Mar 28, 2024  
Catalog/Bulletin 2019-2020 
    
Catalog/Bulletin 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Courses in the School of Public Health


School of Public Health

Courses

Behavior and Community Health

  • BCHS 6212 - BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE THEORIES IN PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE

    [3 Credits]
    This course is designed to expose students to the origin and use of behavioral and psychosocial theories in public health research and practice. Specifically, this course will explore how theoretical concepts, constructs, frameworks and models are utilized in developing, implementing and evaluating public health interventions.
  • BCHS 6213 - COMMUNITY ANALYSIS, ECOLOGY AND HEALTH DISPARITIES

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of this course is to identify and understand how multiple social determinants of health contribute to health disparities at the community level. This course examines the use of quantitative and qualitative research methods to track health disparities and monitor progress of public health interventions designed to reduce or eliminate health disparities at the community level. Prerequisites: First year Core Courses.
  • BCHS 6214 - HEALTH COMMUNICATION

    [3 Credits]
    Providing a foundation in the science, theory, and practice of effective health communication, this course also prepares the student to develop, deliver, and evaluate health communication campaigns and disseminate information to a wide variety of potential audiences. Prerequisites: BCHS 6212.
  • BCHS 6215 - MONITORING AND EVALUATION

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the concepts of monitoring and evaluation of community, health promotion, and other public health programs. This course presents models, techniques, and practices of designing and implementing program evaluation plans. Prerequisite: EPID 6210.
  • BCHS 6216 - HEALTH PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING

    [3 Credits]
    This course provides the student with a review of the basic principles and methods for planning, executing, monitoring, and evaluating health promotion and health education intervention programs Prerequisites: BCHS 6212.
  • BCHS 6220 - POLICIES AND PROGRAMS IN MATERNAL, CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH

    [3 Credits]
    This course examines the history, organization, and financing of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services in the U.S. and to provide an overview of the health, social, economic, and policy issues currently affecting reproductive age women, infants, children and adolescents. This course presents practices of assessing MCH related data and retrieving evidence-based interventions and translating data/evidence into policy remmendations. Prerequisites: BCHS 6212.
  • BCHS 6224 - HEALTH RELATED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

    [3 Credits]
    This course introduces the student to the role physical activity and nutrition contribute to creating and maintaining optimum health.
  • BCHS 6227 - RESEARCH METHODS IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of this course is to provide students with a practical introduction to conducting research and preparing reports using quantitative methods in a structured environment. This course presents an overview of how theory is used to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of research and interventions. Students will conduct guided research projects and secondary data analysis. Prerequisites: EPID 6210 and BIOS 6100.
  • BCHS 6230 - PUBLIC HEALTH PROJECT MANAGEMENT

    [2 Credits]
    This course is designed to provide the student with practical experience in implementing public health programs/projects using case studies and management tools. The course will present opportunities to conduct simulated operation of a program, including developing a detailed work plan and policy/procedure manual; assuring program expenditures stay within budget, and sustaining a program when funding is cut; writing job descriptions, interviewing job applicants, and hiring program staff through human resources processes; developing contracts for programs and services; establishing and motivating teams to achieve program goals; measuring, reporting, and improving program progress, quality, and problems. Students will be expected to translate their knowledge and experience by articulating their personal approach to public health program management.
  • BCHS 6231 - PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION

    [3 Credits]
    This course is designed to provide students with the basic understanding and underlying principals of the determinants and impacts of public health nutrition. The primary mission of the field of public health is to improve health outcomes. This is accomplished by informing, influencing, and motivating individuals, communities, health professionals, special interest groups, policy makers, and the public about important nutrition-related health issues. While this field of public health is ever-evolving, there are several core concepts which require an in-depth understanding to design a meaningful public health nutrition campaign. This course will teach the fundamental components of public health nutrition, including theoretical approaches, social and community health issues, nutritional assessment, public health nutrition strategies for intervention, food choices, over- and under-nutrition, as well as planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health nutrition interventions.
  • BCHS 6400 - INDEPENDENT STUDY

    [1-3 Credits]
    This course provides the student an opportunity to study a topic in depth while under the guidance of a faculty member. The focus of the course will be a specific aspect of a public health discipline which is not the primary focus of existing public health courses. The course will involve directed readings and may require completion of a paper or study project that provides evidence of comprehension and professional proficiency in the area studied. Independent Study may only be taken for a maximum of 3 credits hours toward the MPH Degree.
  • BCHS 6500 - SPECIAL TOPICS IN BEHAVIORAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES

    [1-3 Credits]
    This course is designed, depending on the student’s interest and faculty availability, to cover topics of current areas of interest within the field. The hours and credits will be arranged depending on the particular topic.
  • BCHS 6600 - CULMINATING EXPERIENCE IN BEHAVIORAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES

    [3 Credits]
    Students will synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in coursework and other learning experiences and to apply theory and principles in case studies that approximates an aspect of public health practice in behavioral and community health sciences. Prerequisite: BIOS 6100 or 6200; EPID 6210; ENHS 6238: BCHS 6212; HPSM 6268. By permission of instructor only.
  • BCHS 7202 - HEALTH BEHAVIOR CHANGE

    [3 Credits]
    This is an advanced course on theoretical and practical aspects of health behavior change. The course is designed to provide an understanding of theoretical issues and current methodologies influencing health behavior change. Several models of health behavior change will be studied in detail. The strengths and shortcomings of these models for the development and evaluation of interventions at individual, community and system levels will be critically assessed. Students will be expected to translate their knowledge into practical interventions for health behavior change.
  • BCHS 7203 - ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS IN COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES

    [3 Credits]
    Designed for doctoral students, the purpose of this course is to provide students with a practical introduction to conducting research and preparing reports using quantitative methods in a structured environment. This course presents an overview of how theory is used to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of research and interventions. Students will conduct guided research projects using secondary data analysis.
  • BCHS 7207 - ADVANCED COMMUNITY ANALYSIS, ECOLOGY, AND HEALTH DISPARITIES

    [3 Credits]
    Designed for doctoral degree students, this course is to identify how multiple social determinants of health contribute to health at the community level. This course examines the use of quantitative and qualitative research methods to evaluate health behaviors and monitor progress of public health interventions designed to promote health behaviors or eliminate health disparities at the community level.
  • BCHS 7217 - ADVANCED COMMUNITY BASED PARTICIPATORY PROGRAMMING

    [3 Credits]
    Designed for doctoral degree students, this course introduces the student to the concepts of community-based participatory research and interventional programming in public health. This course presents concepts, models, techniques, and practices useful in developing a collaborative program.
  • BCHS 7218 - ADVANCED PRINCIPLES OF RURAL HEALTH

    [3 Credits]
    Designed for doctoral degree students, this course provides the student with an overview of healthcare and access issues involved in rural areas of the US.
  • BCHS 7221 - STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING AND PSYCHOMETRICS

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of this course is to provide training in test validation and reliability assessment using current best psychometric practices including structural equation modeling (SEM). Students will learn historical and methodological principles of detection and identification of underlying latent factors including exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic and path analytic methods. Students will also learn to employ SEM to evaluate complex structural relationships and are encourage to have access to their own data sets for use in class activities. The course is structured to emphasize application of SEM rather than the mathematical underpinnings or technical aspects. When taken in conjunction with BIOS 6312 Sampling Methods and EPID 6228 Survey Design, this course offers students thorough training in Survey Methodology.
  • BCHS 7350 - TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH

    [3 Credits]
    This course will focus on multidisciplinary research skills needed to carry out bench to bedside community health and population translational research. The primary objective of the program is to train individuals to interpret basic and clinical science research and apply this knowledge to the development of community health and population research projects. Students will gain expertise in research study design, statistical methodology, translational research technologies, grant and scientific writing skills, evaluation and dissemination strategies.
  • BCHS 7351 - RACE/ETHNICITY GENDER AND HEALTH DISPARITIES

    [3 Credits]
    This course will explore the interconnection between race/ethnicity, gender and health by examining theoretical and research paradigms from sociology, anthropology, policy studies and public health. The course will explore how race/ethnicity and gender are shaped by political, social, economic, geographical and organizational factors and contribute to variations in health outcomes according to social class, geographical location, and social economic position. Class activities include: 1) class discussion with regard to how race/ethnicity and gender translate into unequal distribution of power that simultaneously operate at both the macro (societal) and micro (individual) levels of society; 2) data collection approaches and analytical methods to identify and understand links between race/ethnicity, gender and health; and 3) discussions concerning the role of public health in identifying ways to utilize emerging research regarding race/ethnicity, gender and health to advance public health research and practice.
  • BCHS 7352 - MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION IN COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCE

    [3 Credits]
    This course exposes students to the emerging field of mental health promotion; its history, principles, theories;and its differences and linkages to mental illness prevention. The course objectives are to impart knowledge of the basic principles of mental health promotion; teach the many factors causal to mental illness and the maintenance of mental health; and afford students an understanding of the complexity and multiplicity of disciplines involved in the practice of mental health promotion. In this course, students will review trends (vital statistics and epidemiology) in mental health among different populations as well as the risk and protective factors associated with mental health. Students will explore the sociocultural definitions and impact of mental health, mental illness, and stigma. The course describes a conceptual paradigm for mental health promotion from both policy and practice frameworks, including assessment, consultation, education, and training.
  • BCHS 7353 - FUNDAMENTALS OF MULTI-LEVEL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS

    [3 Credits]
    This course will familiarize students with the conceptual basis for the design, conduct, and analysis of multilevel studies. Students will integrate and apply concepts learned in previous Biostatistics and methods courses as they relate to multilevel studies. Using a combination of lectures/seminars, and discussions, the student will develop a basic understanding of how key social factors shape the distribution of health and disease in the general population. The course will be taught as a seminar and will be heavily literature-based. Students will be expected to participate in discussions, as well as lead the presentation of certain topics. Students will be expected to perform guided analyses of provided data-sets, with the emphasis on interpretation of results. Students are expected to be familiar enough with SAS to run provided analysis programs. Prerequisites BIOS 6100, BIOS 6102 or equivalent
  • BCHS 7400 - INDEPENDENT STUDIES FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH DOCTORAL STUDENTS

    [1-3 Credits]
    This course provides a doctoral student the opportunity to study an advanced topic under the guidance of a faculty member. The focus of the course will be a specific substantive topic in community health sciences. This course will involve direct readings or hands-on research and may involve completion of a paper or study project that provides evidence of comprehension and professional proficiency in the area studied. The hours and credits will be arranged depending on the particular topic. Students may register for more than one specific Independent Studies course in a semester.
  • BCHS 7410 - CHS TEACHING PRACTICUM

    [2 Credits]
    This course provides doctoral students in Community Health Science with supervised teaching experience to develop their pedagogical skills. The course includes instructor and student discussions and presentations covering adult learning, active learning, collaborative learning, on-line learning, syllabus development, teaching practice, exam formulation, and course management. Developmental teaching workshops and materials offered by the LSU Health Sciences Center may be incorporated as part of the training experience. This experience may also include serving in the role of teaching assistant for Behavioral and Community Health Sciences courses depending on the individual student’s background.
  • BCHS 7500 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN BEHAVIORAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES

    [1-3 Credits]
    This course is designed to address advanced topics in behavioral and community health sciences at the doctoral level beyond what is currently addressed in existing courses and topics of current and special interest.
  • BCHS 7700 - COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCE SEMINAR I

    [1 Credit]
    This course provides students with a broad overview of issues in behavioral and community health sciences. Each session will address a different topic related to research and practice and will be taught by both CHS faculty and visiting professors.
  • BCHS 7701 - COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES SEMINAR II

    [1 Credit]
    This course provides students with a broad overview of issues in behavioral and community health sciences. Each session will address a different topic related to research and practice and will be taught by both CHS faculty and visiting professors.
  • BCHS 7702 - COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES SEMINAR III

    [1 Credit]
    This course provides students with a broad overview of issues in behavioral and community health sciences. Each session will address a different topic related to research and practice and will be taught by both BCHS faculty and visiting professors
  • BCHS 7800 - PROSPECTUS DEVELOPMENT

    [1-9 Credits]
    Research-related work for PhD degree students prior to passing Oral Prospectus. The credit hours from t his courses cannot count toward the elective hours required for completion of the PhD Degree.
  • BCHS 7900 - DISSERTATION RESEARCH

    [1-9 Credits]
    For doctoral candidates conducting research for their dissertation. Registration by permission of the program. Amount of credit must be stated at the time of registration.
  • BCHS 9999 - EXAM ONLY

    [0 Credit]
    EXAM ONLY

Biostatistics

  • BIOS 6100 - BIOSTATISTICAL METHODS I

    [4 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture and two hours of lab per week. General introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics: techniques and principles for summarizing data, estimation, hypothesis testing and decision-making. Students are instructed on the proper use of statistical software to manage, manipulate, and analyze data and to prepare summary reports and graphical displays. Examples and problems from the health sciences are used throughout. Laboratory sessions will be held in the SoPH computing lab and are designed to closely follow the lecture material. {Non-biostatistics majors only.}
  • BIOS 6102 - BIOSTATISTICAL METHODS II

    [4 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture and two hours of lab per week. General introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics: techniques and principles of summarizing data, estimation, hypothesis testing and decision-making. Students are instructed on the proper use of statistical software to manage, manipulate, and analyze data to prepare summary reports and graphical displays. Examples and problems from the health sciences are used throughout. Laboratory sessions will be conducted in the SoPH computing lab and will provide hands-on instruction to students on the proper use of statistical software to analyze data arising from linear and logistic regression models and multi-way ANOVA models. [Non-Biostatistics majors only].
  • BIOS 6200 - PRINCIPLES OF APPLIED STATISTICS

    [4 Credits]
    Three hours lecture and two hours of lab per week. Broad coverage of methods of applied statistics, designed for students who want to take advantage of their good math backgrounds for better understanding. Data description; elementary probability, random variables, distributions; principles of statistical inference; methods for one-two-, and multi-sample settings, including ANOVA and multiple regression; methods for categorical responses. Use of SAS and other software for analysis, simulations, graphics, and report writing. Some cases will use large national databases, such as NHANES and CPS. Laboratory sessions will be held in the SoPH computing lab and are designed to closely follow the lecture material. Prerequisites: multi-variable calculus and linear algebra.
  • BIOS 6202 - APPLIED LINEAR MODELS

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. This is a practical course on the use of general linear models. Topics include a review of relevant matrix algebra; general linear models including multiple regression, analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, multivariate response, and logistic regression models; methods for estimation, hypothesis testing and diagnostics; model specification for designed experiments and for observational studies; applications are in the health sciences. Prerequisites: BIOS 6100 or BIOS 6200.
  • BIOS 6204 - STATISTICAL INFERENCE I

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. Elementary concepts of probability; conditional probability, Bayes’ theorem; random variables and probability distributions, transformations of random variables; moments and moment generating functions; discrete and continuous random variables, common families of distributions; essential inequalities and identities; multivariate distributions, joint, conditional and marginal distributions; covariance and correlation, conditional expectation; basic concepts of random samples; convergence concepts, convergence in probability and in distribution, the law of large numbers, and the central limit theorem. Prerequisites: multivariable calculus and linear algebra.
  • BIOS 6206 - STATISTICAL INFERENCE II

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. Principles of data reduction, sufficiency and completeness, minimal sufficient statistics; the likelihood principle; point estimation, method of moments, maximum likelihood estimation; method of evaluating estimators, unbiased estimation, Fisher information, hypotheses testing, likelihood ratio tests, methods of evaluating interval estimators. Prerequisite: BIOS 6204.
  • BIOS 6210 - CATEGORICAL DATA ANALYSIS

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. Model formulation, parameter estimation, and hypothesis testing for categorical data from different types of experimental and survey research situations: Characterization of interaction in multidimensional contingency tables, stepwise regression procedures for proportions, and exact inference. Prerequisites: BIOS 6102 or BIOS 6202.
  • BIOS 6212 - SURVIVAL ANALYSIS

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. This course provides students with statistical methodology for the analysis of time-to-event data and trains students in the appropriate analysis of survival data, by both parametric and nonparametric methods. Emphasis will be placed on methods and models most useful in clinical research with attention to proper interpretation of statistical packages output. Prerequisites: BIOS 6102, BIOS 6202.
  • BIOS 6300 - STATISTICAL COMPUTING

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. An introductory programming course oriented toward statistical applications using SAS (including IML) and R programming languages. Topics include data types, assignment statements, operators, sequential control, conditional control, iteration, subprograms, arrays, character manipulation, manipulating and processing SAS output from SAS procedures, Gibbs sampler, and Markov Chain Monte-Carlo methods. Prerequisites: BIOS 6202 or permission of the instructor.
  • BIOS 6301 - DATA VISUALIZATION

    [3 Credits]
    This course will focus on design principles for effective communication of quantitative data with visual representations. Data visualization is an increasingly important strategy for statistical collaboration, allowing the data to provide insight on its own. More flexible tools for data visualization have been developed recently, and these will be introduced. Topics include motivation for visualization, types of visualization, human perception and its impact on design, use of color, graphical integrity, and an introduction to visualization software.
  • BIOS 6302 - LONGITUDINAL DATA ANALYSIS

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. This course will emphasize analysis and interpretation of data obtained from subjects measured repeatedly over time. Coverage will begin with traditional approaches to analysis of longitudinal data such as multivariate repeated measures and the univariate analysis of repeated measures as s split-plot model and will quickly lead into models for mean response such as the analysis of response profiles and parametric curve fitting including linear splines. Models for the covariance matrix will be then be considered. Linear mixed models and generalized estimation equations will be covered in detail. Other topics will be covered as time allows. Examples from the health and biomedical sciences will be presented to motivate the material. Prerequisites: BIOS 6102 OR BIOS 6202.
  • BIOS 6304 - DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTS

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. Principles of experimentation. Completely randomized designs, randomized complete block designs, factorial designs, Latin squares, crossover designs, blocking, and response surface designs. Applications to the health sciences. Prerequisites: BIOS 6100 or BIOS 6200 or permission of the instructor.
  • BIOS 6308 - MULTIVARIATE METHODS

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. Review of matrix algebra, multivariate normal distribution, multivariate general linear model, principal components, factor analysis, cluster analysis, discriminant analysis. Applications to the health sciences. Prerequisites: BIOS 6202, BIOS 6206.
  • BIOS 6310 - APPLIED BAYESIAN METHODS

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. Introduction to Bayesian approach to statistical inference. Application oriented, but such theory will be covered as necessary for proper understanding of Bayesian methodology. Topics covered include Bayesian Inference - prior determination, point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing, prediction, model assessment and model choice; Bayesian Computation - Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. Gibbs Sampling and extensions; and Bayesian applications on real data sets from the biological or medical fields. Prerequisites: BIOS 6102 (or BIOS 6202), BIOS 6206, BIOS 6300, or permission of the instructor.
  • BIOS 6312 - SAMPLING METHODS

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. Methods for conducting sample surveys in the health sciences: Biases and non-sampling errors, probability and non-probability samples, simple random sampling, stratification, varying probabilities of selection, multi-stage sampling, systematic sampling, cluster sampling, double sampling, and ratio estimation. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
  • BIOS 6314 - CLINICAL TRIALS METHODOLOGY

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. Introduction to the conduct of clinical trials and clinical trials methodology. Topics covered include selection of primary and secondary research questions and hypotheses, use of surrogate variables, defining study population, generalizability of results, basic study design, randomization process, blinding, sample size estimation, using baseline assessments, recruitment of study participants, data collection and quality control, assessing and reporting adverse events, assessing quality of life, participant adherence, survival analysis techniques and issues, monitoring response variables, data analysis issues, study closeout, and reporting and interpreting results. Prerequisites: BIOS 6102 or BIOS 6202.
  • BIOS 6316 - STOCHASTIC PROCESSES

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. Markov chains; birth-death processes; random walks; renewal theory; Poisson processes; Brownian motion; branching processes; martingales; with applications. Prerequisites: BIOS 6206.
  • BIOS 6318 - NONPARAMETRIC STATISTICS

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. The course will cover methods based on ranks for one, two and k sample inferences, including Sign Test, Wilcoxon Rank-Sum Test, Kruskai-Wallis Test, Tests for Trends and Association and Multivriate Tests, Analysis of Censored Data, Bootstrap methods, Expectation-Maximization algorithm. The advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods when compared to the parametric counterpart will be discussed.
  • BIOS 6320 - TIME SERIES ANALYSIS

    [3 Credits]
    The course will cover both time and frequency domain methods in time series analysis and their applications to biomedical, public health and other scientific data collected over time. The real-life examples and implementation of the methods in statistical software (SAS/R) will be discussed.
  • BIOS 6400 - INDEPENDENT STUDY

    [1-3 Credits]
    This course provides the student an opportunity to study a topic in depth while under the guidance of a faculty member. The focus of the course will be a specific area within biostatistics which is not the primary focus of an existing biostatistics course. The course will involve directed readings and may require completion of a paper or study project that provides evidence of comprehension and proficiency in the area studied. Independent Study may only be taken for a maximum of 3 credit hours toward the MPH Degree.
  • BIOS 6450 - DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF EXPRESSION STUDIES

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. Introduction to DNA, RNA, protein and gene expression; statistical methods; microarray technology; data visualization and quality control; variability in microarray data; specific and non-specific hybridization– background correction; normalization and transformation; gene expression summarization; missing value problems; detection of differentially expressed genes; design of microarray experiments. Prerequisite: BIOS 6202.
  • BIOS 6500 - SPECIAL TOPICS IN BIOSTATISTICS

    [1-3 Credits]
    This course is designed depending on student’s interest and faculty availability, to cover advanced topics such as time series analysis, machine learning, bioinformatics, robust statistics, etc. The hours and credits will be arranged depending on the particular topic.
  • BIOS 6610 - BIOSTATISTICAL CONSULTING I

    [2 Credits]
    A course designed to expose students to realistic facets of Biostatistical consulting practice. The course draws on cumulated knowledge on the Biostatistics curriculum for use on actual applications in public health and biomedical sciences. Foundations of Biostatistical Consulting Practice will be discussed. Data analysis/reporting and grant proposal development using techniques up to BIOS 6202 will be practiced. Applications in public health and biomedical basic research will be covered. This course is intended for Biostatistics majors after the first year of master’s level coursework. Prerequisite: BIOS 6202.
  • BIOS 6611 - BIOSTATISTICAL CONSULTING II

    [2 Credits]
    A course designed to expose students to realistic facets of biostatistical consulting practice. The course draws on cumulated knowledge on the biostatistics curriculum for use on actual applications in public health and biomedical sciences. Data analysis/reporting and grant proposal development using technique beyond BIOS 6202 will be illustrated. Applications in public health, clinical trials, and OMICS will be covered. This course is intended for biostatistics majors after the first year of master’s level coursework. Prerequisite: BIOS 6610
  • BIOS 6700 - RESEARCH SEMINAR IN BIOSTATISTICS

    [1 Credit]
    Reports on research progress in current literature. Students attend colloquium and give an oral presentation in their second year.
  • BIOS 6900 - THESIS RESEARCH

    [1-9 Credits]
    Registration by permission of the program. Amount of credit must be stated at time of registration.
  • BIOS 7200 - THEORY OF LINEAR MODELS

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. This course presents the essentials of statistical inference theory for general linear models. Topics include a review of relevant matrix algebra, distributions of quadratic forms, theoretical aspects of estimation, hypothesis testing and diagnostics. Prerequisites: BIOS 6202, BIOS 6206 or permission of the instructor.
  • BIOS 7202 - GENERALIZED LINEAR MODELS

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. Study of parametric models in the exponential family of distributions including the normal, binomial, Poisson, and gamma. Parameter estimation with Iterative re-weighted least squares and quasi-likelihood methods. Modeling of correlated data or data with non-constant variance via mixed models (e.g., GLIMMIX). In-depth coverage of generalized estimating equations (GEE1 and GEE2) and quadratic estimating equations (QEE). Applications with be presented from a variety of settings such as the basic sciences, medicine, dental, and public health. Prerequisites: BIOS 6202, BIOS 6206, or permission of the instructor.
  • BIOS 7204 - ADVANCED STATISTICAL THEORY I

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. A mathematical study of the classical theory of statistical inference. Moment generating functions and character functions, distributions of order statistics, exponential family of distributions, models of convergence, the Cramer-Rao inequality, efficiency, best unbiased estimation, completeness, minimal sufficiency, maximum likelihood estimators, monotone likelihood ratio, unbiased and invariant hypothesis test, generalized likelihood ratio tests, Bayes’ and minimax procedures. Prerequisite: BIOS 6206.
  • BIOS 7205 - ADVANCED STATISTICAL THEORY II

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. A mathematically rigorous survey of selected topics in the theory of statistical inference such as: Bayesian inference, decision theory, information theory, large sample theory, multivariable distributions, nonparametric inference, sequential analysis, stochastic processes, time series, components of variance. Prerequisite: BIOS 7204.
  • BIOS 7302 - MIXED MODELS

    [3 Credits]
    Three hours of lecture per week. Rigorous course on the theory of mixed models. Essentials of relevant matrix algebra; distribution of quadratic forms; models with variance-covariance components; one-way, two-way random and mixed models with fixed effects; methods of estimation of variance components; ML, REML, ANOVA; estimation of fixed effects; testing hypotheses about fixed effects; repeated measures design methods; choices of covariance structures; generalized linear mixed models. Prerequisite: BIOS 7200.
  • BIOS 7318 - STATISTICAL LEARNING

    [3 Credits]
    Statistical learning or machine learning methodology explores various ways of estimating functional dependencies between a response variable (e.g., a disease outcome) and a large set of explanatory variables (e.g., gene expression data). This course will provide an overview of supervised learning methods used in bioinformatics and high-dimensional data research. The topics include regularization in linear models, tree and related methods, support vector machines, and boosting. Practical uses of these algorithms will be illustrated in biological research.
  • BIOS 7320 - ROBUST INFERENCE

    [3 Credits]
    3 hours of lecture per week. This course will provide a general introduction to robust statistical inference. The aim is to provide specific techinques for handling outliers and small deviations from model assumptions in linear models, generalized linear models, and survey sampling. Prerequisites: BIOS 7200, 7202 (or BIOS 6210), and BIOS 7204
  • BIOS 7410 - TEACHING PRACTICUM IN BIOSTATISTICS

    [1 Credit]
    Advanced PhD students in Biostatistics working under the supervision of a faculty member will have the opportunity to gain valuable in-class teaching experience. Students will be intensely involved in all aspects of course teaching and administration. Working closely with a faculty member, the student will prepare a syllabus, lectures, handouts, quizzes, and exams. The student will also be responsible for all grading of homework, quizzes and exams. The faculty member will evaluate each of the lectures, providing direction, advice and feedback to the student. A written evaluation detailing the student’s performance will be provided as feedback to the student and will be the basis for the (Pass/Fail) grade. Each PhD student in Biostatistics is required to successfully complete at least 3 hours of supervised teaching before graduation. Prerequisites: Successful completion of the qualifying exam at the PhD level.
  • BIOS 7900 - DISSERTATION RESEARCH

    [1-9 Credits]
    Registration by permission of the program. Amount of credit must be stated at time of registration.
  • BIOS 9999 - EXAM ONLY

    [0 Credit]

Degree Candidate

  • DIPLOMA PUBH - REGISTERED FOR GRADUATION ONLY

    [0 Credit]
    Student has completed degree requirements, awaiting graduation.

Environmental Health

  • ENHS 6238 - PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

    [3 Credits]
    This course explores the relationships between man and the natural environment by examining the impact of human activities on air, water, soil, and food quality, and by analyzing the outcomes of encounters between humans and natural events, venomous animals, and toxic plants and fungi.
  • ENHS 6239 - PRINCIPLES OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of this ENHS curriculum core curriculum course is (1) to provide public health practitioners and managers with an overview of occupational health and related medical issues, (2) to link occupational hazards and exposures with the pathophysiologic development of occupationally-related illnesses, and (3) to fulfill the Occupational Health and Medicine course requirements.
  • ENHS 6240 - TRAVELER’S HEALTH AND TROPICAL MEDICINE

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of this course is (1) to provide an overview of traveler’s health and related travel and tropical medical issues, and (2) to link foreign travel and tropical and other environmental exposures with the pathophysiologic development of travel and environmentally related illnesses. This course is not a laboratory course and does not duplicate the didactic and laboratory material presented in Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology (MIP). This course emphasizes the etiologic agents, clinical manifestations, medical and surgical management, and primary and secondary prevention of travel-acquired and tropical diseases.
  • ENHS 6241 - MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of this course is (1) to provide public health, medical, and health sciences graduate students with an introduction to medical toxicology and related medical issues; (2) to link illicit, prescribed, and OTC pharmaceutical poisonings with the pathophysiologic development of drug induced illnesses, (3) to link occupational, environmental, and wilderness hazards and exposures with the patholophysiologic development of organic toxin-induced illnesses; (4) to develop methodologies for the primary prevention, diagnosis and treatment of common poisonings in children and adults; and (5) to prepare medical students for the USMLE Parts 2 and 3, specifically to prepare for questions regarding common poisonings and envenomations in children and adults.
  • ENHS 6243 - AIR QUALITY, AIR POLLUTION AND DISPERSION MODELING

    [3 Credits]
    This course will consider the common biological, chemical, and physiochemical contaminants of indoor and outdoor air in relationship to national air quality standards and recommended maximum exposure levels. In addition, this course will introduce the application of computer modeling in predicting the directions, configurations, maximum contaminant levels, and human effects of intentional and unintentional vapor plume releases. Designs for gaseous pollutant and particulate control are discussed.
  • ENHS 6245 - HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT

    [3 Credits]
    This course provides students with the knowledge and methodology to determine whether current or future chemical exposures will pose health risk to certain population or ecosystems. The objectives of this course are (1) to provide the concept of environmental health risk assessment, (2) to understand the basic components of risk assessment, (3) to understand the methods for risk analysis and management, (4) to familiarize with different toxicological databases and resources (5) to familiarize with the regulatory aspect of risk assessment (6) to provide the skills of effective risk communication.
  • ENHS 6246 - WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of this course is (1) to provide an overview of principle of water quality management , (2) to familiarize with water quality law and regulation, (3) to familiarize with water sources/usage and water quality characteristics, (4) to identify water pollution parameters, (5) to examine the available treatments, (6) and to understand the importance of water quality monitoring and protection.
  • ENHS 6247 - PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT OF FOODBORNE DISEASES

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of (1) food borne diseases and their etiologies, (2) factors that favor and deter microbial growth in foods, (3) characteristics of food borne disease outbreak (4) emerging pathogens related to food borne disease, and (5) federal and state responsibilities in control of food borne disease.
  • ENHS 6249 - OCCUPATIONAL LUNG DISEASES

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of this course is to provide Public Health professionals with a solid understanding of: (1) How occupational and environmental exposures can cause pulmonary disease; (2) How respiratory protection can be employed to prevent occupational pulmonary disease; (3) How physicians assess a worker for possible lung disease; (4) Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and prognosis of common occupational pulmonary diseases.
  • ENHS 6250 - EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO DISASTERS & TERRIORISM

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of this course is to provide public health students with an overview and awareness of potential threats facing our homeland and to familiarize students with the protocols for response for Public Health employees and for the local, state, and federal agencies associated with response and recovery. Emergency response is multi-faceted and this course will include observation as well as practical experiences in the field.
  • ENHS 6251 - RADIOLOGICAL HEALTH AND RADIATION SAFETY

    [3 Credits]
    This course provides a basic review of nuclear physics and considers the common environmental sources of natural and manmade ionizing radiation and the human health impact of ionizing radiation. Radiation protection of workers and the general public are discussed.
  • ENHS 6252 - INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY

    [3 Credits]
    This course considers the principles of industrial hygiene including skin and lung absorption, dermal and inhalation toxicology, biohazards, ergonomics, chemical agents, and indoor heating/cooling and ventilation systems. In addition, this course teaches the principles of industrial plant safety including job safety analysis, job re-design, hazard indentification, biomarker monitoring, emergency operations, and the socio-behavioral aspects of safety compliance.
  • ENHS 6253 - GEOSPATIAL HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of the ENHS public health course entitled Geospatial Health and Environment is (1) to provide health, medical, and health sciences graduate students with an introduction to medical applications of the geospatial sciences and related environmental issues; (2) to link new tools in Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing (GIS/RS) to environmental and geospatial risk factors that determine the spatial distribution and prevalence of disease, (3) understand the fundamental concepts of landscape epidemiology and the basis for ecological niche modeling of disease agents, (4) develop technical skills needed for application of GIS/RS decision support systems in prevention, control and health education programs, and (5) integrate course concepts and skills by development and presentation of a class project that applying GIS/RS to a disease issue of public health importance.
  • ENHS 6254 - ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND PUBLIC HEALTH

    [3 Credits]
    This course is intended for MPH students who lack a background in environmental public health policy. Students will gain knowledge of how environmental health policies are developed, the statues that have evolved to address public health concerns about specific environmental hazards, and the policy issues that impact how environmental health programs function within governmental structures. Special topics will include international environmental health programs, and the policy impacts of environmental equity/justice and risk assessment. Outcomes of the course include knowledge of the following: 1) the structure and functions of the United States environmental public health system; 2) environmental public health statutes, and 3) environmental public health policy impacts.
  • ENHS 6400 - INDEPENDENT STUDY

    [1-3 Credits]
    This course provides the student an opportunity to study a topic in depth while under the guidance of a faculty member. The focus of the Course will be a specific aspect of a public health discipline which is not the primary focus of existing public health courses. The Course will involve directed readings and may require completion of a paper or study project that provides evidence of comprehension and professional proficiency in the area studied. Independent Study may only be taken for a maximum of 3 credit hours toward the MPH Degree
  • ENHS 6500 - SPECIAL TOPICS IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SCIENCES

    [1-3 Credits]
    This course is designed, depending on the student’s interest and faculty availability, to cover advanced topics in areas such as “Food safety”, “Air quality”, “Water quality”, “Soil quality”, “Occupational health”, “Industrial hygiene”, “Waste management”, and “Environmental justice.” The hours and credits will be arranged depending on the particular topic.
  • ENHS 6600 - CULMINATING EXPERIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HLTH SCIENCES

    [3 Credits]
    Students will synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in coursework and other learning experiences and to apply theory and principles in case studies that approximates an aspect of public health practice in behavioral and community health sciences. Prerequisite: BIOS 6100 or 6200; EPID 6210; ENHS 6238: BCHS 6212; HPSM 6268. By permission of instructor only.

Epidemiology

  • EPID 6210 - PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY

    [3 Credits]
    This course provides an introduction to epidemiology as a basic science for public health and clinical medicine. It will address the principles of the quantitative approach to public health and clinical problems. The course will discuss measures of frequency and association, introduce the design and validity of epidemiologic research, and give an overview of data analysis. This course is an introduction to the skills needed by public health professionals to interpret critically the epidemiologic literature. It will provide students with principles and practical experience needed to initiate the development of these skills. Lectures are complemented by seminars devoted to case studies, exercises, or critique of current examples of epidemiologic studies.
  • EPID 6211 - INTERMEDIATE EPIDEMIOLOGY

    [3 Credits]
    This course provides an integrated coverage of the principles of epidemiologic design, analysis, and interpretation at an intermediate level, suitable for epidemiologists and other public health professionals interested in a more thorough understanding of these concepts. Prerequisite: EPID 6210, BIOS 6100 and Pre- or Corequisite: BIOS 6102 or equivalent.
  • EPID 6214 - INFECTIOUS DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY

    [3 Credits]
    This introductory course provides an overview of infectious disease epidemiology. It is a companion course to Chronic Disease Epidemiology (EPID 6223). The course addresses the most important groups of infectious diseases, including respiratory and enteric infections, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. It focuses on the biological basis, incidence, prevalence, morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases. Prerequisite EPID 6210.
  • EPID 6217 - DATABASE MANAGEMENT

    [3 Credits]
    This course provides students with the basic skills to design good relational databases, hands-on experience in creating and managing databases using Microsoft Access, and sources of information for the construction of databases in public health. Prerequisite: EPID 6210, and BIOS 6100.
  • EPID 6218 - SPATIAL ANALYSIS

    [3 Credits]
    This course introduces students to a range of geospatial analyses uses and methods. Students will apply problem solving abilities, critical thinking skills, and creative thinking to diverse examples of medical geography and spatial epidemiology. Content will focus on teaching methods and interpretation of spatial analysis. Non content objectives are for students to develop a critical and creative approach to questions which can benefit from spatial epidemiology. Prerequisites: EPID 6210 and BIOS 6100.
  • EPID 6219 - NUTRITIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGY

    [3 Credits]
    This course is an introduction to the methodological issues related to the design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of studies investigating the relationship between nutritional status, diet, and disease. An emphasis will be placed on the types of dietary and nutritional status assessment methods and their advantages and disadvantages in epidemiologic research. Students will gain a practical experience in the actual collection, analysis, and interpretation of dietary intake. The interpretation of studies in nutritional epidemiology given the dietary instrument used and the study design will be considered. Issues such as intra- and inter-individual variation, measurement error, misclassification, homogeneity of intake within populations, and correlations among nutrients, micronutrients, and food groups will be discussed. Prerequisites: EPID 6210 and BIOS 6100.
  • EPID 6220 - MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY

    [3 Credits]
    This course covers the theoretical concepts and practical issues involved in conducting research involving molecular biomarkers in human populations. Class topics include the theoretical advantages of biomarkers, criteria for evaluating potential markers, sample collection and storage, laboratory quality control considerations, issues in epidemiologic study design and analysis, ethical/legal concerns, and discussion of specific examples of research involving molecular markers of internal dose, susceptibility, early pathological alteration, and prognosis. The course will emphasize examples from the cancer research literature. Prerequisites: EPID 6210 and BIOS 6100
  • EPID 6222 - CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY

    [3 Credits]
    This course provides students with an understanding of the theory of carcinogenesis and major etiologic factors for cancer, including tobacco, diet and nutrition, alcohol, viruses and bacteria, drugs, occupation, and radiation. The epidemiology of major cancer sites i.e. lung, breast, prostate, colon and rectum, cervix and uterine corpus, and selected cancers of specific interest to the class will also be presented. Study design and methodology used in cancer research are discussed throughout the course. Prerequisites: EPID 6210 and BIOS 6100.
  • EPID 6223 - CHRONIC DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY

    [3 Credits]
    This introductory course provides an overview of chronic disease epidemilogy and prevention strategies. It is a companion course to Infectious Disease Epidemiology (EPID 6214). The course addresses the most important groups of chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, lung diseases and neurologic diseases. It focuses on the biological basis, incidence, prevalence, morbidity and mortality of chronic diseases as well as etiologic factors accounting for differences in incidence and mortality. Students will learn how to apply epidemiologic methods for chronic disease prevention and control studies and understand the importance of surveillance and applied research as a base for public health interventions. Prerequisite: EIPD 6210.
  • EPID 6226 - EPIDEMIOLOGIC DESIGN AND ANALYSIS

    [3 Credits]
    The course is designed to integrate and apply concepts learned in previous biostatistics and epidemiologic methods courses as they relate to epidemiologic studies. The conceptual basis for the design, conduct, and analysis of observational and experimental studies will be covered, focusing on providing students with data analysis, interpretation, and presentation skills. Students will gain hands-on experience in designing and analyzing studies through classroom sessions and homework assignments. Prerequisites: EPDI 6210, EPID 6211, BIOS 6100 and BIOS 6102.
  • EPID 6228 - SURVEY DESIGN

    [3 Credits]
    The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to survey methodology. It introduces students to a set of principles of survey design that are the basis of standard practices in the field. The course exposes students to research literature that uses both observational and experimental methods to test key hypotheses about the nature of human behavior that affect the quality of survey data. The course will also present import statistical concepts and techniques in sample design, execution, and estimation, as well as models of behavior describing errors in responding to survey questions. Thus, both social science and statistical concepts will be presented. This course will be taught through lectures, readings, group discussion. When taken in conjunction with BIOS 6312 (Sampling Methods) and BCHS 7221 (Structural Equation Modeling and Psychometrics), this course offers students comprehensive training in Survey Methods. Prerequisites: EPID 6210 and BIOS 6100.
  • EPID 6301 - EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND DISEASES

    [3 Credits]
    Designed for doctoral and master’s degree students, this course covers the theories and methodologies related to the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Students will gain an understanding of important issues in the epidemiology of HIV and STIs in the US and internationally, and will increase their understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of various epidemiologic study designs and the interpretation of data. Also addressed will be implications for transmission, prevention, and the psychosocial, behavioral, and economic aspects of STIs, particularly HIV. Prerequisites: EPID 6210 and BIOS 6100
  • EPID 6350 - EPIDEMIOLOGY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE

    [3 Credits]
    The goal of this course is to introduce the student to the roles and responsibilities of MPH-trained public health professionals in public health practice. Lectures will be based on principal public health service areas, such as the surveillance of infectious diseases, disease and cluster investigations, maternal and child health, environmental epidemiology, oral health and health communication. Availability and use of different data sources, data collections systems, data quality measures as well as data analysis and reports/publications will illustrate the role of epidemiology, in public health practice. Furthermore, federal and state reporting requirements, funding sources and program evaluations will be also discussed. Public health practitioners from different program areas are invited guest speakers who will give an overview and demonstrate specific public health program with emphasis of the implementation of epidemiology concepts which serves as the cornerstone for every public health practitioner.
  • EPID 6351 - PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM THEORY AND METHODS

    [2 Credits]
    The goal of this course is to make the students aware of all aspects that must be considered when designing or working with a Public Health Surveillance System (PHSS). The lectures will concentrate on the different types of PHSS, database structures, practical design elements, data gathering strategies, quality control and evaluation considerations and the role of PHSS within the public health community. Additionally, students will be given the opportunity to utilize their analytical skills and demonstrate their mastery of statistical software packages by performing preliminary analysis of a real PHSS data set. Prerequisite: EPID 6210
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