Curriculum
The Master of Applied Science in Spatial Analysis for Public 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 effectively design and conduct public health-related spatial analysis by applying knowledge and tools learned in the program.
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., design a study, plot the map and analyze the data) – with a final paper that describes the methodology used and the final assessment.
Program Competencies
By the end of the program, students should be able to:
- Interpret and critique epidemiologic studies addressing public health problems
- Apply measures of morbidity and mortality to the evaluation and comparison of the health of populations
- Synthesize how geography affects public health
- Obtain and transfer information from spatial data technologies into a database appropriate for mapping
- Utilize a geographic information system to map and spatially integrate public health related databases
- Analyze and interpret maps using tools from the field of spatial statistics to describe and interpret distributions of health outcomes in a population
- Design and implement a spatial analysis protocol for addressing a public health problem
Curriculum Structure
Academic Year | Academic Term | Curriculum |
---|---|---|
Year 1 Curriculum (24 Credits) | 0 | Introduction to Online Learning (0 credits, required) |
1 | Academic and Research Ethics (0 credits, required) | |
2 | Spatial Data Technologies for Mapping (4 credits) Seminars in Public Health: Advanced Topics (2 credits) | |
3 | Introduction to Epidemiology (4 credits) Professional Development Workshop: Writing for Professionals (2 credits) | |
4 | Public Health Statistics 1 (4 credits) Spatial Analysis Lab 1 (2 credits) | |
Year 2 Curriculum (26 credits) | 1 | Public Health Statistics 2 (4 credits) Professional Development Workshop: Effective Online Searching (2 credits) |
2 | Intermediate Epidemiology (4 credits) Spatial Analysis Lab 2 (2 credits) | |
3 | Applied Spatial Statistics (4 credits) Spatial Analysis Journal Club (2 credits) | |
4 | Spatial Applications (4 credits) Integrative Activity (4 credits) |
* offered each year 1st and 3rd term
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. Prerequisite: None
Spatial Analysis for Public Health (4 credits)
Introduces the field of spatial analysis for public health. Concepts are examined through the use of ArcGIS Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping software as a tool for integrating, manipulating, and displaying public health related spatial data. GIS topics covered include mapping, geocoding, and manipulations related to data structures and topology. Introduces the spatial science paradigm: Spatial Data, GIS, and Spatial Statistics. Selected case studies are used to demonstrate concepts along the paradigm. Focus is on using GIS to generate and refine hypotheses about public health related spatial data in preparation for follow up analyses.
Seminars in Public Health (2 credits)
Introduces the basic principles of the practice of public health at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Uncovers relevant public health topics through a combination of presentations by experts, discussions, and lectures. Focuses on the core competencies required for the effective assessment and improvement of the health and well-being of communities. Explores the public health approach to describing the health of a population, including the importance of understanding the social and cultural context surrounding every community. 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.
Spatial Data Technologies for Mapping (4 credits)
Examines technologies for collecting, obtaining and creating spatial data. Technologies considered include, but are not limited to: GPS, tablets, tracking devices, cell phones, mHealth, Google Earth, remote sensing applications, and the internet. Integrates spatial data from the aforementioned technologies into ArcGIS for spatial analysis. Other GIS related software applications such as QGIS, ERDAS, and Rare introduced. Covers relevant properties of spatial data such as metadata, confidentiality/disclosure and spatial data accuracy. Covers additional topics and concepts that reinforce the spatial science paradigm: Spatial Data, GIS, and Spatial Statistics.
Seminars in Public Health: Advanced Topics (2 credits)
Expands upon the 1st term of Seminars in Public Health to focus on how to effect public health change. Uses a combination of expert presentations and engaging discussions to explore topics including identification of key stakeholders, acknowledging competing governance priorities, and gathering support for population-level interventions. Explores the dissemination of public health messages, understanding key aspects of speaking to a range of stakeholder audiences and utilizing available communication tools. Focuses on examples of successful advocacy for change, and key lessons learned. Encourages students to utilize the public health approach discussed over the two terms to refine their future career goals. Prerequisite: Seminars in Public Health
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. The course also 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. Quantitative and analytic methods covered during the course include life tables, disease surveillance, measures of morbidity and mortality, and measures of diagnostic test accuracy.
Professional Development: Writing for Results (2 credits)
What’s the essential skill you need to advance your career? Writing. For better or worse—hopefully better—you’ll spend much of your career communicating to colleagues, bosses and others via the written word. If you can improve your writing, you'll be more successful in conveying your thoughts and persuading colleagues and leaders in your organization to act on your ideas. No matter whether you currently approach writing with confidence or abject dread, this course will systematically improve your writing skills.
Introduces a systematic approach to writing— from planning and organization to revision and completion; emphasizes the importance of defining the message, the audience and purpose; examines the basic elements of good writing; focuses on clarity, concision and style; explores the use of storytelling to maximize impact; and emphasizes best practices in various forms of writing, including emails, memos, reports, proposals and op-eds.
Prerequisite: None
Public Health Statistics I (4 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. The statistical software package R will be introduced in the class and utilized to demonstrate the concepts and methods with data.
Spatial Analysis Lab 1 (2 credits)
Expands on GIS concepts and skills previously learned with more hands-on practice with epidemiological applications. Focuses on translating an epidemiological problem or getting into a set of spatial objectives that align with our spatial science paradigm. Surveys and summarizes the literature on spatial applications in public health. Prepares students to design a protocol to help identify a public health problem and accompanying data for their MAS Integrative Activity.
Prerequisite: Spatial Analysis for Public Health, Spatial Data Technologies for Mapping, and Introduction to Epidemiology. Prior or concurrent enrollment in Public Health Statistics 1.
Public Health Statistics II (4 credits)
Employs a conceptual framework to highlight the similarities and differences between linear, logistic, Poisson and Cox Proportional Hazards methods, in terms of usage and the interpretations of results from such models. Provides details for these regression approaches in the “simple” scenario, involving relating an outcome to single predictor. Following this overview of simple regression, explores the use of multiple regression models to compare and contrast confounding and effect modification, produce adjusted and stratum-specific estimates, and allow for better prediction of an outcome via the use of multiple predictors. Students will learn to use the statistical software package R to fit linear, logistic and Poisson regression models.
Professional Development Workshops: Effective Online Searching (2 credits)
Would you like to be able to quickly and efficiently find reliable, high quality evidence to support your work?
Introduces and explores online sources for finding high-quality, full-text research articles. Also prepares students to use advanced search techniques efficiently within these sources and to manage references using tools such as RefWorks, EndNote, Zotero and Mendeley. Finally, students learn about tools available to use to stay current on topics related to the public health field.
Prerequisite: None
Intermediate Epidemiology (4 credits)
Expands knowledge beyond introductory level epidemiologic concepts and methods material, using examples from the published literature. Emphasizes interpretation and the ability to critically evaluate issues related to populations/study design, measurement, population comparisons and inference, including: modern cohort study designs; advanced nested designs; novel techniques for exposure assessment; interpretation and utility of measures of impact; sources of bias and methods for their prevention; descriptive and analytical goals for observational study inference; the counterfactual model for defining exchangeability, cause, and confounding; and synthesis of inferences from observational studies as compared with randomized clinical trials.
Prerequisite: 600.701 Introduction to Epidemiology or equivalent (with instructor permission), and 600.711 Public Health Statistics I or 600.709 Statistical Concepts in Public Health 1.
Spatial Analysis Lab 2 (2 credits)
Applies spatial concepts and skills towards identifying a public health project that can be the focus of the MAS Integrative Activity. Prepares students to translate projects into a set of spatial objectives that align with the spatial science paradigm. Details out the mechanisms and processes needed for collecting, creating and/or obtaining necessary supporting data for the chosen project.
Prerequisite: Spatial Analysis for Public Health, Spatial Data Technologies for Mapping, Spatial Analysis Lab 1, Introduction to Epidemiology, and Public Health Statistics 1.
Applied Spatial Statistics (4 credits)
Introduces statistical techniques used to describe, analyze and interpret public health related spatial data. Included will be methods for characterizing clustering, cluster detection and spatial variation in health related outcomes and events. Three well known types of spatial data, geostatistical data, point event data, and area-level data, will be defined and used to motivate presented material. Regression methods previously learned will be adapted to the spatial setting. The statistical software package R will be used for analysis. Covers additional topics and concepts reinforcing the spatial science paradigm: Spatial Data, GIS, and Spatial Statistics.
Spatial Analysis Journal Club (2 credits)
Understand and be able to critically evaluate the use of spatial statistical methodology in public health applications.
This course will involve reading and critically evaluating the application and interpretation of spatial statistical methodology in published public health literature. Focus will be on understanding how the epidemiological/public health objectives translate into spatial statistical analyses. Literature reviews will also include outlines detailing spatial statistical methods and analyses that can be applied as an extended and/or alternative analysis.
Prerequisite: Spatial Analysis for Public Health, Spatial Data Technologies for Mapping, Public Health Statistics 2, Intermediate Epidemiology
Spatial Applications (4 credits)
Provides an opportunity for students to gain a working knowledge of resources for conducting spatial analysis (i.e., literature, software, and data). Introduces new and relevant topics in GIS, spatial data technologies and spatial statistics not previously covered in the OPAL spatial analysis series. Expands students’ abilities to design and conduct spatial analysis by applying knowledge and tools learned from the previous three OPAL spatial analysis courses by providing data for reproduction, and in some cases extension, of analyses from existing studies.. Focuses on further developing and integrating components of the spatial science paradigm: Spatial Data, GIS and Spatial Statistics.
Integrative Activity (4 credits)
This course will involve the research, analysis and writing of a complete and independent spatial analysis project. Intermediate outlines, hypotheses and objectives produced in previous classes will be finalized. No new material will be covered. The finalized project will follow journal article format including an abstract, and introduction/background, methods, results and conclusion sections. The final project will represent an integrated and synthesized assessment of the spatial science paradigm (Spatial Data, GIS, Spatial Statistics) applied to a relevant public health problem.
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!
Get In Touch
Request more information or call us at 844-379-1319 to speak with an admissions officer.
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.