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
Contemporary Research in Health Systems & Policy – HSMP 660
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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.
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.
Health & Social Inequalities – PHE 522 / 622
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
PHE 522/622 | 3 |
Course Information
Introduction to historical and theoretical foundations for social epidemiology; investigates the conceptualization and measurement of different social determinants of health using a lifecourse approach; explores how the “embodiment” of social forces influence disease processes; and examines different actions (i.e., behavioral, clinical, social, legislative and political) used to eliminate health inequities within our local, national and international communities.
Doctoral students register for the PHE 622 section.
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 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 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 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 Theory and Health Systems – HSMP 642
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 642 | 3 |
Research
Students in this course will develop an understanding of the organizational theory domain and enhance their ability to frame research within that domain in the context of health systems. The course emphasizes both substance and skill development, drawing on insights from the fields of economics, anthropology, political science and systems science to explore the structure and functions of organizations, the interaction of organizations and their environment, and the behavior of individuals within organizations. Understanding organizational theory, research, actions and outcomes is fundamental.
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
Research Design in Health Services – HSMP 589 / 689
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 589 / 689 | 3 |
Course Information
Prerequisites
Introduction to Biostatistics
Values & Ethics in Health – HSMP 573 / 673
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HSMP 573/673 | 3 |
Course Information
This course addresses issues and questions regarding values and ethics in health, with particular attention to public health practice and health policy and management. It provides students with opportunities to consider issues in health and social services that challenge values and pose ethical issues, and assists students in addressing these issues in the context of both personal and organizational values and beliefs. Specific course content includes, but is not limited to, ethical issues such as reproductive issues, emerging diseases, product liability, pharmaceutical controls, advertising, occupational and environmental issues, and research dilemmas.
Doctoral students register for the HSMP 673 section.
Prerequisites
Completion of at least 30 credits.
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
Social Policy and Public Health – HSMP 584 / 684
HSMP 584 / 684
3
Research
Examines how social policies influence health, with particular attention to health equity and disparities. Students will develop skills necessary to assess the empirical evidence for, and health implications of social policies in the areas of education, agriculture/nutrition, social welfare/income transfer, employment/labor, housing/built environment, transportation, civil rights, and other policy domains.