Introduction to Biostatistics:

Introduction to Biostatistics (BC 203) (Hogan) (Fall)
The first in a two-course series designed for students who seek to develop skills in biostatistical reasoning and data analysis. This course offers an introduction to basic concepts and methods of statistics as applied to diverse problems in the health sciences. Methods for exploring and presenting data; direct and indirect standardization; probability; hypothesis testing; interval estimation; inherence for means and proportions, nonparametric methods etc. Statistical computing is fully integrated into the course.

OR

Principles of Biostatistics and Data Analysis (BC 213) (Hogan) (Fall )
Intensive first course in statistical methodology focusing on problems in the biomedical sciences. Techniques for summarizing and representing data, basic probability concepts, fundamentals of statistical inference, including point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing, and likelihoods. Inference for means and proportions, contingency tables, linear regression, analysis of variance, nonparametric procedures, logistic regression.

Epidemiology

Introduction to Methods in Epidemiologic Research (BC 212) (Lapane) (Fall)
Introduces basic principles and methods for epidemiologic research. Students learn to critically interpret epidemiologic literature; estimate measures of disease frequency and measures of effect; evaluate study designs; and evaluate bias, including confounding, misclassification, and selection and information bias. Emphasis is on practical applications; exercises are an integral part of the course.

Health Services Administration

Determinants and Consequences of Changing Health Care Systems (BC 240) (Mor) (Fall)
Provides a historical perspective on the development and evolution of the health care delivery and financing systems in the U.S. The course reviews the literature on the relationship between health system structure and the services used and health outcomes that populations experience.

Social and Behavioral Science

Principles of Health Behavior and Health Promotion Interventions (BC 174) (Rakowski) (Fall )
Examines factors affecting personal health behavior decision-making and elements for the design of disease prevention and health promotion interventions. Covers theories of health behavior (focusing on primary and secondary prevention), principles of intervention design, and the reading of research literature. Emphasizes the psychological, social, and proximate environmental influences of individuals’ health-related behaviors. Course background in psychology, sociology, or community health is recommended. Restricted to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Enrollment limited to 25. Written permission required.

OR

Public Health Intervention Research Design and Methodology (BC 236) (Gans & Assaf) (Spring )
This course will provide students with skills in designing, planning, implementing and evaluating public health interventions. Levels of intervention range from individual behavior changes; to interventions with families; to organization- and community-based interventions; to social marketing and health communications; to policy and environmental changes. The course will cover behavior change theories, conceptualizing, planning, and implementing health programs and interventions; formative research; cultural sensitivity; ethical considerations; and process, impact and outcome evaluation of interventions. Students will develop skills in critiquing intervention studies and gain experience in developing a hypothetical behavior change intervention.

Applied Research Methods

Applied Research Methods (BC 237) (Clark) (Spring)
Emphasizes the theory of sampling and survey methods and their application to public health research. Topics include: survey design and planning principles of sampling and survey terminology, questionnaire construction, protection of human subjects; data collection (including interviewing and data coding procedures); and application, presentation and evaluation of results.

Environmental Health

Environmental Health and Policy (ES 171) (Morello-Frosch) (Fall)
(Can be taken as a full or 1/2 credit course)
This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the environmental factors impacting human health, including the consequences of natural and human-made disasters. The relative contribution of individual consumer choice, political economy and government policies to local, national and global environmental health will be explored. Issue areas to be covered include: exposure assessment, burden of disease, toxicology risk assessment, communication and risk management.