Environmental Public Health Concentration

Introduces students to the field of public health epidemiology, emphasizing the sociocultural factors associated with the distribution and etiology of health and disease. Methodological skills including the calculation of rates, analysis of vital statistics, and programming data using a basic statistical package are covered.

This core course examines social, psychological and cultural factors that have an impact on public health in community, national and global contexts. These factors may include: population characteristics (social class, age, gender, culture, race/ethnicity), individual beliefs and behaviors, and socio-political systems and policies that affect public health problems and their solutions. Theories and perspectives drawn from sociology, anthropology, and psychology are applied to critical issues in global public health including the AIDs epidemic, mental illness, chronic disease, community violence, war and natural disaster trauma as well as behavioral health problems such as smoking and substance abuse.

This course introduces MPH students with minimal formal training in biology
to the biological and molecular context of public health. The course
provides an overview of: a) basic biological principles and mechanisms
relevant to public health practice; and b) biomedical technology as applied
in public health. The course covers basic principles of genetics,
immunology, microbiology, and cell biology in the context of global public
health. Areas covered include infectious diseases, genetic and chronic
diseases, allostatic load, environmental factors affecting health, and
prevention and treatment strategies.

This course covers basic probability, descriptive and inferential statistics, and the role of biostatistics in the practice of public health. Specific attention will be given to common probability distributions in public health and medicine, t-tests, Analysis of Variance, multiple linear and logistic regression, categorical data analysis, and nonparametric statistics. Statistical topics are presented conceptually with little derivation, and applications are demonstrated using common statistical software.

Introduction to the science of toxicology, stressing basic concepts essential to understanding the action of exogenous chemical agents on biological systems. Principles underlying the absorption, metabolism, and elimination of chemicals are discussed. Toxicokinetics, specific classes of toxic responses, and experimental methods used to assess toxicity are also examined.

Public Health Informatics is a new field that is concerned with the systematic application of information and computer sciences to practice, research and learning. This course is created to ensure that graduates of the program have (1) basic familiarity with the issues of technology in computers, communications and genomics in global health; (2)

This non-credit bearing course will require students to read and discuss
important global public health books exploring the evolution of the field
of public health in global perspective from the 19th century to the
present. All MPH students will be required to complete 3 of these
non-credit bearing courses prior to graduation. For each of these course
sessions, a book will be discussed in a public lecture by its author;
students are expected to read the book in advance, responding with a
“forum”posting on the "NYU Classes” website one week in advance of the
lecture, including a question raised by the book about public health.
Questions will be collected and forwarded to our author-speakers in advance
of their public lectures. The lecture and Q&A will be chaired by a member
of the GIPH faculty and will last for two hours. Students are expected to
sign up for/ complete the reading and written response/ attend the lecture
for at least three books in the history of global public health over the
semesters in which they are earning their graduate degrees. The successful
completion of three or more of these course sessions will lead towards the
achieving this critical content as described by ASPPH for the 21st century
MPH: “History and philosophy of public health as well as its core values,
concepts, functions, and leadership roles.

The emergence of new pathogens and drug resistance, as well as increased transmission opportunities caused by human migration, political instability and breakdown of healthcare infrastructure, has led to a rising prevalence of infectious disease. This course aims to provide training in the biology, epidemiology and control of emerging diseases. It will provide the necessary skills to analyze the interplay between human host and pathogen in both evolutionary ecology and statistical epidemiology frameworks. There will be a discussion of ?Darwinian Medicine?. Specific bioterrorism pathogens will be discussed, as well as methods of identification and predictive modeling of a bioterrorism incident. In addition to lectures, class time will include practical data handling. Discussion of both methodological and substantive epidemiology papers from the recent literature will be led by the students.

The Integrative Seminar is an inter-disciplinary series designed to compliment the core courses and concentrations with a discussion oriented seminar that will permit exposure to global health leaders and in-depth exploration of the paradigms, perspectives, and policy challenges that shape action in global public health. The course will also include special intensive modules to build skills students will need as individuals, as part of interdisciplinary teams, and as organizational leaders who translate knowledge into effective action to improve global health. The style of the course will be heavily oriented towards peer and experiential learning. It will assume acThe Integrative Seminar is an inter-disciplinary series designed to compliment the core courses and concentrations with a discussion oriented seminar that will permit exposure to global health leaders and in-depth exploration of the paradigms, perspectives, and policy challenges that shape action in global public health. The course will also include special intensive modules to build skills students will need as individuals, as part of interdisciplinary teams, and as organizational leaders who translate knowledge into effective action to improve global health. The style of the course will be heavily oriented towards peer and experiential learning. It will assume active preparation and participation of all students to facilitate the lively discussion, debate and problem solving that are critical in an area of work that is relatively new and, therefore, contains ?contested knowledge?.

Program evaluation is a critical component in designing and operating effective programs. Evaluations supply information to policymakers and program managers that can assist them in making decisions about which programs to fund, modify, expand or eliminate. Evaluation can be an accountability toolProgram evaluation is a critical component in designing and operating effective programs. Evaluations supply information to policymakers and program managers that can assist them in making decisions about which programs to fund, modify, expand or eliminate. Evaluation can be an accountability tool for program managers and funders. This course serves as an introduction to evaluation methodology and evaluation tools commonly used to assess publicly funded programs. Students will become familiar with the concepts, methods and applications of evaluation research; learn how to read evaluation research critically; understand how to use evaluation results to anticipate or improve program performance; and be able to propose an appropriate evaluation plan to assess the implementation and effectiveness of a program.

This is a required course for the management specialization.

This course examines management theory and practice through a framework involving strategic thinking and strategic planning. It covers a number of important management topics, including the context of strategy, leadership, managerial uses of structure and design, and performance. Case studies of managerial practice in the public and nonprofit sectors are used throughout the course.

Capstone is learning in action. Part of the core curriculum of the Masters program in Global Public Health, it provides students with both a critical learning experience and an opportunity to perform a public service. Over the course of an academic year, students work in teams -- either to address challenges, solve problems and identify opportunities for a client organization or to conduct research on a preCapstone is learning in action. Part of the core curriculum of the Masters program in Global Public Health, it provides students with both a critical learning experience and an opportunity to perform a public service. Over the course of an academic year, students work in teams -- either to address challenges, solve problems and identify opportunities for a client organization or to conduct research on a pressing social question. Ultimately, Capstone contributes not only to the students? education, but is a university resource for the public good. In architecture, the capstone is the crowning piece of an arch, the center stone that holds the arch together, giving it shape and strength. MPGPH?s Capstone program plays a similar role, by integrating and enhancing student learning in several different arenas: a content or issue area, key process skills including project management and teamwork, and methods for gathering, analyzing and reporting data. Capstone requires students to interweave their learning in all these areas, and to do so in real time, in an unpredictable, complex real world environment. Although each student will be assigned to a team, the class will work as a learning community dedicated to the success of all the projects.