Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the scientific study of patterns of disease and health, the differential impact on populations based on various factors, and disease spread. Scientists can work toward disease prevention, control, and health promotion by understanding the factors contributing to disease. Epidemiologists can work in different settings including communities, health departments, non-profits, hospitals, and other clinical settings. Epidemiology is an important subfield of public health as epidemiological discoveries can lead to evidence-based interventions, practices, and treatments and inform health policy.
A Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology will include strong training in methods and data analysis. Measurement is at the core of this field. These skills are applied in cases of new diseases and spread, and in long-term monitoring or surveillance of various factors. Time trends can reveal the impact of prevention efforts and policies.
At Kate Marmion School of Public Health, students in the Epidemiology concentration will be taught methodological skills that can be applied across multiple content areas. The concentration will also include applying methodological and data techniques to timely and relevant topics for the local community, region, and beyond.
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PHEA 6001 | Concepts in Public Health - From Person to Population | 3 |
| PHEA 6002 | Perspectives and Decisions Through Public Health Data | 3 |
| PHEA 6003 | Designing Public Health Inquiry: Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 | |
| Spring | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PHEA 6004 | Health Promotion and Health Behaviors | 3 |
| PHEA 6005 | Health Policy and Public Health Advocacy | 3 |
| PHEA 6006 | Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 | |
| Summer | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PHEA 6026 | Epidemiological Methods | 3 |
| PHEA 6397 | Applied Practice Experience-Practicum | 3 |
| Elective | 3.0 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 | |
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PHEA 6027 | Climate and Health Epidemiology | 3 |
| PHEA 6028 | Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 | |
| Spring | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PHEA 6099 | Capstone Experience | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 | |
PHEA 6001. Concepts in Public Health - From Person to Population. 3 Credit Hours.
This introductory, interdisciplinary Foundational Course will examine public health in the US, focusing on our unique local/regional issues. It will emphasize the importance of health promotion, access, and opportunity at both the individual and population levels. The course will cover foundational elements of public health, including its history, development, and impact; careers in public health; core values, leadership, and ethics; concepts and functions of essential public health services; population health and health improvement. The course will also build a sense of community for entering students to learn together and to work effectively in interprofessional teams.
PHEA 6002. Perspectives and Decisions Through Public Health Data. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will introduce students to analytical methods commonly used in public health. The course will provide skills related to epidemiology, data management, sampling procedures, analysis, hypothesis testing, interpretation, and communication of results. Common computer software will be used to apply analytical methods to both quantitative and qualitative data. Relevant epidemiological, biostatistical, and qualitative data from local and regional sources will be used to illustrate methods where available.
PHEA 6003. Designing Public Health Inquiry: Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will introduce the fundamentals of research methods in public health settings. Topics will include principles of research investigation, reviewing scientific literature, research design, research-related epidemiological concepts, sampling methods, measurement, and data collection. Topics will cover quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methods. Issues and problems commonly encountered in public health research will be discussed using real-world examples, emphasizing local and regional examples where applicable.
PHEA 6004. Health Promotion and Health Behaviors. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will provide foundational information about health theory, applications, and strategies to affect positive health behaviors in individuals and communities. Course content will include primary health theories and constructs grounded in non-medical determinants of health, and the social-ecological model. Students will examine and apply strategies to real-world public health challenges at all levels of the social-ecological model.
PHEA 6005. Health Policy and Public Health Advocacy. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will provide foundational information about the health policy development process and public health advocacy in the United States. Students will understand how health policies are made at all levels of government, as well as the role of the media and various stakeholder groups in influencing health policy. Students will gain practical experience designing and implementing an advocacy campaign to change health policy on current public health issues at local, state, regional, or national levels.
PHEA 6006. Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will provide an overview of the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of occupational and environmental hazards. An introduction to the various physical, chemical, radiological, and biological hazards impacting public health are reviewed. Topics covered will include local and global issues, including One Health and planetary health-related concepts.
PHEA 6026. Epidemiological Methods. 3 Credit Hours.
This course demonstrates the context and usefulness of epidemiological methods as applied across topics. Students will learn how epidemiologists study the incidence, prevalence, frequency, and patterns of disease distribution and determinants in the protection and promotion of health, and how to calculate these measures. Methods covered include ecological studies, cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, case-control studies, randomized controlled or clinical trials, multilevel studies, and analyses of large datasets. Students will learn to critically appraise epidemiological study designs by considering their threats to validity, the strengths and limitations of various methods, and the biases in the study designs. Students are expected to have completed the prerequisites or have permission of instructor to register. Prerequisites: PHEA 6002 and PHEA 6003 Open for Cross Enrollment on Space Available Basis.
PHEA 6027. Climate and Health Epidemiology. 3 Credit Hours.
This course explores the public health implications of the global climate, employing epidemiological methods to analyze its effects, public health preparedness, and adaptive responses to climate-related health challenges. It provides an overview of climate science, the connections between climate change and health, and the disproportionate impact on at-risk populations. Students will develop an understanding of complex environmental systems and climate-related challenges and learn methods for assessing and characterizing health effects. Students are expected to have completed the prerequisites or have permission of instructor to register. Prerequisites: PHEA 6003 and PHEA 6006 Open for Cross Enrollment on Space Available Basis.
PHEA 6028. Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology. 3 Credit Hours.
This course explores maternal and child health (MCH) issues through an epidemiological lens. It will primarily cover topics from pregnancy to adolescence, highlighting concerns across these developmental periods. Students will examine key epidemiological and methodological aspects, including the strengths and limitations of common data sources and measurement challenges in MCH epidemiology. In addition to gaining a deeper understanding of the epidemiological issues surrounding maternal and child health, students will develop skills to evaluate the MCH literature and interpret relevant epidemiological data critically. Students are expected to have completed the prerequisites or have permission of instructor to register. Prerequisites: PHEA 6002 and PHEA 6003 Open for Cross Enrollment on Space Available Basis.
PHEA 6397. Applied Practice Experience-Practicum. 3 Credit Hours.
As a requirement for the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, this course will provide students with practical experience that reinforces the academic skills and knowledge they have gained in the broad field of public health. The course is designed to equip students with the necessary skills and exposure to the real-world scenarios they will encounter in their future public health practice. It is mandatory for all students pursuing an MPH degree to complete the Applied Practice Experience-Practicum. Students must also complete a minimum of 180 hours of applied practical experience obtained from field experiences focused on local and regional public health central problems directly relevant to the public health workforce. Must meet requirements established by the site and the applied practice experience coordinator. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001, PHEA 6002, PHEA 6003, PHEA 6004, PHEA 6005, and PHEA 6006.
PHEA 6099. Capstone Experience. 3 Credit Hours.
As a requirement for the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, this course will enable students to examine a public health issue using the lens of public health practice. This course is an integrative learning experience drawing on all competencies presented in the MPH program. Students may only add this course after the student has been approved for MPH degree candidacy. Throughout the course, students will learn and implement a problem-solving methodology to analyze current public health issues, collaborate to make recommendations on interventions and apply evaluation methods to address specific problems. Must complete the listed prerequisites or consent of the instructor to enroll. Students are expected to have completed the core courses and concentration courses to register. Permission of program required. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001, PHEA 6002, PHEA 6003, PHEA 6004, PHEA 6005, and PHEA 6006.