MPH Course Descriptions

MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH: COURSE LISTING AND DESCRIPTIONS

EPH 501 BIOSTATISTICS I (3 cr.): Introduction to probability and statistics including descriptive statistics, tests of hypothesis, regression analysis, contingency tables, non-parametric tests and life tables. Students will gain hands-on experience in the analysis of medical data using several computer systems and at least one of the different statistical packages such as: SPSS, SAS, STATA, STATISTICS, or NCSS. Prerequisite: Ability to use a spreadsheet program on a personal computer.

EPH 502 BIOSTATISTICS II(3 cr.): Continuation and elaboration of EPH 501. Includes design of factorial experiments, analysis of variance and variance components, multiple linear regression, life tables. Prerequisite: EPH 501 or permission of instructor.

EPH 512 GLOBAL HEALTH (3 cr.): Main issues in the provision of health care internationally; determinants of health improvement and issues of planning; morbidity and mortality-prevention, control, and eradication programs; housing, water, sanitation, nutrition, food production and distribution; population and family planning; international organizations in health care; technology transfer; economics and politics of health care.

EPH 520 HEALTH EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR (3 cr.): Educational processes with special emphasis on the social and cultural determinants of health behavior, health education as a process of social change, and community based health education organizations.

EPH 521 FUNDAMENTALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 cr.): Principles and methods of epidemiology. Descriptive epidemiology, environmental and other risk factors; detection of outbreaks, basic demography, etiologic studies. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

EPH 525 ETHICAL ISSUES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 cr.): The course identifies and analyzes ethical issues in epidemiologic practice and research. Issues include data acquisition and management, confidentiality, valid consent, advocacy and public policy, subgroup stigma, research sponsorship and conflicts of interest, communication of risk, and international and intercultural difference. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and EPH 521 or permission of instructor.

EPH 541 INTEGRATED ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (3 cr.): Interdisciplinary scope of environmental health problems. Development of a practical, dynamic model for integrating fundamental concepts from a variety of environmental disciplines.

EPH 542 MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY (3 cr.): Provides an integrated approach to human and environmental health effects in conjunction with toxicological mechanisms of disease and monitoring. This course was developed for the advanced student with an interest in environmental and occupational health. Lectures and discussions will focus on groups of toxins, considering their toxic health effects on humans and the environment. In addition, where relevant, a broad range of topics will be discussed using specific examples, including: monitoring, environmental and occupational regulation, different forms of pollution, engineering and industrial hygiene, risk assessment, and prevention. Prerequisite EPH 541 or permission of the instructor.

EPH 561 PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION (3 cr.): Epidemiology classification of nutrition risk factors and their amelioration through public health measures. Emphasis on nutritional assessment and education of large population groups. Some discussion of nutritional deficiencies in relation to disease.

EPH 571 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH (3 cr.): Preventive and therapeutic concepts pertinent to the reduction of morbidity and mortality among mothers and their children. Prerequisite: EPH 521 or permission of the instructor.

EPH 581 FIELD APPLICATIONS IN PUBLIC HEALTH (1-4 cr.): Subject matter offering based upon student demand and availability of faculty. Subtitles describing the topics to be offered will be shown in parentheses in the printed class schedule following the title "Advanced Topics". Prerequisite: Core requirements for MPH program or permission of instructor.

EPH 583 AIDS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE (3 cr.): To examine AIDS as a public health issue, including material on HIV epidemiology, etiology, treatments, co-factors, transmission behavioral change, psychological factors, sociocultural factors, political aspects, legal issues, policy formulation, and medical ethics.

EPH 603 STATISTICAL METHODS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY I (3 cr.): Advanced statistical methods used in analyzing data from epidemiologic investigations. Topics to be included are: Mantel-Haenszel chi-square, interaction, standardization of rates, incidence density, logistics regression, and other special topics. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and 521.

EPH 604 CLINICAL TRIALS (3 cr.): Planning, design, analysis and data management for clinical therapeutic and prophylactic trials. Illustrations by case examples. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and permission of the instructor.

EPH 605 STATISTICAL METHODS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY II (3 cr.): Continuation and elaboration of EPH 603. Advanced statistical methods used in analyzing data from epidemiologic investigations. Topics to be included are: Kappa statistics, life tables, survival analyses, logistic regression, Poisson regression, log linear models, clusters, meta-analysis, and other special topics. Prerequisite: EPH 603 and permission of instructor.

EPH 610 APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SURVEILLANCE OF HIV/AIDS (3 cr.): Students in the course will be provided with an overview of the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS and will then proceed to design a national surveillance system for AIDS, conduct serologic testing for HIV infection, design and conduct sentinel surveillance studies, establish control programs and implement primary prevention education strategies. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and EPH 521.

EPH 611 CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 cr.): This course covers the basic epidemiology of cancer. Major sites and exposures will be stressed, highlighting descriptive, etiologic and preventive aspects. There will be a major course project, and one final exam. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

EPH 621 CHRONIC DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 cr.): The major chronic diseases (e.g. Heart Disease, Cancer, diabetes). Their population impact, and methods of prevention. Specialized problems associated with chronic disease studies. Prerequisite: EPH 521.

EPH 622 INFECTIOUS DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CONTROL (3 cr.): Surveillance, investigation, control and problems related to infectious diseases. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and EPH 521.

EPH 624 ADVANCED APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 cr.): Principles and methods of analytic studies including case-control, cohort, and clinical trials. Emphasis on influences of chance, evaluation cause-effect relationships. Prerequisites: EPH 501 and EPH 521 or permission of instructor.

EPH 625 ADVANCED DEMOGRAPHY (3 cr.): The course is the study of demography in relation to epidemiology, health and illness; including basic population structure, composition and trends, and population methods and measures. The implications of demographic trends and policies for delivery of public health services are explored. Topics include: population growth, emigration (especially to and from Florida), fertility, and the relation of demography to health and illness. Prerequisites: EPH 501 and EPH 521 or permission of instructor.

EPH 631 PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (3 cr.): An overview of the historical background, philosophy and purpose of public health. Relationship between government, law and public health. Organization, management and intergovernmental relationships of public health agencies in the United States at the federal, state and local level. Basic principles of management, decision making and prioritizing in public health. Overview of programs and services provided by health organizations with emphasis on current health issues and problems.

EPH 640 BASIC PATHOLOGY AND PATHO-PHYSIOLOGY (3 cr.): The course emphasizes basic patho-physiological mechanisms and diseases of particular interest to students of public health. Students will obtain an understanding of basic pathological processes, nomenclature of pathological findings, and common natural and unnatural diseases affecting various body systems. Observations of autopsies and the gross pathology of selected organs are also incorporated in the course. Prerequisite: EPH 521 and permission of instructor

EPH 641 RESEARCH METHODS (3 cr.): This course provides a sound understanding of the purposes, varieties, design features, complexity and interpretive intricacies of epidemiologic research. It prepares students to critically evaluate and extract knowledge from published results. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and 521 and permission of instructor

EPH 645* SURVEY METHODS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 CR): This course provides a sound understanding of the purposes, varieties, design features, complexity and interpretive intricacies of health survey research. It prepares students to critically evaluate and extract knowledge for published results, to select and work effectively with health survey consultants, and to participate as a junior investigator on health survey research projects. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and 521 and permission of instructor

EPH 650 HEALTH ECONOMICS FOR EVALUATION AND POLICY (3 cr.): This course provides an introduction to the principles of opportunity cost and elasticity, supply and demand for health care, imperfect information and physician-induced demand, moral hazard and adverse selection in insurance markets, and economic evaluation of health care programs. Students will also learn how to apply these techniques to current issues in health administration and policy. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and EPH 502 or permission of the instructor.

EPH 651 SURVIVAL ANALYSIS IN CLINICAL TRIALS (3 cr.): Statistical methods for analysis and interpretation of survival data arising from clinical trials. Topics include survival curves, estimation of sample size and survival curves, proportional-hazard models, time dependent variables, prognostic indices. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and EPH 501 and EPH 502.

EPH 680 SUPERVISED FIELD PLACEMENT (1-6 cr.): Practical field experience for MPH students; e.g. a supervised internship with a public health department, clinic, school system, Health Center, or community-based health organization. Required by all MPH students as their culminating or “capstone” experience. Prerequisite: Candidacy and completion of the core requirements; Permission of the directing faculty member and the Director of MPH program.

EPH 681 GIS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH (3 cr.): Hands on approach to learning geographical information systems within the context of public health—techniques necessary to interpret, analyze, and understand spatial patterns and their significance utilizing the GIS software ArcView. Under the title ---"Advanced Topics". Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

EPH 682 ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL STUDY (1-3 cr.): Individual work on a special project under faculty guidance. Prerequisite: Permission of the directing faculty member and the Director of Graduate Programs.

EPH 699 PUBLIC HEALTH PROJECTS (5 cr.): Research and/or design projects with faculty mentor(s). Individual investigation of current public health problems. Required by all MSPH students as their culminating or “capstone” experience. Prerequisite: candidacy and completion of the core requirements including EPH 600- research seminar..

EPH 725 CONTINUOUS REGISTRATION - MASTER'S STUDY (0 cr.): Used to establish residence for MPH and MSPH students who are preparing for project presentation. Credit not granted. Regarded as full time residence.




	MAIA Home > Dual Degree > MPH Descriprion MPH Course Descriptions MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH: COURSE LISTING AND DESCRIPTIONS EPH 501 BIOSTATISTICS I (3 cr.): Introduction to probability and statistics including descriptive statistics, tests of hypothesis, regression analysis, contingency tables, non-parametric tests and life tables. Students will gain hands-on experience in the analysis of medical data using several computer systems and at least one of the different statistical packages such as: SPSS, SAS, STATA, STATISTICS, or NCSS. Prerequisite: Ability to use a spreadsheet program on a personal computer. EPH 502 BIOSTATISTICS II(3 cr.): Continuation and elaboration of EPH 501. Includes design of factorial experiments, analysis of variance and variance components, multiple linear regression, life tables. Prerequisite: EPH 501 or permission of instructor. EPH 512 GLOBAL HEALTH (3 cr.): Main issues in the provision of health care internationally; determinants of health improvement and issues of planning; morbidity and mortality-prevention, control, and eradication programs; housing, water, sanitation, nutrition, food production and distribution; population and family planning; international organizations in health care; technology transfer; economics and politics of health care. EPH 520 HEALTH EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR (3 cr.): Educational processes with special emphasis on the social and cultural determinants of health behavior, health education as a process of social change, and community based health education organizations. EPH 521 FUNDAMENTALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 cr.): Principles and methods of epidemiology. Descriptive epidemiology, environmental and other risk factors; detection of outbreaks, basic demography, etiologic studies. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. EPH 525 ETHICAL ISSUES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 cr.): The course identifies and analyzes ethical issues in epidemiologic practice and research. Issues include data acquisition and management, confidentiality, valid consent, advocacy and public policy, subgroup stigma, research sponsorship and conflicts of interest, communication of risk, and international and intercultural difference. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and EPH 521 or permission of instructor. EPH 541 INTEGRATED ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (3 cr.): Interdisciplinary scope of environmental health problems. Development of a practical, dynamic model for integrating fundamental concepts from a variety of environmental disciplines. EPH 542 MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY (3 cr.): Provides an integrated approach to human and environmental health effects in conjunction with toxicological mechanisms of disease and monitoring. This course was developed for the advanced student with an interest in environmental and occupational health. Lectures and discussions will focus on groups of toxins, considering their toxic health effects on humans and the environment. In addition, where relevant, a broad range of topics will be discussed using specific examples, including: monitoring, environmental and occupational regulation, different forms of pollution, engineering and industrial hygiene, risk assessment, and prevention. Prerequisite EPH 541 or permission of the instructor. EPH 561 PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION (3 cr.): Epidemiology classification of nutrition risk factors and their amelioration through public health measures. Emphasis on nutritional assessment and education of large population groups. Some discussion of nutritional deficiencies in relation to disease. EPH 571 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH (3 cr.): Preventive and therapeutic concepts pertinent to the reduction of morbidity and mortality among mothers and their children. Prerequisite: EPH 521 or permission of the instructor. EPH 581 FIELD APPLICATIONS IN PUBLIC HEALTH (1-4 cr.): Subject matter offering based upon student demand and availability of faculty. Subtitles describing the topics to be offered will be shown in parentheses in the printed class schedule following the title "Advanced Topics". Prerequisite: Core requirements for MPH program or permission of instructor. EPH 583 AIDS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE (3 cr.): To examine AIDS as a public health issue, including material on HIV epidemiology, etiology, treatments, co-factors, transmission behavioral change, psychological factors, sociocultural factors, political aspects, legal issues, policy formulation, and medical ethics. EPH 603 STATISTICAL METHODS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY I (3 cr.): Advanced statistical methods used in analyzing data from epidemiologic investigations. Topics to be included are: Mantel-Haenszel chi-square, interaction, standardization of rates, incidence density, logistics regression, and other special topics. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and 521. EPH 604 CLINICAL TRIALS (3 cr.): Planning, design, analysis and data management for clinical therapeutic and prophylactic trials. Illustrations by case examples. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and permission of the instructor. EPH 605 STATISTICAL METHODS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY II (3 cr.): Continuation and elaboration of EPH 603. Advanced statistical methods used in analyzing data from epidemiologic investigations. Topics to be included are: Kappa statistics, life tables, survival analyses, logistic regression, Poisson regression, log linear models, clusters, meta-analysis, and other special topics. Prerequisite: EPH 603 and permission of instructor. EPH 610 APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SURVEILLANCE OF HIV/AIDS (3 cr.): Students in the course will be provided with an overview of the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS and will then proceed to design a national surveillance system for AIDS, conduct serologic testing for HIV infection, design and conduct sentinel surveillance studies, establish control programs and implement primary prevention education strategies. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and EPH 521. EPH 611 CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 cr.): This course covers the basic epidemiology of cancer. Major sites and exposures will be stressed, highlighting descriptive, etiologic and preventive aspects. There will be a major course project, and one final exam. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. EPH 621 CHRONIC DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 cr.): The major chronic diseases (e.g. Heart Disease, Cancer, diabetes). Their population impact, and methods of prevention. Specialized problems associated with chronic disease studies. Prerequisite: EPH 521. EPH 622 INFECTIOUS DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CONTROL (3 cr.): Surveillance, investigation, control and problems related to infectious diseases. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and EPH 521. EPH 624 ADVANCED APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 cr.): Principles and methods of analytic studies including case-control, cohort, and clinical trials. Emphasis on influences of chance, evaluation cause-effect relationships. Prerequisites: EPH 501 and EPH 521 or permission of instructor. EPH 625 ADVANCED DEMOGRAPHY (3 cr.): The course is the study of demography in relation to epidemiology, health and illness; including basic population structure, composition and trends, and population methods and measures. The implications of demographic trends and policies for delivery of public health services are explored. Topics include: population growth, emigration (especially to and from Florida), fertility, and the relation of demography to health and illness. Prerequisites: EPH 501 and EPH 521 or permission of instructor. EPH 631 PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (3 cr.): An overview of the historical background, philosophy and purpose of public health. Relationship between government, law and public health. Organization, management and intergovernmental relationships of public health agencies in the United States at the federal, state and local level. Basic principles of management, decision making and prioritizing in public health. Overview of programs and services provided by health organizations with emphasis on current health issues and problems. EPH 640 BASIC PATHOLOGY AND PATHO-PHYSIOLOGY (3 cr.): The course emphasizes basic patho-physiological mechanisms and diseases of particular interest to students of public health. Students will obtain an understanding of basic pathological processes, nomenclature of pathological findings, and common natural and unnatural diseases affecting various body systems. Observations of autopsies and the gross pathology of selected organs are also incorporated in the course. Prerequisite: EPH 521 and permission of instructor EPH 641 RESEARCH METHODS (3 cr.): This course provides a sound understanding of the purposes, varieties, design features, complexity and interpretive intricacies of epidemiologic research. It prepares students to critically evaluate and extract knowledge from published results. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and 521 and permission of instructor EPH 645* SURVEY METHODS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY (3 CR): This course provides a sound understanding of the purposes, varieties, design features, complexity and interpretive intricacies of health survey research. It prepares students to critically evaluate and extract knowledge for published results, to select and work effectively with health survey consultants, and to participate as a junior investigator on health survey research projects. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and 521 and permission of instructor EPH 650 HEALTH ECONOMICS FOR EVALUATION AND POLICY (3 cr.): This course provides an introduction to the principles of opportunity cost and elasticity, supply and demand for health care, imperfect information and physician-induced demand, moral hazard and adverse selection in insurance markets, and economic evaluation of health care programs. Students will also learn how to apply these techniques to current issues in health administration and policy. Prerequisite: EPH 501 and EPH 502 or permission of the instructor. EPH 651 SURVIVAL ANALYSIS IN CLINICAL TRIALS (3 cr.): Statistical methods for analysis and interpretation of survival data arising from clinical trials. Topics include survival curves, estimation of sample size and survival curves, proportional-hazard models, time dependent variables, prognostic indices. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and EPH 501 and EPH 502. EPH 680 SUPERVISED FIELD PLACEMENT (1-6 cr.): Practical field experience for MPH students; e.g. a supervised internship with a public health department, clinic, school system, Health Center, or community-based health organization. Required by all MPH students as their culminating or “capstone” experience. Prerequisite: Candidacy and completion of the core requirements; Permission of the directing faculty member and the Director of MPH program. EPH 681 GIS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH (3 cr.): Hands on approach to learning geographical information systems within the context of public health—techniques necessary to interpret, analyze, and understand spatial patterns and their significance utilizing the GIS software ArcView. Under the title ---"Advanced Topics". Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. EPH 682 ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL STUDY (1-3 cr.): Individual work on a special project under faculty guidance. Prerequisite: Permission of the directing faculty member and the Director of Graduate Programs. EPH 699 PUBLIC HEALTH PROJECTS (5 cr.): Research and/or design projects with faculty mentor(s). Individual investigation of current public health problems. Required by all MSPH students as their culminating or “capstone” experience. Prerequisite: candidacy and completion of the core requirements including EPH 600- research seminar.. EPH 725 CONTINUOUS REGISTRATION - MASTER'S STUDY (0 cr.): Used to establish residence for MPH and MSPH students who are preparing for project presentation. Credit not granted. Regarded as full time residence.