Public Health
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. (C)
{Fall}
Restriction: enrolled in M.P.H. degree program.
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. (C)
{Fall}
Prerequisite: B or better in MATH 121 or STAT 145
504.
Rural Health.
(3)
Increases awareness of the complex factors affecting delivery of rural health services in New Mexico and the U.S. and examines rural health support systems and rural health policy. (CH)
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. (C)
{Spring}
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. (C)
Prerequisite: 501
{Spring}
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. (C)
{Spring}
508.
Theory and Practice Seminar I.
(1)
Teaches students the core public health principles of assessment. (C)
Offered on CR/NC basis only.
{Fall}
Restriction: enrolled in M.P.H. degree program.
509.
Theory and Practice Seminar II.
(1)
Teaches students the core public health principles of assurance and policy. (C)
Offered on CR/NC basis only.
{Spring}
Restriction: enrolled in M.P.H. degree program.
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. (C)
{every other Spring}
511.
Writing for Public Health Professionals.
(1-2)
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. (C)
Offered on CR/NC basis only.
{Fall}
Restriction: enrolled in M.P.H. degree program.
512.
Public Health Proposal Writing Workshop.
(1)
Prepares students to write their professional paper, thesis or completing another MPH culminating experience. Participants must be ready to write either their professional paper proposal or drafts of their professional paper. (G)
Offered on CR/NC basis only.
Restriction: enrolled in M.P.H. degree program.
513.
Public Health Seminar.
(0-1 to a maximum of 3 ∆)
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. (C)
Prerequisite: 502 or permission
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. (E)
Prerequisite: 502 and STAT 538 or STAT 527
{Spring}
521.
Introduction to Epidemiology. [Web-Based Introduction to Epidemiology.] .
(1-3 to a maximum of 3 ∆)
Designed for students pursuing an 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. (G)
522.
Seminar in Epidemiology.
(0-1 to a maximum of 4 ∆)
Guest speakers will lecture on various topics in the field of epidemiology. To receive credit students must attend at least 12 seminars during two consecutive semesters and make a 20-minute presentation. (E)
Offered on CR/NC basis only.
Prerequisite: 502
{Fall, Spring}
525.
Epidemiology Surveillance.
(2)
Covers disease surveillance in the history of public health; establishing a disease surveillance system; surveillance of infectious diseases, chronic/environmental diseases and behavioral risk factors; surveillance system evaluation and surveillance in emergency conditions. Emphasizes the central role that surveillance plays in development of public health policy. (E)
Prerequisite: 502
527.
Chronic Disease Epidemiology.
(2)
Familiarize student with methods of measuring morbidity and mortality from chronic disease, surveillance of behavioral risk factors for chronic disease, the scientific basis and cost-benefit analysis of screening programs, evaluation of prevention efforts and modeling disease patterns to predict future needs. (E)
Prerequisite: 502
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. (E)
Prerequisite: 502
530.
Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology.
(2)
This course explores key concepts and methods involved in the design, analysis and interpretation of epidemiologic studies of environmental and occupational disease. Lectures and Case Studies critically evaluate public health problems related to environmental exposures. (E, G)
Prerequisite: 502
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. (E)
Prerequisite: 502
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. Prerequisite: successful completion of both 502 and Biostat I. An understanding of research methodology and biology will be assumed. (E)
{Offered on demand}
Prerequisite: 502 and (STAT 527 or 538)
533.
Public Health Research Methods.
(2-3)
Gives students an understanding of the principles and skills of doing social science research, using qualitative and quantitative approaches, in public health settings. (G)
Prerequisite: 502 and (STAT 527 or 538)
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. (E)
Prerequisite: 520 and STAT 539
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. (G)
Restriction: M.D. students only.
541.
Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
(1-4 to a maximum of 4 ∆)
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. (G)
Restriction: M.D. students only.
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. (G)
Restriction: M.D. students only.
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. (C)
{every other Fall}
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. (CH)
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. (CH)
557.
International Health.
(2)
This class applies economic, sociologic and anthropologic perspectives to health care problems across national and international groups. Strategies for analyzing needs in a cultural context are stressed. (G)
559.
The History of Public Health.
(3)
A survey of public health issues from the ancient world to the modern world including plague, syphilis, smallpox and AIDS. Addresses interrelation of history, philosophy, economics and disease. (G)
560.
Special Topics in Public Health.
(1-3, no limit ∆)
(C, G)
561.
Maternal Child Health Issues.
(3)
This course provides an overview of Maternal and Child Health in context of principles and practices of public health. Students will explore historical trends and contemporary MCH issues in U.S. and New Mexico. (G)
562.
Women’s Health Issues.
(2-3)
This course will provide an overview of Women’s Health issues in the context of principles and practices of public health and to develop critical understanding of contemporary Women’s Health issues in the United States and New Mexico. (G)
563.
Social Medicine in Latin America.
(2)
Reviews critically several topics in Latin American social medicine; the history of social medicine; national and international groups working in social medicine; health policy analysis; occupational and environmental health; social class and health outcomes; gender issues; social epidemiology-content and methods and educational reform. (G)
564.
Public Heath and Health Care Communication.
(2-3)
Explores topics in patient-doctor and client-health care worker communication. From the public health standpoint, emphasizes communication about health promotion and disease prevention. Considers critically the communication processes in public health campaigns, especially how health policy issues are portrayed in mass media. (CH)
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. (G)
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. (CH)
569.
American Indian Health Issues.
(2)
Descriptive overview of health-related topics and issues of American Indian and Alaska Native people. Provides an understanding of the most important, health-related challenges these communities face. Topics include: population, Indian tribes, major health conditions, the Federal Trust relationship, Indian Health Service and self-determination. (G)
572.
Community Health Intervention Models.
(2)
The present course examines the current models for health interventions at the community level. In contrast to the traditional focus on behavior change at the individual level, this course is designed to provide a broad exposure to the foundations for preventive health interventions at the community level. (G)
573.
Introduction to Public Health Planning and Evaluation.
(1-2)
Basics of public health planning and evaluation. Overview of the concepts of prevention, risk/needs assessment, health promotion theory and models, intervention development including prioritizing, objectives and strategies and evaluation. The course will be partially problem-based so students have an opportunity to apply the concepts. (G)
574.
Community Health Improvement Strategies.
(1)
Designed to assist public health professionals in identifying and avoiding system features that result in program implementation failure. It applies the methods of systems thinking and continuous quality improvement to program implementation at the state and community level. (G)
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. (G)
576.
Public Health Leadership in Cross Cultural Communication and Conflict.
(1-2)
Explores the legacy of historical trauma and colonization on population health among diverse populations. Divided into practice sessions to enhance participants’ capacity for communication and problem solving in intercultural public health situations. 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. (G)
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. (CH)
578.
Environmental Health Policy.
(2)
Examines policy processes affecting environmental health. Explores theories of power and powerlessness and how social constructions are used in policy debates. Case studies illustrate how interest groups access and affect the political agenda. (G)
579.
New Mexico Border Health.
(2)
Provides an overview of history of U.S./Mexican Border. In particular, the course focuses on current relevant public health problems, policies and health care delivery to address this issue. For example, this course will also examine how the North American Free Trade Agreement has impacted public and environmental health. Immigration Policy and effects of the Maquiladora Industry will also be examined. (G)
580.
Community Assessment.
(3)
Introduces participants to a participatory community assessment model. Participants will learn and practice the following: steps in the participating community assessment model, data sources and data collection strategies for sub-county areas, data analysis, using results of community assessment to make change. One credit, a 5 page problem analysis; 2 credits, additional 10 page paper and 3 credits will include additional data analysis. (CH)
Restriction: permission of instructor
581.
Fundamentals of Public Health.
(1-2)
Provides basics of public health, its history and development, the current organization of public health activities, the concept of population as a unit of measurement, epidemiology, the determinants of disease, surveillance, monitoring and 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. (G)
582.
Basic Public Health Epidemiology.
(1-2)
Acquaints public health professionals working in the field with those basic epidemiology fundamentals and uses of data that are important for understanding the distribution and determinants of disease. 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. (G)
583.
Health Systems and Globalization.
(2)
Analyzes relationships among medicine, public health, and social structure in a comparative international perspective. Examines public health care and systems under differing economic systems and the impacts of managed care in Latin America and Africa. (G)
584.
Child Health & Child Rights.
(3)
Surveys history, development and issues surrounding child health status and children’s rights. Discusses current measures of child health and international movement in children’s rights. Specific topics include war, abuse, racism, poverty and economic structural adjustment. (G)
585.
Public Health Mental Health.
(3)
Covers the history and epidemiology of mental health, nationally and internationally, and mental health cross-culturally and in contexts of age, race, gender, and ethnicity. Also explores social determinants of mental illness and mental health promotion. (G)
586.
Public Health Law.
(3)
Introduces students to a broad spectrum of legal issues related to public health. Legal emphasis will be placed on New Mexico statutory law and administrative rules as applicable. (G)
587.
International and US Health Policy Reform.
(2)
Examines international debates about health policy reforms, privatization, and relationships among adjustment policies. Pharmaceuticals discussed in redefining risk as disease; objective to understand political economy analysis as applied to the study of health policy reforms. (G)
588.
Tuberculosis, HIV and Malaria: Local and Global Perspectives.
(3)
Interactive overview of social, natural, and epidemiology histories of TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria. These infectious diseases will be examined regarding how PH interventions are designed to respond to pathology and epidemiology in specific populations. (G)
593.
Independent Studies.
(1-3, no limit ∆)
Students work individually with faculty members on projects with individual supervision. (G)
596.
Professional Paper.
(1-3 to a maximum of 3 ∆)
The professional paper allows the student to engage in analyzing or solving a real public health problem. (C)
{Summer, Spring, Fall}
597.
Public Health Integrative Experience.
(3 [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. (C)
Restriction: enrolled in M.P.H. degree program.
598.
Public Health Practicum.
(1-6 to a maximum of 6 ∆)
Individually arranged field experience to develop and refine professional public health skills. (C)
Offered on CR/NC basis only.
{Summer, Spring, Fall}
Restriction: permission of instructor
599.
Master’s Thesis.
(1-6 to a maximum of 6 ∆)
Restriction: permission of instructor. (C)
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
