Core Courses


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School Core Courses All students pursuing a master’s, doctor of public health, or doctor of science degree must complete the core courses. Doctoral students will be required to complete these courses unless they have documented prior to admission that they have taken equivalent courses or have relevant professional experience to replace the credit. Students pursuing the doctor of philosophy degree must take the core courses in biostatistics and epidemiology (or have the equivalent in their background).
Name	Course Number	Credits	Description
Introductory Biostatistics	BIOS603	3	Introduction to statistical methodology in the health field. It provides a firm foundation in the presentation of data (graphs and tables), descriptive statistics, concepts of probability, estimation of parameters, hypothesis testing, simple linear regression, correlation, and the analysis of attribute data. It is required for all students.
Epidemiologic Methods I	EPI603	3	The purpose of this course is to prepare students to function effectively as mid-level epidemiologists in public health agencies or other settings. The knowledge base and skills that are the focus of this course are fundamental to the scope of work expected of master's degree graduates in epidemiology. The course focuses on epidemiologic approaches to activities that are a routine part of public health practice.
Survey of Environmental Health	ENHS603	3	Major environmental health problems, including water quality, wastewater, occupational health, trace elements in the environment, municipal and hazardous waste, food protection, vector control, and air quality are discussed.
Principles of Health Systems Administration and Management	HSMG603	3	This course presents selected concepts and methods from management practices that are useful in the public health setting.Topics concerning organizational structure, finance, budgeting, human resources, negotiation and others are presented with examples from public health practice.
Biological Basis of Disease	SPHL601	3	This course provides a foundation of knowledge about the human body in health and disease. It gives an overview of important concepts of the biological mechanisms of disease at the cellular, individual, and societal levels. At the cellular level, the course summarizes DNA and cellular function, genomics, immunology, and vaccination. At the individual and societal levels, the course addresses the most important infectious and non-infectious causes of death worldwide, providing background on their pathophysiology, clinical aspects, patterns of disease occurrence, risk factors, and methods of prevention.
Social and Behavioral Aspects of Global Health	SPHL 603	3	This course covers the behavioral, social, and cultural aspects of health and disease in both developed and developing countries. Students learn how behavioral and social theories are relevant to health promotion and disease prevention efforts. They also learn how factors that protect or erode health operate at multiple levels (including individual, community, societal, and global levels), and how interventions are developed to improve health by addressing critical factors at each of these levels. The course also addresses the roles of culture, race, and ethnicity in the conceptualization of health and illness.
View all department course offerings View courses currently offered through the Office of the Registrar