*Course schedules are subject to change due to last minute updates
Summer 2025 Planning Schedule
Last updated 4.21.2025
Download Summer Planning Schedule
Fall 2025 Planning Schedule
Last updated 4.21.2025
Download Fall Planning Schedule
Winter 2026 Planning Schedule
Last updated 7.23.2025
Download Winter Planning Schedule
Spring 2026 Planning Schedule
Last updated 7.23.2025
Download Spring Planning Schedule
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 532 / 632 – Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) – Epidemiology
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
PHE 532 / 632 | 3 |
Course Information
Covers the history of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework, the trends that drive and result from DOHaD processes. It will explain epigenetics and other mechanisms which through priming influence lifelong health.
Slash Listed Courses
Also offered as PHE 632 to doctoral students.
PHE 540 – Mass Communication For Public Health
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
PHE 540 | 3 |
Course Information
The ways population health is characterized in the mass media matter for our societal understanding of how health is produced, maintained, and put at risk. But, which mass media are we considering –and are we missing any in our assessments? And, when we say “health communication,” which strategies are we referring to? As public health communicators, we need to know how to assess this rapidly changing landscape so we may both deeply understand how “health” is being constructed for audiences, and so that we may more effectively enter debates and help broaden them. In this fast-paced graduate survey course, we will explore the many ways population health is characterized via mass media, both from within public health and without. We will look at what is required to more fully engage with broad audiences across media environments and understand the contexts in which messages are exchanged. And, we will assess the effectiveness of differing approaches for a range of goals.
Prerequisite
PHE 512 – Health Behavior for Public Health or equivalent
PHE 541 – Media Advocacy & Public Health
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
PHE 541 | 3 |
Course Information
Provides students with an understanding of the role of media advocacy in advancing public health policies to promote health. The course uses lectures, group exercises, and case studies to illustrate basic concepts and skills related to media advocacy. Topics covered include: gaining access to the news, framing issues from a public health perspective, and the use of paid advertising to advance policy. Content areas include tobacco, violence, handguns, suicide, alcohol, and other public health issues.
Prerequisite
PHE 512 – Principles of Health Behavior
PHE 546 – Urban & Community Health
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
PHE 546 | 3 |
Course Information
Examines the social factors associated with urban health and quality of life, such as social class, gender inequalities, and racism. Emphasis will be placed upon community development and collective responses to the maintenance of health rather than upon individualized health promotion and disease prevention strategies.
PHE 550 – Health Promotion Program Planning
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
PHE 550 | 4 |
Course Information
Addresses practical applications of health promotion theories. Presents examples of planning, implementation, and evaluation of health promotion programs in a variety of settings as guides for the development of health promotion programs.
PHE 558 – Perspectives on Aging
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 600 – Essentials of Doctoral Training
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
PUBH 600 | 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.
Course intended for Ph.D. students only.
(Formerly HSMP 660 – Contemporary Research in Health Systems & Policy)
UNI 511 / 611 / 711 – Topics in Biostatistics: Data Equity for Health Professionals
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
UNI 511 / 611 / 711 | 2 |
Course Information
This is an introductory course on complex topics related to data equity, which guide one to conduct health research with inclusivity, equity and justice in mind. Topics include the concepts of data equity and data justice; eugenics in statistical history; and data equity framework in health research including study design, data collection, data governance and sovereignty, visualization, analysis and interpretation, communication and dissemination. Additional topics will include biases and impacts of using social variables in clinical algorithms and prediction models, and potential approaches to address the biases. More topics will be added to incorporate new ideas and advances as appropriate. This course will illustrate concepts through examples and case studies, promote critical thinking in data equity, and facilitate collaboration and discussion among students.
UNST 234 A-1 – Healthy People/Healthy Places
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
UNST 234A-1 | 4 |
Course Information
This cluster examines the nature and state of healthy individuals in their various environments. A dynamic approach will be used to study the places in which people live and interact, such as the community, the workplace and the natural environment. Topics will focus on ways to solve and prevent problems that may affect the health and wellbeing of the individual, the local environment and/or the global community. Individual behavior change, social policies, community development and social responsibility may be emphasized.
Notes
This is a Sophomore Inquiry course.
UNST 234A – 2 – Healthy People/Healthy Places
| Course Code | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
UNST 234A - 2 | 4 |
Course Information
This cluster examines the nature and state of healthy individuals in their various environments. A dynamic approach will be used to study the places in which people live and interact, such as the community, the workplace and the natural environment. Topics will focus on ways to solve and prevent problems that may affect the health and wellbeing of the individual, the local environment and/or the global community. Individual behavior change, social policies, community development and social responsibility may be emphasized.
Notes
This is a Sophomore Inquiry course.
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
PHE 534 / 634 – Social Epidemiology Methods & Theory
PHE 534 / 634
3
Course Information
Surveys social epidemiology practice including measurement, study design, analysis and translation for researching behavioral, social, economic, and cultural determinants of population distributions of health outcomes. The course emphasizes the application of social epidemiology methods tightly coupled to theory salient to community health practice & policy.
Prerequisites
Epi 512 – Epidemiology I
BSTA 525 – Introduction to Biostatistics
Slash Listed Courses
Also offered as PHE 634 for doctoral students.