Introduction to Public Health

Course Description

Introduction to public health terminology, history, core disciplines, professional roles and services. Overview of current public health challenges and impact of the public health efforts on population health. Prerequisite: Public Health Education major or minor, or permission of instructor.

Syllabus

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

  • Define the following terms: health, risk, public health, health education, health promotion, social ecology, epidemiology, health disparities, and determinants of health.
  • Explain the core functions and essential services of public health.
  • Explain the concept of “risk” and its importance to public health.
  • Explain reasons for the reduction in infectious disease and rise of chronic disease over the last 100 years.
  • Analyze important health problems in terms of its distribution across the population, determinants within the population, and strategies and settings for intervention.
  • Analyze current public health problems in terms of social, behavioral and environmental factors

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure Percentage/Points
Windshield Assessment 10%
Discussions 15%
Final Presentation 12.5%
Syllabus Quiz 2.5%
Exams (lowest exam grade dropped) 60%

Grading Scale

Percentage Letter Grade
94.0 – 100.0%A
90.0 - 93.9%A-
87.0 - 89.9%B+
84.0 - 86.9%B
80.0 - 83.9%B-
77.0 - 79.9%C+
74.0 - 76.9%C
70.0 - 73.9%C-
67.0 - 69.9%D+
64.0 - 66.9%D
60.0 - 63.9%D
<60.0%F

Attendance/Participation:

Your active participation is vital for your success, achievement, and learning. Your thoughts, ideas, comments, and concerns add to the richness of each activity, exercise, and assignment. Your fellow colleagues and I value and learn from your input and contributions. With this in mind, please be engaged, attentive, invested, and motivated when completing course assignments.

If something happens in your life that may affect your attendance or performance (e.g., you or someone you love becomes ill), contact me as soon as possible so that we can discuss potential resources for assistance, accommodation or advocacy.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

Schneider, M. Introduction to Public Health, 7th Edition. Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Scholarly Perspectives

This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.