The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Population Health transcends the traditionally siloed fields of medicine and health professions and public health, community health, and health education. The Population Health major is the liaison between the study of health care systems, finance, health policy and health law, with prevention and wellness in communities.
Borrowing from the language of the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science, Population Health "is dedicated to advancing an integrative understanding of multiple determinants of health - biological, behavioral and societal - and the ways in which they interact to produce and maintain health." Population Health Science is the essence of trans-disciplinary science - not solely the combination of multiple disciplines but rather a new science focused on answering complex questions about the sources of health and the causes of illness and disability. Features of Population Health include:
Graduates develop skills to promote the health of populations in a variety of domains that comprise the continuum from wellness to health care, from health systems to community systems, from health policy to community policies, and from economic theory to economic practices. Graduates will find jobs business, informatics, engineering, architecture and planning, law, medicine, community advocacy, and political organizations to name a few.
All students seeking acceptance to the College of Population Health must meet requirements for admission to the University. See the Admissions section of this Catalog for information on University admission requirements.
The College of Population Health follows a rolling admissions deadline and applications are reviewed at the time of submission. Applications are accepted through the College of Population Health Web site.
All students applying to the B.S. in Population Health are required to complete PH 101 Introduction to Population Health and PH 102 Global Health Challenges and Responses; or students must have completed either PH 101 or PH 102 with a grade of "B" or better, and be currently enrolled in the other course. Acceptance is contingent upon maintaining a "B" average between the two courses.
The B.S. in Population Health is granted to students upon fulfillment of the following:
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 201. Population Health Biology. (3)
Introduction to biological disease basis, including cellular, physiological, genetic, immunologic, and environmental determinants. Pathologic mechanisms and host susceptibility for infectious and non-infectious diseases of population health importance including disease prevention/control delivered in a team-based format.
Prerequisite: BIOL 123.
PH 210. Essentials of Epidemiology: The Language of Population Health. (3)
Introduction to analytic tools and methods used to quantify population health problems. Epidemiologists monitor, quantify and map disease, and critically assess the impact of medical treatments and population health interventions.
Prerequisite: 101 and 102.
PH 221. Population Health: Introduction to Social, Cultural, Behavioral Theory. (3)
Examine and apply social, cultural, and behavioral theories and models that inform and strengthen population health practice. Theories are used to diagnose health and social problems and plan interventions to improve the public's health.
Prerequisite: 101 and 102.
Restriction: admitted to B.S. in Population Health.
PH 230. Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health. (3)
Environmental and occupational health and safety; including regulatory processes, compliance, pollution prevention, drinking water, wastewater management, solid/hazardous waste, air quality, food protection, zoonotic and vector-borne disease control, radiation, injury prevention.
Prerequisite: 101 and 102.
PH 240. Health Policy: A Primer for Population Health Practice. (3)
A primer on U.S. healthcare and essentials of U.S. health care policy. The role of policy in determining population health including access, quality of care, and costs. Affordable Care Act will be closely analyzed.
Prerequisite: 101 and 102.
PH 241. Fundamentals of Health Care Finance. (3)
Introduction to health care finance for Population Health students. The course will introduce basic concepts of health care finance: access, affordability, quality, and portability.
Prerequisite: 101 and 102.
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 310. Population Health Research Methods. (3)
Foundational understanding of scientific paradigms, approaches, methods and designs on population health research; definitions of health research problems at population, community, social group, system and service levels; and ethical procedures.
Prerequisite: 201 and 210 and 221 and 230 and 240 and 241.
PH 350. Health Data Systems. (3)
Introduces population health data systems in clinical and public health settings including electronic health records, data standards, legal aspects of health information, coding, and reimbursement. Big healthcare data sources will be explored.
Prerequisite: 201 and 210 and 221 and 230 and 240 and 241.
PH 360. Population Health Management. (3)
Examine policies and interventions regarding population health outcomes. Methods to predict patient risk and engagement. Quality and safety strategies and benchmarks, and information technology for use in population health management decision support.
Prerequisite: 201 and 210 and 221 and 230 and 240 and 241.
PH 375. Population Health Field Experience. (1-3 to a maximum of 3 Δ)
This course helps students strengthen professional population health skills in settings other than those in which they are employed and would benefit from working with or shadowing a professional in a community or clinical setting.
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
Prerequisite: 101 and 102.
PH 420. Population Health Evidenced-Based Practices. (3)
Introduces students to core concepts in population-based primary and secondary prevention strategies for population health issues. Students will critically examine evidence-based guidelines used to informed population health interventions.
Prerequisite: 310 and 350 and 360.
PH 421. Population Health Planning I. (3)
Describe and apply assessment and planning processes to determine priorities for population health interventions. Provide overview of planning and development of population health interventions from a systems perspective, with attention to evidence-based, theoretical, and ethical approaches.
Prerequisite: 420.
PH 422. Population Health Planning II. (3)
Describe and apply the implementation/management and evaluation processes for population health interventions. Provides an overview of the implementation and evaluation of population health interventions from a systems perspective.
Prerequisite: 421.
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 475. Population Health Capstone. (6)
Provides an opportunity to earn credit hours (1-class, 5-field) through an experiential population health issue in a clinical or public health venue. This facilitates integration of classroom learning and practical experience during the Capstone.
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
Prerequisite: 422.
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: STAT 145 with a grade of "B" or better.
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 a 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 a 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 529. Introduction to Developmental Epidemiology. (2)
This course will provide an introduction to the field of developmental epidemiology, the study of children's development, mental health and disability, and discuss the public health impact of maladaptive developmental outcomes.
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.
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 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: M.D. students only.
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: M.D. students only.
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 558. Intervention Research with Marginalized Populations. (3)
This course addresses intervention research methods and approaches that are more effective in addressing health and social needs of marginalized populations. Designed to provide an overview to fundamental public health conceptual and methodological considerations.
PH 560. Special Topics in Public Health. (1-3, no limit Δ)
PH 564. Public Health and Health Care Communication. (3)
Communication for health and social change is a process of public/private communication through which people define who they are, what they need, and how to get what they need in order to improve their lives.
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 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 a 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.
