Public Health Program Courses
Sph 539 Topics in Public Health Preparedness (3)
This course provides an overview on a variety of public health topics with a focus on skill and knowledge building in the area of public health preparedness.
Sph 559 Selected Topics in Public Health (2-3)
This course focuses on a specific public health topic that might unexpectedly become significant or an interdisciplinary topic that may not fit neatly into the curriculum of a department of the School of Public Health. Possible topics include occupational ergonomics, disaster preparedness, preparedness for biological terrorism, confidentiality of medical data.
Sph 589 (Ehc 589) Emergency Preparedness: The Public Health Perspective (3)
Preparedness planning has been an essential but often overlooked aspect of public health. Events of this decade have clarified the need for preparedness training around issues such as bioterrorism and have emphasized a new role for public health workers in community response activities. This course will serve as an introduction to the knowledge, skills and competencies needed by public health staff in being prepared for these new concerns. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor or Epi 501 and Ehs 590.
Sph 590 COVID-19 Emergency Response (0)
How does a state respond to a pandemic? What public health measures must be put enacted and how are they communicated to the population? As a result of the unique partnership between the School of Public Health and the NY State Department of Health, students participating in this experience will be embedded in the COVID 19 work group at DOH and will engage in data base construction, data analysis and communication of public health messages. Prerequisites: Open only to students in the School of Public Health. Permission of instructor.
Sph 603 Advanced Topics in Population Medicine (0-2)
Required for NYS Fellowship in Applied Public Health, open to others by permission. This course introduces physicians to fundamental concepts of public health and population health thinking, through a journal club, interactive discussions on current topics with public health professionals, teaching cases, and individualized professional development activities. Prerequisite: Enrollment in NYS Fellowship in Applied Public Health or permission of instructor.
Sph 629 (Ehs 629) Protocol Development and Grant Writing (3)
This course will teach methods for developing research grant proposals in the population sciences. Exposure and outcome assessment, study designs and bias will be discussed in-depth. Application of these methods will be evaluated through written critiques of the peer-reviewed literature, in-class discussions and the preparation of a grant proposal.
Sph 681 Professional Practice in Public Health (3)
This course provides a foundation for your MPH degree and focuses on interdisciplinary concepts and skills essential to the practice of public health. It provides a foundation in the core principles and fundamentals of public health practice. It also addresses the professional skills needed to be a successful public health professional, including oral and written communication skills, advocacy, cultural competence, collaboration, negotiation, and interprofessional practice. Prerequisites: Matriculation in MPH program.
Sph 685 MPH Capstone Seminar (1)
As the capstone in the MPH degree, this course encourages students to reflect on competencies they have acquired during the academic and hands-on phases of the degree program. Using an evidence-based public health framework, it helps them to integrate their knowledge and apply it to new public health issues. Prerequisite: Completion of 6 or more credits of MPH internship (concurrent, with permission).
Sph 687 Independent Study and Research in Public Health Practice (1-6)
Supervised independent study or research of selected topics and problems of public health practice undertaken with a UAlbany instructor. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Sph 689 MPH Internship in Population Medicine (3 - 6)
This internship for physicians in the Fellowship in Applied Public Health (FAPH) provides hands-on experience in public health practice in the NYS or Albany County Health Departments or other approved settings, helping Fellows develop a range of public health practice competencies. It counts toward the MPH internship and FAPH practicum requirements. Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in Fellowship in Applied Public Health or permission of instructor.
Sph 690 Internship in Biomedical Sciences (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with biomedical science. Internship rotations may be full-time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. A paper and an oral presentation are required. Prerequisite: Admission to M.P.H. program.
Sph 691 Internship in Environmental Health (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with environmental health. Internship rotations may be full- time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. A paper and an oral presentation are required. Prerequisite: Admission to M.P.H. program.
Sph 692 Internship in Epidemiology (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with epidemiology. Internship rotations may be full-time part- time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with host agency. A paper and an oral presentation are required. Prerequisite: Admission to M.P.H. program.
Sph 693 Internship in Biostatistics (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with biostatistics. Internship rotations may be full-time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. A paper and an oral presentation are required. Prerequisite: Admission to M.P.H. program.
Sph 694 Internship in Health Administration (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with health administration. Internship rotations may be full- time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. A paper and an oral presentation are required. Prerequisite: Admission to M.P.H. program.
Sph 695 Internship in Behavioral Sciences (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with behavioral science. Internship rotations may be full-time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. A paper and oral presentation are required. Prerequisite: Admission to M.P.H. program.
Sph 696 Internship in Public Health Practice (3, 6)
Individual directed internship program with an appropriate institution concerned with public health practice. Internship rotations may be full-time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. Prerequisite: Admission to the Online M.P.H. in Public Health Practice Program.
Sph 698 Completion of Internship (1)
Continuation of an internship for which an MPH student has previously registered but has not completed the work. Prerequisites: Sph690, Sph691, Sph692, Sph693, or Sph695 and completion of all other MPH requirements.
Sph 701 Doctoral Seminar: Defining, Quantifying, and Presenting Evidence for a Public Health Problem (3)
This first year doctoral seminar prepares students to conduct research on a public health problem. Students learn to succinctly define, quantify and present a public health issue. The product of this course is a thoroughly researched, clearly written, and orally presented literature review which is the prelude to the spring semester's final product, a completed grant proposal. Additionally students attend weekly preventive medicine residency seminars to participate in journal clubs and discussions with guest speakers about timely topics in public health. Prerequisite: MPH core courses.
Sph 702 Leadership for Planning, Implementing, and Writing a Proposal for a Public Health Intervention (3)
This is the second in a sequence of doctoral seminars designed to complete the process of writing a grant proposal. Following the completed literature review from the previous semester, students develop implementation and evaluation plans for the proposed evidence-based public health intervention. The course culminates with a completed written proposal and oral presentation worthy of submission to a funding agency. As in the fall semester, students will continue to attend preventive medicine seminars and journal clubs for the second 90 minutes of course time each week. Prerequitistes: MPH core courses and Sph 701.
Sph 711 Advanced Topics in Public Health Research and Practice I (3)
This is the first course in a two-course sequence for doctoral students in public health (DrPH program) that covers advanced topics in public health research and practice. This is an integrative seminar that emphasizes the synthesis and generation of evidence, by including critical analysis of research and evaluation methods, and also the implementation and application of that evidence to high-level public health practice and policy-making. The course also includes a focus on high-level leadership in public health practice. Prerequisites: Completion of MPH core courses.
Sph 712 Advanced Topics in Public Health Research and Practice II (3)
This is the second course in a two-course sequence for doctoral students in public health (DrPH program) that covers advanced topics in public health research and practice. This is an integrative seminar that emphasizes the synthesis and generation of evidence, by including critical analysis of research and evaluation methods, and also the implementation and application of that evidence to high-level public health practice and policy-making. The course also includes a focus on high-level leadership in public health practice. Prerequisites: Sph 711; Completion of MPH core courses.
Sph 780 Doctoral Seminar in Public Health (0)
For students who are satisfying the doctoral level internship requirement for the DrPH degree. Through a written paper and an oral presentation given at a seminar session, the internship work experience is discussed and related to public health principles and practice. Must be taken when a student enrolls in a doctoral level internship. Co-requisite: Sph 790 or 791.
Sph 790 Doctoral Internship in Area of Concentration (3, 6)
Individually directed internship with an appropriate training agency in the student's area of concentration. Six hours of doctoral level internship within the area of concentration are required for the DrPH degree and may not be waived. Internships may be full-time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. An oral progress report, a paper and an oral presentation are required. Co-requiste: Sph 780.
Sph 791 Doctoral Internship Outside Area of Concentration (3,6)
Individually directed internship with an appropriate training agency outside the student's area of concentration. Six hours of doctoral level internship outside the area of concentration are required for the DrPH degree and may not be waived. Internships may be full-time or part-time. Each credit represents a minimum of 80 hours of work with the host agency. An oral progress report, a paper and an oral presentation are required. Co-requiste: Sph 780.
Sph 898 Doctoral Project (3-12)
Required of all Dr.P.H. students, prior to admission to candidacy. Prerequisite: Consent of advisor.
Sph 899 Doctoral Project and Dissertation (1-12)
Required for all DrPH degree candidates, the doctoral project will consist of an extended work experience of at least nine months full time duration in a public health or related agency and will include the writing of a professional dissertation. The project will consist of an investigation of a problem of significance in the students area(s) of concentration. While it does not require the collection of new data, it must demonstrate that the candidate is capable of original thinking and sophisticated, independent analysis of a significant problem in public health. Registration for this course is limited to doctoral students who have been admitted to candidacy.
