PH - Public Health
PH 2100 Introduction to Public Health Cr. 3
Satisfies General Education Requirement: Life Sciences, Natural Scientific Inquiry
Provides both an overview of the principles and practice of public health and basic information needed to understand and analyze a variety of individual-level and population-level health problems. This course is intended for students with no previous course work in public health. Offered Every Term.
PH 2500 Race and Ethnic Disparities in Public Health Cr. 3
Satisfies General Education Requirement: Diversity Equity Incl Inquiry
That racial and ethnic minorities have poorer health, worse socioeconomic status, and shorter life expectancies is well-documented in the public health literature. This course will examine the personal, community, social, and institutional structures that increase morbidity and mortality risk in these populations. Considerable attention is paid to the historical, political, social, and economic underpinnings of these inequalities. Rather than just continuing to document disparities, the class will emphasize the role health care providers, public health professionals, health policy, and community-based interventions can play in achieving health equity in racial and ethnic minorities. Offered Every Term.
PH 2550 MENA Public Health Cr. 3
Satisfies General Education Requirement: Global Learning Inquiry
This global health course offers an investigation into the differing health attitudes, beliefs, behaviors as well as risk factors and health outcomes for persons in and from the Arab world. It offers a unique perspective on global health by comparing social determinants and health outcomes for persons living in the Arab world to Middle East, North African (MENA) populations in the US (and specifically in metro Detroit). Students will examine the roles of history, culture, geography, and health in the larger Arab world. These factors and cultural commonalities subsequently impact the health of Arab immigrants and refugees across the world and, specifically, in the United States. The course explores a range of social determinants of health including immigration history; geography; stigma; geopolitical impacts; as well as social, cultural, and religious determinants in order to provide foundational cultural competencies vital for understanding health in a global context. Offered Winter.
PH 3000 Public Health Administration Cr. 3
The coronavirus pandemic, global warming and climate change, epidemics of gun violence and suicide, and soaring health care costs make this the perfect time to be studying the administration of public health. As public health problems have become more complex, so too have health care organizations and systems. This course will provide an overview of health care administration and management in the US with a systems perspective and global understanding. Offered Every Term.
PH 3050 Mental Health and Crime Cr. 3
Provides a comprehensive overview of the issues and challenges located at the intersection of mental health/illness and the criminal justice system. Attention will be focused on a range of topics, including, but not limited to, the definition of mental illness, deinstitutionalization and criminalization of the mentally ill, the impact of mental illness on criminal proceedings, treatment/intervention effectiveness, and the reentry/reintegration of mentally ill individuals. Offered Intermittently.
Equivalent: CRJ 3050
PH 3100 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health Cr. 3
Satisfies General Education Requirement: Social Inquiry, Social Sciences
Examines the social and behavioral aspects of health, illness, and health care, and help students develop a basic understanding of the societal factors that influence health status and public health interventions. Offered Every Term.
PH 3200 Introduction to Biostatistics Cr. 3
Provides an introduction to statistical methods used in public health, biological, and medical research and covers elementary probability theory, basic concepts of statistical inference, sampling theory, regression and correlation methods, analysis of variance, and study design. In addition, the course will examine statistical applications in biomedicine, epidemiology, public health and the life sciences. Offered Every Term.
Prerequisites: PH 2100 with a minimum grade of C- and (MAT Permit to Reg ACT/SAT with a test score minimum of 4, Math Permit to Reg - (L1-L4) with a test score minimum of 4, STA 1020 with a minimum grade of C-, MAT 1800 with a minimum grade of C-, MAT 2010 with a minimum grade of C-, MAT 2020 with a minimum grade of C-, or STA 2210 with a minimum grade of C-)
PH 3300 Epidemiology Cr. 3
Introduces the basic concepts of epidemiology as applied to public health problems. Emphasis is placed on the principles and methods of epidemiologic investigation, including the appropriate summaries, displays, and analysis of data, and the use of classical statistical and other methodological approaches to describe the health of populations. Offered Every Term.
Prerequisites: PH 2100 with a minimum grade of C- and (MAT Permit to Reg ACT/SAT with a test score minimum of 4, Math Permit to Reg - (L1-L4) with a test score minimum of 4, STA 1020 with a minimum grade of C-, MAT 1800 with a minimum grade of C-, MAT 2010 with a minimum grade of C-, MAT 2020 with a minimum grade of C-, or STA 2210 with a minimum grade of C-)
PH 3400 Health in All Policies Cr. 3
Health in All Policies (HiAP) is a collaborative approach to governmental action that integrates public health considerations into policymaking across sectors to improve the health of all communities and people. Used widely around the world, HiAP recognizes that where people live, learn, work, and play determines to a large degree the quantity and quality of their lives. Beyond traditional medicine and health care, the HiAP framework underscores that policies and actions related to housing, education, transportation, food distribution, jobs and the economy (and more!) profoundly impact the health of individuals, families, and communities. This course will dive deeply into federal, state, and local applications of HiAP that offer plans to improve health outcomes and achieve health equity. Offered Fall.
PH 3410 Global Health Cr. 3
Satisfies General Education Requirement: Global Learning Inquiry, Social Inquiry, Social Sciences
Introduces students to problems of disease and disorder worldwide and looks at various efforts to define and address these problems through a social science perspective. Offered Every Term.
PH 3450 Advocating for Change in Public Health Cr. 3
Public health professionals must effectively engage in advocacy work and civic engagement to bring about meaningful improvements and lasting change. Public health and medical professionals, non-profit leaders, and community members can all be powerful advocates for health. They advocate in health care institutions where they work and are treated, communities where they live, professional and research entities to which they belong, and the political and media systems that shape policy outcomes. Students will gain knowledge and skills needed to advocate for public health-related policies and change at the local, state, and federal levels. Offered Winter.
Prerequisites: PH 2100 with a minimum grade of C- and PH 3100 with a minimum grade of C-
PH 3500 Environmental Health Cr. 3
Using a public health perspective, the course will provide students with an overview of the key areas of environmental health, and it will cover factors associated with the development of environmental health problems. Students will gain a system-level understanding of the interaction of individuals and communities with the environment, the potential impact of environmental agents on population, and specific applications of public health concepts to environmental health. Offered Every Term.
PH 3550 Public Health and the City Cr. 3
Introduces the field of medical geography, or the study of geographic aspects of health and disease. Students will also be introduced to the impact that city life has on health and healthcare in the US and internationally. They will gain an understanding of how geography as a discipline contributes to an understanding of health and health care in urban environments, and how social and economic contexts impact urban health. Mapping techniques will be utilized to examine the spatial patterns of disease and risk factors that may contribute to disease. Offered Yearly.
Equivalent: US 3550
PH 3600 Special Topics in Public Health Cr. 3
Topics may include but are not limited to an examination of health in families, health in the workplace, health across the life course, health of urban communities, community health interventions, access to health care, and health services administration. Offered Intermittently.
Repeatable for 6 Credits
PH 3700 Funding Public Health Cr. 3
Funding Public Health introduces students to the ways that public health programs secure resources to expand and improve their services, reach vulnerable or marginalized populations, and address existing or emerging social conditions. The course centers on the most important public (e.g., US Department of Health and Human Services) and private funders (e.g., Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) of domestic public health programs, initiatives, and research. Students will also be introduced to other fundraising tools and techniques through which they might fill “funding gaps” with resources raised from corporations, groups and associations, as well as individual donors. Offered Fall.
Prerequisites: PH 2100 with a minimum grade of C- and PH 3100 with a minimum grade of C-
PH 3750 Reproductive Health Cr. 3
This course explores the subject of reproductive health using an interdisciplinary approach, including social, political, and biomedical perspectives. It covers gender differences in patterns of illness, delivery of health care, paying special attention to inequalities and disparities related to race, ethnicity, sexuality, and social class. That is, it will have a strong reproductive justice focus. We will also examine common intervention strategies in public health when dealing with reproductive health in local communities. Offered Intermittently.
PH 3800 Law and Public Health Cr. 3
This course will introduce students to the role of law as an important determinant of health outcomes. This course is organized using the CDC’s Public Health Law Program competency-based approach. Through constitutional and legal foundations, case studies and real-world examples, students will learn how the law is used as a public health tool. Special attention is paid to contemporary applications in public health law and the implications for bringing about health equity in vulnerable populations. Offered Yearly.
PH 3900 LGBTQ Health Cr. 3
Centers on LGBTQ voices and takes an intersectional socioecological approach to exploring social determinants of health, and a range of health outcomes and challenges in LGBTQ communities; and the implications for public health research, policy, and practice to improve LGBTQ health. Introduces students to key conceptual frameworks for understanding LGBTQ health across the lifespan and promoting health equity. Offered Yearly.
Equivalent: SOC 3900
PH 4050 Crime and Public Health Cr. 3
Introduces students to the interface between public health and criminal justice in the United States, focusing on different aspects of the relationship. It will first describe the newly emerged epidemiological criminology, and then analyze a variety of topics on crime and public health, including, but not limited to, the health of incarcerated populations, the health of criminal justice professionals, health consequences of crime and risk behaviors, public health and law, gangs and gang violence, mental health and substance abuse, environmental justice, and public health interventions with criminal justice populations. Offered Intermittently.
Equivalent: CRJ 4050
PH 4100 Public Health Principles and Practice Cr. 2
This required course examines practice-based approaches to improve public health. The focus will be on learning methods for community health improvement, from assessment to finding and implementing evidence-based public health interventions. Offered Every Term.
Prerequisites: PH 3100 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3200 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3300 with a minimum grade of C-, and PH 3500 with a minimum grade of C-
Corequisite: PH 4150
Restriction(s): Enrollment limited to students with a class of Senior; enrollment is limited to students with a major in Public Health or Public Health Honors.
PH 4250 Interprofessional Education and Public Health Cr. 3
More than 20 years ago, public health, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and dentistry professionals formed a collaborative to ensure that future professionals would be prepared to engage in a team-based approach to patient care. Today, more than 20 professional member associations have joined this effort. In this class, students will explore the unique and intertwined roles and responsibilities of health care providers; learn effective interprofessional communication strategies, ethics, and values; and learn how to establish high functioning multidisciplinary health care teams to improve patient outcomes. Offered Every Term.
Prerequisites: PH 3100 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3200 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3300 with a minimum grade of C-, and PH 3500 with a minimum grade of C-
Restriction(s): Enrollment limited to students with a class of Senior; enrollment is limited to students with a major in Public Health or Public Health Honors.
PH 4400 Quantitative Methods in Public Health Cr. 3
This course provides students with a review of quantitative methodological approaches in public health. Students will analyze the benefits and costs of each methodological approach, and how to best apply each method in real-world settings. Students will also critically assess scientific literature in core areas of public health. The content and assignments for this course are designed to prepare students for the Capstone (PH 5100) and Practicum (PH 5150) courses. Offered Every Term.
Prerequisites: PH 3100 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3200 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3300 with a minimum grade of C-, and PH 3500 with a minimum grade of C-
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Public Health or Public Health Honors.
PH 4500 Qualitative Methods in Community Public Health Cr. 3
Qualitative methods in public health requires the systematic and intentional inclusion of community members, patients, affected populations, and/or partner organizations in participatory research and evaluation. Public health professionals must commit to building equitable, reciprocal partnerships between researchers and community members to resolve specific problems. Students in this class will learn the underlying theory and principles of qualitative research and community-based public health. Specific qualitative methodological techniques including one-on-one and motivational interviewing, ethnography, focus groups, and Photovoice will be discussed. Students will have a chance to design and engage in a qualitative field experience to practice these skills. Offered Every Term.
Prerequisites: PH 3100 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3200 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3300 with a minimum grade of C-, and PH 3500 with a minimum grade of C-
Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Public Health or Public Health Honors.
PH 4600 Special Topics in Health Disparities Cr. 3
Topics may include but are not limited to an examination of health disparities by race or ethnicity, gender, income, age, nationality, or residential location. Offered Intermittently.
Repeatable for 6 Credits
PH 4650 Health Data Visualization Cr. 3
Public health professionals must effectively distill and communicate complex data in order to change attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and policies. Public health professionals must blend art and science to reach their intended audience and for these data visualizations to have their intended effect. In this undergraduate course, students will be introduced to the effective presentation of data. Students will ground their practical work in evidence-based knowledge of the field of public health, epidemiological principles, biostatistical data, and aesthetic sensibilities. As a result of this class, students will be able to produce and evaluate data visualizations for use in public health, medical, health care, non-profit, governmental, and other settings. Offered Winter.
Prerequisites: PH 3100 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3200 with a minimum grade of C-, and PH 3300 with a minimum grade of C-
Restriction(s): Enrollment limited to students with a class of Junior or Senior.
PH 4900 Directed Study in Public Health Cr. 1-3
This course enables students to earn academic credit for directed public health-related research work. Generally, students must already have established a mentored research position with a faculty member in Public Health or some other department, Medical School, or outside institution. Course requirements include directed readings and participation in public health research, under the direct supervision of a faculty member affiliated with the Department of Public Health in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Offered Every Term.
Repeatable for 3 Credits
PH 5100 Capstone Course in Public Health Cr. 3
Satisfies General Education Requirement: Writing Intensive Competency
This course provides a culminating, integrative curricular experience for Public Health students. As such, the course draws on students’ prior training core and elective courses as well as “real world” experiences gained in the field. The Capstone course gives students a chance to reflect and integrate their training and experiences while developing their own individual point of view regarding the role of public health. The course grade will be determined by the completion of a capstone project consisting of several research and practice components submitted over the semester. Offered Every Term.
Prerequisites: PH 2100 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3000 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3100 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3200 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3300 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3500 with a minimum grade of C-, and (PH 4400 with a minimum grade of C- or PH 4500 with a minimum grade of C-)
Restriction(s): Enrollment limited to students with a class of Senior; enrollment is limited to students with a major in Public Health or Public Health Honors.
PH 5150 Public Health Practicum Cr. 3
The culminating practicum experience course draws on students’ prior training in the five core areas of public health at Wayne State (i.e., Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health; Health Administration, Management, and Policy; Biostatistics; Epidemiology; and Environmental Health). Students will have a structured, mentored opportunity to gain ‘real world’ field experience. Students are expected to focus on the application of theories and strategies to enhance population health. In the field, students can explore the critical roles health care providers, public health professionals, and effective interventions play in optimizing the health of communities. Through their completion of professional field work, individual and group assignments, and critical reflection, students will gain insight into the role preparedness, teamwork, and effective communication play in public health best practices. Offered Every Term.
Prerequisites: PH 2100 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3000 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3100 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3200 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3300 with a minimum grade of C-, PH 3500 with a minimum grade of C-, and (PH 4400 with a minimum grade of C- or PH 4500 with a minimum grade of C-)
Restriction(s): Enrollment limited to students with a class of Senior; enrollment is limited to students with a major in Public Health or Public Health Honors.