Master of Public Health

This course is a foundational and broad overview to the study and practice of public health. Students will be introduced to the history, philosophy, core values, key concepts, and functions of public health across the world. After completing this course, students will be able to describe public health activities and how they as individuals might serve their community to promote health and prevent disease in their own life and future career.

This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the nation's healthcare system and major healthcare policy issues. This course will introduce students to characteristics of the U.S. health care systems; healthcare organizations, financing, and delivery of services. Course topics also include: the role of prevention and other non-medical factors in population health outcomes; accreditation, licensure, and regulatory agencies; and key management and policy issues in contemporary health systems. In addition, students will consider other issues related to the current US healthcare system, including health disparities and healthcare safety net.

The servant leadership philosophy/perspective focuses the leader on the needs of others for their, and collective, benefit and connects nicely with the ethos of the public health profession and the mission of Concordia University Wisconsin. The course will focus on leadership development within the context of public health, and its relation to meeting the needs of others and advancing the profession of public health through advocacy.

Public health professionals must be able to effectively communicate with a wide array of stakeholders, from low health literate individuals in their community, to the general public, to health care workers, to top administrators and policy makers of their state or country. This course will focus on public health-specific communication considerations related to health literacy, advocacy, messaging, and more.

This course will introduce students to tools and concepts in the field of epidemiology. Students will be introduced to descriptive and analytic epidemiology, determinants of health and disease in populations, and application of epidemiologic methods to disease control. The course will cover conceptual and practical issues around the design and conduct of epidemiologic research and the analysis and interpretation of data.

Data is paramount in the ability of public health professionals to make evidence-based decisions. This course provides an introduction to biostatistical concepts and methods used in public health research and practice. Students will learn to collect, analyze, interpret, and present data to support evidence-based decision-making. The course focuses on the practical application of statistical techniques to real-world public health problems and critical evaluation of published research, and equip students with the skills needed to conduct and assess data analyses in a public health context.

One Health is a holistic approach to global health challenges that recognizes the interconnectedness between the health of people, animals, and our environment. This course will focus on understanding and applying the One Health approach in the context of common complex challenges such as food and water safety, zoonotic diseases, pollution, etc. Strategies on how to balance and optimize the health of all, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and integration, will be explored.

This course explores foundational and contemporary issues in bioethics as they relate to public health practice, research, and policy. Students will critically examine ethical principles within the context of populations, health disparities, global health, and more. Students will develop practical skills in ethical analysis and decision-making. Emphasis is placed on navigating complex moral dilemmas in public health interventions, resource allocation, data use, and community engagement. The course will prepare students to lead with integrity and accountability in real-world public health settings.

Much of public health action is through targeted, data-driven, evidence-based interventions and programs. In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of program planning, including foundational concepts such as the planning process, assessment, and evaluation.

Implementation Science is the study of methods to promote the integration of research findings and evidence into public health and healthcare policy and practice. In this course, you will learn how to use a systematic, scientific approach to bridge the gap between what we know are effective evidence-based interventions and what we actually do in practice. You will learn about the most commonly used theories, methods and frameworks currently used in implementation science. During the course you will also gain experience applying the theory of implementation science in practice, address the barriers to effective replication and scale-up of evidence-based interventions, and identify and assess the research methods used in the field, and how to select the most appropriate approach for your work.

Public health informatics is the systematic application of information and computer science and technology to public health practice, research, and learning. This course introduces students to concepts, methods, and issues related to the application of health information technology (HIT) to population health. Students will learn about various public health information systems with respect to their functionalities, planning, design, development, sustainability, interoperability, management, and how to leverage these systems to improve population health.

The course will focus on how evidence-based research can inform health policy. Students will learn to think systematically about policy issues and the various methods available and evidence required of public health professionals to solve them. The various components of the course aim to stimulate interactions among learners and the instructor around important health systems and public health policy issues.

This is a culminating experiential practicum enables students to apply classroom knowledge and competencies in a real-world public health setting. Under the guidance of a faculty advisor and a site preceptor, students engage in meaningful public health work through partnerships with community organizations, health departments, nonprofits, or other public health agencies. Students are expected to complete a project that addresses a defined public health issue and demonstrate proficiency in competencies through deliverables such as reports, presentations, toolkits, or evaluations. The course fosters professional growth, critical thinking, and leadership while preparing students to transition into the public health workforce with confidence and experience.

Students will complete a cumulative, integrative, scholarly learning project designed to demonstrate students’ mastery of the overarching curriculum goals for the Master’s in Public Health Program; demonstration of critical thinking and analytic skills. Course Information: Pass/Fail grading only. This project may include, but is not limited to, portfolio projects, research papers, program evaluation reports, training manuals, policy statements, or legislative testimony with accompanying supporting research. The culminating project should be developed and delivered in a manner that is useful and targeted to a specific potential external partner, such as non-profit or governmental organizations.