Curriculum
Please note: NOT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR AY21-22 PROGRAM START
The Master of Applied Science in Community-based Primary Health Care Programs in Global Health is an interdisciplinary online degree. Faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health contribute to the program via course development, teaching, and advising students. The topics and concepts allow graduates to build a diverse skill set focusing on the design, analysis, implementation and evaluation of large-scale community-based primary health care programs.
Students will complete 50.5 credits to graduate. The program is designed to be completed in 8 academic terms - two academic years (Sept-May). In addition to the coursework, students must complete an Integrative Activity, where newly acquired knowledge and skills are used to create an applicable activity (e.g., identifying a problem in community-based primary health care and designing a solution, plan for implementation and evaluation method) – with a final paper that describes the methodology used and the final assessment.
Program Competencies
By the end of the program, students will:
A. Core Global Health Practice Competencies
- Apply capacity building processes to global health programming in low and middle-income countries.
- Identify and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders whose active participation is required for successful global health programming at community, sub-national, national and regional levels.
- Apply ethical reasoning to the policy and programming decisions needed for designing and implementing global health programs in low and middle-income countries.
- Exhibit a health equity and social justice lens in the design and conduct of global health programs.
- Apply appropriate management processes in the design, implementation and evaluation of global health programs.
- Demonstrate social, cultural and political awareness of the context in which global health programming takes place.
- Conduct strategic analysis of factors that influence the success of global health programming.
B. Community-Based Primary Health Care Competencies
- Use community-based approaches to address priority health problems through full participation of community members and groups
- Design and manage implementation of household surveys that yield relevant health and social data needed to plan community-based PHC programs
- Analyze local contexts and project implementation designs in order to develop evaluation plans that can be practically applied to community-based PHC programs in middle and low-resource settings
- Design a community-based primary health care program from the analysis through implementation to evaluation stages
- Prepare a training plan for front-line and community health workers involved in community-based PHC
- Conduct a detailed analysis of the demographic, epidemiological and social aspects of a major health need in a low- or middle-income country.
Curriculum Structure
Academic Year | Academic Term | Curriculum |
---|---|---|
Year 1 Curriculum (25 Credits) | Introduction to Online Learning (0 credits, required) The Role of Qualitative Methods and Science in Describing and Assessing a Population’s Health* (.5 credits, required) | |
1 | Academic and Research Ethics (0 credits, required) | |
2 | Design and Planning of Primary Health Care Projects (4 credits) Ethics in Global Health Practice (2 credits) | |
3 | Introduction to Epidemiology (4 credits) Global Epidemiology Policies and Programs (3 credits) | |
4 | Statistical Concepts in Public Health 1 (3 credits) Social and Cultural Basis for Community and Primary Programs (3 credits) | |
Year 2 Curriculum (25 credits) | 1 | Health and Safety Preparation for Global Health Assignments (1 credit) |
2 | Urban Primary Health Care in Low and Middle-Income Countries (3 credits) | |
3 | Professional Development Workshop: Writing for Results (2 credits) | |
4 | Building Community Capacity for Primary Health Care in Low and Middle-Income Countries (3 credits) Integrative Activity (4 credits) |
* offered each year 1st, 3rd and 4th term
Courses
Course Descriptions
The Role of Qualitative Methods and Science in Describing and Assessing a Population's Health (.5 credits)
Acquaints students with a broad overview of the use of qualitative research methods in public health. Explores the types of critical public health questions best addressed through a qualitative approach and introduces conceptual principles that are foundational to qualitative research. Exposes students to key issues in planning and conducting qualitative research, as well as strategies for analyzing qualitative data.
Fundamentals in Global Health Practice (4 credits)
Global health requires practitioners to be well versed in understanding health systems, the controlling disease, and improving the health of mothers and children, and vulnerable populations. This course provides an introduction these issues. Students will have an opportunity to apply these skills by analyzing the health situation in select low and middle-income countries. Prerequisite: None
Ethics in Global Health Practice (2 credits)
Equips students to identify and analyze critical ethical issues in global health practice. It provides a forum for discussion of and deliberation about these issues, enabling students to explore a range of possible solutions. Students will practice using central concepts and frameworks of public health ethics to consider systematically the responsibilities of public health professionals in real-world global health cases. Prerequisite: None
Seminars in Public Health (2 credits)
Uncovers current public health topics through presentations by faculty experts from the School. Focuses on current perspectives and research findings about problems important to the health of individuals and communities. Covers a broad spectrum of population-based, prevention-oriented issues relevant to public health in the private and public sectors of both domestic and international communities, including global health promotion, disease prevention, health care delivery systems, environmental issues, and the spectrum of factors influencing the health status of populations and communities. Topics covered vary by term so as to provide exposure to a broad diversity of public health topics. Prerequisite: None
Design and Planning of Primary Health Care Projects (4 credits)
Provides students an opportunity to learn the components for developing a proposal for primary health care program. This includes elements of costing human resources, financial management, training and supervision, and other basic components of primary health care management. Students practice developing the typical components of a project proposal. Prerequisite: None
Introduction to Epidemiology (4 credits)
Introduces principles and methods of epidemiologic investigation of diseases. Illustrates methods by which studies of the distribution and transmission of diseases in populations (including disease outbreaks and epidemics) can contribute to an understanding of etiologic factors and modes of transmission. Covers various study designs, including randomized trials, case-control and cohort studies, as well as risk estimation and causal inference. Discusses applications of epidemiology to solving public health problems, such as identifying sources and strategies for control of disease outbreaks, applying research findings to policy and practice, and program evaluation. Explores quantitative and analytic methods including life tables, disease surveillance, measures of morbidity and mortality, and measures of diagnostic test accuracy. Prerequisite: None
Global Epidemiology Policies and Programs (3 credits)
Provides an overview of the origins and current state of major global disease control programs, and the policy frameworks which enable (and hinder) their implementation. Beginning with the origins of global health programs, the course reviews several major paradigms in Global Disease Control - from the major infectious disease programs (HIV, TB, Immunizations), to emerging global programs around NCD prevention and control. Broad sector-wide programs are also introduced, ranging from reproductive to neonatal health to nutrition. The course examines ways in which each program generates and maintains financial and political support at national, regional and global levels. Prerequisite: None
Statistical Concepts in Public Health 1 (3 credits)
Provides students with a broad overview of biostatistical methods and concepts used in the public health sciences. Emphasizes the interpretation and conceptual foundations of statistical estimation and inference. Covers summary measures, measures of association, confidence intervals, p-values, and statistical power. Prerequisite: None
Social & Cultural Basis for Community and Primary Health Programs (3 credits)
Provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to understand individual, community, and organizational behaviors and change processes in cross-cultural and developing countries settings as a foundation for planning appropriate Primary Health Care (PHC) programs. Students learn to outline the contributions of social and behavioral science theory in the planning and implementation of culturally relevant PHC programs; will utilize social and behavioral theories to understand individual, social network, organizational, community, and policy maker health related behaviors; and identify the factors that promote and inhibit community involvement in PHC program development and implementation. Prerequisite: None
Health and Safety Preparation for Global Health Assignments (1 credit)
Prepares students who aim to work and live overseas. Examines key prevention, safety, and travel medicine principles and services to contextualize risks and maintain wellness. Reviews applicable interventions, appropriate vaccines, and personal protection methods to prepare students to respond to expected and unexpected situations. Assists students with personal preparations for travel through country-specific assignments. Prerequisite: None
Essential Medicines, Commodities and Supplies Needed for Community Level Primary Health Care Interventions (2 credits)
Primary health care programs in low and middle-income countries require essential health commodities be made available at the community level. Logistic systems need to be developed to ensure that commodities are adequately estimated and delivered. In addition, systems for safely maintaining and monitoring stocks are needed at the community level. Prerequisite: None
Urban Primary Health Care in Low and Middle-Income Countries (3 credits)
The course presents the emergent public health issues related to rapid growth of urban population in low and middle-income countries. Conventional health services have proved to be inadequate for the needs of the urban poor. Present selected cases studies as examples of primary health care approaches that effectively addressed the public health consequences of rapid urbanization. Prerequisite: None
Applying Evaluation to more Effectively Reach Communities Through Primary Health Care (3 credits)
Primary health care programs, projects and interventions require evaluation to ensure stakeholders (including donors, implementing organizations and communities) that they are achieving their objectives. The course explores conceptual frameworks and methodologies for selecting primary health care indicators and using these to assess program progress and outcomes. Provides skills for selecting appropriate indicators and choosing proper evaluation methods to measure those indicators from the perspective of population health. Prerequisite: None
Applying Household Surveys to Primary Health Care Programs (3 credits)
The household survey is a basic evaluation tool for planning and designing public health programs. Students learn how to construct questionnaires as well as basic survey protocols. Provides skills to analyze and present results so that they can design and improve primary health care programs from a population health perspective. Prerequisite: None
Planning Training and Learning Programs for Community Health Workers (4 credits)
Community health workers are the backbone of primary health care. They require culturally and technically appropriate training to serve the communities in which they work. This course provides the skills in planning and designing training programs. Prerequisite: None
Building Community Capacity for Primary Health Care in Low and Middle-Income Countries (3 credits)
Primary health care according to the Alma-Ata Declaration should be delivered through the full participation of community members. This course provides case studies of community-based approaches to address community health problems. Students will be aided in developing problem-solving skills to enhance equity and empowerment of communities. Prerequisite: None
Professional Development Workshop: Writing for Results (2 credits)
Introduces a systematic approach to writing— from planning and organization to revision and completion. Emphasizes the importance of defining the message and understanding the audience and purpose. Examines the basic elements of good writing. Focuses on clarity, concision and style. Explores the use of rhetoric and storytelling to maximize a piece of writing's impact. Emphasizes best practices in various forms of writing, including emails, memos, reports, proposals and op-eds. Prerequisite: None
Integrative Activity (4 credits)
The integrative Activity will synthesize skills and knowledge derived from the course in a service-learning project addressing a current problem or issue in the global health field. Prerequisite: None
PREPARING STUDENTS FOR ONLINE LEARNING
Introduction to Online Learning is a free, mandatory prerequisite for all online courses offered. It’s open to prospective students and designed to give a thorough view into what the online experience on CoursePlus will be like. It also prepares students and faculty for success on the first day of class since everyone is already acclimated to the technology. Introduction to Online Learning will allow students to:
- Ensure all tools and applications are properly installed
- Troubleshoot any component that may not work properly
- Experience the online tools for peer-to-peer and instructor communication
- Become familiar with the coursework structure and learning management system
The course takes between 1-4 hours to complete, depending on your skills working online. With the notable exception of one LiveTalk, you can do the class work on your own schedule. For details on the course, including assignments and requirements for completion, please see the Syllabus page.
Ready to test-drive online courses at JHSPH? Register for this class. You can take this free course at any point before or during the application process!
Students should be aware of additional state-specific information for online programs.
* Total tuition using rates for the 2020-2021 academic year, inclusive of the OPAL Scholarship.