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Graduate Course Directory and Schedules

Course Schedules

Download the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health’s 2023 – 2024 academic year course schedule.

Last Updated: 10.9.2023

Download Planning Schedule

Course Schedules by Term

Summer 2023 Planning Schedule

Last updated 5.2.2023
Download Summer Planning Schedule

Fall 2023 Planning Schedule

Last updated 5.18.2023
Download Fall Planning Schedule

Winter 2024 Planning Schedule

Last updated 10.20.2023
Download Winter Planning Schedule

Spring 2024 Planning Schedule

Last updated 10.9.2023
Download Spring Planning Schedule

View previous academic years course schedules per term for School of Public Health students – Archived GR Schedules.

SPH Course Descriptions

Descriptions of all School of Public Health courses can also be found in the course catalog of the most recent edition of the PSU Bulletin.

Advanced Health Policy – HSMP 575 / 675

Course CodeCredit

HSMP 575 / 675

3

Course Information

Provides students focusing on health policy analysis or advocacy the opportunity to explore specific areas of health policy in-depth. Taught as a seminar with students required to select two policy areas, develop readings and questions, and lead class discussion facilitated by the instructor. Coursework emphasizes the understanding, identification and development of successful and sustainable health policy including preparation of four brief, structured policy proposals.

Doctoral students register in the HSMP 675 section.

Prerequisites

HSMP 571

Advanced Methods Toolkit: Design, Sampling, Scale Development, & More – PHE 625

Course CodeCredit

PHE 625

3

Course Information

A second course in applied, non-experimental research designs used in epidemiological research (following PHE 624). Emphasis in this course is on quasi-experimental designs, program evaluation, sampling methods, longitudinal designs, and secondary data sources. Students will learn about research design, critical evaluation of research methods, and research proposal concepts.

 

Prerequisites

PHE 624 or consent of instructor.

Advanced Principles of Health Behavior – PHE 612

Course CodeCredit

PHE 612

3

Course Information

Provides advanced training in the application of social and behavioral sciences to understand health behavior and prevent disease. Emphasizes theories and concepts of health behavior and the impact of lifestyle choices on the distribution of disease in the population.

Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis – BSTA 519

Course CodeCredit

BSTA 519

3

Course Information

This course is designed for students who have taken the basic applied statistical courses and wish to learn the more advanced statistical methods for longitudinal data. Longitudinal data consist of measurements of response variables at two or more points in time for many individuals. This course covers the statistical properties of longitudinal data and special challenges due to the repeated measurements on each individual, exploratory methods and statistical models for longitudinal data as well as some exposure to estimation methods and statistical properties of estimates. For statistical methods, the course will briefly cover the more traditional repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) approach for continuous data, and focus more on mixed effects model approach and estimation based on generalized estimating equation. Real life examples will be used to explain the concept and application of these models by using continuous, binary and count data. Homework assignments and final class project play a central role to understand and appropriately apply the methods covered in the course.

Prerequisites:

  • BSTA 511/611 Estimation and Hypothesis Testing for Applied Biostatistics
  • BSTA 512/612 Linear Models
  • BSTA 513/613 Categorical Data Analysis

Bayesian Methods for Data Analysis – BSTA 521

Course CodeCredit

BSTA 521

3

Course Information

The methods students learned in the biostatistical applied and theoretical sequences were based on the “frequentist” method of statistical reasoning, where probability is understood to be the long-run frequency of a ‘repeatable’ event, and statistics that are computed are based on a specific study only. Bayesian methods are based on a different philosophy – that probability of an event is based on ALL information known at the time. Bayesian methods for data analysis enable one to combine information from previous similar and independent studies (prior information), with information from a new study, yielding updated inference for model parameters. This course will cover the concept of Bayesian analysis, posterior distribution, Bayesian inference and prediction, prior determination, one parameter and two parameter models, Bayesian hierarchical models, Bayesian computation, model criticism and selection as well as basic comparison of Bayesian and Frequentist Inferences. Real life examples in medical and health science will be used to explain the concept and application of Bayesian models.

 

Prerequisites

BSTA 511/611 Estimation and Hypothesis Testing for Applied Biostatistics (passing grade of "B" or better); BSTA 512/612 Linear Models; and BSTA 550 Introduction to Probability (passing grade of "B" or better).

Biostatistics Lab – BSTA 530

Course CodeCredit

BSTA 510

3

Course Information

The course provides hands-on data analysis and/or biostatistical consulting experience to students outside classroom settings. Students will have opportunities to perform data analysis with inputs from faculty members. Students should have adequate skills in at least one statistical program among STATA, SAS, or R and has finished BSTA 512 linear Models or equivalent. Students meet weekly for 1 hour with the course instructor for discussion on their projects and are also encouraged to have regular meetings with an assigned faculty advisor and/or
consultee(s). Students are expected to work individually or in a team of 2~3 on actual data analysis. The workload will be at least 9 hours per week including all activities (classes, meetings, readings, coding, and analysis).

Prerequisites:

  • BSTA 511/611 Estimation & Hypothesis Testing for Applied Biostatistics
  • BSTA 512/612 Linear Models

Categorical Data Analysis – BSTA 513 / 613

Course CodeCredit

BSTA 513/613

4

Course Information

Categorical Data Analysis (Biostatistics III) is the third course in the required sequence for Biostatistics Certificate Program and the MPH EPI and MPH Biostats programs.

This course covers topics in categorical data analysis such as cross tabulation statistics, statistics for matched samples, and methods to assess confounding and interaction via stratified tables. Students will learn logistic regression, and relate results back to those found with stratified analyses. Similar to Linear Regression in BSTA 512, topics for logistic regression will include parameter interpretation, statistical adjustment, variable selection techniques and model fit assessment. Students will have the opportunity to briefly explore other analysis methods, such as Poisson regression, ordinal logistic regression, etc. Most homework assignments for this course are to be completed using statistical software.

Doctoral students register for the BSTA 613 section.

Prerequisites:

  1. BSTA 511/611 Estimation & Hypothesis Testing for Applied Biostatistics
  2. BSTA 512/612 Linear Models

Chemical Transport Processes in Env. Health – ESHH 534

Course CodeCredit

ESHH 534

3

Course Information

This course covers fundamental concepts of chemical mass transport in the environment and within the human body. It addresses advective and diffusive transport, and dispersion in advection-driven systems. Media include air, water and soil as well as the major organs of the body. Transport scales range from global to cellular.

Chronic Disease Epidemiology – EPI 576 / 676

Course CodeCredit

EPI 576 / 676

2

Course Information

This course is designed for MPH Epidemiology and Biostatistics majors. The course is intended to give students a good understanding of the epidemiology of the major chronic diseases in developed countries. It covers three aspects of chronic disease: 1) epidemiology methods used in their study, 2) epidemiologic findings and current status of epidemiologic research into various chronic diseases, and 3) the epidemiology of the major risk factors for chronic diseases. The course is based on presentations by researchers and public health practitioners expert on specific chronic disease topics. Students will gain familiarity with some of the classic epidemiologic studies and with some of the innovations to obtaining knowledge contributed by epidemiology.

Doctoral students register for the EPI 676 section.

Prerequisites

"Epidemiology I" (EPI 512 or 612; or PHPM 512 or 612; or CPH 541 or 641; or PHE 530)

Communicable-Chronic Diseases – PHE 363

Course CodeCredit

PHE 363

4

Course Information

Reviews etiology, epidemiology, and approaches to prevention of infectious and chronic diseases. Aspects of risk factors, transmission, pathogenesis, immunology, case management, and control programs are discussed. Basic human physiological processes are reviewed.

Recommended prerequisites: Bi 301, 302, PHE 250.

Level: Undergraduate

Communicating Public Health Data – CPH 522 / 622

Course CodeCredit

CPH 522 / 622

3

Course Information

The purpose of this course is to explore public health surveillance systems; retrieve and analyze data for health disparities and inequities, and develop communication approaches regarding the findings for: the community at risk, the general public, policy makers, and the press. Principles of communicating scientific data to lay audiences and the concept of “place based approaches” as effective framing language will be explored.

Doctoral students register in the CPH 622 section.

 

Community Based Participatory Research – CPH 536 / 636

Course CodeCredit

CPH 536/636

3

Course Information

This course examines Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) as a research paradigm to understand and address health disparities at the community level. Review of operating principles includes the central place that communities are accorded as units of identity and as co-equals in research, a process that is perceived by community constituents as not dominated by elitists, an emphasis on long-term commitment by all partners, emphasis on co-learning so that the process flows back and forth, use of exercises that stimulate collective visioning among all partners, incorporation of social ecology approaches as departures for research and practice; use of innovative problem solving approaches; use of multiple methods of data collection. Topics include community theory, development strategies, promising interventions, group development techniques, community diagnosis and capacity assessments.

Doctoral students register in the CPH 636 section.

Community Health – EPI 507

Course CodeCredit

EPI 507

1

Course Information

This course will meet weekly during the quarter in a presentation-discussion style format. It will introduce students to community resources for addressing a range of health problems that are encountered in both clinical and a public health settings. Students will also be introduced to ways of identifying and accessing those services in their own work.

Community Health Principles & Practices – PHE 446U

Course CodeCredit

PHE 446U

4

Course Information

Provides an overview of the scope of problems in the field of community health. Examines disease prevention/control, community health service delivery, the structure of official/unofficial agencies, and policy/decision-making processes. Course includes field work in a community health agency.

Level: Undergraduate

Community Organizing – PHE 517

Course CodeCredit

PHE 517

3

Course Information

Emphasizes the role of community organizing to engage diverse communities to advance the conditions in which people can be healthy. It further examines the role of health educators, grassroots activists, and others in stimulating social, political and economic approaches to promote community health. Also addresses the advancement of theoretical knowledge and practical skills of community organizing.

Concepts of Environmental Health – ESHH 511 / 611

Course CodeCredit

ESHH 511 / 611

3

Course Information

An intensive course designed to familiarize students with fundamentals of environmental health from a scientific and conceptual perspective. Topics are considered within multi-causal, ecological, adaptive systems, and risk-assessment frameworks. Includes consideration of biological, chemical, and physical agents in the environment, which influence public health and well-being.

Doctoral students register for the ESHH 611 section.

Consumer Health Issues – PHE 355U

Course CodeCredit

PHE 355U

4

Course Information

Identifies and critically analyzes issues related to the production, marketing, and consumption of health-related goods and services. Media messages about consumer health issues are examined; topical and timely research is analyzed.

Level: Undergraduate

Contemporary Research in Health Systems & Policy – HSMP 660

Course CodeCredit

HSMP 660

3

Course Information

Doctoral seminar covering current topics in health systems and policy research providing doctoral students in the Health Systems and Policy Ph.D. program an opportunity to develop multi-disciplinary perspectives on current issues in their area of research. This course is repeatable for up to 9 credits.

Prerequisites

Course intended for Ph.D. students only.

Current Issues in Public Health – CPH 507A

Course CodeCredit

CPH 507A

3

Course Information

The purpose of this course is to analyze current and controversial issues in public health. The course provides an opportunity to discuss, analyze, make recommendations for and examine policy outcomes of issues, practices and current and historically controversial public health events.

Current Issues in Public Health – EPI 566

Course CodeCredit

EPI 566

2

Course Information

This course is designed to introduce students to public health in a seminar-style (presentation-discussion) exploration of the basic principles, structures, and functions of public health, and selected important issues in the public health community. This will involve inviting public health and preventive medicine professionals from OHSU, PSU, and the community to present, and facilitate discussion of, their perspectives and current work related to these public health topics and issues.

Interprofessional Education Course Schedule

Interprofessional education occurs when students from two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other to enhance collaboration and improve health outcomes. At least 1 credit of Interprofessional Education is required by all MPH degree programs.

Most courses with OHSU subject code IPE (Inter-Professional Education) or UNI (University Curriculum) satisfy the Interprofessional Education requirement. Other courses may also serve; consult your advisor.

For a list of IPE and UNI courses, descriptions, and their intended schedule download the spreadsheet. This list is subject to change, contact the course instructor if you would like to enroll.

Interprofessional Education