School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine: Course Descriptions
2008-2009 Academic Year
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genetically modified organisms, gene therapy, and the ethical, legal, and social
implications of human genetics and public health.
SPHU 301 Public Health Systems Design and Decision Analysis (3)
This course develops conceptual and methodological skills for the design and
implementation of public health policy. A solid grounding in systems theory will
complement the use of practical management tools such as strategic planning, cost
effectiveness analysis and decision analysis. Students will apply these concepts
and tools within the context of current international and domestic policy
frameworks in the field of public health.
SPHU 302 Knowledge and Information in the Practice of Public Health (3)
This course provides an overview of how data, information and knowledge are
acquired and applied to public health problems. The philosophy of scientific
inquiry and systems approaches to problem solving are covered. The course
describes the methods by which data are collected, analyzed and applied to public
health planning, as well as the measures and statistical tools necessary to assess
the importance of public health problems. Students learn to understand and
evaluate scientific publications on public health topics.
SPHU 304 / ENHS 603 Survey of Environmental Health Sciences (3)-
Advanced Core
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.
SPHU 306 / HSMG 603 Principles of Health Systems Administration and
Management. (3) Advanced Core
Concepts and principles of management as they are applied in the functions of
planning, organizing, staffing, leading, controlling, and evaluating in health
services organizations. Includes study of managerial roles, styles, activities, and
decision-making, as well as the relationship between management and
organizational effectiveness. This course is most useful to students intending to
work in the United States.
SPHU 401 Foundations and Formulation of Public Health Policy (3)
Students will be introduced to the nature of health policy and the process by
which it is developed. Various approaches to health policy are defined and their
rationale considered. The politics of the development of health policy in
democratic societies are discussed from both national and international
perspectives. The ethics of public health policy are addressed. The course
includes modern case studies of important public health issues (e.g., AIDS,
smoking prevention, emerging infections such as West Nile Virus) to illustrate the
development and application of policy to promote the public health.