School of Public Health

Faculty

Interim Dean
Erin Bell, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public Health Program Director
Beth Feingold, Ph.D., John Hopkins University

Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Sapphire Correa, MPH, University at Albany

Nursing Program Director

Professors
David Carpenter, M.D., Harvard University
Jessica Castner, Ph.D., RN-BC, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Janine Jurkowski, Ph.D., MPH, University of Illinois at Chicago
Shao Lin, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Jennifer Manganello, Ph.D., MPH, Johns Hopkins University
JoEllen Welsh, Ph.D., Cornell University
Igor Zurbenko, Ph.D., Moscow State University

Clinical Faculty
Catherine M. Bohn, MPH, University of California, Berkeley
Rachel deLong, M.D., MPH, University of Wisconsin
Annette Johnson, Ed.D., Columbia University
John Justino, MS, Georgetown University
Ursula Lauper, MPH, University at Albany
Mary O'Reilly, Ph.D, University of Michigan
James Tesoriero, Ph.D., University at Albany
Dwight C. Williams, MSW, Rutgers University

Associate Professors
Allison Appleton, Sc.D., Harvard University
Christine Bozlak, Ph.D., MPH, University of Illinois at Chicago
Douglas Conklin, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison  
Diane Dewar, Ph.D., University at Albany
Beth Feingold, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Julia Hastings, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Jason Herschkowitz, Ph.D., University of North Carolina
Akiko Hosler, Ph.D., University at Albany
Mark H. Kuniholm, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Igor B. Kuznetsov, Ph.D., New York University
Ricky C. Leung, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Roxana Moslehi, Ph.D., University of British Columbia
Ramune Reliene, Ph.D., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Melissa Tracy, Ph.D., University of Michigan
Tomoko Udo, Ph.D., Rutgers University 
Elizabeth Vasquez, DrPH, New York Medical College               
Wendy Weller, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Xiaobo Xue, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh   
Yuchi Young, DrPH, Johns Hopkins University
Kai Zhang, Ph.D., University of Michigan

Assistant Professors
Chanup Jeung, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Bum-Kyu Lee, Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin
Muntasir Masum, Ph.D., University of Texas, San Antonio
Eric Rose, Ph.D., North Carolina State University
Edward Valachovic, Ph.D., University at Albany
Melonie Walcott, DrPH, University of Alabama
Xin Wang, Ph.D., University at Albany



Public Health’s mission is to address the physical, mental, and environmental concerns of populations at risk for disease and injury. Through a unique partnership between the University at Albany and the New York State Department of Health, the School of Public Health trains students to promote and improve the health of the population through education, research, community service, and leadership.

The School of Public Health is comprised of four academic departments: Biomedical Sciences; Environmental Health Sciences; Epidemiology & Biostatistics; and Health Policy, Management & Behavior. The School is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and offers an undergraduate minor in Public Health, a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion program, and the following graduate degrees: Master of Science, Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Population Health Nursing, Doctor of Philosophy, and Doctor of Public Health.

Please visit the School’s website https://www.albany.edu/sph/ for additional details or contact [email protected].

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

This degree sequence includes the educational objectives of nurturing critical thinking, analysis, and synthesis of information, and recognizing the historical and societal context of current trends in public health and health care delivery. It also provides an introduction to disease control and health promotion interventions, and determinants of health from a global perspective.

Admission Requirements
There are no admission requirements for the major.

Course Progression Restriction
Students must complete A MAT 108 with a grade of B or better to register for H SPH 332.
 

Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science in Public Health

General Program B.S.:  A minimum of 39 credits distributed as follows:

Prerequisite Core (6 credits)
A BIO 130 General Biology: Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics
A MAT 108 Elementary Statistics

Public Health Core (24 credits)
H SPH 201 Introduction to Public Health
H SPH 231 Concepts in Epidemiology
H SPH 305 Biological Basis of Personal and Public Health
H SPH 321 Global Environmental Issues and their Effect on Human Health
H SPH 332 Introduction to Biostatistics
H SPH 341Z Promoting Healthy People and Communities
H SPH 342 How U.S. Health Care Works: Myths and Realities
H SPH 460 Capstone: Evidence-Based Public Health

Electives (select 9 credits from the following, at least 6 of which must be 300 level or higher)
A AFS 333 The Black Community: Continuity and Change
A ANT 119 The City and Human Health
A ANT 211 Human Population Biology
A ANT 418 Culture, Environment, and Health
A COM 340 Health Communication
A HIS 277 Culture and History of Food in the United States
A PHI 338 Moral Problems in Medicine
A PHI 417 Bioethics
A PSY 329 Health Psychology
A SOC 359 Medical Sociology
H BMS 505 Biological Basis of Public Health
H BMS 622 Cancer Biology
H EHS 590 Introduction to Environmental Health Sciences
H EPI 501 Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
H EPI 503 Principles of Public Health
H EPI 514 Computer Programming for Data Management and Analysis in Public Health
H HPM 469 Topics in Health Policy, Management and Behavior
H HPM 500 Health Care Organizations, Delivery, and Finance
H HPM 525 Social Behavior Aspects of Public Health
H HPM 531 Childhood Obesity from a Public Health Perspective
H HPM 550/B BUS 681 Financial Management of Health Care Institutions
H SPH 202 From Cholera to Cancer: History, Challenges, and Achievements in Public Health
H SPH 203 Integrative Care in Public Health
H SPH 259 Topics in Public Health
H SPH 270 Issues in Global Health
H SPH 323 Environmental Lab Perspectives of Public Health
H SPH 330 Maternal and Child Health
H SPH 343 Mass Media and Health Behavior
H SPH/A ECO/H HPM 381 Economics of Health Care
H SPH 397 Independent Study in Public Health
H SPH 421/H HPM 521 Preventing Disease, Disability, and Death
H SPH 430 Health Literacy
H SPH 435 Social Determinants of Health: Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Applications
H SPH 459 Advanced Topics in Public Health
H SPH 469 Topics in Health Policy, Management and Behavior
H SPH 475 Universal Health Care in Costa Rica
H SPH 490 Public Health Field Placement
H SPH 491/H EHS 591 Occupational Health: Achievements, Continuing Challenges and Evolving Issues
H SPH 499 Research Placement in Public Health
 

Combined Public Health Bachelor of Science/Master of Public Health

The 4+1 combined degree program of a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Health and a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) provides a strong foundation in primary public health fields and advanced public health training in an area of interest chosen from concentrations in biomedical sciences, biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health policy and management, and social behavior and community health. This program, accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, allows undergraduate students majoring in Public Health to graduate with both a B.S. and M.P.H. in Public Health in five years.

Students apply to the program at the beginning of their junior year or after successfully completing 56 credits.  An overall GPA of 3.20 is required along with 2 letters of recommendation and a personal statement of interest in public health. Additionally, the following are concentration specific admission requirements:

  • All concentrations: one semester of social sciences, one college level course in mathematics or statistics with B or higher
  • Biomedical Sciences: Calculus I, two semesters of Biology, two semesters of Chemistry
  • Biostatistics: Calculus I, Calculus II, Linear Algebra
  • Epidemiology: Calculus I, one semester of Biology
  • Environmental Health Sciences: Calculus I, two semesters of Biology, two semesters of Chemistry

Accepted students complete 24 credits of graduate coursework during their senior year that count toward both the Public Health B.S. and M.P.H. degrees. The first of two professional internships are completed during the summer after senior year and all remaining program requirements are completed by the end of spring of year five.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The University at Albany’s R.N. to B.S. program offers an accessible, flexible pathway for registered nurses to complete a nursing bachelor’s degree. Through a unique partnership between the University at Albany and the New York State Department of Health, the completion program offers registered nurses expanded preparation for the changing health care environment through a robust curriculum that includes a focus on public and population health. This program provides registered nurses the opportunity to seamlessly transition into a bachelor’s program by maximizing transferability of earned credit from SUNY community college nursing programs. The nursing courses within the program are delivered in a convenient format that combines the benefits of both online learning and face-to-face instruction.

Students completing this program will gain opportunities in the field including preparation to practice in a variety of settings and leadership positions, as well as the opportunity to participate in unique research relating to the field of public health. The curriculum includes core coursework in nursing, nursing leadership and technology; core coursework in population and public health, elective coursework, including faculty-mentored public health research, and general education requirements.

Admission Requirements

This program is restricted to students who hold an associate degree in nursing from a program accredited by ACEN, CCNE or CNEA with a minimum 60 semester hours in which the following criteria have been met:

  • Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better
  • Nursing coursework grades of C+ or better
  • Required courses in:
    • Anatomy & Physiology I & II
    • Microbiology
    • Introduction to Psychology
    • English Composition

Students must provide proof of a current, unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse in the State of New York by the completion of the first semester.

Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science in Nursing

General Program B.S.:  A minimum of 69 credits distributed as follows:

Lower level nursing credits transferred from the associate degree in nursing (30)
H NSG 311 Health Assessment and Health Promotion (4)
H NSG 312 Quality and Safety in Nursing (3)
H NSG 314 Informatics and Technology in Nursing (3)
H NSG 411 Population Health (4)
H NSG 412 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3)
H NSG 414 Management and Leadership in Nursing (4)
H NSG 415 Professional Role of Nurses (3)

A MAT 108 Statistics (3)
H SPH 201 Introduction to Public Health (3)
H SPH 231 Concepts of Epidemiology (3)
H SPH 342 How U.S. Health Care Works: Myths and Realities (3)
One public health elective course (300 level or higher) chosen in consultation with advisor or another relevant upper level elective approved by advisor (3)

 



Courses in the School of Public Health are preceded by the school’s letter H.