Core and Required Courses

This course provides an introduction to the epidemiological perspective on health and disease. The course emphasizes the principles and methods used to describe and evaluate the patterns of illness in communities and in population subgroups. Methods and research designs used in the investigation of the etiology of infectious and noninfectious disease are presented. Lectures and laboratory examples illustrate a wide range of contemporary health problems. Graduate standing. Substitutions: CE154 Principles of Epidemiology.

This course instructs students in the methods that quantify disease processes in human populations. Topics include study design, sources of inaccuracy in experimental and observational studies, the methodology of data collection, and an introduction to the statistical evaluation of epidemiological data. Environmental and occupational risk factors are explored through class discussions and course paper topics. Substitutions: MPH201 Principles of Epidemiology. (on Medford campus)

This course provides an introduction to the basic principles and applications of statistics as they are applied to problems in clinical and public health settings. Topics include the description and presentation of data, random variables and distributions, descriptive statistics, introduction to probability, estimation, elements of hypothesis testing, and one- and two-sample tests, ANOVA (including repeated-measures), non-parametric tests, and an introduction to linear and logistic regression.. Lectures, problem sets, and computer output are used to develop these and additional concepts. Graduate standing. Substitutions: MPH259 Fundamentals of Biostatistics (for non-epidemiology/biostatistics concentrators only), NUTR209 & NUTR 309 Statistical Methods for Nutrition Research I & II

An introduction to the basic principles and applications of statistics as they are applied to problems in clinical and public health settings. The course is similar to MPH205, but is run at a slower pace. Topics include descriptive statistics, random variables and common statistical distributions, probability, estimation, hypothesis testing using one- and two-sample tests, ANOVA (including repeated-measures), non-parametric tests, correlation, and an introduction to linear and logistic regression. Lectures, problem sets, and computer output are used to develop these and additional concepts. Laboratory sessions allow students to analyze data sets using a large statistical software package and interpret the output. This course satisfies the biostatistics requirement for MPH students in all concentrations except Epidemiology and Biostatistics and cannot be used to satisfy the prerequisite for entry into MPH206. Substitutions: MPH205 Principles of Biostatistics, NUTR209 and NUTR309 Statistical Methods for Nutrition Research I & II

This year-long course covers descriptive statistics, graphical displays, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression, experimental and survey design, and analysis of variance and categorical data. Statistical program packages are used. Substitutions: MPH205 Principles of Biostatistics.

An overview of the theory, organization, policies, politics, and practices that have shaped public health and health care services in the United States. Students learn about the forces that influence the substance and process of public health and health care delivery. They also are challenged to think about ways in which various stakeholders, including health professionals (clinical and administrative), commercial interests, governmental officials, and the public have come to interact in the evolution of public health and health care delivery systems. The issues of access, cost, quality and health disparities are used to frame aspects of theory, policy, and practice as well as to help evidence some of the opportunities and challenges in the integration of public health and health care services. Finally, students are exposed to some quantitative and qualitative tools and methods used by practitioners in public health planning and in fostering community involvement. If a student took MPH 287 during the fall 2009 semester or earlier, he/she may count this course as an equivalent to MPH 215.

This course examines current topics in the area of occupational and environmental health, with particular emphasis on the types of materials that produce human health effects. Both clinical and epidemiological data are used to assess the public health importance of environmental pollutants and to evaluate the effectiveness of control strategies. Graduate standing. Substitution: CEE158 Occupational and Environmental Health.

This course examines current topics in the area of occupational and environmental health, with particular emphasis on the types of materials that produce human health effects. Both clinical and epidemiological data are used to assess the public health importance of environmental pollutants and to evaluate the effectiveness of control strategies. Substitution: MPH204 Occupational and Environmental Health.

This course provides a brief overview of health behavior, public policy and the health communication strategic planning process. Sessions explore models which have been developed to explain both individual and group behaviors and strategies that have been developed to alter them. This course makes extensive use of case studies and draws on the experiences of a diverse group of professionals.

In the planning semester students develop a proposed project in collaboration with an organization engaged in public health practice. Faculty assist students in identifying, negotiating, and crafting a suitable project. Students develop a formal plan for project implementation.

Prerequisites: MPH 201 + Core Course (more info available at ALE Prerequisites)

After obtaining formal approval for their project plan (including Institutional Review Board review if necessary), student spend a minimum of 160 hours in the field, implementing their project, give a formal presentation to the faculty and their peers, and submit a final paper for their ALE work.

Prerequisites: MPH 301 + Core Courses (more info available at ALE Prerequisites)

In the planning semester students develop a proposed project in collaboration with an organization engaged in public health practice. Faculty assist students in identifying, negotiating, and crafting a suitable project. Students develop a formal plan for project implementation.

Prerequisites: MPH 201 + Core Courses (more info available at ALE Prerequisites)

After returning from their field work abroad, students complete a tutorial sequence with their instructor, give a formal presentation to the faculty and their peers and submit a final paper for their ALE work.

Prerequisites: MPH 304 + Core Course (more info available at ALE Prerequisites)

This course focuses on cost accounting and budgeting in health services, nonprofit financial statement preparation, and the formulation of strategic business plans within the context of economic health policy. Students learn managerial theory and practice pertaining to organizational behavior, information systems, personnel, resource allocation, consensus building and prioritization of goals, conflict resolution, and negotiation strategies.