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Core Courses


As part of the degree requirements for the MPH, students must complete core course work in the areas of biostatistics, environmental health, management sciences, policy/problem solving, public health biology, and social and behavioral sciences.  In addition to the required curriculum, students will have ample opportunity to choose course electives and will do independent research for credit (see MPH Capstone).  Core courses and electives should combine to total at least 80 credits.  Please see the online course catalog for course descriptions and times.

To meet core currciulum requirements for the MPH, students must pass (letter grade of 'C' or better) at least one of the courses that is listed under each category below.  In the case of multi-term courses, all sections of the course must be completed.

Course
Title
Units
On-site
Online

BIOSTATISTICS (choose one series)

Provides conceptual understanding of statistical ideas and methods; limited calculations:

140.611-
612

Statistical Reasoning in Public Health I-II

6

SI, 1st/2nd

1st/2nd

Covers statistical concepts and calculations for data analysis; develops statistical computing skills:

140.621-623

Statistical Methods in Public Health I-III

12

1st/2nd/3rd

No

Presents statistical methods for advanced students. Requires knowledge of calculus/linear algebra:

140.651-654

Methods in Biostatistics I-IV

16

1st/2nd/3rd /4th

No

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (180.601 required)

180.601

Environmental Health

5

Summer

3rd

EPIDEMIOLOGY (choose one)

340.601

Principles of Epidemiology

5

SI, Summer, 1st

No

550.694-695

Fundamentals of Epidemiology I & II

6

No

1st/2nd

MANAGEMENT SCIENCES (choose at least one)

182.623

Occupational Safety and Health Management

3

3rd

No

221.722

Quality Assurance Management Methods for Developing Countries

4

1st

No

305.607

Public Health Practice

4

2nd

4th

551.601

Managing Health Service Organizations

4

1st

3rd

551.603

Fundamentals of Budgeting and Financial Management

3

SI, 2nd

3rd

551.607

Pharmaceuticals Management for Under-Served Populations

3

3rd

No

551.608

Managing NGOs in the Health Sector

3

3rd

No

POLICY/PROBLEM SOLVING (choose one -- full-time students must take 300.645)

300.645

Making Change Through Policy

5

Summer

No

550.608

Problem Solving in Public Health

4

SI, FI, WI

No

PUBLIC HEALTH BIOLOGY (choose at least one)

Appropriate for all students.  Provides a broad introduction to public health biology:

183.631

Fundamentals of Human Physiology

4

2nd

4th

260.636

Evolution of Infectious Disease

3

1st

No

550.630

Public Health Biology

3

1st

Summer, 4th

For students possessing considerable breadth of biological competence, subject to concurrence of the advisor:

120.620

Fundamentals of Reproductive Biology

3

1st

No

120.621Topics in Molecular Endocrinology43rdNo
120.627Stem Cell & the Biology of Aging & Disease33rdNo

182.640

Food- and Water- Borne Diseases

3

3rd

No

187.610

Public Health Toxicology

4

1st

2nd

222.641

Principles of Human Nutrition

4

1st

No

223.689

Biological Basis of Vaccine Development

3

4th

No

260.606

Major Global Infectious Diseases: Prospects for Control

2

WI

No

260.631

Immunology, Infection, & Disease

3

2nd

No

260.635

Biology of Parasitism

6

3rd

No

260.650

Vector Biology & Vector-borne Diseases

3

3rd

No

260.652

Principles of Public Health Ecology

4

2nd

No

260.656

Malariology

4

4th

3rd

340.612

Epidemiologic Basis of Tuberculosis Control

2

3rd

1st

340.646

Epidemiology & Public Health Impact of HIV & AIDS

4

1st

2nd

340.654

Epidemiology & Natural History of Human Viral Infections

6

3rd

1st

340.744

Advanced Topics on Control & Prevention of HIV/AIDS

4

2nd, FI

3rd

380.761

STI's in Public Health Practice

4

3rd

4th

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (choose at least one)

221.688

Social and Behavioral Foundations of Primary Health Care

4

No

Summer, 3rd

224.689

Health Behavior Change at the Individual, Household, and Community Levels

4

2nd

No

330.661

Social, Psychological, and Developmental Processes in the Etiology of Mental Disorders

3

3rd

3rd

380.604

Life Course Perspectives on Health

4

1st

1st

410.613

Psychosocial Factors in Health and Illness

3

3rd

No

410.614

A New View: Improving Public Health through Innovative Social and Behavioral Tools  and Approaches

4

SI

No

410.616

Social & Behavioral Aspects of Public Health

4

SI

No

410.618

Integrating Social & Behavioral Theory into Public Health

4

1st

No

410.620

Program Planning for Health Behavior Change

3

1st, WI

4th

410.650

Introduction to Persuasive Communication: Theories & Practice

4

2nd, WI

No

410.651

Health Literacy: Challenges and Strategies for Effective Communication

3

3rd

No

Abbreviation Key
SI = Offered in the Summer Institute
WI = Offered in the Winter Intersession

No = Not offered in this format

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