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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: 5.18.2023

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 5.18.2023
Download Winter Planning Schedule

Spring 2024 Planning Schedule

Last updated 6.13.2023
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.

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.

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.

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.

Epidemiology I – EPI 512 / 612

Course CodeCredit

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.

Epidemiology of Aging and Chronic Disease – CPH 526 / 626

Course CodeCredit

CPH 526/626

3

Course Information

This course introduces the application of epidemiologic methods to the study of older persons and chronic disease. The course will examine concepts and topics including trends in aging and the health of aging populations; health transition, and explanations and consequences of mortality decline; determinants of health and survival; distinctions between normal aging, disease and disability; health promotion and primary, secondary and tertiary prevention as applied to older persons, and the epidemiology of selected diseases, syndromes and conditions common to older age and chronic illness.

Doctoral students register for the CPH 626 section.

Epidemiology of Disease – CPH 527 / 627

Course CodeCredit

CPH 527 / 627

3

Course Information

Using case study methodology, this course will explore disease and disability and the epidemiologic methods used in their study, prevention and control. Students will understand disease states from cultural, population and systems perspectives and will examine prevention and control in terms of the biological sciences as well as sociologic, cultural and political mechanisms.

Doctoral students register for the CPH 627 section.

Geographic Information Systems for Public Health – CPH 510 / 610

Course CodeCredit

CPH 510 / 610

3

Course Information

Public health practitioners have to track data on populations to plot disease trends and associated patterns of social and biological determinants of health disparities. This course will cover concepts of basic mapping using Geographic information System (GIS) software. Types and sources of data will be reviewed, along with their uses. Students will gain familiarity with spatial data and its usefulness in making sense of demographic and socioeconomic trends. In selected case studies students will examine the impact on population health of factors in the local environment such as the location of social and health services, urban density, and known contaminants.

Doctoral students register in the CPH 610 section.

Global Perspectives and Program Development – CPH 523 / 623

Course CodeCredit

CPH 523 / 623

3

Course Information

This online course will examine the contextual factors of primary health care and global health disparities. Current trends in global health will be described and discussed utilizing research, best practices, international guidelines, and expert opinion. Students will gain a broadened perspective on the impact of primary care interventions in international venues. Students will develop an increased understanding of the complexities associated with global health disparities, interventions, and development.

Doctoral students register for the CPH 623 section.

Grad Intern Integrative Sem – CPH 507C

Course CodeCredit

CPH 507C

1

Course Information

Grade mode: Pass / No Pass.

Graduate Internship in Public Health – CPH 509A

Course CodeCredit

CPH 509 A/B

3 or 6

Course Information

The purpose of the graduate internship is to provide students with a work-related experience designed to integrate theory and practice in an applied setting under supervision. The internship experience permits the student to demonstrate her/his ability to apply knowledge of theory and practice to specific activities in a real-world setting. The internship provides students with a professional experience where they can apply existing and new skills and become more socialized into the field of community/public health. Existing skills are those the student brings from his/her life experience and previous education. New skills include those the student has gained through her/his educational experience in the MPH PHCHD program. Socialization occurs through mentoring of the student in the work site and professional arena by the preceptor for the internship.

Prerequisites

Completion of all MPH coursework in the Primary Health Care & Health Disparities program.

Health Systems Organization – HSMP 574 / 674

Course CodeCredit

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 CodeCredit

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.

 

Management Practice & QI in Health Care – CPH 528 / 628

Course CodeCredit

CPH 528 / 628

3

Course Information

This course is designed to introduce graduate students to leadership and management, focusing on effective strategies for creating a productive work environment through techniques such as conflict resolution, building collaborative teams and leading change and improvement. Issues of measuring, managing and improving the quality of health care will also be addressed. Current national efforts in performance measures in public health (the quadruple aim) are discussed. Case studies taken from public health departments and other settings will be used to master problem solving skills, engage in quality improvement processes, and present findings to an audience using audiovisual technology.

Doctoral students register for the CPH 628 section.

Practice Experience – BSTA 509PE / CPH 509PE / EPI 504PE / ESHH 509PE / HSMP 509PE / PHE 504PE

Course CodeCredit

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 CodeCredit

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.

Professionalism, Ethics & Systems Thinking in Public Health – CPH 535 / 635

Course CodeCredit

CPH 535/635

3

Course Information

Using a case-based format, this course explores key underlying theoretical and professional principles, ethical practices and systems thinking in public health. In-depth examination of sentinel cases will be used to prepare the student for leadership roles in community and public health.

Doctoral students register in the CPH 635 section.

Program Evaluation & Management in Health Services – HSMP 588

Course CodeCredit

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.

Program Planning – CPH 550 / 650

Course CodeCredit

CPH 550/650

3

Course Information

This course provides an introduction to program planning and experience in the grant writing process, with an emphasis on public health intervention programs. Students will be introduced to program planning, with an emphasis on logic models. Students will be introduced to the key areas of a proposal that must be addressed in grant writing.

Doctoral students register for the CPH 650 section.

Public Health Program Evaluation – CPH 538 / 638

Course CodeCredit

CPH 538/638

3

Course Information

Using case study methodology, this course focuses on the acquisition of technical skills in design, data collection and analysis for the purpose of evaluating public health programs. Program justification and evaluation for policy-making purposes will be emphasized. In addition, alternative forms of evaluation will be examined including rapid assessment, participatory evaluation and historical, social networking and other techniques. Students will have the opportunity to examine public health data sets and to design an evaluation focused on a disparate population as well as develop policy based on critical analysis of several types of evaluations.

Doctoral students register in the CPH 638 section.

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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