Master of Science
Public Health and Preventive Medicine
Degrees and Certificates
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DVM/Master of Public Health, -
DVM/Master of Public Health - August 2021 Entrants, Master of Science -
DVM/Master of Public Health - January 2022 Entrants, Master of Science
Classes
PUBH 302: Public Health
Catalog
Class Program
The course content will build on the foundations of scientific knowledge, including the biological and life sciences and the concepts of health and disease. Through a multidisciplinary approach students will explore the determinants of health, and the philosophical and organizational foundations of the professional practice of public health. It also provides an integrated overview of the filed by surveying epidemiology, biostatistics, preventative medicine, environmental health, social and behavioral aspects of health and health policy. It also introduces students to the core public health functions of assessment, policy. The course will include didactic lectures, case study, online discussions and oral presentations. Students will be required to apply core public health knowledge towards, critiquing the available scientific literature, evaluating case based scenarios to engage in analysis and problem solving, discussing current and significant local and global public health events, and effectively communicating health education and promotion strategies across the disease spectrum.
PUBH 803: Principles of Epidemiology
Class Program
Principles of Epidemiology is the investigation of the factors that determine the distribution and dynamics of health and disease in human populations. This course covers the measure of disease frequency, descriptive epidemiology, study types, and methods to document variation in disease occurrence. The tools of epidemiology are used in all aspects of public health to describe the patterns of illness in populations, design research studies, evaluate public health programs, and keep abreast of changes in the health status of populations.
PUBH 804: Principles of Biostatistics
Class Program
Principles of Biostatistics presents the principles and methods of data description and statistical analysis used for planning, development, and evaluation of health problems. This course provides an introduction to descriptive statistics, probability distributions, sampling, estimation, inference, and basic parametric and nonparametric tests. A program called Epi Info™, developed by the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control, is the primary computer program used for the course, although other computing programs will be demonstrated. Emphasis is placed on understanding and interpretation of data used in public health.
PUBH 805: Health Policy and Management
Class Program
The focus is on a comprehensive background in the organizational, financial, legal, and political issues surrounding the health care environment. Health Policy and Management examines the major substantive issues confronting health policy makers in the areas of health systems, health sector reform, family and community health, and environmental and occupational health.
PUBH 806: Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health
Class Program
This course explores the influence of social, psychological, and cultural factors on the health status of individuals and communities. While this topic may be studied from many perspectives, the class seeks to understand the origins of health-compromising behaviors, their distribution in the population, and ways to change or prevent them.
PUBH 807: Principles of Environmental Health
Class Program
In this course, students learn about the interaction between humans and physical, chemical, and biological agents, in addition to the important impact they have on health. This course considers important environmental health issues facing society. Topics include population dynamics, occupational health, air pollution control, water and wastewater management, food protection, hazardous material management, ecology and control of animal vectors of disease, and basic community sanitation issues.
PUBH 808: Maternal and Child Health
Class Program
PUBH 812: Nutrition and Public Health
Class Program
PUBH 813: Chronic Disease Epidemiology
Class Program
This course covers principles, methods, and issues in the epidemiology of chronic diseases. Chronic Disease Epidemiology starts with a strong focus on preventive medicine, and explores the risk factors for various chronic conditions. The course covers major conditions in extensive detail, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, lung disease, arthritis, and neurological disorders.
PUBH 814: Emerging Infectious Disease
Catalog
Class Program
PUBH 816: Occupational Health
Class Program
This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to recognize and evaluate common occupational hazards (e.g., chemical, physical, biological, and psychosocial), which are followed by a review of common approaches that can be taken to prevent these hazards from causing work related diseases and injuries. The relationship between workers and their jobs, with respect to health outcomes, are explored from historical, scientific, and policy perspectives. A systematic approach to the study of the causes and extent of work-related injuries and ill health is emphasized. Principles of occupational safety and models of accidents, causation, and investigation are also covered.
PUBH 831: Concepts, Practice, and Leadership of Public Health
Class Program
This course is one of four that the department requires of all graduate students in the Master of Public Health program. It focuses on the determinants of health, and the philosophical and organizational foundations of the professional practice of the core areas of public health. It provides an integrated overview of the field by surveying epidemiology, biostatistics, preventive medicine, environmental health, social and behavioral aspects of health, and health policy. The course will also give students an understanding of the tools needed to be effective leaders in carrying out the core public health functions of assessment, policy development, and assurance.
PUBH 832: Public Health Research Methods and Ethics
Class Program
As the second course required by the department, Public Health Research Methods and Ethics covers basic research tools needed to work successfully in public health and explores some of the common types of research encountered in public health settings. Topics include qualitative and quantitative data collection, design of research instruments, interpretation and dissemination of data, community assessments, and presentation of research findings. The course integrates case studies in public health ethics throughout the discussion of research so that the latter is considered in light of moral and ethical dilemmas that often occur. A combination of lecture, discussion, reading of literature, and computer applications are used to familiarize students with public research methods in public health.
PUBH 835: Practical Data Management and Analysis
Class Program
In this course, students will learn the concepts and practice of sound data management, data editing, and cleaning, as well as plan and conduct an analysis of actual public health data. Students will use Epi Info™ to create data entry screens and edits, enter and clean data they have collected, and analyze data from a large cross-sectional survey, in addition to an analytic epidemiologic cohort or case-control study. The knowledge and skills acquired in this course will be useful for any student whose future plans include epidemiology, biostatistics, or medical or veterinary research.
PUBH 837: Environmental Sustainable Development
Class Program
Principle I of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992) states, "Human beings are at the center of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature." The objectives of this course are to introduce students to the definition and concepts of sustainable development, and to explore the cross-cutting relationship between health and sustainable development. The areas of focus include energy for sustainable development, atmospheric pollution and climate change, integrated water resources management, integrated solid waste management, health and sustainable development, disaster reduction and management, biodiversity, trade and environment, sustainable consumption and production, sustainable tourism, agriculture, transport, human settlements, international law, industrial development, poverty, and national sustainable development strategies.
PUBH 839: Principles of Health Care Management
Class Program
This course focuses on the principles, approaches, and applications involved in health care management. It looks at organizational structure and design and covers the organizational challenges of managing the complexity and particularities of healthcare. A theoretical overview of organizational, management and motivational theories will be applied to the setting of community health care services and hospitals. It allows students to apply a systems approach to solve difficult and complex issues in health care management, with a view to bring about change. Emphasis on organizational theories will offer the students different alternatives for efficient organization of health care services. A n overview of different management styles to obtain the necessary capacities in leadership and motivation of the health care team will be offered so that the students can adopt their own style. The major management challenges for health care organization will be discussed: quality improvement; financial management; human resource management and training; strategic planning and marketing; information technologies; and ethics. PHCM gives students an overview of the particularities and challenges in managing health care services and health care teams.
PUBH 842: Intermediate Epidemiology
Class Program
In this course, students will be exposed to a more in-depth look at basic study designs, including the measures of disease occurrence, measure of effect, and the concept of validity and methods to deal with threats to validity, as well as defining and assessing heterogeneity. This course will also expose students to the most common analytic methods used by epidemiologists.
PUBH 843: Infectious Diseases Epidemiology
Class Program
During the first half of this course, students are introduced to basic epidemiological concepts and methods, which form part of the standard armament of all epidemiologic activity. This includes the most common measures of disease frequency, measures of effect, basic study designs, concepts of validity, and basic statistical concepts. In the second half, emphasis is placed on how these basic tools are applied in the disease dependence context typical of infectious disease epidemiology. In this part of the course, students will look at models for epidemics, outbreak investigation and analysis, surveillance, measurement of infectivity, contact patterns, and the epidemiology of vaccination. An effort will be made to demonstrate the application of these methods in the context of important infectious diseases of human, animal, and zoonotic origin.
PUBH 844: Decision-Making for Public Health Policy
Class Program
The Leadership and Decision-Making course concentrates on the concepts, theories and models that influence, shape and guide a leader and their decision-making within any public health organization. The traits, skills and styles of leadership are first examined to help students define and develop their own individual style. Building on this foundation of leadership styles, the principles and approaches which guide a leader to effectively practice within any public health organization, are then examined. These practical guiding principles for a leader include: culture and diversity; team leadership; the role of power; and being able to prepare for a response to any crisis. These theoretical concepts are guided by the decision making process of a leader. Analysis of an evidenced based decision-making model, will be used to establish a framework which, will lead to more successful outcomes and becoming an more effective public health leader.
This course will be offered as a dual delivery where students have the option of either attending lectures in person or via web conference.
Over the 12 weeks of the course, there is a total of 48 contact hours with students, with 4 hours per week, where each lecture session is 2 hours.
For each lecture, the following breakdown is a general guideline as to how the contact time of 2-hours will be divided:
- 1 1/2 hour lecture time
- 1/2 hour discussion on pre-assigned case study/video/article associated with the specific lecture topic.
PUBH 849: Environmental Toxicology
Class Program
The course covers basic principles of toxicology and mechanisms by which chemicals cause health problems and environmental damage. The student will be able to apply the principles of toxicology for compounds found in the environment and workplace.
PUBH 851: Foundations in Health Policy Analysis
Class Program
Foundations in Health Policy Analysis is the introductory course to health policy concepts and analysis, with special emphasis on the political framework and the problemcentered model. This is based on the thinking that good policy analysis is built on economics, resource management strategies, and political processes. Policy analysis can be described as the science and the art of giving advice that affects public policy decisions. This course familiarizes students with the policy process, the role of political actors, and the implications of research and resources within health policy-making.
The larger economic, political, and governmental context on health policy decisions is introduced, as well as an understanding of the effect or impact of policies on target groups, institutions, and society more generally. Specific global health policy issues are chosen for discussion on the basis of their relevance to current public policy debates. Particular emphases are placed on students' ability to understand, assess and critique the policy process, and apply concepts within real-world settings and initiatives
PUBH 852: Environmental Health Management
Class Program
Environmental Health Management is designed to prepare students to confidently step into community situations in a professional capacity and experience, understand, evaluate, and solve real-world environmental and occupational health issues in the developing world. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the linkages between the physical and social aspects of environmental and occupational health issues. Topics are variable and will draw upon the cumulative expertise of the Environmental Health Track faculty. Course time will be split approximately evenly between field project time conducted off-campus and in-class instruction designed to prepare students for field projects.
PUBH 854: Health Economics
Class Program
The course will introduce students to the main concepts of the public health field and the critical links between global health and social and economic development. Students will get an overview:
- To provide an economics perspective for management decision-making
- To provide theoretical groundwork for the study of finance, accounting, marketing, and planning
- To enable them as future health care managers to play positive roles in the reform of health care. The course will cover key concepts and frameworks but be very practical in orientation
PUBH 855: Community Medicine Seminar Series
Class Program
A seminar-based course series intended to contribute to students development of effective communication skills as well as present on a public health topic of community medicine significance.
PUBH 857: Community Health, Culture & Empowerment
Class Program
Community and capacity building are central components to the improvement and sustenance of health and wellbeing of populations globally. This course will equip participants with knowledge and a plethora of skills to work effectively in a variety of communities and with diverse populations in developed and developing countries. Skills such as health needs assessment, partnership building, health communication and cultural competency will be acquired. Community engagement and cultural awareness will be cross cutting themes.
PUBH 858: One Health: Public Health Application
Class Program
One Health is a course for persons interested in the knowledge and application of medicine, veterinary medicine, environmental health, and public health. The course is divided into seven modules each highlighting One Health in the following areas: 1. History of Health, 2. Introducing to the One Health Concept, 3. Embracing Infectious Diseases, 4. Zoonotic Diseases, 5. Food Safety, 6. Environmental Health and 7. International Health
PUBH 859: Sexual, Reproductive Health & Rights
Class Program
The Sexual, Reproductive Health and Rights course introduces the history, ethical dimensions and current scope of sexual and reproductive health-related issues, programs and policies aimed to reduce morbidity, mortality and health disparities globally. Students will explore the social, economic and political factors affecting contraceptive use, fertility, family planning, pregnancy outcomes, sexually transmitted infections, pleasure and sexual violence. It provides case studies to examine important problems and programs across the life course in socially diverse settings in developed and developing countries.
PUBH 860: Global Environmental Change
Class Program
The World Health Organization defines global environmental change as the large-scale and global environmental hazards currently threatening human health. Protecting health from these hazards requires a perspective that focuses on ecosystems and on the recognition that the foundations of long-term good health in populations rely in great part on the continued stability of our natural environment. Within the context of this course, students will explore the intricate relationship that exists between the environment and human health, causes and components of major environmental change; and discuss current and projected implications for distinct dimensions of human health. Throughout this course, systems think i ng as applied by public health professionals in mitigation and adaptation strategies will be highlighted.
PUBH 861: Project Management in a Global Environment
Class Program
Managing local and global health projects is critical to the achievement of health and development in low and middle-income countries. This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the tools and techniques used in effective project management at different stages in the project life cycle, including project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The concepts, key elements, and application of the Logical Framework Approach (LFA) will be presented, including stakeholder analysis and cross-cutting issues analysis, problem and objective trees, and the log frame matrix to drive successful project outcomes.
PUBH 862: Fundamentals of Global Health
Class Program
Fundamentals of Global Health will introduce students to crosscutting issues in global health through a series of cases, reports, videos and articles addressing communicable and non-communicable diseases, global health cooperation and diplomacy, and humanitarian emergencies, including that caused by climate change in the global and regional contexts in which they occur. The course will contextualize current efforts in global health and describe likely future trends. A major goal of this course is to equip students with some fundamental perspectives and resources they will need as public health professionals operating in a global context.
PUBH 889: Practicum in Public Health
Class Program
The Practicum in Public Health (PUBH 889), hereafter known as "Practicum", is a required course in the MPH program.
It comprises of two(2) components:
- Course-based activities (experiential learning within core and program-required courses) Students will be required to upload to E-Value the finished product(s) for each of their course-based activities (instructions will come from individual courses).
- 120-hours internship completed outside of school term: A planned, supervised and evaluated field-based exercise, to be conducted at a Public Health related organization, agency, department or community based organization.
As with all other MPH courses, students are required to register for Practicum/APEX to ensure it is properly logged in their course listing for the following term.
The Practicum is designed with the student in mind, starting from its seamless integration into coursework, followed by an on-site real world internship experience of 120 hours, which is student driven and facilitated by the Practicum Coordinators. For the 120-hour internship, the student, along with their site supervisor, will plan and identify activities/tasks and MPH Competencies to be fulfilled whilst on site. This must be approved by the practicum coordinator prior to commencing the internship.
In planning the internship, it is recommended that students begin their search for an appropriate site, whether in Grenada, the wider Caribbean, the United States, or elsewhere in the world, as early as possible to mitigate any unforeseen challenges which could impact their MPH completion date.
PUBH 893: Capstone Integrated Learning Experience
Class Program
Capstone Integrated Learning Experience (CILE) is an integrated experience in the Master of Public Health (MPH) that allows students to apply and synthesize the concepts, knowledge and skills acquired throughout their course of study to successfully demonstrate public health competency.
CILE's integration process starts during the first term with the completion of 10 brief modules aimed at enhancing the students' writing skills (PUBH 893) and with the selection of a CILE topic in Concepts, Practice & Leadership in Public Health (PUBH 831). The process continues into Public Health Research Methods and Ethics (PUBH 832) before terminating in the submission of the final Capstone paper and oral presentation (PUBH 893). The CILE final paper and presentation must meet the scholarly requirements of the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPHPM), which include addressing the MPH's foundational and track specific competencies.
Students are required to enroll in PUBH 893 in every term until the completion of the MPH. Upon successful completion students are awarded three (3) graduate level credits.
PUBH 895: MPH Onboarding
Class Program
All new, (incoming) students will be enrolled in the MPH Onboarding course. This is a zero credit mandatory course that must be completed before the start of classes. It will prepare you on how to use our online Learning Management platform (MyCourses) and other software programs you will have to use in most of your MPH course (e.g. Zoom, Panopto, ProctorTrack).
This Onboarding course will also list all of the university services that are available for you to use as well as providing in one location important information about the program (e.g. descriptions of all courses, program policies, professional requirements)