Public Health

About the Program

Professors: Afeworki Mascio (Biology), Jonathan Reader (Sociology), Linda Van Blerkom (Anthropology)
Assistant Professors: Joslyn Cassady (Behavioral Science and Anthropology), Melissa Sloan (Behavioral Science and Sociology)

The Public Health Minor is a multidisciplinary program that bridges the biomedical sciences, social sciences, and humanities. It offers a population-level approach (as contrasted with the individual patient-centered approach of clinical medicine) to solving health problems with a strong focus on scientific, social, and ethical principles. International health is central to this program, as health in today’s world must be understood in global context. Public health’s focus historically was and still is on the prevention of diseases, disabilities, and disorders through a variety of means including health education. It has a long and venerable ancestry, and the research it stimulated has been shaping health care policy since the outset of the Industrial Revolution.

Public health is of major interest to anthropologists, sociologists, economists, humanists and politicians, as well as to biomedical specialists. Needless to say, one cannot practice public health in a vacuum. Sociocultural, political and economic issues determine the quality of a society’s health. Public health is not a new study but has recently generated much debate among policy makers, providers and users of this important service, due in part to the high costs of health care in the U.S. and resulting inequities.

The study of public health has general educational value in that it involves critical thinking and decision making and gives students a methodology for evaluating population-level data. It exposes students to health care and policy issues while at the same time they gain an understanding of the depth and breadth of public health practice.

Minor
Courses
Revisions

Minor

Due to University Updates, Course Numbers for all Departments have Changed. Please reference the Courses Tab for new Course Numbers.

Please Note: Changes made to this program appear on the “Revisions” tab.

Requirements for the Minor (26 credits)

I. Core Courses (16 credits)

PH 10/Public Health (gateway course) (4)
SOC 111/Sociology of Health and Illness (4) OR ANTH 125/Medical Anthropology (4)
BIOL 4/Microbes in Health and Disease (4) OR BIOL 26/Microbology (4)
MATH 3/Introductory Statistics (4)

II. Elective Courses (8 credits)

Chose at least 8 credits from the courses listed below, not more than 4 credits from one list. Four credits in International & Off-Campus studies or internship may count as one elective course if topic is appropriate.

Courses in Biomedical Sciences

ANTH 137/Special Topics in Biological Anthropology (when topic is appropriate) (4)
ESS 30 OR BIOL 30/Environmental Science (4)
BIOL 152/Virology (4)
BIOL 160/Emerging Infectious Diseases (4)
BIOL 190/Seminar in Biology (when topic is appropriate) (2)
MATH 27/Intermediate Statistics (4)
PH 102/Environmental Health (4)
PH 120/Epidemiology (4)

Courses in Social Sciences and Humanities:

ANTH 125/Medical Anthropology (4)
MEDHM 813/Plagues and Pandemics (4)
ECON 29/Selected Topics in Economics: Health Economics (4)
ECON 40/Economic Development (4)
HIST 172/Disease in History (4)
PSCI 102/Public Policy and Administration OR PSCI 141/Seminar on Public Policy (when topic is appropriate) (4)
PSYC 130/ Advanced Topics in Psychology: Health Psychology (4)
PSYC 108/Abnormal Psychology OR SOC 131/Mental Health (4)
REL 130/Biomedical Ethics (4)
SOC 29/Sociology of Aging (4)
SOC 111/Sociology of Health and Illness (4)

III.Capstone Course (2 credits)

PH 190/Health Seminar (2)

Courses

Courses Offered

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ANTH 301 - Formerly 125 - Medical Anthropology (4): The cross-cultural study of health and healing in ecological, evolutionary, and political-economic perspectives. Surveys cultural differences in health, reproduction, nutrition, disease ecology, medical systems, and mortality. Also considers the evolution of human disease and the efficacy of different medical systems.
Prerequisite: ANTH 104 - Formerly 4 - or permission of instructor Offered fall semester.
ANTH 320 - Formerly 137 - Selected Topics in Biological Anthropology (4): An investigation of one or more major subject areas in biological anthropology. Topics vary in accordance with student interest and faculty expertise and may include intensive courses in primatology, human adaptability, osteology, anthropological genetics or other aspects of human biology.
May be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: ANTH 103 - Formerly 3 - Offering to be determined.
BIOL 101 - Formerly 3 - Environmental Biology (4): An introductory study of ecology and environmental quality. Includes a survey of the impact of people on the environment and suggestions for meeting our future biological and technological needs in environmentally compatible ways. Does not meet requirements for major or minor in biology.
Meets: Three hours class. Offered annually.
Fulfills: BNS
BIOL 252 - Formerly 26 - Microbiology (4): A comprehensive introduction to the nature and diversity of microorganisms and the roles they play in health, disease, and the ecosystem. Covers bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi. This course examines the ecological, structural, cellular, and molecular features of microbes and explores how some of these features affect host/microbe interactions. Laboratory work incorporates methods of bacterial isolation and identification, including microscopy, use of selective and differential media, biochemical and serological tests, and rapid ID methods.
Meets: Three hours class, three hours laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 160 - Formerly 9 - , BIOL 250 - Formerly 22 - , CHEM 250A - Formerly 25 - Offered spring semester.
BIOL 330 - Formerly 160 - Emerging Infectious Disease (4): Scientific advances in the late 19th and early 20th centuries resulted in the prevention and control of many infectious diseases, particularly in industrialized nations. Despite these improvements in health, outbreaks of infectious diseases continue to occur and new infections continue to emerge, some with devastating effects. This course will address trends in infectious diseases, analyze factors contributing to disease emergence, and discuss the development and implementation of prevention and control measures. Relevant topics in microbial pathogenesis and transmission, as well as important aspects of international health will also be addressed.
Prerequisite: A OR BIOL 252 - Formerly 26 - .
ECON 240 - Formerly 40 - Economics of the Third World (4): Seeks to examine the different approaches to economic development (both theoretical and policy); particular development issues (e.g., population, food, industrialization, foreign investment, debt and environmental damage); and actual development experiences in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America to show the interconnections of the Third World to the developed industrial world.
Prerequisite: ECON 101 - Formerly 5 - or permission of instructor Offered fall semester.
HIST 371 - Formerly 172 - Disease in History (4): Examines medicine and disease in western history, with an emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries. It seeks to provide students with the historical knowledge necessary for understanding contemporary responses to disease. In addition to studying the development of specific medical ideas and techniques, a primary focus will be on investigating medicine as a complex social and cultural phenomenon.
Offered spring semester in odd-numbered years.
Fulfills: BH
MATH 117 - Formerly 3 - Introductory Statistics (4): This course is designed to enable you to use statistics for data analysis and to understand the use of statistics in the media. The course makes use of SPSS, a widely-used statistics package for the computer. Course topics include graphical and tabular presentation of data, measures of central tendency, dispersion, and shape, linear transformations of data, correlation, regression, basic probability and the normal probability model, sampling, t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance.
Meets: 150 minutes weekly, with an additional weekly 50-minute recitation Offered every semester. Same as: MAT 861 - Formerly 861 -
Fulfills: Q
MATH 227 - Formerly 27 - Intermediate Statistics (4): This is the second semester of a two-semester sequence designed to prepare students to use statistics for data analysis. The course makes use of SPSS and builds on the foundation gained in Math 3. It covers additional methods of statistical inference with a focus on analysis of variance and multiple regression. Understanding the design and analysis of published statistical studies that use these methods is an integral part of the course.
Meets: weekly for 150 minutes. Prerequisite: MATH 117 - Formerly 3 - or permission of instructor. Offered fall semester.
Fulfills: Q, WI
PH 101 - Formerly 10 - Public Health (gateway course) (4): A survey of public health principles including epidemiological, environmental, cultural, behavioral, and policy issues that are relevant to the provision of health care. Selected topics on emerging diseases, intervention strategies, as well as the structure and functions of public health institutions will be covered. Topics are covered through readings, films, guest speakers, literature research and site visits.
Enrollment priority: Given to declared Public Health Minors. Meets: Meets: three hours class. Offered fall Semester.
Fulfills: BI
PH 320 - Formerly 102 - Environmental Health (4): A comprehensive study of the environmental and occupational factors that contribute to the development of health problems. Topics dealing with disease prevention and control, health education and promotion, safety rules and regulations at all levels, and policy issues will be examined. This course will include field trips to local and state institutions.
Meets: Meets: three hours class. Prerequisite: PH 101 - Formerly 10 - or permission of instructor. Offered fall Semester.
PH 340 - Formerly 120 - Epidemiology (4): An in-depth study of disease profiles, patterns and frequencies. Concepts of cause and effect; disease transmission, prevention and control; efficacy and effectiveness of intervention strategies; frameworks for development of evidence-based recommendations; as well as applications of epidemiological methods to screening, outbreak investigations, and policy will be examined.
Meets: Meets: three hours class. Prerequisite: PH 101 - Formerly 10 - and MATH 117 - Formerly 3 - , or permission of Instructor. Offered fall Semester.
PH 401 - Formerly 190 - Health Seminar (capstone) (2): In-depth investigation of selected topics in public health. This course will include discussion and analysis of scientific literature, student presentations, and independent research projects,
Enrollment priority: Open only to public health minors with senior standing. Meets: Meets: two hours of class. Signature of instructor required. Offered spring Semester.
PSCI 212 - Formerly 12 - Public Policy and Administration (4): An examination of the public policy process in the United States, including agenda setting, program adoption, and program implementation. Emphasizes how national political institutions-Congress, the presidency, the federal judiciary, and the bureaucracy-shape policy outcomes.
Annually.
PSCI 309 - Formerly 141 - Seminar on Public Policy (4): An examination of public policy issues in terms of the criteria typically used in policy analysis, e.g., political dynamics, costs and benefits, decision making, administration, and budget implications. The specific issues vary according to the material available on them and their timeliness. Thus, in some years, the focus might be trade policy or economic policy more generally, while in other years, domestic social policy could be the focus. The central goal of exploring the issue using policy analysis criteria remains constant. The course is intended to be a research seminar with students producing and presenting a major project at the end of the term.
Course may be repeated. Offered in alternate years.
PSYC 348 - Formerly 108 - Abnormal Psychology (4): An examination of the theories of psychopathology with emphasis on current theoretical models and the relationships of the study of psychopathology to social issues. Discussion of the nature, classification, causes, and treatment of major forms of psychopathology.
Prerequisite: PSYC 101 - Formerly 3 - , second year or higher standing required Offered spring semester.
REL 216 - Formerly 130 - Bio-Medical Ethics (4): An examination of the issues from religious and ethical perspectives. Topics include physician-patient relationships, death and dying, obtaining organs and tissues for transplantation, patient competence, assisted suicide and euthanasia, abortion, reproductive technologies, genetic testing and engineering, stem cell research and cloning, experiments on humans, rationing health care, and justice and public health.
Offered fall semester.
Fulfills: BH
SOC 311 - Formerly 111 - Sociology of Health and Illness (4): A survey of the important themes involved in the sociological analysis of health problems and their treatment. Topics include different health care systems, doctor-patient relationships, professional socialization, other health care providers, epidemiology, and the social-psychological aspects of medical technology.
Prerequisite: SOC 101 - Formerly 1 - or permissions of the instructor. Offered spring semester.
SOC 290 - Formerly 131 - Contemporary Issues in Sociology (4): An examination of contemporary issues and topics in sociology. The particular issue or topic changes from time to time.
May be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: SOC 101 - Formerly 1 - or permission of instructor Offering to be determined.

See appropriate departments for the following courses

BIOL 215 - Formerly 30 - Environmental Science (4): This course explores the science behind environmental problems and solutions. Students study current environmental issues in the context of their scientific (biological, chemical, geological) underpinnings, while alos considering the political, social and cultural dimensions of these issues. The course also addresses the role of scientific knowledge in understanding and resolving environmental problems, such as climate change, population growth, deforestation, extinction, air and water pollution, food production, and environmental health. These topics are explored through readings, films, student writing, research and field trips.
Enrollment priority: Given to majors and minors in Biology and Environmental Studies. Meets: Three hour class. Annually. Same as: ESS 215 - Formerly 30 -
Fulfills: BNS
BIOL 362 - Formerly 152 - Virology (4): A survey of animal viruses with emphasis on human pathogens and mechanisms of viral pathogenesis. Course content includes topics such as the physical and chemical properties of viruses, viral cultivation, assay and analysis, and multiplication of both DNA and RNA viruses within the animal cell.
Meets: Three hours class Prerequisite: BIOL 22,26 and CHEM 250A - Formerly 25 - . Offering to be determined.
ECON 250 - Formerly 29 - Selected Topics in Economics (2-4): Recent topics have included the economics of food and nutrition, the economics of corporate downsizing, and the economics of financial market integration and comparative central banking.
May be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: ECON 101 - Formerly 5 - (and ECON 102 - Formerly 6 - when topic merits it; see course listings each semester) Offering to be determined.
ESS 215 - Formerly 30 - Environmental Science (4): This course explores the science behind environmental problems and solutions. Students study current environmental issues in the context of their scientific (biological, chemical, geological) underpinnings, while alos considering the political, social and cultural dimensions of these issues. The course also addresses the role of scientific knowledge in understanding and resolving environmental problems, such as climate change, population growth, deforestation, extinction, air and water pollution, food production, and environmental health. These topics are explored through readings, films, student writing, research and field trips.
Meets: Three hours of class. Same as: BIOL 215 - Formerly 30 -
Fulfills: BNS
PSYC 370 - Formerly 130 - Advanced Topics in Psychology (2-4): An in-depth exploration of a specialized issue or topic in psychology. Selected topic and number of credits is determined at time of registration.
Course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 - Formerly 3 - and second-year standing or higher. Other prerequisites to be announced at time of registration. Offering to be determined
SOC 229 - Formerly 29 - The Sociology of Aging (4): A study of the key concepts, main theoretical perspectives, and important substantive issues of the sociology of aging. One of the central issues explored is gender differences in aging. Other issues include stereotypes, the social construction of life cycles, changes in relationships over the life course, eldercare, and work and retirement. Examines historical and cross-cultural variations in aging and differences by race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and social class.
Prerequisite: SOC 101 - Formerly 1 - or equivalent Offered Annually.
Fulfills: DUS

Revisions