*Course schedules are subject to change due to last minute updates
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.
PHE 559 – Economics of Aging
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PHE 559 | 3 |
Course Information
Objectives are (1) understand the roots of income inequality between the aged and non-aged; (2) review the economic and policy factors that influence the decision to retire; (3) understand the political economy of old age income support in the U.S. and abroad; (4) explore the history, operation, and policy questions of our major public pension system, social security; and (5) discuss private pensions in relationship to U.S. income maintenance policy.
PHE 560 – Mental Health and Aging
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PHE 560 | 3 |
Course Information
Focus on a psychological approach to mental health and aging. The physical and social environments of older people, as well as the individual’s physical and psychological condition, strongly affect the mental health and quality of life of older people. It is the goal of the course to be useful to people who work with older adults and their families, or to people who want to understand the changes that may be happening for older members of their own families. Guest speakers from the field of geriatric mental health will supplement the readings and course assignments.
PHE 562 – Global Aging
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PHE 562 | 3 |
Course Information
The rapid, unprecedented aging of the world’s populations is resulting in myriad changes that will affect societies, cultures, economies, families, and individuals and their daily lives. Students will learn about broad global trends related to the aging of the world as well as aging in particular countries and regions.
PHE 563 – Service Learning in Nicaragua: Enhancing Communities for an Aging Society
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PHE 563 | 3 |
Course Information
Rapid aging in Nicaragua’s population will cause changes affecting individuals, families, communities, culture and economies. Students will attend class at PSU and travel to Nicaragua to learn about living conditions and support structures in place for older Nicaraguans and participate in service-learning projects to improve the lives of Nicaraguan elders.
Prerequisite
PHE 562
PHE 619 – Mentored Teaching Experience
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PHE 619 | 4 |
Course Information
Each student will be paired with a Community Health faculty member to shadow one term of teaching of either an UG or an MPH level Community Health class.
PHE 623 – Doctoral Seminar in Health Research
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PHE 623 | 1 |
Course Information
Research seminar required for first- and second-year doctoral students in the community health PhD program. Students learn about critical evaluation of health research, hypothesis generation, the publication and review process, grant application process, and development an independent research program.
Permission not required.
PHE 626 – Teaching and Learning in Health Promotion & Social Work
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PHE 626 | 3 |
Course Information
This course focuses on pedagogical theory and practice in professional settings. Students develop skills to design, evaluate, and implement effective curriculum and instruction across settings: academic classrooms, community contexts, and research projects. Topics include educational theory, course design, learning and teaching strategies, assessment, and scholarship of teaching and learning.
Cross Listed Courses
SW 626 – Teaching and Learning in Health Promotion & Social Work
PUBH 511-1: Foundations of Public Health
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PUBH 511-1 | 3 |
Course Information
This course introduces students to the history and mission of public health. Using a multilevel framework, the course will cover the ways in which a range of structural and social determinants and behavioral, biological, and genetic factors affect population health for health equity. Students will think critically about the foundational principles of public health, theoretical concepts, and values and ethics to develop their own intersectional social justice and antiracist orientation to apply in the field.
PUBH 511-2: Foundations of Public Health
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PUBH 511-2 | 3 |
Course Information
This course introduces students to the history and mission of public health. Using a multilevel framework, the course will cover the ways in which a range of structural and social determinants and behavioral, biological, and genetic factors affect population health for health equity. Students will think critically about the foundational principles of public health, theoretical concepts, and values and ethics to develop their own intersectional social justice and antiracist orientation to apply in the field.
PUBH 511-3: Foundation of Public Health
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PUBH 511-3 | 3 |
Course Information
This course introduces students to the history and mission of public health. Using a multilevel framework, the course will cover the ways in which a range of structural and social determinants and behavioral, biological, and genetic factors affect population health for health equity. Students will think critically about the foundational principles of public health, theoretical concepts, and values and ethics to develop their own intersectional social justice and antiracist orientation to apply in the field.
PUBH 521-1: Analytic Methods 1: Evidence Appraisal and Data Collection
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PUBH 521-1 | 3 |
Course Information
This course introduces students to foundational public health methods for appraising evidence and collecting data using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Students critically review and interpret existing literature, formulate research questions, and design data collection tools within a practice-oriented, equity-driven framework. Through a scaffolded research project, students develop skills in data collection, analysis, and communication that translate directly to applied public health settings. Emphasis is placed on reflexivity, community engagement, and understanding how public health knowledge is produced and used within systems of power.
PUBH 521-1: Analytic Methods I: Evidence Appraisal and Data Collection
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PUBH 521-1 | 3 |
Course Information
This course introduces students to foundational public health methods for appraising evidence and collecting data using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Students critically review and interpret existing literature, formulate research questions, and design data collection tools within a practice-oriented, equity-driven framework. Through a scaffolded research project, students develop skills in data collection, analysis, and communication that translate directly to applied public health settings. Emphasis is placed on reflexivity, community engagement, and understanding how public health knowledge is produced and used within systems of power.
PUBH 521-2: Analytic Methods I: Evidence Appraisal and Data Collection
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PUBH 521-2 | 3 |
Course Information
This course introduces students to foundational public health methods for appraising evidence and collecting data using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Students critically review and interpret existing literature, formulate research questions, and design data collection tools within a practice-oriented, equity-driven framework. Through a scaffolded research project, students develop skills in data collection, analysis, and communication that translate directly to applied public health settings. Emphasis is placed on reflexivity, community engagement, and understanding how public health knowledge is produced and used within systems of power.
PUBH 521-3: Analytic Methods I: Evidence Appraisal and Data Collection
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PUBH 521-3 | 3 |
Course Information
This course introduces students to foundational public health methods for appraising evidence and collecting data using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Students critically review and interpret existing literature, formulate research questions, and design data collection tools within a practice-oriented, equity-driven framework. Through a scaffolded research project, students develop skills in data collection, analysis, and communication that translate directly to applied public health settings. Emphasis is placed on reflexivity, community engagement, and understanding how public health knowledge is produced and used within systems of power.
PUBH 522: Analytic Methods II: Applied Analysis
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PUBH 522 | 3 |
Course Information
Analytic Methods II builds on the skills taught in Analytic Methods I and covers quantitative and qualitative methods used in public health studies. Topics include qualitative and quantitative statistical analysis methods of data generated from various epidemiologic study designs. Health equity considerations are integrated throughout. Students will be introduced to epidemiologic designs, hypothesis testing, and data analysis using statistical software. Students will be introduced to epidemiologic designs, hypothesis testing, and data analysis using statistical software. The class project will use a population-based public health problem (e.g. heat wave exposure, influenza) as a common thread throughout the course.
Prerequisite
- PUBH 521 or instructor permission
PUBH 523 / 623 – Introduction to R
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PUBH 523 / 623 | 1 |
Course Information
This course provides an introduction to programming in R in public health, medicine, and related fields. Students will gain basic proficiency with the R environment and toolkit, focusing on reproducible workflows, data manipulation, visualization, and reporting. Topics include basic R programming, working in project-based folders, data transformations and summaries, data visualizations and plots, generating dynamic reports, and constructing summary tables. By the end of the course, students will be comfortable initiating data exploration projects in R and will be prepared to apply these skills in further analysis courses. No prior statistical or coding experience is expected or required.
Also offered for graduate-level credit as PUBH 623 and may be taken only once for credit
PUBH 531-1: Communicating Public Health
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PUBH 531-1 | 3 |
Course Information
Students will learn to identify and assess communication landscapes to better understand how “health” is being constructed for diverse audiences. We will introduce the cognitive, theoretical, ethical, and cultural foundations that underlie public health communication and that will help us more effectively contribute to public debate and advance health equity and social justice. We will practice message development in consideration of the community-based and collaborative roles of public health, and the often-controversial issues we address. We also will identify and practice the key components of three major communication campaign frameworks, each serving differing goals, strategies, contexts, and audiences.
PUBH 531-2: Communicating Public Health
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PUBH 531-2 | 3 |
Course Information
Students will learn to identify and assess communication landscapes to better understand how “health” is being constructed for diverse audiences. We will introduce the cognitive, theoretical, ethical, and cultural foundations that underlie public health communication and that will help us more effectively contribute to public debate and advance health equity and social justice. We will practice message development in consideration of the community-based and collaborative roles of public health, and the often-controversial issues we address. We also will identify and practice the key components of three major communication campaign frameworks, each serving differing goals, strategies, contexts, and audiences
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