The mission of the Public Health Program at the University of New Mexico is to provide leadership in graduate and community-based education and research grounded in social justice to improve the health of the diverse populations in New Mexico and the Southwest.
Courses
PH 101.
Introduction to Population Health.
(3)
Introduction to Population Health provides a population perspective on the multi-level (ecologic) determinants of health, disease and injury; the programs, policies and services that protect and promote health and prevent disease; and the analytic tools used by population health professionals.
PH 102.
Global Health Challenges and Responses.
(3)
Global health is concerned with developing theories and methods to understand the roots of social, economic, political and environmental determinants of health, with a focus on the nature of health inequalities across the world.
PH 260.
Special Topics in Population Health.
(1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
Topics in population health that are not covered in the existing curriculum that are mutually agreed upon by students and faculty. May be repeated for credit provided the subject matter varies.
PH 460.
Special Topics in Population Health.
(1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
Variable topics in population health provides students to work with faculty on topics that are not part of the curriculum.
PH 501.
Principles of Public Health.
(3)
Concepts of public health related to determinants of health; cultural, social and political concepts of disease; disease prevention; health promotion, including individual behavior change and community based intervention; health policy.
Restriction: enrolled in M.P.H. degree program.
PH 502.
Epidemiologic Methods I.
(3)
Provides an overview of the methods of epidemiologic research. Designed to provide students with the capability of understanding epidemiologic measures of disease occurrence, interpreting the findings of epidemiologic studies and integrating the results of epidemiologic research into public health practice.
Prerequisite: B or better in MATH 121 or STAT 145.
PH 505.
Social and Cultural Theories and Models: Community Interventions.
(3)
In-depth investigation of behavioral, social and cultural theory’s application to public health problem definition, prevention and intervention programs. Problem etiology and change strategy theories are investigated through application to specific public health problems among culturally distinct and marginalized groups in New Mexico.
PH 506.
Environmental-Occupational Health.
(3)
Applies the public health perspective to environmental and occupational disease. Students will learn to apply the ecologic principles of agent, host and environment to diseases associated with exposures to the physical environment and chemical contaminants.
Prerequisite: 501.
PH 507.
Health Care Systems.
(3)
Provides an overview of how health care is delivered in the United States. A wide variety of delivery and payment methods are examined. In addition, the U.S. health care delivery systems will be compared to Native American, U.S. Mexican Border, Canadian and Cuban systems. Core option for students admitted any year; required for students year 2000 and later.
PH 508.
Theory and Practice.
(2)
Teaches students the core public health principles of assessment.
Restriction: enrolled in M.P.H. degree program.
PH 510.
Public Health and Health Care Management.
(3)
This course will examine the history and organization of the U.S. Healthcare System and will focus on the core functions in public health healthcare management. The role and elements of professionalism and ethics will be integrated throughout the course.
PH 511.
Writing for Public Health Professionals.
(1 to a maximum of 3 Δ)
Intensive writing course for public health professionals and graduate students. Course will promote understanding of multiple modes of writing; improves revising and editing strategies; and provides experience in synthesizing and integrating research into literature reviews and articles for public health journals.
Offered on CR/NC basis only.
Restriction: enrolled in M.P.H. degree program.
PH 513.
Public Health Seminar.
(0-1 to a maximum of 3 Δ)
A graduate seminar and journal club focusing on a wide range of PH topics. Speakers present original research. Journal club guides students to critically assess literature. Two semesters required for credit.
Prerequisite: 502.
PH 520.
Epidemiologic Methods II.
(3)
Provides a good understanding of the principles and methods involved in the design, conduct, analysis and interpretation of epidemiologic research.
Prerequisite: 502 with grade of "B" or better.
Restriction: permission of instructor.
PH 521.
Introduction to Epidemiology.
(1-3 to a maximum of 3 Δ)
Designed for students pursuing a Public Health certificate. Provides students with basic epidemiologic background and methods to analyze and interpret disease occurrence in populations. Emphasizes community assessment, surveillance, problem solving, health promotion, and disease prevention.
PH 524.
Social Epidemiology.
(2)
Social Epidemiology provides students with principles and methods of design, conduct analysis, and interpretation of epidemiologic research using a social epidemiology approach.
Prerequisite: 502 with a grade of "B" or better.
Restriction: permission of instructor.
PH 528.
Infectious Disease Epidemiology.
(2)
Learn basic epidemiological principles of infectious diseases. Learn and understand the multiple factors associated with spread of infectious agents within populations and development, application and evaluation of control measures to stop or prevent transmission.
Prerequisite: 502.
PH 531.
Perinatal Epidemiology.
(2)
Review of a wide range of topics central to perinatal epidemiology. Highlighted topics will include conception and early fetal loss, design issues in studies of adverse reproductive outcomes and epidemiologic aspects and public health approaches to prevention of congenital malformation.
Prerequisite: 502.
PH 532.
Cancer Epidemiology.
(2)
Covers basic concepts and methods in cancer research. Specific topics for discussion include cancer surveillance, measures of disease occurrence, descriptive epidemiology of cancer, casual mechanisms, etiologic factors, screening issues, cancer prevention and control, and intervention studies. An understanding of research methodology and biology will be assumed.
Prerequisite: 502 and (538 or STAT 527).
PH 533.
Public Health Research Methods.
(3)
Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods of applying and understanding the scientific inquiry used in health and social sciences research. Identify health-related problems and formulate questions that can be translated into sound research designs.
PH 534.
Epidemiology Data Analysis.
(3)
Students will learn how to conduct a careful epidemiologic data analysis. The focus of the course is developing the practical and critical thinking skills to conduct an epidemiologic data analysis. This course is required for epidemiology concentration students.
Prerequisite: 520 and 539.
PH 538.
Public Health Biostatistical Methods I.
(3)
Covers basic statistical methods including statistical summaries and inference. Methods of summarizing data include graphical displays and numerical summaries. Statistical inference includes hypothesis testing and confidence intervals. Methods for continuous and categorical data are studied.
Prerequisite: MATH 121 with a grade of "B" or better.
PH 539.
Public Health Biostatistical Methods II.
(3)
Covers basic models used in the statistical analysis of studies in the medical sciences and public health field, with an emphasis on epidemiology. Linear regression, analysis of variance, logistic regression, and survival models are studied.
Prerequisite: 538.
PH 540.
Disparities in Health: Introduction to Public Health for Medical Students.
(3)
This course creates a conceptual framework for understanding health and illness from a socio-ecological perspective and lays the groundwork for public health and health equity concepts that will be reinforced and augmented throughout medical school.
Restriction: M.D. students only.
PH 541.
Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
(1-4 to a maximum of 4 Δ)
Fundamental elements of study design and statistical analysis are presented to enable students to critically evaluate/interpret the medical/scientific literature, conduct sound research, and gain a broad perspective of factors that influence health and disease.
Restriction: M.D. students only.
PH 542.
Community-Based Service Learning.
(3)
Students will spend 4-6 weeks in a New Mexico community examining community health issues, identifying solutions and devising interventions for these issues.
Restriction: M.D. students only.
PH 543.
Evidenced-Based Practice.
(2)
This course will cover the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to embark on Evidence-Based Practice in one's medical career. It will concentrate principally upon both Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) and Evidence-Based Public health (EBPH).
Restriction: admitted to M.D. program.
PH 544.
Health Policy and Advocacy for Medical Practitioners.
(2)
This course will examine a variety of health policy, legislative and health system issues. A final policy presentation and community project are required.
Restriction: admitted to M.D. program.
PH 552.
Public Health Program Planning.
(3)
An exploration of rational health planning methods. Methods will be applied in the development of a health program plan within a social context where public health planning actually occurs. Involves the development of a realistic program plan addressing a health-related problem and writing a proposal for funding.
PH 554.
Health Policy, Politics and Social Equity.
(3)
Provides students with understanding of factors within and outside of health care system. Reviews social policy in addressing coverage of uninsured, improving population health and reducing social inequities. Examination of frameworks and politics of policy programs.
PH 555.
Public Health Evaluation Methods.
(3)
Introduces students to the language and theory of program evaluation to undertake their own evaluation design: how to pose evaluation research questions; data collection methodologies available to them; how to make decisions about appropriate data collection methods for different types of evaluation objectives.
PH 556.
Community Participatory-Based Research.
(2-3)
Presents historical background, underlying assumptions, principles and steps for conducting CBPR. Introduces indigenous and decolonizing theories and methodologies of CBPR. Develops perspective on roles of culture, race, gender, and power in academic-community research partnerships.
PH 560.
Special Topics in Public Health.
(1-3, no limit Δ)
PH 565.
Public Health: Law Policy and Ethics.
(3)
This course will deal with the role of law in public health, history of American public health, history of law concerning public health, ethics of modern epidemiology, early research, public health and public accountability, and issues in public health.
PH 568.
Popular and Empowerment Education.
(2)
Focuses on empowerment education and popular learning methodologies within the context of public health. Theoretical and experiential course creating opportunities for dialogue between theory and practice.
PH 575.
Public Health Leadership on Facilitation.
(1-2)
Facilitation skills for public health settings such as coalitions, working in teams and community meetings. Explores methods, role of facilitator, assumptions behind different styles, setting priorities and action planning. Variable credit to meet professional and graduate student needs. For 1 credit, a 5 page problem analysis; for 2 credits, additional 10 page literature review.
PH 577.
Public Health Leadership in Policy and Advocacy.
(1-2)
Problem solving on health policy issues and practical experience with health bills in legislature. Involves a one-day field trip to the New Mexico legislature, in addition to guest speakers. Small group work on media advocacy skills, interacting with policy-makers and presenting testimony. Variable credit to meet professional and graduate student needs. For 1 credit, a 5 page problem analysis; for 2 credits, additional 10 page literature review.
PH 579.
New Mexico Border Health: U.S. - Mexico Border Migration and Latino Health.
(2)
Gives students applied understanding of public health disparities, equity challenges, and assets in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Community-based learning via site visit to border region with Web-CT enhanced instruction.
PH 583.
Advanced Topics in Health Sector and Globalization.
(3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
This course analyzes social determinants of health/health inequities, global and local dynamics of health. Topics will be selected from the most current health policies and debates shaping the U.S. and international health sectors.
PH 593.
Independent Studies.
(1-3, no limit Δ)
Students work individually with faculty members on projects with individual supervision.
PH 595.
Introduction to Public Health Integrative Experience.
(1)
Introduction and preparation for PH 597 Public Health Integrative Experience. Students will evaluate and define the public health status and needs of a community. Preparation for construction and evaluation of interventions in PH 597.
Restriction: enrolled in M.P.H. degree program.
PH 596.
Professional Paper.
(1-3 to a maximum of 3 Δ)
The professional paper allows the student to engage in analyzing or solving a real public health problem.
PH 597.
Public Health Integrative Experience.
(2)
One of three options for Culminating Experience. Students will conduct a computer-based systematic review of the epidemiologic and health intervention literature, perform epi data analysis and apply other planning and evaluation techniques to develop a prevention plan for a New Mexico population.
Restriction: enrolled in M.P.H. degree program.
PH 598.
Public Health Practicum.
(1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
Individually arranged field experience to develop and refine professional public health skills.
Offered on CR/NC basis only.
Restriction: permission of instructor.
PH 599.
Master's Thesis.
(1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
Restriction: permission of instructor.
