Public Health Courses | 2026-2027 Graduate Catalog | SIU

This course provides an overview of the interdisciplinary field of public health. History and ongoing evolution of public health services and delivery systems in the U.S., essentials of public health practice, and federal, state, and local public health functions are considered. Emerging health problems, changing population dynamics, and global health context will be examined.

Credit Hours: 3

This course assists students in developing skills and identifying opportunities for communicating public health messages through the preparation of technical papers for public health, other health science-related, area-specific, and cross-disciplinary journals, as well as communicating other professional and lay publications. Additional skills relate to the development of press releases, letters to the editor, preparation of posters, development of oral presentations for diverse audiences, estimating readability of written materials, assessing health literacy, preparing pamphlets and other written materials, designing messages for distribution by mass media, including but not limited to social media and social marketing.

Credit Hours: 3

This course will introduce Master of Public Health (MPH) students to public health resource identification and utilization to understand and engage in public health fieldwork and service. MPH students will develop a professional portfolio to build upon through the tenure of the program.

Credit Hours: 1

This course provides an overview of the core principles in Public Health Leadership. Major theories and concepts in leadership and methods for applying these to public health will be discussed.

Credit Hours: 2

Provides detailed information on dimensions of sexuality; characteristics of healthy sexuality; anatomy and physiology; gender roles; relationships; sexually transmitted infections/diseases; contraceptive issues and concerns; sexual victimizations; and sexuality through the life cycle.

Credit Hours: 3

This course will present theories/models for health promotion program planning and implementation in community/public health settings. Steps to program planning, including: logic models, needs assessment, community organizing, evaluation/assessment, and social marketing will be addressed.

Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to biostatistics; examination of theories of population projections; collection, organization, interpretation, summarization, and evaluation of data relative to public health happenings with emphasis on graphic presentation.

Credit Hours: 3

The application of technology to engage communities and individuals in behavioral and environmental change processes. The course will focus on the use of technology to describe the magnitude of health problems and their sources; analyze risk factors; identify community strengths from which strategies may be defined and tools created to intervene, prevent problems, and promote health and well-being; and continuously evaluate, refine, and implement what works. Prerequisite: PH 513 with a grade of B or better or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to expand the conceptual framework for health education research, practice, and professional development by examining contemporary issues in health and related fields. It includes reading, analyzing, interacting, and reflecting about selected critical issues and future concerns as they relate to the health education profession as well as individual, community, and societal health-related needs.

Credit Hours: 3

An area of study to be determined by students in consultation with the health education faculty that goes beyond the current health education course offerings. 1-3 credits; may be repeated twice for maximum of 6 hours. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-3

Examines health-related motivation and behavior through the study of relevant psychological, sociological, and educational theory and research. Emphasis is on application of behavioral and behavior-change theories and constructs in designing effective health education and promotion programs.

Credit Hours: 3

Introduction to research and evaluation. Includes survey and analyses of health testing and research/evaluation procedures, uses and limitations of knowledge and attitude tests, behavioral inventories, checklists, questionnaires, interviews, and other techniques.

Credit Hours: 3

A study of unique problems related to traffic safety and a review and evaluation of contemporary studies. Restricted to graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to provide a broad overview of key administrative issues in public health, including building and sustaining a public health workforce, disease control and prevention, emergency preparedness, legal issues, and financial considerations. Attention will be given to the application of management concepts and principles related to public health organizations at the national, state, and local levels.

Credit Hours: 3

This course will provide a broad overview of quantitative research in public health, including research designs, research questions, assumptions, limitations, data collection methods, sampling, instrument development, and data analysis and interpretation. Discussion of health-related theories/models and ethical considerations will be integrated throughout the course.

Credit Hours: 4

Considers national, state and local factors influencing professional preparation, accreditation and certification processes. Emphasis upon influences of official and non-official agencies. Historical perspective, the present status, and future directions of the profession.

Credit Hours: 3

The course deals with a wide variety of health concerns of American women as consumers in the current health marketplace. Major categories of topics include health products, health services, and sources of health information of particular interest to women. Emphasis is also placed on current health related issues of women. The major purpose of the course is to provide a basis for informed decision-making by the female consumer.

Credit Hours: 3

Examination of current and continuing issues in the provision, administration, financing, and regulation of health care services. Prerequisite: PH 583 with grade of C or better or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Current problems, trends and research studies in traffic and safety education are reviewed, critiqued and evaluated. Restricted to graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Plan, conduct, and report on research pertaining to population health. Doctoral students in the Population Health program may take this course for up to 9 credit hours in a semester.

Credit Hours: 1-9

Course deals with highway safety legislation and other acts related to traffic safety. Application of safety management techniques, procedures and structure of federal and state agencies are emphasized. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

A different focal theme each year; e.g., technology and health education; coordinated school health programs; social marketing; mental health. Information, ideas and concepts are translated into teaching/learning materials and approaches; continuing opportunity for interaction between prospective and experienced health educators.

Credit Hours: 1-12

This course is designed to assist graduate teaching assistants to develop and improve skills necessary for performing their responsibilities. Emphasis will be placed on teaching/learning processes; classroom strategies and skill development; responding to diverse student populations; communication across the curriculum; teaching outside the classroom; identifying campus and community resources, support services, media, and technologies; evaluation and assessment. Restricted to graduate teaching assistants. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

This course examines dynamics and trends in organization, financing, and delivery of health care in the United States. Specific current health policy issues and the political, social, and economic forces that affect them are analyzed. Practical implications for public health professionals will be considered.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to introduce students to current health concerns in economically developing nations by examining socioeconomic, cultural, and political issues impacting health. Basic epidemiologic principles will be used to study disease and adverse health conditions in developing countries as well as understand and critique possible intervention strategies. Implications for health educators working in international settings will be discussed.

Credit Hours: 3

This course will address core principles and concepts of environmental health disciplines, analyze environmental factors impacting human and ecological health, and explore environmental health tools through their application to current issues of concern to government agencies.

Credit Hours: 3

Students are assigned full-time to a safety agency or industry for experience in either safety or industrial health. Restricted to those specializing in safety industrial health. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 8

This course will present principles and practices related to the study, prevention and control of health-related conditions in the human population. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the principal concepts of epidemiology, including aspects of disease distribution, epidemiologic methods, risk assessment of disease and injury, descriptive and analytic epidemiologic methods and study designs, and application of epidemiologic data to the prevention and control of disease and injury. Format for the class will include lecture and small group seminars.

Credit Hours: 3

Advanced graduate students discuss individual health projects and present research problems. Each will present a dissertation prospectus. The course will cross two semesters. The first semester will require class attendance. The second will require attending dissertation prospectus and defense meetings and writing individual reports. Prerequisite: PH 533B.

Credit Hours: 2

Consideration is given to funding sources, proposal guidelines, procedures for support, budgetary requirements and evaluation procedures. Students examine different types of funded projects, develop a research proposal and analyze the art of grantsmanship and political action.

Credit Hours: 3

Credit Hours: 1-6

The purpose of the MPH Applied Practice Experience Seminar is to prepare students for their applied practice experience and for a future as a public health professional. This seminar serves as one of the prerequisites for enrolling in the MPH Applied Practical Experience (PH 599B). Through this semester, students will prepare the components of the applied practice experience learning agreement. This seminar provides students with useful skills needed to complete an applied practice experience and to work in a public health or community setting. Students will have a specific topic, project(s) and/or site in mind prior to taking this course, which is typically taken in the second semester of Year 1. Prerequisite: PH 507 with a grade of B or better.

Credit Hours: 1

Master of Public Health (MPH) students will demonstrate competency attainment through applied practice experiences. All MPH students are required to complete a 240-hour experience with a community-based component. The Applied Practice Experience (APE) provides a practical experience in a public health setting where students apply skills and knowledge they gained during didactic courses to attain at least five competencies. Dual degree students have opportunities to integrate and apply their learning from both degree programs through applied practice experiences. Students meet the APE requirements by supporting the Program's mission and students' career goals, to the extent possible. Prerequisite: PH 599A with a grade of B or better.

Credit Hours: 2

During the final semester(s) of study, students are required to complete an integrative learning experience (ILE) that demonstrates synthesis of foundational and program competencies. ILEs require two products: 1) a high-quality written product and 2) a presentation on the ILE. Prerequisite: PH 599B with a grade of B or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Credit Hours: 1-16

For those graduate students who have not finished their degree programs and who are in the process of working on their dissertation, thesis or research paper. The student must have completed a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation research, or the minimum thesis, or research hours before being eligible to register for this course. Concurrent enrollment in any other course is not permitted. Graded S/U or DEF only.

Credit Hours: 1

This course is a discussion of current topics and literature in Population Health. Provides a forum for PhD students and faculty presentations and review of current research efforts. Encourages integration of content knowledge to prepare for careers in the field. Restricted to admission to PhD program in Population Health or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 1

Must be a Postdoctoral Fellow. Concurrent enrollment in any other course is not permitted.

Credit Hours: 1