Undergraduate Bulletin Print Version

School of Public Health

Faculty

Dean
Philip Nasca, Ph.D.
State University of New York at Buffalo

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Mary Gallant, Ph.D., MPH
University of Michigan

Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs
Caitlin Reid, M.S.
Drexel University

Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Lue Ellis, B.S.
College of Saint Rose

Department of Biomedical Sciences
Nicholas Mantis, Ph.D., Chair

Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Patrick Parsons, Ph.D., Chair

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Gregory DiRienzo, Ph.D., Chair

Department of Health Policy, Management & Behavior
Benjamin Shaw, Ph.D., MPH, Chair

Professors
David Carpenter, M.D.
Harvard University
Edward Fitzgerald, Ph.D.
Yale University
Howard Stratton, Ph.D.
University of California, Riverside
Martin Tenniswood, Ph.D.
Queen's University
JoEllen Welsh, Ph.D.
Cornell University
Igor Zurbenko, Ph.D.
Moscow State University

Clinical Professors
Mary Applegate, M.D., MPH
Johns Hopkins University
Dwight C. Williams, MSW
Rutgers University

Associate Professors
Erin Bell, Ph.D., M.S.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Michael Bloom, Ph.D.
University at Buffalo
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
Gregory DiRienzo, Ph.D.
University at Albany
Mary Gallant, Ph.D., MPH
University of Michigan
Julia Hastings, Ph.D.
University of California, Los Angeles
Jason Herschkowitz, Ph.D.
University of North Carolina
Akiko Hosler, Ph.D.
University at Albany
Janine Jurkowski, Ph.D., MPH
University of Illinois at Chicago
Igor B. Kuznetsov, Ph.D.
New York University
Jennifer Manganello, Ph.D., MPH
Johns Hopkins University
Georges Potworowski, Ph.D.
University of Michigan
Ramune Reliene, Ph.D.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Benjamin Shaw, Ph.D., MPH
University of Michigan
Barry Sherman, Ph.D.
University of Chicago
Wendy Weller, Ph.D.
Johns Hopkins University
Yuchi Young, DrPH
Johns Hopkins University
Recai Yucel, Ph.D.
Pennsylvania State University

Research Associate Professors
Sridar Chittur, Ph.D.
West Virginia University
Qishan Lin, Ph.D.
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Brian Parr, Ph.D.
Cornell University

Assistant Professors
Allison Appleton, Sc.D.
Harvard University
Hyunok Choi, Ph.D., MPH
Columbia University
Margaret Gates, Sc.D.
Harvard University
Haider Khwaja, Ph.D.
University of New Brunswick
Ricky C. Leung, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Tao Lu, Ph.D.
University of Rochester
Roxana Moslehi, Ph.D.
University of British Columbia
Feng (Johnson) Qian, Ph.D.
University of Rochester
Elizabeth Vasquez, DrPH
New York Medical College

Adjunct Faculty
Annette Johnson, Ed.D.
Columbia University
Brenda A. Kirkwood, DrPH
George Washington University
John Tine, Ph.D.
Albany Medical College

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 offers an undergraduate minor in Public Health and a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in Public Health. Effective Fall 2014, the School of Public Health will begin accepting students into a new Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in Bio-instrumentation. The School also offers the following graduate degrees: Master of Science, Master of Public Health, Doctor of Philosophy, and Doctor of Public Health.

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration 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

Admission to the Interdisciplinary Studies major with a faculty-initiated concentration in Public Health requires an application during the sophomore or junior year. Applications are reviewed by the School’s Undergraduate Committee. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 24 credits prior to admission, and must have earned a grade of B or higher in A MAT 108. In addition, students should have completed the pre-core requirements and at least one public health course.

Please visit the School’s website http://www.albany.edu/sph/ or contact Lue Ellis, the School’s Undergraduate Program Coordinator for additional details: lellis@albany.edu or 518-442-3155.

Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in Public Health

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

Prerequisite Core (9 credits)
A BIO 120 General Biology I
A MAT 108 Elementary Statistics
A PHI 115 Moral Choices

Public Health Core (21 credits)
H SPH 201 Introduction to Public Health
H SPH 231 Concepts in Epidemiology
H SPH 321 Global Environmental Issues and their Effect on Human Health
H SPH 332 Epidemiology and Biostatistics
H SPH 341 Promoting Healthy People and Communities
H SPH 342 How U.S. Health Care Works: Myths and Realities
H SPH 460Z Capstone: Evidence-Based Public Health

Electives (9 credits)
Students must complete at least 9 credits (three courses) of elective coursework, approved by the advisor. Of these 9 credits, 6 credits must be at the 300 level or above. Suggested elective courses are listed below, grouped into areas of emphasis that correspond to the main fields that make up public health. Because the undergraduate major is designed to give students broad interdisciplinary exposure to public health, students are advised to choose one elective from three different areas of emphasis. In rare circumstances, and with the approval of the advisor, a student who wishes to focus on a single discipline in greater depth can choose all electives from a single area of emphasis.

Note: Students may select other courses not listed below as part of their area of emphasis, with approval from their advisor. All elective courses in departments outside the School of Public Health will be available to students pursuing the Interdisciplinary Studies major on a space-available basis.

Policy and Management Emphasis
H SPH 202 From Cholera to Cancer: History, Challenges and Achievements in Public Health
H SPH/H HPM 310 Health Care in the U.S.: Key Policy Issues
H SPH/H HPM/A ECO 381 Economics of Health Care
A COM 465 Communication in Health Care Organizations
H SPH 490 Field Placement in Public Health (Policy/Management focus)
H HPM 500 Health Care Organization, Delivery and Finance (Approval of department chair and course instructor required)
H HPM 550 Financial Management of Healthcare Institutions (Approval of department chair and course instructor required)

Social Behavior and Community Health Emphasis
H SPH 202 From Cholera to Cancer: History, Challenges, and Achievements in Public Health
A PSY 329 Health Psychology
A COM 465 Health Communication: Doctor-Patient Interaction
H SPH 343 Mass Media and Health Behavior
H SPH 490 Field Placement in Public Health (Social Behavior focus)
H HPM 525 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health (Approval of department chair and course instructor required)
H HPM 521 Introduction to Family and Community Health (Approval of department chair and course instructor required)
H HPM 531 Childhood Obesity from a Public Health Perspective (Approval of department chair and course instructor required)

Epidemiology Emphasis
A ANT 119 The City and Human Health
H SPH 202 From Cholera to Cancer: History, Challenges, and Achievements in Public Health
A ANT 418 Culture, Environment, and Health
H SPH 490 Field Placement in Public Health (Epidemiology focus)
H EPI 501 Principles and Methods of Epidemiology I (Approval of department chair required)
H EPI 502 Principles and Methods of Epidemiology II (Approval of department chair required)
H EPI 503 Principles of Public Health (Approval of department chair and course instructor required)
H EPI 514 Computer Programming for Data Management and Analysis in Public Health (Approval of department chair and course instructor required)

Biomedical and Environmental Health Sciences Emphasis
A ANT 119 The City and Human Health
A ANT 418 Culture, Environment, and Health
A CHM 425 Introduction to Undergraduate Research in Chemistry
H SPH/H EHS 323 Environmental Laboratory Perspectives in Public Health
H SPH 490 Field Placement in Public Health (Biomedical and/or Environmental Health Sciences focus)
H BMS 505 Biological Basis of Public Health (Approval of department chair and course instructor required)
H BMS 622 Cancer Biology (Approval of department chair and course instructor required)
H EHS 590 Introduction to Environmental Health (Approval of department chair and course instructor required)

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in Bio-instrumentation

Research in the biomedical and biological sciences has been revolutionized in large part by advances in technology and instrumentation. These advances have increased the scope and throughput of research activities, and resulted in the development of new fields of study such as genomics and proteomics. Scientists can now study genomes and proteomes in their entirety, rather than focusing on just a few genes or proteins. The continued evolution and refinement of the instrumentation that facilitates these studies now places the ability to conduct this research within the reach of most research laboratories. The Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated interdisciplinary concentration in Bio-instrumentation is a combined major/minor program designed to develop students who have an in-depth knowledge of the theory and operation of state-of-the-art instrumentation currently in demand in biomedical, biology, biotechnology and public health laboratories. Students will also acquire a strong background in the biological sciences and be fully conversant with major public health issues.

Building upon a prerequisite core of general science and math courses, the degree curriculum provides a solid background in public health and in-depth theoretical and operational expertise in bio-instrumentation. Beyond the prerequisite core there are four facets to the program: the first consists of an introduction to the core components of public health; the second provides an in-depth understanding of the theory, operation, and application of instrumentation in molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, and cell analysis research; the third provides practical, hands-on research experiences with the use of instrumentation in these fields through internships in University laboratories; and the fourth provides real-world experience in the use of biotechnological instrumentation to address broader research questions, and an understanding of the expectations that come with a professional career in laboratory research, through cooperative training internships at local biotechnology companies or academic laboratories.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Interdisciplinary Studies major with a faculty-initiated concentration in Bio-instrumentation requires an application during the sophomore year. Applicants must have completed 38 credits consisting of introductory science and math courses prior to formal entry into the major. Prerequisite courses can be fulfilled at UAlbany or by transfer from another institution. Applications are reviewed by the School’s Undergraduate Committee. An overall GPA of 2.5 will be required for admission. In addition, GPA in the prerequisite core science and math courses will be used as the selection criterion if there are more applicants than space available in the program.

Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in Bio-instrumentation

General Program B.S.: A minimum of 75 credits distributed as follows:

Prerequisite Core (38 credits)
A BIO 120 General Biology I
A BIO 121 General Biology II
A BIO 201 Introduction to Biological Investigations I (lab)
A BIO 202Z Introduction to Biological Investigations II (lab)
A BIO 212Y Introductory Genetics
A BIO 217 Cell Biology
A CHM 120 General Chemistry I
A CHM 124 General Chemistry I Laboratory
A CHM 121 General Chemistry
A CHM 125 General Chemistry II Laboratory
A CHM 220 Organic Chemistry I
A CHM 222 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
A MAT 108 Elementary Statistics
A MAT 112 Calculus I
A PHY 140 Physics I: Mechanics
A PHY 145 Physics Lab I

Public Health Core (12 credits)
H SPH 201 Introduction to Public Health
H SPH/EPI 231 Concepts in Epidemiology
H SPH/EPI 332 Introduction to Biostatistics: Collection, Analysis & Interpretation of Public Health Data
H BMS 505 Biological Basis of Public Health

Bio-Instrumentation Courses (16 credits)
H BMS 310 Molecular and Genomic Approaches in Biotechnology I
H BMS 311 Molecular and Genomic Approaches in Biotechnology II
H BMS 312 Proteomic Methodologies in Biotechnology
H BMS 314 Animal and Cell Culture Model Systems

Instrumentation in Biotechnology Research Internship Courses (6 credits)
            Students will complete two of the following five courses:
            H BMS 410 Instrumentation in Biotechnology Research Internship, Molecular Core Lab
            H BMS 411 Instrumentation in Biotechnology Research Internship, Genomics Core Lab
            H BMS 412 Instrumentation in Biotechnology Research Internship, Proteomics Core Lab
            H BMS 414 Instrumentation in Biotechnology Research Internship, Cell Analysis Core Lab
            H BMS 415 Instrumentation in Biotechnology Research Internship, Academic Lab

Bio-Instrumentation Co-operative Training Internship (3 credits)
H BMS 420 Bio-Instrumentation Cooperative Training Internship (Biotechnology Company/Academic Lab)

All undergraduate H SPH courses, H HPM 310, and H HPM 381, offered by the School of Public Health, are considered “liberal arts and sciences” courses for the purposes of meeting B.A. and B.S. degree requirements.

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

Courses in Public Health

Public Health Courses

T SPH 105 Demystifying Public Health (3)
This course is designed to introduce students to the history and philosophy of public health and to understand the impact of people and politics on public health, with a particular focus on the role of genetics and genomics. This course focuses on providing the details and background necessary for a basic understanding of biological knowledge, the technology that surrounds it, and how biomedical sciences influences our lives and shapes public health. Not open to students with credit for HSPH/BMS 105H. Open to Honors College students only.

H SPH 201 Introduction to Public Health (3)
A general introduction to what public health is, its importance for everybody’s health, and how it functions as a combination of science and politics. The role of the public health system will be illustrated by describing issues confronting New York State and what is being done about them.

H SPH 202 From Cholera to Cancer: History, Challenges, and Achievements in Public Health (3)
Public health crosses political, disciplinary, social, and economic borders. Within this context, students will discuss key events in the history of public health and the philosophical basis of studying the health of populations. Readings and outside assignments include popular plays and books, as well as films and various self-teaching streaming videos.

H SPH 231 Concepts in Epidemiology (3)
This course is designed to introduce students to the science of epidemiology. Specific subjects will include causal thinking, the epidemiologic framework, and study designs utilized in epidemiologic studies and the role of epidemiology in public health. Prerequisite(s): A MAT 108.

T SPH 272 (= T POS 272) Health and Human Rights: an Interdisciplinary Approach (3)
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to health and human rights and the contemporary challenges and solutions associated with them. The course will be taught by physicians and human rights champions Kamiar Alaei and Arash Alaei, with guest lectures from experts in public health, philosophy, social welfare, law, gender studies, public administration and the United Nations, among others. Through lectures, discussion and case studies, students will develop a broad theoretical understanding of health as a human right, become familiar with legal and policy frameworks to support public health, and acquire skills in the application of these concepts and the implementation and evaluation of solutions to our modern health challenges. Only one version may be taken for credit. Open to Honors College students only.

H SPH 310 (= H HPM 310) Health Care in the U.S.: Key Policy Issues (3)
This course is an overview of the status, trends, and key issues concerning U.S. health care delivery today. It will include a comparative assessment of health policies by determining which issues in the U.S. health economy have similar causes with those in other nations, and which are specific to domestic circumstances. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ECO 110 or permission of instructor.

H SPH 321 Global Environmental Issues and Their Effect on Human Health (3)
Globalization has made the earth a much smaller place so that we can no longer focus merely on issues in the United States. This course will address global environmental concerns and their impact on human change, atmospheric pollution, sanitation, etc.) within the context of their impacts on populations throughout the world. Faculty and invited lecturers will be guest presenters. Prerequisite(s): one semester of college-level course in biology or chemistry.

H SPH 323 (= H EHS 323) Environmental Laboratory Perspectives in Public Health (3)
The course will define current public health issues in environmental health sciences, highlighting emerging concerns faced by researchers and practitioners. This course will explore environmental agents of disease, including elemental, organic and biological current and emerging contaminants from an environmental laboratory perspective. The course will define characteristics of and describe toxicological and analytical considerations of disease derived from environmental agents. Heavy emphasis will be placed on how laboratory techniques have driven policy and regulation. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): one year of college-level biology.

H SPH 332 (= H EPI 332) Epidemiology and Biostatistics (3)
This course will be a basic introduction to statistics as used in the field of public health. Students will learn basic descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and dispersion, basic rules of probability spaces, binomial and normal probability distributions, sampling distributions, estimation and hypothesis testing. In addition, students will learn how to use a computer program to analyze data. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A MAT 108.

H SPH 341 Promoting Healthy People and Communities (3)
This course focuses on how health promotion strategies influence healthy behaviors, healthy people, and healthy communities. Current public health issues will guide us in examining key health promotion concepts, health concerns at different ages, and the causes of different health behaviors. Health inequalities and mass media’s role will also be highlighted.

H SPH 342 How U.S. Health Care Works: Myths and Realities (3)
This course will introduce students to everyday realities of the U.S. health care system related to current issues like health care quality, access to care, the uninsured, patient safety, health care inflation, prescription drugs, physician-patient interaction, use of health care technology, and end-of-life care. The course is intended to provide students with an understanding of the various actors, stakeholder interactions, and functions of the U.S. health care system, through a case-based approach interweaving real world events, practice experience, and research about those events.

H SPH 343 Mass Media and Health Behavior (3)
The course will focus on examining how entertainment media, including the Internet, influences health behavior, including topics such as tobacco use, obesity, and violence. The course will also look at the role that advertising has on health, and discuss how the media can be used to educate people about healthy behavior.

H SPH 381 (= H HPM 381 & A ECO 381) Economics of Health Care (3)
Economics concepts are used to explain the nature of demand and supply in the health care field. The behavior of consumers and health care providers is examined from an economic perspective. Areas of market failures and the rationale for government intervention are also described. Only one version of H SPH 381 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ECO 300 or permission of instructor.

H SPH 397 Independent Study in Public Health (1-3)
Independent study or research on selected topics in public health will be offered under the direction of a faculty member. The student is responsible for locating an appropriate faculty member who is willing to direct the research of independent study. An independent study or research assignment may be repeated for credit, but no more than 6 credits may be earned. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor and undergraduate program director, and junior or senior standing. S/U graded.

H SPH 421 Preventing Disease, Disability, & Premature Death (3)
This course discusses the major health behaviors and demographic factors that lead to death, disease & disability throughout the lifespan. It describes policies and programs that address those underlying causes of ill health and provides a framework for developing strategies for promoting health and wellness. Prerequisites: H SPH 201; H SPH 341 preferred.

H SPH 460Z Evidence-Based Public Health (3)
Effective programs and policies to promote community health must be based on thorough assessment of health problems, associated risks factors and interventions to lower those risks. A public health professional must master the most current scientific evidence and recommendations from the literature about effective policies and programmatic interventions. H SPH 460 is the capstone course for undergraduates in public health that integrates prior learning by applying that knowledge to assessment of current public health problems and design, implementation and evaluation of effective, evidence-based, interventions to alleviate those problems. The curriculum utilizes case studies and 'real-life' scenarios as context for lectures, exercises, homework, group learning, and class presentations. Prerequisite(s): H SPH 201, 231, and H 341.

H SPH 490 Field Placement in Public Health (3)
Supervised placement in a public health agency or organization. Provides practical experiences to engage students in the application of public health principles and practices to complement knowledge gained in the classroom. Prerequisite(s): open only to public health seniors; at least 9 credits of public health major core coursework, including H SPH 201 and H SPH 231, which must be completed prior to enrolling in H SPH 490; G.P.A. of 3.00 or above; permission of instructor. S/U graded.

Health Policy and Management Courses

T HPM 250 Introduction to Maternal and Child Health from a Public Health Perspective (3)
This course is an introduction to the maternal and child health (MCH) field. A knowledge base of MCH within a public health context, focusing on MCH life course issues and public health approaches to address these issues, will be provided. Professional and educational opportunities within MCH will be described. Open to Honors College students only.

H HPM 310 (= H SPH 310) Health Care in the U.S.: Key Policy Issues (3)
This course is an overview of the status, trends, and key issues concerning U.S. health care delivery today. It will include a comparative assessment of health policies by determining which issues in the U.S. health economy have similar causes with those in other nations, and which are specific to domestic circumstances. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ECO 110 or permission of instructor.

H HPM 381 (= H SPH 381 & A ECO 381) Economics of Health Care (3)
Economics concepts are used to explain the nature of demand and supply in the health care field. The behavior of consumers and health care providers is examined from an economic perspective. Areas of market failures and the rationale for government intervention are also described. Only one version of H HPM 381 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ECO 300 or permission of instructor.

H HPM 486 (= R POS 486) Health and Human Rights: An Interdisciplinary Approach (3)
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to health and human rights and the contemporary challenges and solutions associated with them. The course will be taught by physicians and human rights champions with guest lectures from experts in public health, philosophy, social welfare, law, gender studies, public administration the United Nations, among others. Through lectures, discussion and case studies, students will develop a broad theoretical understanding of health as a human right, become familiar with legal and policy frameworks to support public health, and acquire skills in the application of these concepts and the implementation and evaluation of solutions to our modern health challenges. Only one version may be taken for credit.