Health (HLTH)

HLTH 500 Introduction to Public Health 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course will provide a broad overview of the practice of public health. It is intended for those with a limited exposure to the field or in the need of a refresher of analytical and critical thinking skills prior to beginning a graduate level course of study. The course will specifically address basic algebraic and probability concepts, review the use of peer-reviewed literature, introduce students to literature citation using the AMA style, and provide a framework to approach public health practice.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 501 Biostatistics 3 Credit Hour(s)

The course prepares the student in the development and application of statistical reasoning and methods in addressing, analyzing and solving problems in public health; healthcare; and biomedical, clinical and population-based research.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 503 Principles of Epidemiology 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course is a study of human population patterns of disease and injury and the application of this study to the control of health problems.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 505 Principles of Environmental Health 3 Credit Hour(s)

The course is a study of environmental factors including biological, physical and chemical factors that affect the health of a community.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 507 Public Health Administration 3 Credit Hour(s)

The course is a study of health policy and management concerns regarding the delivery, quality and cost of healthcare for individuals and populations. It reviews the structure, process and outcomes of health services including costs, financing, organization and accessibility to care.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 509 Social and Behavioral Theory Applications in Public Health 3 Credit Hour(s)

The course is a study of the behavioral, social and cultural factors related to population health disparities. The student will learn that research in this area contributes to the development and evaluation of public health policies, programs and services that promote and sustain health populations.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 511 Research Methods in Public Health 3 Credit Hour(s)

Prerequisite: HLTH 501

This course prepares students to critically evaluate research protocols in public health. Students must be prepared to design practical research methodologies to evaluate contributing factors of contemporary health issues with measurable goals and objectives.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 550 Addictive Behaviors and Interventions 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course explores the dynamics of chemical and non-chemical dependency including the psychological, physiological, and spiritual bases of addiction. Intervention modalities will be discussed for various forms of addictions.

HLTH 551 Issues in Public and Community Health 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course reviews the Christian worldview and healthcare choices in the 21st century. Topics may include but are not limited to: genetic testing, eugenics, reproductive control, treating or terminating impaired infants, organ transplantation and euthanasia.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 552 Chronic Disease Prevention and Management 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course is focused on the leading chronic disease indicators of morbidity and mortality in the United States, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Students will study prevention strategies using the ecological framework to examine individual, social, organizational, community, and population levels of prevention. Public health measures to reduce chronic disease will be emphasized.

Offered: Resident

HLTH 553 Grant Acquisition and Management 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course acquaints students with the "soft" money world of private and public grants, promotes the development of grant writing skills and identifies the practical issues of managing a grant once acquired.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 554 Medical Terminology en Espanol 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course provides students with medical and health related vocabulary and terminology necessary to communicate with Spanish speakers with limited English proficiency.

Offered: Resident

HLTH 556 Politics and Health Policy 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course examines the framework and concepts used in public health policy. Processes of formulation, implementation and change will be discussed. Evidence-based decision making will be discussed. The role of politics in relation to health policy will be highlighted.

Offered: Online

HLTH 597 Graduate Health Seminar 3 Credit Hour(s)

Offered: Resident

HLTH 600 MPH Competency Exam 0 Credit Hour(s)

Prerequisite: HLTH 501 and HLTH 503 and HLTH 505 and HLTH 507 and HLTH 509 and HLTH 511 (may be taken concurrently)

The purpose of the Competency Exam is to assess students' substantive and integrative knowledge of the field of Public Health. The exam draws from students' previous studies thereby eliciting the broad and comprehensive knowledge and understanding required in transitioning to practical experiences. The exam is meant to be a bridge between the concepts, theories, and skills presented in program coursework and critical analysis demanded in the field for a successful practicum experience.

Registration Restrictions: HLTH 600 will need to be taken in a single term. A department policy for the exam requires departmental review and approval of a faculty panel beyond the single term of enrollment.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 620 Introduction to Global Health 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course introduces the student to global health priorities and the roles of institutional players in resolving the issues. Multiple determinants of health such as economic, environmental, biological and cultural are addressed with an emphasis on the health needs of lesser economically developed nations.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 622 Primary Healthcare in Developing Countries 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course addresses the delivery of essential healthcare to individuals, families and communities in lesser economically developed countries. Emphasis is on the utilization of community healthcare worker schemes and appropriate technology.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 623 Cultural Aspects of Health Behavior 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course examines cultural perspectives on beliefs and health risk perception in relationship to health behavior. The cultural aspects of healthcare use through "healers" and health systems are also examined.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 624 Sanitation in Developing Countries 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course examines environmental hygiene and health problems related to water supply and sanitation. Low cost methods as well as appropriate technology applied to sanitation are discussed.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 625 Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course provides the student with the knowledge base necessary to understand the mechanisms of infectious disease transmission, to select specific preventive methodologies in the control of particular diseases and to communicate the rationale for the various control methods.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 626 Vaccines and Immunology 3 Credit Hour(s)

Online Prerequisite: HLTH 625

This course provides an overview of the immune system. The course will cover immune mechanisms believed to be related to vaccine induced disease protection. The course will examine vaccine development.

Offered: Online

HLTH 630 Principles of Community Health 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course provides an overview of public health issues as they relate to community health promotion and disease prevention. Theories and models relevant to community health programming as well as the connections between local, state, and national public health initiatives are presented. Emphasis is placed on acquisition of pertinent public health data to enable practical, applied, community-wide planning and cooperation among varied stakeholders.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 632 Health Program Planning 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course provides students with an overview of program planning, including methods for assessment, planning models and theories, and intervention strategies. Course content will focus on program planning in community settings.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 633 Health Program Evaluation 3 Credit Hour(s)

Prerequisite: HLTH 632

This course provides an introduction to quantitative, qualitative, and ethnographic methods of evaluation for health education programming. A variety of health education evaluation topics are included. Students will be introduced to both formative and summative evaluation as well as principles of measurement.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 634 Health Communication and Advocacy 3 Credit Hour(s)

Prerequisite: HLTH 509

This course examines the principles and practices of effective interpersonal, organizational, and community-based communication to shape attitudes and actions about health and healthcare. Students will explore the use of counseling, public campaigns, social media, and political processes to advocate for health among diverse populations.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 635 Health Agency Management 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course prepares students for employment as Executive Directors, Program Directors and / or House Managers of 501(c) (3) organizations. Topics include but are not limited to fund-raising, staffing, liability, budgeting, human rights issues, service coordination, and emergency preparedness.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 636 Contemporary School Health Issues 3 Credit Hour(s)

Online Prerequisite: HLTH 634

This course focuses on classroom and school-related public health issues confronting public and private schools in the 21st century. Solutions will be explored from the Christian worldview using "salt & light" strategies in the spirit of 1 Peter 3:15.

Offered: Online

HLTH 637 Perspectives on Healthy Aging 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course presents an analysis of contemporary issues that contribute to health risk factors for aging populations. Students will learn methods and strategies leading to health promotion and disease prevention for the elderly. Spiritual health and cultural issues are also addressed as they relate to aging, death, and dying.

Offered: Online

HLTH 640 Principles of Nutrition 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course reviews the basic principles of nutrition, the metabolism of proteins, fats, macro and micro nutrients and the role food choices play in health promotion and disease prevention.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 642 Food-borne Illness Prevention 3 Credit Hour(s)

This course examines current research and governmental initiatives regarding food safety as well as "best practices" for food handling in foodservice systems.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 643 Nutrition and Chronic Disease 3 Credit Hour(s)

Prerequisite: HLTH 640

This course reviews current research on the relationship of genetics, chronic disease and the role of medical nutritional therapy. The class also explores nutrition and the aging process with an emphasis on the interactions of physiological stages and lifestyle choices.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 644 Diabetes, Obesity and Eating Disorders 3 Credit Hour(s)

Prerequisite: HLTH 640

This course examines the societal, family and psychological influences on eating behaviors, their contribution to the development of Type 2 Diabetes, Anorexia and Bulimia and a review of treatment options.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 645 Performance Nutrition for the Physically Active 3 Credit Hour(s)

Prerequisite: HLTH 640 or EXSC 510

This course focuses on the role of nutrients and prescriptive diets in rehabilitation services, fitness and sport performance.

Offered: Resident and Online

HLTH 650 Field Epidemiology 3 Credit Hour(s)

Prerequisite: HLTH 501 and HLTH 503 and HLTH 511 (may be taken concurrently)

This course presents an overview of the methods used in conducting epidemiologic field investigations, including the collection, analysis, interpreration and reporting of primary source epidemiologic data. Students will learn principles of disease outbreak investigation.

Offered: Resident

HLTH 651 Epidemiologic Research Methods 3 Credit Hour(s)

Prerequisite: HLTH 501 and HLTH 503 and HLTH 511

This course provides advanced knowledge and skills for epidemiologic and public health research investigations. Students will focus on research methods specific to the field of epidemiology, including procedures for protecting human subjects, recruiting, and research question formulation, data collection, and analysis.

Offered: Resident

HLTH 695 Directed Research 1-3 Credit Hour(s)

HLTH 698 Practicum 3 Credit Hour(s)

Prerequisite: (HLTH 501 and HLTH 503 and HLTH 505 and HLTH 507 and HLTH 509 and HLTH 511 and HLTH 552 and HLTH 625 and HLTH 642 and HLTH 650 and HLTH 651) or (HLTH 501 and HLTH 503 and HLTH 505 and HLTH 507 and HLTH 509 and HLTH 511 and HLTH 620 and HLTH 622 and HLTH 623 and HLTH 624 and HLTH 625) or (HLTH 501 and HLTH 503 and HLTH 505 and HLTH 507 and HLTH 509 and HLTH 511 and HLTH 630 and HLTH 632 and HLTH 633 and HLTH 634 and HLTH 635) or (HLTH 501 and HLTH 503 and HLTH 505 and HLTH 507 and HLTH 509 and HLTH 511 and HLTH 640 and HLTH 642 and HLTH 643 and HLTH 644 and HLTH 645)

In this experience the student applies knowledge and skills related to public health in a supervised setting.

Offered: Resident and Online