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School of Public Health Courses

SPHL 601 BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF DISEASE (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.

SPHL 603 SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF GLOBAL HEALTH (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.

SPHL 617 FIELD METHODS IN COMPLEX EMERGENCIES
Overview of the basic requirements of displaced populations. Students are equipped with skills to quantify populations and their level of access to basic services for the purpose of emergency response and program planning.

SPHL 688 EPIDEMIOLOGIC PERSPECTIVES ON NUTRITION AND CHRONIC DISEASE
Professor Gustat.
This course will provide students the opportunity to explore the complex relationships between diet, obesity, and chronic disease outcomes particularly cardiovascular disease and cancer. The emphasis of the course will be through case studies and through the shared experience of experts in various areas. The course will focus on the causal pathway from diet and inactivity to obesity to negative chronic outcomes with overnutrition being the pivotal mechanism to disease.

SPHL 799 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-3)
Topics of individual research and study to be conducted with the guidance of a faculty member are identified by the student and advisor and approved by the department chair. Groups of students together with faculty may also arrange special seminars on relevant topics not presented in the other courses. Permission of instructor required prior to registration.

SPHL 990, 991. Interdisciplinary Doctoral Seminar. (Fall, Spring: 1 credit per semester)
The interdisciplinary doctoral seminars are an essential part of doctoral education. The seminars are a forum for doctoral students to expand their perspective across a spectrum of public health topics and facilitate interactions among doctoral students from different disciplines. The seminars expose students to issues beyond those covered in disciplinary coursework and their research area. Faculty, invited speakers, and students from each department present information and guide discussions of cross cutting concepts relevant to all public health disciplines. A variety of formats may be used, including presentations of current and historical research findings, case studies and scenarios. A minimum of 2 credits and a maximum of 4 credits must be applied to the degree. Doctoral students must register and attend for 2 semesters and are strongly encouraged to attend every semester.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the seminar series, students will be able to:

• Ask cogent questions and discuss ideas with colleagues in public health disciplines other than their own;
• Express concepts from their own discipline clearly;
• Apply research concepts to other disciplinary areas and issues
• Dialogue with faculty and students across the public health disciplines