the history and philosophy of public health and to understand the impact of people and politics on public health, with a particular focus on the role of genetics and genomics. This course focuses on providing the details and background necessary for a basic understanding of biological knowledge, the technology that surrounds it, and how biomedical sciences influences our lives and shapes public health. Not open to students with credit for HSPH/BMS 105H. Open to Honors College students only.
H SPH 201 Introduction to Public Health (3)
A general introduction to what public health is, its importance for everybody’s health, and how it functions as a combination of science and politics. The role of the public health system will be illustrated by describing issues confronting New York State and what is being done about them.
H SPH 202 From Cholera to Cancer: History, Challenges, and Achievements in Public Health (3)
Public health crosses political, disciplinary, social, and economic borders. Within this context, students will discuss key events in the history of public health and the philosophical basis of studying the health of populations. Readings and outside assignments include popular plays and books, as well as films and various self-teaching streaming videos.
H SPH 203 Integrative Care in Personal and Public Health (3)
This course examines the role of yoga, meditation, and optimal nutrition in managing stress and maintaining a sense of health and wellbeing. Students will guided in personally practicing these lifestyle interventions and examining their emerging role in public health.
H SPH 231 Concepts in Epidemiology (3)
This course is designed to introduce students to the science of epidemiology. Specific subjects will include causal thinking, the epidemiologic framework, and study designs utilized in epidemiologic studies and the role of epidemiology in public health. Prerequisite(s): A MAT 108.
T SPH 272 (= T PAD 272 & T POS 272) Health and Human Rights: an Interdisciplinary Approach (3)
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to health and human rights and the contemporary challenges and solutions associated with them. The course will be taught by physicians and human rights champions Kamiar Alaei and Arash Alaei, with guest lectures from experts in public health, philosophy, social welfare, law, gender studies, public administration and the United Nations, among others. Through lectures, discussion and case studies, students will develop a broad theoretical understanding of health as a human right, become familiar with legal and policy frameworks to support public health, and acquire skills in the application of these concepts and the implementation and evaluation of solutions to our modern health challenges. Only one version may be taken for credit. Open to Honors College students only.
H SPH 310 (= H HPM 310) Health Care in the U.S.: Key Policy Issues (3)
This course is an overview of the status, trends, and key issues concerning U.S. health care delivery today. It will include a comparative assessment of health policies by determining which issues in the U.S. health economy have similar causes with those in other nations, and which are specific to domestic circumstances. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ECO 110 or permission of instructor.
H SPH 321 Global Environmental Issues and Their Effect on Human Health (3)
Globalization has made the earth a much smaller place so that we can no longer focus merely on issues in the United States. This course will address global environmental concerns and their impact on human change, atmospheric pollution, sanitation, etc., within the context of their impacts on populations throughout the world. Faculty and invited lecturers will be guest presenters. Prerequisite(s): one semester of college-level course in biology or chemistry.
H SPH 323 (= H EHS 323) Environmental Laboratory Perspectives in Public Health (3)
The course will define current public health issues in environmental health sciences, highlighting emerging concerns faced by researchers and practitioners. This course will explore environmental agents of disease, including elemental, organic and biological current and emerging contaminants from an environmental laboratory perspective. The course will define characteristics of and describe toxicological and analytical considerations of disease derived from environmental agents. Heavy emphasis will be placed on how laboratory techniques have driven policy and regulation. Prerequisite(s): one year of college-level biology.
H SPH 332 (= H EPI 332) Epidemiology and Biostatistics (3)
This course will be a basic introduction to statistics as used in the field of public health. Students will learn basic descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and dispersion, basic rules of probability spaces, binomial and normal probability distributions, sampling distributions, estimation and hypothesis testing. In addition, students will learn how to use a computer program to analyze data. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A MAT 108.
H SPH 341 Promoting Healthy People and Communities (3)
This course focuses on how health promotion strategies influence healthy behaviors, healthy people, and healthy communities. Current public health issues will guide us in examining key health promotion concepts, health concerns at different ages, and the causes of different health behaviors. Health inequalities and mass media’s role will also be highlighted.
H SPH 342 How U.S. Health Care Works: Myths and Realities (3)
This course will introduce students to everyday realities of the U.S. health care system related to current issues like health care quality, access to care, the uninsured, patient safety, health care inflation, prescription drugs, physician-patient interaction, use of health care technology, and end-of-life care. The course is intended to provide students with an understanding of the various actors, stakeholder interactions, and functions of the U.S. health care system, through a case-based approach interweaving real world events, practice experience, and research about those events.
H SPH 343 Mass Media and Health Behavior (3)
The course will focus on examining how entertainment media, including the Internet, influences health behavior, including topics such as tobacco use, obesity, and violence. The course will also look at the role that advertising has on health, and discuss how the media can be used to educate people about healthy behavior.
H SPH 381 (= H HPM 381 & A ECO 381) Economics of Health Care (3)
Economics concepts are used to explain the nature of demand and supply in the health care field. The behavior of consumers and health care providers is examined from an economic perspective. Areas of market failures and the rationale for government intervention are also described. Only one version of H SPH 381 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ECO 300 or permission of instructor.
H SPH 397 Independent Study in Public Health (1-3)
Independent study or research on selected topics in public health will be offered under the direction of a faculty member. The student is responsible for locating an appropriate faculty member who is willing to direct the research of independent study. An independent study or research assignment may be repeated for credit, but no more than 6 credits may be earned. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor and undergraduate program director, and junior or senior standing. S/U graded.
H SPH 421 Preventing Disease, Disability, & Premature Death (3)
This course discusses the major health behaviors and demographic factors that lead to death, disease & disability throughout the lifespan. It describes policies and programs that address those underlying causes of ill health and provides a framework for developing strategies for promoting health and wellness. Prerequisites: H SPH 201; H SPH 341 preferred.
H SPH 460Z Evidence-Based Public Health (3)
Effective programs and policies to promote community health must be based on thorough assessment of health problems, associated risks factors and interventions to lower those risks. A public health professional must master the most current scientific evidence and recommendations from the literature about effective policies and programmatic interventions. H SPH 460 is the capstone course for undergraduates in public health that integrates prior learning by applying that knowledge to assessment of current public health problems and design, implementation and evaluation of effective, evidence-based, interventions to alleviate those problems. The curriculum utilizes case studies and 'real-life' scenarios as context for lectures, exercises, homework, group learning, and class presentations. Prerequisite(s): H SPH 201, 231, and H 341.
H SPH 490 Field Placement in Public Health (3)
Supervised placement in a public health agency or organization. Provides practical experiences to engage students in the application of public health principles and practices to complement knowledge gained in the classroom. Prerequisite(s): open only to public health seniors; at least 9 credits of public health major core coursework, including H SPH 201 and H SPH 231, which must be completed prior to enrolling in H SPH 490; G.P.A. of 3.00 or above; permission of instructor. S/U graded.
H SPH 499 Research Placement in Public Health (1-3)
Research Placement in Public Health will provide a supervised research experience with a School of Public Health faculty member. The goal of the placement is to provide an opportunity for students to integrate and apply the knowledge learned in the public health major courses while learning about public health research. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. Prerequisites: seniors in the public health major with an overall GPA of 3.00 or above; at least 9 credits of public health major coursework, including H SPH 201, H SPH 231 and one other public health course must be completed prior to enrolling; permission of instructor. S/U graded.
Health Policy and Management Courses
T HPM 250 Introduction to Maternal and Child Health from a Public Health Perspective (3)
This course is an introduction to the maternal and child health (MCH) field. A knowledge base of MCH within a public health context, focusing on MCH life course issues and public health approaches to address these issues, will be provided. Professional and educational opportunities within MCH will be described. Open to Honors College students only.
H HPM 310 (= H SPH 310) Health Care in the U.S.: Key Policy Issues (3)
This course is an overview of the status, trends, and key issues concerning U.S. health care delivery today. It will include a comparative assessment of health policies by determining which issues in the U.S. health economy have similar causes with those in other nations, and which are specific to domestic circumstances. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ECO 110 or permission of instructor.
H HPM 381 (= H SPH 381 & A ECO 381) Economics of Health Care (3)
Economics concepts are used to explain the nature of demand and supply in the health care field. The behavior of consumers and health care providers is examined from an economic perspective. Areas of market failures and the rationale for government intervention are also described. Only one version of H HPM 381 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ECO 300 or permission of instructor.
H HPM 486 (= R PAD 486 & R POS 486) International Health and Human Rights: an Interdisciplinary Approach (3)
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to health and human rights and the contemporary challenges and solutions associated with them. The course will be taught by physicians and human rights champions with guest lectures from experts in public health, philosophy, social welfare, law, gender studies, public administration the United Nations, among others. Through lectures, discussion and case studies, students will develop a broad theoretical understanding of health as a human right, become familiar with legal and policy frameworks to support public health, and acquire skills in the application of these concepts and the implementation and evaluation of solutions to our modern health challenges. Only one version may be taken for credit.
