Course Schedules
Download the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health’s 2023 – 2024 academic year course schedule.
Last Updated: 10.9.2023
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 Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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
Concepts of Environmental Health – ESHH 511 / 611
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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.
Economics of Health Systems and Policy – HSMP 583 / 683
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 583 / 683 | 3 |
Research
Health policy has a fundamental transactional nature. Economics provides a broad theoretical framework that seeks to assess and understand transactional relationships. Thus, economics has particular value as a means to diagnose the transactional problems that underpin health system dynamics and provide frameworks for proposed solutions. This course applies economic theory to assess problems in health systems and propose solutions, as well as critique existing policy and develop sound policy alternatives.
Doctoral students register for HSMP 683.
Epidemiology I – EPI 512 / 612
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
EPI 512 / 612 | 4 |
Course Information
This is the first course in a three course sequence designed for MPH Epidemiology and Biostatistics majors. Textbook based; e.g. Gordis Epidemiology. Basic epidemiological principles applicable to infectious and non-infectious diseases, host-agent-environmental relationships, and concepts of disease causation will be reviewed. Students will gain familiarity with epidemiologic measures such as incidence, prevalence, mortality, natality, case fatality, relative risk and other rates and ratios and will use age-adjustment and other standardization techniques. Types and sources of public health data will be reviewed, their use in comparing groups, and statistical significance. Epidemic curves, outbreak investigation principles, surveillance concepts and basic designs of observational studies and sources of bias will be covered.
Students in the MPH Epidemiology and MPH Biostatistics programs should take the on-campus Epi I course.
Doctoral students register for the EPI 612 section.
Financial Management of Health Services – HSMP 587
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 587 | 3 |
Course Information
Focuses on the analysis and administration of resources in the health care field. Among the specific topics included in this course are financial statements, budgeting, cash flow, costing, capital decision making, sources of capital and operating funds, depreciation and government reimbursement schemes, and human resources planning and management.
Prerequisites
HSMP 574. Recommended corequisite: HSMP 586.
Health Care Law & Regulation – HSMP 577 / 677
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 577/677 | 3 |
Course Information
This course is intended to be an introduction to the American legal system and the laws that affect public health and health care. Initially, the course focuses on public legal relationships between governments and individuals, and proceeds to review private legal relationships between individuals or organizations. It reviews the source of laws affecting health care, the basics of constitutional law, the right to privacy, state and federal regulation of health care, and negligence in health care. It wraps up with an introduction to cutting edge health care issues such as health care fraud and abuse compliance and medical record privacy.
Doctoral students register for the HSMP 677 section.
Prerequisites
HSMP 571 and HSMP 574
Health Information Technology & Systems Management – HSMP 579
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 579 | 3 |
Course Information
Advances in information technology are driving fundamental changes throughout health care and transforming the health care industry. Students will gain an understanding how to manage and use health information technology systems. The course will identify the various types of health care information systems, and assess the key issues confronting the management of such systems, including business needs, the relationship between organizational needs and technology capabilities, and the management and control of IT resources in a variety of health-related organizational settings.
Prerequisites
HSMP 574
Health Policy – HSMP 571 / 671
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 571/671 | 3 |
Course Information
Centers on an investigation of the public policy process as it affects the healthcare field. Specific health care policies and programs are used to explore the characteristics of the health care policy process and the factors involved in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of health care policies and programs.
Doctoral students register for the HSMP 671 section.
Prerequisites
Recommended co-requisite: HSMP 574, "Health Systems Org."
Health Services Human Resources Management – HSMP 580
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 580 | 3 |
Course Information
Prerequisites
HSMP 574
Health Systems Organization – HSMP 574 / 674
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 574 / 674 | 3 |
Course Information
This course introduces basic concepts and issues in the organization, financing, and delivery of health services. The emphasis is on the systemic aspects of health services production and delivery which address the health needs of populations with respect to death, disease, disability, discomfort, and dissatisfaction. Students will examine the inter-relationships of system structures, subsystems, and processes, as well as their interactions with the larger social, cultural, economic and political environments in which they exist. The focus is on the United States, with international comparisons used to illustrate similarities and differences.
Introduction to Biostatistics – BSTA 525
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
BSTA 525 | 4 |
Course Information
The goal of this course is to cover the broad range of statistical methods used in health sciences. Methods of summarizing data through graphical displays and numerical measures will be discussed. Basic probability concepts will be explored to establish the basis for statistical inference. Confidence intervals and hypothesis testing will be studied with emphasis in applying these methods to relevant situations. Both normal theory and non-parametric approaches will be studied. Course focus will be to understand when to use basic statistical methods how to compute tests to statistics and how to interpret results. Computer applications (using SPSS) are included as part of the course.
Introduction to Health Economics – HSMP 586 / 686
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 586 / 686 | 3 |
Course Information
Doctoral students register for the HSMP 686 section.
Prerequisites
Recommended co-requisite: HSMP 574, "Health Systems Org."
Oregon Health Policy: Lessons for State and National Reform – HSMP 582 / 682
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 582 / 682 | 3 |
Research
Reviews Oregon’s nationally recognized health reforms and examine the lessons learned for the development and implementation of health policy at the national, state and local levels. Fundamental to the course will be exploring the many issues around employing public policy to address problems around access, cost, financing and quality in health care. This will be a seminar style course with an opportunity for students to meet with and learn from experts.
Organizational Behavior in Health Service Organizations – HSMP 541
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 541 | 3 |
Course Information
Provides an overview of organizational theory and behavior in health services organizations. Emphasis is on developing an understanding of the factors and forces which influence the organization, behavior, and operations of health services delivery organizations through consideration of organizations, their environments, and the roles of individuals working in management.
Prerequisites
Recommended corequisite: HSMP 574, "Health Systems Org."
Performance Improvement in Health Services – HSMP 578
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 578 | 3 |
Course Information
Intended to introduce students to the concepts of continual improvement and illustrate applications of these concepts in health care. The basic content will be drawn from the industrial quality improvement literature; this will be elaborated through presentation and analysis of health care case studies. Students will gain an understanding of different approaches to process improvement and quality management and will be prepared to apply this knowledge in the practice setting.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites: HSMP 541 and HSMP 574.
Population Health: Policy and Practice Implications – HSMP 581 / 681
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 581 / 681 | 3 |
Course Information
Introduction to concepts of population health as they relate to policy and practice. In addition to exploring various meanings of the term “population health”, the course considers three primary drivers of population health: long-term demographic trends (e.g., population aging, immigration, fertility); social and economic policies (including health policy); and characteristics of the healthcare system. Special emphasis is placed on translating knowledge into effective policies and practice to address population health.
Doctoral students register for the HSMP 681 section.
Practice Experience – BSTA 509PE / CPH 509PE / EPI 504PE / ESHH 509PE / HSMP 509PE / PHE 504PE
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
BSTA 509PE / CPH 509PE / EPI 504PE / ESHH 509PE / HSMP 509PE / PHE 504PE | 4 |
Course Information
Consent of PE Coordinator required.
Students must attend a PE orientation (via canvas.pdx.edu) prior to registering and are encouraged to attend a PE info session. Detailed information about the PE can be found on the Practice Experience SPH webpage.
PEs are a total of 4 credits and 160 “contact hours.” Students demonstrate 5 competencies via at least two deliverables, as well as submit a learning agreement (the term before PE registration), a midway progress report, a portfolio, and perform an oral presentation.
Biostats students register for BSTA 509PE. PHP students register for CPH 509PE. Epi students for EPI 504PE. ESHH students register for ESHH 509PE. HSMP students register for HSMP 509PE. HP students register for PHE 504PE.
Prerequisites
Consent of PE Coordinator required
Principles of Health Behavior I – PHE 512
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
PHE 512 | 3 |
Course Information
Presents an overview of the biological, psychological, behavioral, sociocultural, and environmental factors that function in the promotion of health and prevention of disease. Theories developed to explain health and illness behaviors at intrapersonal, interpersonal, and group/community levels are introduced. Ethical issues involved in health-related behavior change are examined. Satisfies the core M.P.H. requirement. Recommended prerequisite: graduate standing.
Program Evaluation & Management in Health Services – HSMP 588
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 588 | 3 |
Course Information
Introduces the theory and practice of program evaluation in the health services system. Includes multiple methods and uses of evaluation from the perspectives of managers, health professionals, and health services researchers, with an emphasis on the utilization of evaluation findings in program planning and management in health services. Course learning will be synthesized through a community-based learning experience involving working with a community partner to develop an evaluation framework and methodology for an existing or proposed health program.
Research Design in Health Services – HSMP 589 / 689
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 589 / 689 | 3 |
Course Information
Prerequisites
Introduction to Biostatistics
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