Graduate Program in Public Health - Stony Brook University€¦ · The Graduate Program in Public...

Graduate Program in Public Health

About the ProgramThe Graduate Program in Public Health was established atStony Brook University to train health and health-relatedprofessionals who wish to integrate the knowledge, skills,visions, and values of public health into their careers and pro-vide leadership in the field. The Program leads to a Master ofPublic Health (M.P.H.) degree.

The Program aims to develop among students and profes-sionals the values, commitment, knowledge, and technicalskills necessary to advance the field of public health throughapplication of the population health approach. The hallmarksof population health are an ecological understanding of thedeterminants of health and a systems approach to solvinghealth problems; emphasis on proactively stabilizing andimproving health among all populations; and insistence onaccountability, evidence-based practice, and continuous per-formance improvement. The population health approachrequires multi-disciplinary collaboration among scholars inthe social, clinical, and basic sciences and the humanities;development of comprehensive, sophisticated health informa-tion systems; and use of advanced analytical tools to examinehealth problems and evaluate responses to them.

The population health orientation is consistent with the tra-ditions of public health and with recent Institute of Medicine(IOM) recommendations for public health education, althoughit expands upon them. For example, the IOM recommendsthat public health: “Adopt a population health approach thatbuilds on evidence of multiple determinants ofhealth...(develop) appropriate systems of accountability at alllevels to ensure that population health goals are met...(and)assure that action is based on evidence.”

The orientation of the Program is also compatible with theeducational philosophy of the Medical Center (formerlyHealth Sciences Center). The Medical Center opened in 1971,emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary education and col-laboration and recognizing a great need for health profession-

als to work together. In this way, the founders hoped thatstandards and professionalism would be maintained as a resultof students having the opportunity to work in a collegialatmosphere at an early stage of their education, where theywould learn to respect each other and their diverse competen-cies.

The content of the Graduate Program in Public Healthreflects the changing environment in which public health prac-tice occurs, and recent thinking about how to respond to thesechanges. Public Health retains its distinct role as the specialtyemphasizing prevention, with the object of its work being pop-ulations, in contrast to the historical role of medicine, den-tistry, and other clinical disciplines that focus on healing, withthe object of their work being individuals. “The public healthprofessional is a person educated in public health or a relateddiscipline who is employed to improve health through a popu-lation focus.”

Since the 1980s, the three main functions of public healthhave been identified as assessment, policy development, andassurance. However, the knowledge and skills needed to per-form these functions optimally has changed radically in lightof advances in information technology and increased knowl-edge about the determinants of health and disease. Thesechanges are occurring at all levels of inquiry–from the micro(genetics and microbiology) through the macro (the social sci-ences). Changing political, economic, demographic, and socialconditions in the United States and the world make the appli-cation of new knowledge and technologies all the more impor-tant.

As one recent Institute of Medicine report states, “Thebeginning of the twenty first century provided an early pre-view of the health challenges the United States will confrontin the coming decades. The system and entities that protectand promote the public health, already challenged by prob-lems like obesity, toxic environments, a large uninsured popu-lation and health disparities, must also face emerging threats,

GRADUATE PROGRAM IN PUBLIC HEALTH

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Graduate Program in Public HealthDIRECTOR: Raymond L. Goldsteen

Core Faculty:Professors: Raymond L. Goldsteen, Norman H. Edelman, Steven Jonas, A. Laurie ShroyerResearch Associate Professor: Karen GoldsteenClinical Associate Professor: Nanci Rice Assistant Professor: Melody Goodman, Lauren E. Hale, Jaymie Meliker, Hongdao MengClinical Assistant Professor: Evonne Kaplan-Liss

Affiliated Faculty:Professors: David L. Ferguson, John Rizzo, Charles L. Robbins, John D. Shanley, Nancy J. TomesAssociate Professors: Candyce Berger, S. Van McCrary, Thomas O’Riordan, Lisa A. Benz ScottAssistant Professor: Feroza DaroowallaClinical Assistant Professor: Jeannette O. CoaneAdjunct Professors: Humayun Chaudhry, David G. Graham, Jason Winslow, Mahfouz ZakiGraduate Program Coordinator: Judith GreeneMPH Academic Coordinator: Judith GreeneOFFICE: HSC Level 3, Room 071 PHONE: (631) 444-9396 WEB: www.hsc.stonybrook.edu/public_health_program


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such as antimicrobial resistance and bio-terrorism. The social,cultural, and global context of the nation’s health is also under-going rapid and dramatic change. Scientific and technicaladvances, such as genomics and informatics, extend the limitof knowledge and human potential more rapidly than theirimplications can be absorbed and acted upon. At the sametime, people, products, and germs migrate, and the Nation’sdemographics shift in ways that challenge public and privateresources.”

Recent, influential reports regarding public health educationsuggest ways to address the evolving training needs of publichealth professionals. These publications include one reportissued by the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention–“Public Health’s Infrastructure”–and threereports from the Institute of Medicine–“Who Will Keep thePublic Healthy?”; “The Future of Public Health in the 21stCentury”; and “Crossing the Quality Chasm.” The recommen-dations in these reports challenge new public health programsto train public health leaders to be boundary spanners–able touse the new tools and knowledge available in order to formu-late solutions to the complex public health problems facing us.“Public health professionals have a major role to play inaddressing these complex health challenges, but in order to doso effectively, they must have a framework for action and anunderstanding of the ways in which they do affect the healthof individuals and populations.”

These recent recommendations regarding public health canbe synthesized as follows. In addition to the traditional knowl-edge, including epidemiology and biostatistics, public healthleaders need:

• An ecological understanding of the causes of poor healthincluding, social, behavioral, environmental, occupa-tional, demographic, policy, economic, and genetic fac-tors as well as the interrelationship of these factors

• A thorough understanding and appreciation of the cul-tural heterogeneity of populations, its impact on publichealth initiatives, and tools to deal with issues arisingfrom cultural heterogeneity

• A thorough understanding of the current system ofaddressing poor health–medical, dental, and publichealth–including organization, financing, regulation,accessibility, quality, effectiveness, and efficiency

• An orientation toward policy, as well as programmatic,solutions to public health problems and the skills toassess, develop, implement, and evaluate policies

• An orientation favoring evidence-based decision-mak-ing and the skills to develop evidence for public healthdecision making including study design and analysis ofdata

• An orientation favoring accountability and continuousquality improvement in public health and the skillsneeded to measure accountability and assess perform-ance

• Informatics skills including application of informationtechnology to obtain, organize, and maintain useful datafor public health decision-making

• Leadership skills including the conceptual and analyti-cal tools to prioritize problems and make sound deci-sions

AccreditationThe Graduate Program in Public Health is actively seekingaccreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health(CEPH). The Program has been developed to meet the stan-dards and criteria of the CEPH.

Center for Health Services and OutcomesResearchCost control and quality enhancement remain elusive goals inthe U.S. health care system. More and better evidence isrequired to help direct scarce health care resources to manycompeting uses, and to evaluate alternative strategies for pro-moting more cost effective care. In recognition of this need,the Graduate Program in Public Health has formed theCenter for Health Services and Outcomes Research(CHSOR). The Center is a multidisciplinary research unit thatcombines expertise in economics, statistics, epidemiology,medicine, and other clinical disciplines to address substantiveissues in health care service and delivery. As part of itsresearch mission, the Center seeks to develop joint projectswith researchers at Stony Brook University and with healthorganizations throughout Long Island.

Center for Public Health and Health PolicyResearchIncreasing knowledge about the determinants of health andillness and the most effective and efficient methods of improv-ing health is the central aim of the Center for Public Healthand Health Policy Research. This population health orienta-tion toward health improvement leads the Center to under-take projects that stabilize, maintain, and improve the healthof all populations in a cost-effective manner through evalua-tion, monitoring, and feedback. The emphasis on cost effec-tiveness requires that we ask fundamental questions abouthealth-related expenditures including “Are health expendi-tures and activities having a measurable impact on populationhealth?” “Which expenditures and activities have the biggestimpact on population health?” and “Are there other activitiesthat would improve population health more?” The Center is amultidisciplinary research unit that combines expertise in eco-nomics, statistics, epidemiology, demography, and medicineand other clinical disciplines to address these substantiveissues. As part of its mission, the Center seeks to develop jointprojects between researchers at Stony Brook University andother health-related organizations throughout Long Island.The Center has developed an ongoing relationship with theSuffolk County Department of Health Services to study thecauses of major health problems among County residents anddevelop policy solutions. Areas of interest including increas-ing access to medical care; improving opportunities to lead ahealthy lifestyle; reducing environmental risks; and establish-ing programs to decrease health disparities.

Admission RequirementsAlthough admissions requirements are rigorous, the GraduateProgram in Public Health aims to develop camaraderie, coop-eration, and cohesiveness among students in each cohort. Forthis reason, admission to the Program is during the fall semes-ter only.

We are seeking intellectually inquisitive people from differ-ent socio-economic, educational, racial, and ethnic back-grounds who can provide special contributions to the field ofpublic health and the Program. The Program considers thepotential contribution of each applicant to the student bodyand the public health field. Applicants are evaluated on aca-demic achievement, leadership potential, professional accom-plishment, and personal attributes. Excellent written and oralcommunication skills are expected. Fluency in more than onelanguage is not required for admission, but it is becomingincreasingly desirable for the practice of public health. TheProgram reserves the right to limit class size in order to main-tain a faculty/student ratio that ensures a high quality aca-demic program. Therefore, Program admission is highlyselective, and all qualified applicants may not be accepted.

The admissions requirements for the Program are:• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or univer-

sity with a 3.0 GPA or better. The major must have anequivalent at the State University of New York(SUNY).

• Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools.Transcripts for all degrees earned in schools outside theU.S. or Canada must be evaluated by an agency accred-ited by the National Association of CredentialEvaluation Services. See section on InternationalStudents for more information about this process. Therequirement for evaluation of transcripts is waived forgraduates of foreign medical schools with a currentlicense to practice in the U.S.

• Proof of licensure and good standing for licensed healthprofessionals.

• Official GRE (verbal, quantitative, and analytical)scores. Applicants can submit scores from the MCAT,DAT, or GMAT instead of the GRE. This requirement iswaived for applicants who have been awarded a doctoraldegree from an accredited U.S. or Canadian college oruniversity. Persons currently employed for more thanthree years in the public health field may request awaiver of this requirement.

• Three references from persons who can address theapplicant’s capacity to provide leadership in publichealth and complete a course of graduate study. If theapplicant is a student or has graduated within the lasttwo years, at least one letter must be from a college oruniversity faculty member with whom the applicant hasstudied. If the applicant is a member of the public healthworkforce, at least one letter must be from a senioradministrator in the organization who is familiar withhis/her work.

• Two essays, no more than 500 words each:Essay 1: How do your background, training, and experi-ence prepare you for a leadership role in Public Health?Essay 2: Select one of the following topics: (a) Explainhow the Graduate Program in Public Health and theconcentration chosen will help you achieve your short-term and long-term goals; (b) Define a time in your ownlife when you have identified and captured an opportu-nity; (c) Define a unique quality you possess; or (d) Howdo you expect to contribute to the improvement ofhealth in your community?

• A personal interview, if requested by the AdmissionsCommittee.

• Any other requirements of the Graduate School notstated here.

For International Students• International students who trained in non-English

speaking schools and do not reside in an English speak-ing country are required to take the TOEFL exam. Theexpected minimum score is 250 for the Computer-BasedTest or 600 for the Paper-Based Test.

• International students are required to have a course-by-course educational credential evaluation completed byan agency accredited by the National Association ofCredential Evaluation Services (www.naces.org). Werequire using World Education Services (www.wes.org).This evaluation provides a U.S. course equivalentincluding semester hours earned, course content, andcorresponding letter grade for all courses listed on theinternational applicant’s transcript. This evaluationmust be completed before the application can be consid-ered.

• For more information about the requirements for international students, see:www.uhmc.sunysb.edu/studserv/applyhsc.htmlandwww.uhmc.sunysb.edu/studserv/international.html

The Admissions Committee considers all factors includinggrades, GRE scores, recommendation letters, essays, priortraining, and professional experience. It is a goal of theAdmissions Committee to select applicants who have the aca-demic capability, aptitude, character, personal qualities, andcommitment to provide future value to society through lead-ership and creative contributions to the field of public health. In addition, the Program requires that each entering student

take a mathematics placement examination prior to enroll-ment. Also, students without a clinical background must pro-vide certificates of completion for the following two onlinecourses: Anatomy and Physiology 101 and MedicalTerminology 101, available at www.universalclass.com.Students are admitted to the Program on the condition thatthese courses will be completed by the end of the first semes-ter.

It is expected that incoming students will be computer liter-ate and email capable, and have library skills sufficient forgraduate work. For students with deficiencies in these areas,resources are available through the Health Sciences CenterLibrary to acquire or update them, as necessary.

Credit TransfersAll core courses must be taken at Stony Brook University,unless an equivalent was taken in an accredited public healthprogram with a grade of B or better. All concentration coursesare to be taken at Stony Brook University, unless an equiva-lent course, with a grade of B or better, was taken at anapproved graduate program and transfer of credits isapproved by the student’s advisor. The student must requesta credit transfer and complete the necessary forms. In allrespects the Graduate Program in Public Health followsStony Brook’s Transfer of Credit policy as stated in theUniversity’s Graduate Bulletin:



A maximum of 12 credits may be transferred to a master’sprogram at Stony Brook University with the approval of theprogram and the Graduate School provided that they have notbeen used toward the satisfaction of any degree requirementshere or at another institution.

Non-Matriculation StudentsA maximum of nine (9) credits may be taken as a non-matric-ulated student in the Graduate Program in Public Health.Permission to enroll in courses must be obtained from theM.P.H. Admissions Committee. Applicants for non-matricula-tion status should be aware that courses taken as a non-matriculated student will not guarantee admission to theprogram.

M.P.H. Curriculum OverviewM.P.H. Core (24 Credits)Course Title CreditsHPH 500 Contemporary Issues in

Public Health 2HPH 501 Introduction to the Research Process 2 HPH 506 Biostatistics 1 2HPH 507 Biostatistics 2 3HPH 508 Health Systems Performance 3HPH 514 Epidemiology for Public Health 3HPH 516 Environmental & Occupational Health 3HPH 523 Social & Behavioral Determinants of

Health 2HPH 562 Data Management & Informatics 2HPH 563 Cost Benefit & Cost Effectiveness

Analysis 2

M.P.H. Culminating Experience (6 Credits)Course Title CreditsHPH 580 Practicum 3HPH 581 Capstone Seminar: Population

Health Issues 3

M.P.H. Concentration (15 Credits)

Total Credit Hours for M.P.H. Program (45 credits)

Concentrations

Evaluative Sciences ConcentrationThe mission of this concentration is to prepare public healthprofessionals with the analytical, research, and statisticalskills necessary to benchmark and evaluate health improve-ment initiatives in community and health care settings.Increasingly, the health field is challenged to adopt an evi-dence-based approach to preventing and treating disease anddisability. The concentration in Evaluative Sciences will playa critical role in meeting this challenge by providing publichealth professionals with the analytical, research, and statisti-cal skills necessary to benchmark and evaluate healthimprovement initiatives in community and health care set-tings. The concentration includes courses in advanced biosta-

tistics, clinical outcomes research, demographic theory andmethods, and health services research. There is a specialemphasis on integrating cost effectiveness and cost benefitconcepts into the curriculum so that resource allocation issuesare considered.

The faculty has training in research design, implementationof research projects, and analysis of data as well as expertisein evaluating the performance of specific areas of the healthcare system. Faculty members study a variety of health issuesincluding health care quality improvement, patient decision-making, and determinants of health and disease. Some workwith physicians to improve clinical outcomes for patients withheart disease, cancer, asthma, and other conditions. Otherswork with health care administrators to increase efficiency inthe use of health care resources in hospitals and other medicalcare settings. Some work with basic and clinical scientists todevelop our understanding of how to prevent disease and dis-ability.

Required CoursesCourse Title CreditsHPH 555 Demographic Theory and Methods 3HPH 560 Advanced Biostatistics 3HPH 565 Health Services Research 3

ApplicationsHPH 567 Clinical Outcomes Research 3

Selectives (3 credits from courses listed below. Each coursemay not be offered every year.)

Course Title CreditsHPH 510 Advanced Epidemiology 3HPH 513 Decision-Making in Medicine &

Public Health 3HPH 517 Continuous Quality Improvement

Methods 2HPH 519 Independent Study variableHPH 528 Survey Research Methods 2HPH 566 Clinical Trials 2HPH 570 Multilevel & Longitudinal Analyses 2HPH 646 Continuous Quality Improvement

in Healthcare 3HPH 657 Demographic Economics I 3HPH 664 Economics of Health 3HPH 665 Health Economics 3

Or, with approval of advisor, other research methods coursesin the University may be substituted.

Community Health ConcentrationThe Community Health concentration prepares students forcommunity-based work in public health. The mission of thisconcentration is to prepare students for community-basedwork in public health. Students will learn skills and knowledgerelated to planning, implementing, and evaluating communityhealth improvement projects and interventions, as well as theprinciples of community-based participatory research. Thecurriculum includes courses on the theories of health behavior,and health communications, and ethical issues related to com-munity health, as well as planning, implementing, and evalu-ating health programs. Students in this concentration mustuse their Core Selective toward the concentration.



Required Courses(Courses from the Department of Health Care Policy andManagement, School of Health Technology andManagement)

Course Title CreditsHAS 527 Principles & Practices of

Community Health 3HAS 545 Ethics & Health Care 3HAS 557 Planning & Implementing

Health Programs 3HAS 559 Health Behavior & Risk Reduction 3HAS 560 Evaluation of Community

Health Programs 3Or, with approval of advisor, other community health-relatedcourses in the University may be substituted.

Public Health Practice ConcentrationThe mission of this concentration is to prepare students witha clinical background for positions in public health organiza-tions or to incorporate public health knowledge, skills, and val-ues into their clinical practice. Students in this concentrationare required to take the History of Public Health & Medicine,Planning & Implementing Health Programs StrategicManagement of Public Health Organizations, Public HealthLaw, Demographic Theory & Methods, and ManagementAccounting & Financial Decision Analysis (10 credits total).The remaining 35 credits are obtained from a list of selectivesfrom the following list of courses. Working with one of thePublic Health Practice advisors, students select courses thatare related to their professional goals. With the exception ofstudents in the joint M.P.H./M.B.A. program, only personswith a clinical degree or studying for a clinical degree such asmedicine, nursing, dentistry, physical therapy, physician assis-tant are eligible for the Public Health Practice concentration.

Required Courses Course Title CreditsHPH 524 Strategic Management of

Public Health Organizations 2HPH 530 History of Public Health & Medicine 2HPH 549 Public Health Law 2HPH 555 Demographic Theory & Methods 3(Course from Department of Technology & Society)HPH 660 Management Accounting & Financial

Decision Analysis 3

Selectives (Select 3 credits from courses below. Each coursemay not be offered every year.)

Course Title CreditsHPH 504 Surveillance & Control of Infectious

Diseases 2HPH 505 Topics in Population Health Studies 1-3HPH 510 Advanced Epidemiology 3HPH 513 Decision-Making in Medicine &

Public Health 3HPH 517 Continuous Quality Improvement

Methods 2HPH 519 Independent Study variableHPH 528 Survey Research Methods 2HPH 542 Introduction to Global Health 2

HPH 560 Advanced Biostatistics 3HPH 565 Health Services Research Applications 3HPH 566 Clinical Trials 2HPH 567 Clinical Outcomes Research 3HPH 568 Overview of Molecular Medicine &

Genomics 2

(Courses from the Department of Health Care Policy andManagement, School of Health Technology and Management)

Course Title CreditsHAS 545 Ethics & Health Care 3HAS 559 Health Behavior & Risk Reduction 3

(Course from Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology)

Course Title CreditsHPH 659 Biology of Cancer 1

(Courses from School of Social Welfare)

Course Title CreditsHPH 620 Parameters of Social &

Health Policy I 3HPH 621 Parameters of Social &

Health Policy II 3HPH 626 Overview of Substance Abuse 2HPH 630 Chemical Dependency

in Special Populations 2HPH 631 Cultural Competence: An Ingredient

Enhancing Treatment Outcomes 2HPH 632 Psychopathology &

Psycho-Pharmacology 2HPH 633 Childhood Sexual Abuse &

Long-Term Sequelae 2HPH 635 Seminar on Family Violence 2HPH 636 Community Analysis &

Health Promotion 2

(Course from Department of Anthropology)

Course Title CreditsHPH 658 Use of Remote Sensing &

GIS in Environmental Analysis 3

(Courses from Department of Economics)

Course Title CreditsHPH 657 Demographic Economics I 3HPH 664 Economics of Health 3HPH 665 Health Economics 3(Courses from Marine Sciences Research Center orDepartment of Technology & Society)

Course Title CreditsHPH 653 Introduction to Homeland Security 3HPH 654 Nuclear Safeguards & Security 4HPH 655 Chemical & Biological Weapons:

Safeguards & Security 4HPH 656 Risk Assessment, Regulation, &

Homeland Security 4HPH 661 Methods of Socio-Technological

Decision-Making 3HPH 662 Systems Approach to Human-



Machine Systems 3HPH 671 Marine Pollution 3HPH 672 Marine Management 3HPH 673 Groundwater Problems 3HPH 675 Environment & Public Health 3HPH 676 Environmental Law & Regulation 3HPH 684 Environmental & Waste

Management in Business & Industry 3HPH 686 Risk Assessment & Hazard

Management 3HPH 687 Diagnosis of Environmental

Disputes 3HPH 688 Principles of Environmental

Systems Analysis 3HPH 689 Simulation Models for

Environmental & Waste Management 3

Or, with approval of academic advisor, other courses in theUniversity related to the student’s goals may be substituted

B.S. in Applied Mathematics &Statistics/M.P.H. DegreeThe Graduate Program in Public Health offers a combinedBachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Applied Mathematics andStatistics with the Masters of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree,with a concentration in Evaluative Sciences. Students take allrequired courses for their Applied Mathematics and Statisticsundergraduate major, all required general education courses,and the full 45 credit M.P.H. program. Students use 12 M.P.H.credits to fulfill credit requirements for the undergraduatedegree. The program is highly selective.

The B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics is anexcellent preparation for the M.P.H. program, particularly theEvaluative Sciences concentration, which focuses on thehighly quantitative areas of biostatistics and research design.The current demand for M.P.H. graduates with quantitativeskills is strong, and this combined B.S./M.P.H. program isintended to help attract talented quantitative students intothe public health field. There is no similar B.S./M.P.H. degreeprogram at any other public or private institution in NewYork State.

Admission to the B.S. in Applied Mathematics &Statistics/M.P.H. Degree ProgramOrdinarily, students will be considered for admission into thecombined B.S./M.P.H. degree program after completing theirjunior year of undergraduate study—either before the start oftheir senior year or during their senior year. Students withexceptional records may be admitted during the junior year.Students who transfer to Stony Brook after their junior yearmust complete one semester at Stony Brook before they willbe considered for admission to this combined B.S./M.P.H. pro-gram. The admissions requirements for students entering thecombined degree program are as follows:

• Overall Stony Brook undergraduate GPA of at least 3.3

• GPA in courses required in the Applied Math major of at least 3.5

• Letters of recommendation from two faculty who rank the student in the top 10% of their classes.

B.S./M.P.H. Required Course WorkThe degree requirements for the B.S./M.P.H. degree programdo not differ from the requirements for the undergraduateprogram and the M.P.H. program. The benefit of the jointdegree is that 12 graduate M.P.H. credits count toward thestudent’s undergraduate degree, with 8 of the 12 credits alsocounting as upper-division electives in the AppliedMathematics and Statistics major including: HPH 506,Biostatistics I (2 credits), HPH 507 Biostatistics II (3 credits),and HPH 555 Demographic Theory and Methods (3 credits).Four additional M.P.H. graduate credits may be countedtowards the 120 total credits required for the B.S. degree. Allrequired courses and DEC/General Education requirementsremain.

Completion TimetableStudents in the combined B.S./M.P.H. program can completeboth degrees in 10 semesters. For the first three years (firstsix semesters) students complete undergraduate course workfor DEC/General Education and requirements of the under-graduate major program. During the fourth year (seventh andeighth semesters), students take undergraduate and graduatecourses. During the fifth year (ninth and tenth semesters),students complete the remaining graduate requirements forthe M.P.H. degree.

M.P.H./M.B.A. DegreeThe Graduate Program in Public Health and the College ofBusiness offer a combined M.P.H./M.B.A. degree program toprepare students for a management career in the health field.The M.P.H./M.B.A. program includes 19-20 credits (7 courses)of overlap, which reduces the total number of credits in thejoint program to 71-78 credits, depending on which M.P.H.concentration is chosen. Students will receive both degreesupon completion of the entire program.

Admission to the M.P.H./M.B.A. DegreeProgramStudents who wish to be considered for admission into thecombined M.P.H./M.B.A. degree program must comply withall the requirements of admission for the M.P.H. degree alone.The M.P.H. Admissions Committee will review completedM.P.H./M.B.A. applications initially and recommend eligibleapplicants to the Admissions Committee of the School ofBusiness for approval. M.P.H./M.B.A. degree applicants maysubmit GMAT scores in lieu of GRE scores.



Course DescriptionsM.P.H. Core Courses

HPH 500 Contemporary Issues Public HealthThis course provides an introduction to the field of publichealth that aims to develop an appreciation of the unique andimportant mission of public health; an understanding of thehistory, values, ethics, mission, and goals of public health; andknowledge about how public health functions today includingthe organization, financing, policies, and practices of publichealth. Students will be expected to think critically aboutwhether public health has achieved its mission in today’sworld and how the profession might develop in the future.2-3 credits Lecture

HPH 501 Introduction to the Research ProcessThis course provides an overview of the research processincluding formulation of a research problem, conceptualizationof the research design, construction of the instrument for datacollection, selection of the sample, collection of data, process-ing of data, and writing the research report. Topics includehow to identify a research question and, correspondingly, howto formulate a clear, concise hypothesis or set of hypotheses;reasons and procedures for reviewing the literature; overviewof observational and interventional research designs; reviewof measurement theory, types of scales, and commonly usedmeasures in public health-related research; data collectionmethods including survey and qualitative methods; and theethical conduct of research. Through the introduction of thesetopics, the course provides a general background for individu-als who are interested in learning the fundamentals of how toprepare a research proposal.2 credits Lecture

HPH 506 Biostatistics IThis is part 1 of a 2-term course and is intended to provide stu-dents and researchers in public health with an introduction tothe principles of statistical methods and their application inbiomedical and public health research. Students are expectedto enroll in parts 1 and 2 sequentially within the same aca-demic year. This course includes introductions to the use ofcomputers for statistical analysis, summarizing and exploringdata, probability theory, discrete and continuous probabilitydistributions, populations and samples, sampling distributionsand statistical inference, hypothesis testing, sample size andpower, two-sample comparisons, analysis of variance, associa-tion and correlation, simple linear regression, and simplelogistic regression. Prerequisites: math placement exam score of 3 or higher2-3 credits Lecture

HPH 507 Biostatistics IIThis is part 2 of a 2-term course and is intended to provide stu-dents and researchers in public health with an introduction tothe principles of statistical methods and their application inbiomedical and public health research. Students are expectedto enroll in parts 1 and 2 sequentially within the same aca-demic year. This course includes introductions to the use of

computers for statistical analysis, summarizing and exploringdata, probability theory, discrete and continuous probabilitydistributions, populations and samples, sampling distributionsand statistical inference, hypothesis testing, sample size andpower, two-sample comparisons, analysis of variance, associa-tion and correlation, simple linear regression, and simplelogistic regression. Prerequisites: HPH 5063 credits Lecture

HPH 508 Health Systems PerformanceThis course introduces students to the system that we havedeveloped to deliver health care in the United States, withinternational comparisons. The topics include the organiza-tion and financing of health care systems, access to health careincluding health insurance, regulation and policy issues, andthe health care workforce.3 credits, fall semester, Professor R. Goldsteen

HPH 514 Epidemiology for Public HealthThis course presents basic epidemiologic concepts used tostudy health and disease in populations. It provides anoverview of the major causes of morbidity and mortality,including methods of measurement (e.g., incidence, preva-lence). Observational and experimental epidemiologic studieswill be described and their advantages and disadvantagescompared. The course aims for students to begin developingthe skills needed to evaluate data, interpret reports, and con-duct studies. Students will be introduced to the various areasof epidemiologic study-cancer, molecular/ genetic, environ-mental, occupational, social and behavioral, and infectious dis-ease/surveillance. The course comprises both lectures andsmall group seminars for in-depth discussions of previouslyassigned topics.3 credits, spring semester, Professor O’Leary

HPH 516 Environmental and Occupational HealthThis course is designed to provide the fundamentals of envi-ronmental and occupational health and to educate students onissues related to major environmental and occupational con-cerns. It will provide a forum for the discussion of local andnational environmental and occupational public health issues.The content of the course will focus on major pollutants, theirdetection, impact on health, and principles of remediation.Using various teaching techniques, students will be exposedto current environmental and occupational topics andapproaches to prevention and treatment. The course willemphasize the most recent research in the field.3 credits, spring semester, Public Health Faculty

HPH 523 Social and Behavioral Determinants of HealthThis course introduces students to population health as one ofthe organizing concepts in public health and the orientationthat differentiates public health from medicine. Consistentwith public health tradition, health is discussed from an ecological perspective, and the course presents current knowl-edge about the multiple determinants of population healthincluding socioeconomic status, the physical environment,medical care, individual behavior, and genetics and the inter-



action of these factors. Also covered is the measurement ofpopulation health, sources of data, and methods for assessingpopulation health improvements.2 credits, summer semester, Professor Hale

HPH 549 Public Health LawThis course is a survey of legal and policy issues that have spe-cial relevance for public health professionals. Topics mayvary, but typically will include many of the following: struc-ture of the U.S. legal system; power of state governments inmatters affecting health care; governmental power and theright to privacy; constitutional issues in social welfare bene-fits; governmental regulation of health care providers andpayers; the scope and discretion of administrative agencies inhealth care; the antitrust laws; the fraud and abuse laws; andnegligence in the delivery and financing of health care.Prerequisite: HPH 5082 credits Lecture

HPH 562 Data Management and InformaticsThis course provides students with an introduction to theprinciples of public health informatics and data managementusing the SAS systems. Lectures and labs will be aimed atdeveloping hands-on skills about how to create, maintain, andmanage databases using the SAS Systems for Windows, amajor software package used frequently in public health andclinical research. In addition, the student will learn how toretrieve and summarize information about population healthfrom major public health information systems in the U.S.2 credits Lecture

HPH 563 Cost Benefit and Cost Effectiveness AnalysisThe course will introduce the uses and conduct of cost benefitand cost effectiveness analyses as decision-making aids in thehealth care research. It will provide students with an under-standing of the roles and limitations of cost benefit and costeffectiveness analyses and criteria for evaluating those stud-ies. Critical issues regarding measuring cost and effective-ness, evaluating outcomes, discounting, and dealing withuncertainty will be discussed.2 credits, spring semester, Professor Rizzo

The Culminating ExperienceThe Capstone Seminar and the Practicum are offered as tan-dem experiences. They combine to create the culminatingexperience for the proposed program.

HPH 580 PracticumThe Practicum is a planned experience in a supervised andevaluated public health-related practice setting. A journal offieldwork and a project, with a written report, are required.Students will be expected to demonstrate their “capacity toorganize, analyze, interpret and communicate knowledge in anapplied manner.” Health departments, as well as a variety ofother local organizations, offer a wide array of potential sitesfor the Practicum experience. 3 credits, fall, spring, and summer semesters, Public Health Faculty

HPH 581 Capstone Seminar: Population Health IssuesThis course will assist students in synthesizing the basic pub-lic health knowledge through completion of a CapstoneProject. Attendance at Public Health Grand Rounds will alsobe required for this course. Most core and concentrationcourse work must be complete before the student can partici-pate in the Capstone Seminar.2-3 credits, fall, spring, and summer semesters, Public Healthfaculty

Evaluative Sciences Concentration(Required Courses)

HPH 555 Demographic Theory and Methods This course introduces students to the basic theory and meth-ods employed in the study of demography. The students willunderstand life table methodology, population projection,sources of demographic data, patterns in global fertility andmortality, the demographic transition, current patterns in fer-tility, marriage and work, abortion and contraception, and fer-tility/mortality interrelationships. 3 credits, spring semester, Professor Hale

HPH 560 Advanced BiostatisticsThis course will discuss aspects of practice and statistical the-ory relevant to the design of scientific investigations in thehealth sciences. Topics will include sample size considerations,basic principles of experimental design, block designs, and fac-torial experiments, and multivariate analysis for continuousand categorical data. Prerequisites: HPH 506 and HPH 5073 credits. spring semester, Public Health faculty

HPH 565 Health Services Research ApplicationsThe course is designed to introduce students to the applicationof standard methods in health services research. The studentwill learn the principles, methods, and terminology specific tothis field. Threats to validity, information bias and the meth-ods of control will be explored. Lectures will include riskadjustment, benchmarking, outcomes and effectivenessresearch. This course will emphasize the theory of samplingand survey methods and their application to health servicesresearch. Prerequisites: HPH 507 and HPH 5622-3 credits, fall semester, Professor Meng

HPH 567 Clinical Outcomes ResearchThis course will provide an overview of the field of clinical out-comes assessment. The specific topics covered include: riskfactors identification, clinical outcomes selection, risk adjust-ment methods, patient safety monitoring, and provider-basedquality improvement performance reporting. Students will beintroduced to a broad range of clinical outcomes including (butnot limited to) short-term mortality, treatment-related mor-bidity, health-related quality of life, condition-specific metrics,patient satisfaction, health plan member satisfaction, utilitytheory, and cost-effectiveness analysis. An emphasis will beplaced in this course on how clinical outcomes research can



provide a data-driven approach to influence patient, provider,program, and policy decisions. Prerequisites: HPH 507 and HPH 5623 credits Lecture

Community Health Concentration (Required Courses)HAS 527 Principles & Practices of Public &

Community HealthThis course provides an overview of the public health system,the philosophy and purpose of public and community health,the managerial and educational aspects of public health pro-grams, how the public health sector responds to disease pre-vention, environmental issues, community public healthprovisions and other core public and community health compo-nents. The impact of federal health care reform on the publichealth delivery system and the economic and fiscal implica-tions of the system on state and local governments will be dis-cussed. Students will analyze the critical elements of a healthcare system.3 credits, semester varies, Community Health Faculty

HAS 533 Communications & Group DynamicsThis course provides a strong introduction to the structureand dynamics of working groups and teams in various healthcare settings. The course is designed to familiarize studentswith the principles of interpersonal communication and groupprocess and to develop, enhance and strengthen skills in theseareas. Students will participate in a variety of activities,including readings, case studies, and written and oral presen-tations that illustrate relevant principles and provide practicein their application. The knowledge and skills acquired in thiscourse will enhance communication with patients, programparticipants, colleagues, community members and leaders.Students will also develop skills for facilitating small and largegroup discussions for teaching patients and communities andfor educating special populations.3 credits, semester varies, Community Health Faculty

HAS 557 Planning and Evaluating Health ProgramsThis course provides students with knowledge and skills fordeveloping all phases of community health plans. Studentsgain knowledge and skills to conduct needs assessment includ-ing the use of surveys, focus groups, literature reviews, chartreviews, telephone/computer interviews and content expertconsultations. Students also acquire extensive informationand materials for developing implementation strategies,methods and techniques. All students are required to designa community health program utilizing the planning and imple-menting phases presented in the course.3 credits, semester varies, Community Health Faculty

HAS 559 Health Behavior & Risk ReductionThe impact of behavior on the health and well-being of thepublic is profound and far-reaching, as the majority of theleading causes of death and disability are largely attributableto behaviors that can be modified or prevented throughchanges in individual, community, and/or institutional/organi-zational behavior. This course is designed to (1) help students

acquire knowledge of theories and concepts to describe,explain, and predict health-related behaviors as well as behav-ioral responses to risk communication; (2) learn the skills toapply this knowledge to evaluate the effectiveness of behav-ioral and health communication interventions; and (3) developa health-related behavioral intervention project proposal thatincludes a plan to evaluate behavior change outcomes.3 credits, semester varies, Community Health Faculty

HAS 560 Evaluation of Community Health ProgramsAddresses basic principles and practices of program evalua-tion including identifying the goals of a community health pro-gram; designing an evaluation plan, that can determine ifprogram goals are achieved; implementing an evaluation plan;interacting with stakeholders, and using the results of the pro-gram evaluation to improve performance. Students arerequired to design an evaluation component for the commu-nity health program they developed in HAS 557: Planning &Evaluating Health Programs.3 credits, semester varies, Community Health Faculty

Public Health Practice Concentration(Required Courses)HPH 524 Strategic Management of Public Health

OrganizationsThis course is an introduction to public health management inrelationship to program development and implementation.Health care organizations will succeed or fail for reasonsrelated to their strategic planning and the organizationalstrategies designed to achieve their goals. Through lectures,discussions, group exercises, guest lecturers, and case analy-ses, students will explore the strategic management and plan-ning process. Students will formulate and evaluatealternative solutions to program development and implemen-tation through critical analysis of the stages of strategic plan-ning and management: situational analysis, strategicformulation of program, and strategic implementation of pro-grams.2 credits Lecture

HPH 530 History of Public Health and MedicineThis course explores major themes and interpretations in thehistory of public health and medicine since the 18th century.Particular emphasis is placed on the influence of social and cul-tural developments on medicine and public health, and viceversa. American developments will be placed in a broad com-parative perspective including both Western and non-Westernnations.2 credits, summer semester, Professor Tomes

HPH 555 Demographic Theory and Methods This course introduces students to the basic theory and meth-ods employed in the study of demography. The students willunderstand life table methodology, population projection,sources of demographic data, patterns in global fertility andmortality, the demographic transition, current patterns in fer-tility, marriage and work, abortion and contraception, and fer-tility/mortality interrelationships. 3 credits, spring semester, Professor Hale



HPH 660 Management Accounting & Financial Decision Analysis

Fundamentals of managerial accounting with emphasis onratio and cost accounting terms, concepts, break-even analy-sis, financial structure, cost analysis, opportunity costs andreturn calculations, replacement of assets, and cash flow man-agement. (Cross-listed with EMP 502)3 credits, fall semester

Selective Courses

HPH 503 Research EthicsThis course presents issues in the ethical conduct of research.Topics include data collection and management, researchfraud, academic misconduct, conflict of interest, federal andinstitutional guidelines regarding research using human andanimal subjects, vulnerable populations, confidentiality, andthe Institutional Review Board (IRB).1 credit, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 504 Surveillance & Control of Infectious DiseasesThis course introduces the methods of surveillance and controlof infectious diseases in the community and in health careorganizations including the design, implementation, and eval-uation of surveillance systems and the analysis of surveillancesystem data. The course focuses on infectious diseases com-mon in the United States, but also discusses the global situa-tion. Bioterrorism will be discussed.2 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 505 Topics in Population Health StudiesThis course presents current topics and issues in populationhealth studies.1-3 credits, semester varies, Public Health FacultyMay be repeated 1 time for credit.

HPH 509 Methods for Population Health StudiesThis course introduces population health studies methods andtheir importance for evidence-based public health practice.Topics include the design, implementation, and analysis ofcommunity surveys, qualitative studies, and evaluation stud-ies for health programs. Sources and uses of existing data forpopulation health studies, including census, mortality, admin-istrative, and survey will be discussed.2 credits Lecture

HPH 510 Advanced EpidemiologyThis course will introduce advanced statistical methods forepidemiological investigations for infectious and non-infec-tious diseases. The topics include interaction, standardizationof rates and ratios, conditional logistic regression, life tables,and survival analysis. Prerequisites: HPH 511 and 514 or other mathematically-ori-ented introduction to statistics3 credits, fall semester, Public Health Faculty

HPH 513 Decision Making in Medicine and Public HealthThis course is designed to introduce the student to the meth-ods and range of applications of decision analysis in healthcare technology assessment, medical decision making, andhealth resource allocation. Students will learn the basics ofdecision science and how to organize complex problems into ananalyzable framework as a basis for decision making and itsapplications in public health and clinical settings. This coursewill cover the following areas: making use of probabilities inmedicine, choice and interpretation of diagnostic tests, deci-sion tree construction and analysis, quantifying patient pref-erences, and cost-effectiveness analysis. Students will learnmethodologies for dealing with complex decisions both on anindividual patient level and at a policy level, and will havehands-on experience in applying these to a problem of theirchoice.Prerequisites: HPH 506 and HPH 5073 credits Lecture

HPH 517 Continuous Quality Improvement MethodsThis course introduces the principles and methods of continu-ous quality improvement (CQI) for public health and healthcare organizations including benchmarking, development ofpertinent information systems, timely and regular analysis ofdata, and presentation of performance results. The course alsodiscusses implementation issues including availability of rele-vant data and achieving administrative and staff support. 2 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 519 Independent StudyIntensive reading, under supervision of one or more instruc-tors,of material not covered in the formal curriculum, or exe-cution of a research project under the supervision of one ormore faculty members. Prerequisites: permission of M.P.H. Academic Coordinator0- 6 credits, semester varies, Public Health FacultyMay be repeated 5 times for credit.

HPH 521 Introduction to Clinical ResearchThis introductory seminar series provides a broad-basedoverview of clinical science research methods, as well as guid-ance for critically reviewing the peer-reviewed literature.Class lectures, exercises, and interactive small group sessionswill cover framing a research question, formulating a researchhypothesis, critically appraising the literature, exploringstudy design options, conducting research ethically andresponsibly, selecting clinical outcomes, and evaluating ana-lytical alternatives.1-3 credits Lecture

HPH 526 Issues for Public Health OrganizationsNot all organizational change improves upon the past andmost change is difficult. This course discusses the challengesfacing public health managers who are intent on implementingorganizational change. Top management processes for publichealth leaders will be explored including strategic planning,resource allocation, decision-making, learning, and managing.2 credits, spring semester, Public Health Faculty



HPH 528 Survey Research MethodsThis course will introduce survey research methods for com-munity populations. It will include measurement of health sta-tus and other factors related to the health of communitypopulations including socioeconomic status, health behavior,occupation, and social support. Topics will include samplingand design strategies, instrument development, scaling,assessment of reliability, validity and responsiveness tochange; principal component(s); analysis and factor analysis;and item response theory. The course will introduce studentsto the many existing sources of community health survey dataincluding the recurrent national surveys such as the NationalHealth Interview Survey.2 credits, spring semester, Public Health Faculty

HPH 539 Global Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine

This course focuses on strategies to reduce mortality and mor-bidity from specific conditions. The conditions selected aremainly infectious diseases that account for the majority of pre-ventable deaths and disability in low-income countries, espe-cially among children. Detailed discussion of disease due toprotozoa and parasites will, however, be deferred to anothercourse. In addition, the increase in mortality from tobacco-related disease and trauma in poor countries will also beaddressed. 3 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 540 Medical Anthropology, Culture, & EthicsThis course focuses on how patients in non-western societiesview issues related to health and disease and how medicalinterventions can be integrated into local beliefs and customs.Particular attention will be devoted to the role of women inimproving the health status of their communities. Region-spe-cific overviews will be provided on how history and culturehave influenced health in sub-Saharan Africa and LatinAmerica. Ethical issues related to resource allocation andmedical and public health research in low income countrieswill also be addressed in this course.3 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 541 Provision of Health Care in Low Income Countries

This course focuses on the practical implementation of inter-ventions to reduce disability and premature death in lowincome countries. It will cover funding and organization ofhealth care; primary health care programs; role of expatriatehealth workers; and emergency medical care of refugee popu-lations.3 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 542 Introduction to Global Health This course will provide health personnel with a basic aware-ness of the problems of the worlds’ population with specialfocus on the poorest. To promote these objectives, this coursehas been designed to introduce medical and public health stu-dents to key population health topics from a global perspec-tive, with special emphasis placed on the health and welfare ofwomen and young children in low-income countries. Thehealth impact of emergent infectious diseases will bereviewed. The design and effectiveness of foreign aid pro-

grams will be discussed. Students will be introduced todemography and the impact of population increases on theglobal environment. There will be discussions of the healthproblems of immigrants to the U.S. from tropical countries.Finally students will learn about vaccination and other safetyissues related to traveling and working in the tropics.2 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 544 Development & DemographyThis course focuses on broad issues of international aid anddevelopment policies that impact human health and the globalenvironment. The course will help place the specific clinicalinterventions discussed in other courses into a wider socioeco-nomic context. Topics will include demography, poverty,health, and development; international and U.S. AID policies;and global environment for sustainable development.3 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 545 Clinical, Laboratory, & Epidemiological Parasitology & Protozoology

This is an integrated and detailed course on the subjects ofparasitology and protozoology. The epidemiology, microbiol-ogy, clinical presentation, and management, as well as labora-tory diagnosis, of these conditions will be covered. The humanand economic impact of these conditions will be discussed.Preventive measures will be discussed in detail. It will beassumed that students have minimal or no prior knowledge ofthese conditions.3 credits, semester varies Public Health Faculty

HPH 548 Health and Science CommunicationsThis graduate level course is taught in combination with thejournalism undergraduate course JRN 334 Science and HealthReporting. This course aims to foster a mutual understandingof health communication between the journalist and publichealth professional with the goal of improving the publichealth messages that are released to the public therebyimproving health literacy. Students will develop skills andknowledge needed to frame and communicate messages accu-rately within the framework of public health institutions andthe media. Students will gain: an understanding of how allforms of media are organized and how news is disseminated;how hospital/public health media relations offices are organ-ized and disseminate information; how to write press releases;how to communicate basic statistics; how to give an interviewas an expert to the media; how to interpret research studies,etc. Drawing on the resources of the Health Sciences Center,as well as the School of Journalism, the course stresses hands-on experiences: Public Health students and journalism stu-dents will work together in communicating public health newsto the public. Public Health students will be called upon bytheir journalism colleagues to either provide ideas for publichealth media or be an expert on a story generated by the jour-nalism student. Students will spend time shadowing a hospi-tal/public health media relations person, as well as shadowinga journalist, will meet with Suffolk County health officials andparticipate as a public health official at a mock news confer-ence; practice being interviewed by a journalist using themedical schools Clinical Skills Center and will visitBrookhaven National Laboratory.3 credits Lecture



HPH 561 Design of Scientific InvestigationsThis course is an overview of the theory and methods relevantto health sciences research, beginning with the philosophy ofscientific investigations, the role of literature in the advance-ment of science and moving to problem identification, formu-lation of research questions, research design, and issues ofsampling and sample selection, measurement, and analysis.1 credit, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 564 Research Methods for Community PopulationsThis course will introduce the design, measurement, andanalysis of research for community populations. It will includemeasurement of health status and other factors related to thehealth of community populations including socioeconomic sta-tus, health behavior, occupation, and social support. Topics willinclude instrument development, scaling, assessment of relia-bility, validity and responsiveness to change; principal compo-nent analysis and factor analysis; and item response theory.The course will introduce the many existing sources of com-munity health information including the recurrent nationalsurveys such as the Health Interview Survey.2 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 566 Clinical TrialsThis course introduces the design, conduct, and analysis ofclinical trials. Topics will include types of clinical trials, studydesign, treatment allocation, randomization and stratification,quality control, sample size requirements, patient consent,and interpretation of results.2 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 568 Overview of Molecular Medicine & GenomicsThe course will introduce basic concepts of molecular diagnos-tics currently in clinical use. The principal topics to be coveredinclude: an introduction to the human genome; principles ofhuman genetics; microarray, genomic and bioinformaticsapproaches to human disease; cancer genetics; animal modelsof human diseases; emerging pathogens; principles of genetictesting strategies and test development; emerging moleculartherapeutics; regulatory, patenting and licensing issues of rel-evance to drug discovery and test development.2 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 569 Modeling for Evaluative SciencesThis course will present an introduction to the methods ofdata mining and predictive modeling, with particular empha-sis on applications to health services research and clinical out-comes research. Basic concepts and philosophy of data miningas well as appropriate applications will be discussed. Topicscovered will include multiple comparisons adjustment, andpredictive model building through logistic regression, classifi-cation and regression tress (CART), multivariate adaptivesplines (MARS), and neural networks.2 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 570 Multilevel and Longitudinal AnalysisThe course covers methods for the analysis of repeated meas-ures, correlated outcomes and longitudinal data, including theunbalanced and incomplete data sets characteristic of healthservice research. Topics include ANOVA, random effects and

growth curve models, and generalized linear models for corre-lated data, including generalized estimating equations.2 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 571 Research Synthesis and Meta AnalysisThis course concerns the use of existing data to inform clinicaldecision-making and health care policy. The course focus isresearch synthesis (meta-analysis). The principles of metaan-alytic statistical methods are reviewed, and the application ofthese to data sets is explored. Application of methods includesconsiderations for clinical trials and observational studies. Theuse of meta-analysis to explore data and identify sources ofvariation among studies is emphasized, as is the use of meta-analysis to identify future research questions. 2 credits, semester varies, Public Health Faculty

HPH 572 Introduction to Clinical TrialsTargeted to graduate medical trainees and junior clinical fac-ulty, this course provides an overview of topics related to thedesign, conduct, and analysis of clinical trials. Topics willinclude types of clinical trials, study design, treatment alloca-tion, randomization and stratification, quality control, samplesize requirements, patient consent, and interpretation ofresults.2 credits Lecture

HPH 601 Health Behavior and Risk ReductionDiscusses the impact of behavior on the health and well-beingof the public. Addresses the leading causes of death and dis-ability that are largely attributable to behaviors that can bemodified or prevented through changes in individual, commu-nity, and institutional or organizational behavior. The course isdesigned to help students acquire knowledge of theories andconcept to describe, explain, and predict health-related behav-iors as well as behavioral responses to risk communication;learn the skills to apply this knowledge to evaluate the effec-tiveness of behavioral and health communication interven-tions; and develop a health-related behavioral interventionproject proposal that includes a plan to evaluate behaviorchange outcomes.3 credits Lecture

HPH 620 Parameters of Social and Health Policy IIntroduces students to United States social policy, with spe-cial emphasis on political, economic, and social factors thathave affected its historical development, particularly in refer-ence to oppressed groups. Explores relationship of social pol-icy to social work practice. 3 credits, fall semester, Professors Blau, Brandwein,Farrington, Lewis and Peabody

HPH 621 Parameters of Social and Health Policy IIUtilizes frameworks for social policy analysis. Explores con-tinuing dilemmas in policy development. Stresses effects ofsocial movements and social change on social policy. Prerequisite: HWC 5093 credits, spring semester, Professors Blau, Brandwein,Farrington, Lewis and Peabody



HPH 626 Overview of Substance AbuseAn examination of the history and development of alcohol andsubstance abuse problems in the United States. Focuses onthe etiology, psychopharmacology and legal ramifications ofthe use licit and illicit substances in our culture. Providesinformation on a variety of services available to drug abusers,addicted individuals and their families in the fields of preven-tion, education and treatment. Co-scheduled with HWC 344.2 credits, fall semester, Professors Brisbane and Murphy

HPH 630 Chemical Dependency in Special PopulationsCovers alcoholism and substance abuse with populations thathave been traditionally devalued and oppressed. Focuses ondevelopment of skills and sensitivity to the needs of ethnicgroups, women, the elderly, the mentally ill and gay and les-bian people who are chemically dependent. Explores policyand practice issues related to these populations. 2-3 credits, semester varies, Professor Murphy

HPH 631 Cultural Competency: An IngredientEnhancing Treatment Outcomes

Demonstrates that cultural competency, like computer liter-acy, is a necessity. Outlines how prevention messages andtreatment modalities provided within a cultural context arelikely to change attitudes or redirect behaviors. There is anew wave of immigrants and a growing assertion of culturalidentity by groups who were born in the U.S. Therefore, anew communication edict of cultural dialogue is fast becomingpart of one’s professional mandate. Hence, the ability to inter-act with people who are culturally different from the profes-sional is a prerequisite to providing culturally competentservices to these groups. Co-scheduled with HWC 357.2 credits, semester varies, Professor Brisbane

HPH 633 Childhood Sexual Abuse and Long-TermSequelae: Assessment and Intervention

Introduces students to the incidence and prevalence of child-hood sexual abuse as a national problem. Covered are defini-tion issues, sequelae during childhood, family constellationand adult sequelae. Addressed are assessment and currenttreatment modalities, particularly for families and offenders,ethical and legal dilemmas and the subsequent health-relateddifficulties of this childhood trauma. Special attention is paidto the cultural dynamics in sexual abuse. Students areexpected to develop an awareness of and critically analyzecurrent research. Focus is also on examination of policy issuesand legislation.2-3 credits Lecture

HPH 634 Program EvaluationProvides an in-depth analysis of the technical requirements ofprogram evaluation and the organizational and political con-straints that influence the evaluation process. Covers tech-niques in the design and implementation of evaluationresearch in the health and human service fields. Prerequisites: HWC 511 and 5122-3 credits Lecture

HPH 635 Seminar on Family ViolenceAn overview of the phenomenon of family violence in theUnited States including child abuse, partner abuse and elderabuse. Explores theories of etiology, including patriarchy,intergenerational family dynamics and substance abuse.Examines programmatic approaches and programs for batter-ers and prevention strategies.2 credits, semester varies, Professor Brandwein

HPH 636 Community Analysis and Health PromotionExplores diverse concepts of community, analyzes a range ofcommunity structures, processes, and power relationships.Investigates contemporary models, strategies and tactics ofcommunity organizing and health promotion in the UnitedStates and in selected other countries. Emphasizes efforts bypoor people, ethnic minorities of color and women to organizeand mobilize community groups and movements. Highlightsgroup and community analysis and organization skills.2-3 credits, semester varies, Professor Vidal

HPH 638 Qualitative Health Research MethodsThe class works as a team on a joint project. Topics includeproblem formulation, instrument construction, samplingstrategy, interviewing, data transcription, and data analysis.Prerequisites: HWC 511 and 512 (Cross-listed with HWC588).2-3 credits

HPH 649 Health PhysicsThe course is the study of health physics, integration of radia-tion with matter, radiation dosimetry, biological effects ofradiation and radiation protection. The course will emphasizeboth the theoretical and operational aspects of health physics.(Cross-listed as CEM 539 or HPH 649).Prerequisite: Permission of instructor, (631) 444-21963 credits Lecture

HPH 653 Introduction to Homeland SecurityThe course is a combination of lectures and laboratory experi-ence to introduce students to critical issues and assess needsfor homeland security. The course includes invited lectures byexperts on special topics such as fundamentals of nuclear,chemical, and biological weapons and the associated threat tothe transportation of goods and the public. The students willlearn about cyber security, devices to safeguard materialsfrom terrorist threats, safety of nuclear power plants andwater supply, forensics and emergency preparedness. Thestudents will submit a term paper on a selected topic in lieu ofthe final exam. (Cross-listed as EST 550 or HPH 653).Prerequisites: undergraduate level biology, chemistry, andphysics3 credits, semester varies

HPH 654 Nuclear SecurityThe course will familiarize students with the fundamentals ofnuclear physics, radiation, mining, weapons, and fuel cycle,other than producing electricity, as it pertains to nuclearpower plants. Topics include nuclear detection, devices tosafeguard nuclear materials from terrorist threats, needed



physical protection for safe handling and its relevance toHomeland Security. The course combines lectures with hands-on experience at the newly installed nuclear detection facilitylocated at the nearby United States Department of Energy’sBrookhaven National Laboratory. (Cross-listed as EST 553 orHPH 654). Prerequisite: undergraduate equivalent physics or chemistry4 credits, semester varies

HPH 655 Clinical and Biological Weapons: Safeguards and Security

This course deals with the fundamentals of chemistry and bichemistry related to chemical weapons (CW) and biologicalweapons (BW) that could be used by terrorists. Topics includeCW and BW history, production, control, detection, identifica-tion, and emergency response measures to deal with intendedor unintended release and escape, and security measures toprotect and control stockpiles. (Cross-listed as EST 554 orHPH 655).Prerequisite: undergraduate equivalent chemistry, biochem-istry, and microbiology4 credits, semester varies

HPH 656 Risk Assessment, Regulation, andHomeland Security

The course focus is on risk assessment associated withnuclear, chemical, and biological weapons as it relates toHomeland Security. Topics include air dispersion, uncertaintyanalysis, exposure measurements, epidemiology, toxicology,regulatory issues, risk management, risk communication, riskperception, and risk preparedness. The course will also coverlaws and regulation, discouraging terrorism, and disaster pre-paredness, various acts passed by the U.S. Congress to regu-late water, air, and controlled substances. (Cross-listed as EST560 or HPH 656).Prerequisite: undergraduate or equivalent physics, math,and chemistry4 credits, semester varies

HPH 657 Demographic Economics IThis course deals with the economics of the family. It utilizesrecently developed techniques in economics and demographyto deal with questions concerning marriage, divorce, fertility,contraception, the intrafamily distribution of resources, andthe intergenerational distribution of resources. Students willdo original theoretical and empirical research under the pro-fessor’s supervision. Prerequisite: ECO 501; graduate standing in the EconomicsDepartment, or permission of the Graduate Program Director0-3 credits, spring semester

HPH 658 The Use Of Remote Sensing andGIS in Environmental Analysis

An introduction to the use of aerial and satellite imagery inenvironmental analysis and the manipulation of geographicdata sets of all types using Geographic Information Systems.This course is designed to teach students in archaeology, phys-ical anthropology, and related disciplines, how satelliteimagery combined with various maps can be manipulatedusing GIS software to perform powerful geographic analysis.Although students are eventually likely to use these tools in

many different parts of the world, this course focuses on LongIsland as a research area, and each student designs and com-pletes a research project on a particular section of the area,focusing on the habitats of local wildlife, the locations ofarchaeological sites, coastal regimes, etc. This course pre-sumes computer literacy and familiarity with database man-agement. This course is offered as both ANT 526 and DPA 526or HPH 658.3 credits, spring semester

HPH 659 Biology of CancerA short course with the emphasis on cancer as a disease ofman. Lectures address human cancer as seen by the clinicianand as basic research relates to human disease. This courseprovides students with a link between courses in cell andmolecular biology and the application of this basic informationto tumor management. 1 credit, spring semester, even years

HPH 660 Management Accounting and Financial Decision Analysis

Fundamentals of financial and managerial accounting withemphasis on concepts, ratio and break-even analysis, financialstructure, cost analysis, replacement of assets, and cash flowmanagement.3 credits, fall, lecture

HPH 661 Methods of Socio-TechnologicalDecision Making

Focus is on the application of decision-making techniques toanalyze problems involving technology, particularly its socialimpacts. Areas of study include decision making under uncer-tainty, decision making in a passive vs. active environment,sequential decisions, estimating payoffs, forecasting, and tech-nology assessment. These systems-analysis techniques areused to formulate and solve a variety of socio-technologicalproblems, especially those that arise in educational, industrial,and environmental professions.Prerequisite: Graduate standing in department or permissionof instructor3 credits, fall, lecture

HPH 662 Systems Approach to Human-Machine Systems

Systems concepts (feedback, stability, chaos, ergonomics) andanalytical tools applied to dynamic systems in which technolo-gies and/or natural environments interact with human users,regulators, or designers. Examples: ecological systems,nuclear power plant operations, space shuttle missions, com-puter/ web educational technologies, regional planning.Students prepare a systems design study of an industrial, edu-cational, or environmental device, technology, or managementsystem. Prerequisites: EST 581 or permission of instructor graduatestanding in the department3 credits, spring semester

HPH 664 Health Economics ITheoretical and econometric analysis of selected aspects of thehealth care delivery system, such as the demand for medicalservices, the supply and distribution of physician services, the



utilization of non-physician medical personnel, alternativemodels of hospital behavior, third-party insurance reimburse-ment, national health insurance and cost, and price inflation inthe hospital and long-term care sectors. Crosslisted as ECO646 or HPH 664.Prerequisites: ECO 501, ECO 521; Graduate standing in theEconomics department or permission of the GraduateProgram Director0-3 credits Lecture

HPH 665 Health EconomicsThis course applies advanced economic theory and economet-rics to issues within the health market in more detail.Theoretical and econometric analysis of the health care deliv-ery system, such as the demand for medical services, the sup-ply and distribution of physician services, hospital behavior,third-party insurance reimbursement, national health insur-ance and cost, price inflation, and welfare economics and pol-icy analysis. (Co-scheduled with ECO 645.)2 credits, spring semester

HPH 671 Marine PollutionReview of the physical and chemical characteristics and speci-ation in the marine environment of organic pollutants, metalsand radionuclides including bioavailability, assimilation bymarine organisms, toxicity, and policy issues. Prerequisites: MAR 502 and MAR 503 Cross-listed as MAR512 or HPH 6713 credits, fall semester

HPH 672 Marine ManagementThe course discusses waste management issues particularlyaffecting the marine environment. Topics include ocean dump-ing, sewage treatment, fish kills, beach pollution, and nuisancealgal blooms. Techniques for managing the waste stream arepresented. (Cross-listed as MAR 514 or HPH 672).Prerequisite: Permission of instructor3 credits, spring semester

HPH 673 Groundwater ProblemsDiscussion of the hydraulic processes and technologies thatare central to the management and monitoring of groundwa-ter resources including special problems of coastal hydrologyand saltwater intrusion, as well as the fate of contaminants.Remediation approaches are also examined. (Cross-listed asMAR 521 or HPH 673). Prerequisite: permission of instructor3 credits, semester varies

HPH 674 Environmental Toxicology and Public HealthPrinciples of toxicology and epidemiology are presented andproblems associated with major classes of toxic chemicals andradiation to human and environmental health are examined incase study format.3 credits, spring semester, lecture

HPH 675 Environment and Public Health Engineering/Sanitation

Review of the interactions of humans with the atmosphere

and water resources, especially in the Long Island coastalcommunity. An introduction is provided to the field of environ-mental health and the practices relevant to an urban and sub-urban and coastal setting. (Cross-listed with HPH 675).Prerequisite: permission of instructor3 credits, spring semester

HPH 676 Environmental Law and RegulationThis course covers environmental law and regulations frominception in common law through statutory law and regula-tions. The initial approach entails the review of important caselaw giving rise to today’s body of environmental regulations.Emphasis is on environmental statutes and regulations deal-ing with waterfront and coastal development and solid wasteas well as New York State’s Environmental Quality ReviewAct (SEQRA) and the National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA). (Cross-listed as MAR 536 or HPH 676).3 credits, semester varies

HPH 684 Environmental and Waste Management inBusiness and Industry

Environmental and waste management practices in industrialand other institutional settings. Technologies of hazardouswaste prevention, treatment, storage, transportation, and dis-posal are considered. Topics include information systems andsoftware tools for environmental audits, regulatory monitor-ing and compliance, cost estimation, recycling programs, air,land and water emissions controls and permits. Employeehealth, safety and education and quality management areexamined. Field trips to several Long Island institutions.(Cross-listed as EST 586 or HPH 684).3 credits, semester varies

HPH 686 Risk Assessment and Hazard ManagementA case-study approach to the assessment of risk and the man-agement of natural and technological hazards, with emphasison those that can harm the environment. The course focuseson technological hazards involving energy, transportation,agriculture, natural resources, chemical technology, nucleartechnology, and biotechnology, and on natural hazards such asclimatic changes, droughts, floods, and earthquakes. The firstpart of the course consists of readings on risk assessment andhazard management and discussions of published case studies.During the second part of the course, students conduct theirown case studies and use them as the basis for oral and writ-ten reports. (Cross-listed as EST 593or HPH 686.)3 credits, spring semester

HPH 687 Diagnosis of Environmental DisputesDiagnosis of disagreements about environmental and wasteproblems. Tools for evaluating disputes about (a) scientifictheories and environmental models, (b) definitions and analyt-ical methodologies for estimating risk, “real” cost, net energyuse, and life-cycle environmental impact, (c) regulatory andlegal policy, (d) siting of controversial environmental facilities,and (e) fairness and other ethical issues. These diagnostic toolsare brought to bear upon case studies of population preven-tion, recycling, nuclear waste disposal, and climate change.(Cross-listed as EST 594 or CEY 594 or HPH 687).3 credits, semester varies



HPH 688 Principles of Environmental Systems AnalysisThis course is intended for students interested in learning sys-tems engineering principles relevant to solving environmentaland waste management problems. Concepts include compart-mental models, state variables, optimization, and numericaland analytical solutions to differential equations (Cross-listedas EST 595 or HPH 688).Prerequisites: MAT 132 and one year of quantitative sciencesuch as physics, chemistry, or geology; or permission ofinstructor3 credits, fall semester

HPH 689 Simulation Models for Environmentaland Waste Management

This course is intended for students interested in developingcomputer models for technology assessment and for environ-mental and waste management. Concepts developed in EST595 Environmental Systems Engineering and Analysis areapplied to real-world problems. Techniques in model develop-ment are presented in the context of applications in surfaceand groundwater management, acid rain, and health risksfrom environmental contamination. (Cross-listed as EST 596or HPH 689).Pre-requisite: EST 595 or permission of instructor3 credits, spring semester

HPH 695 Applied Linear AlgebraReview of matrix operations. Elementary matrices and reduc-tion of general matrices by elementary operations, canonicalforms, and inverses. Applications to physical problems.(Cross-listed as AMS 505 or HPH 695).3 credits, fall semester, Lecture

HPH 696 Introduction to ProbabilityThe topics include sample spaces, axioms of probability, condi-tional probability and independence, discrete and continuosrandom variables, jointly distributed random variables, char-acteristics of random variables, law of large numbers and cen-tral limit theorem, Markov chains. (Cross-listed as AMS 507or CET 551 or HPH 696).3 credits Lecture

HPH 697 Mathematical StatisticsSampling distribution; convergence concepts; classes of statis-tical models; sufficient statistics; likelihood principle; pointestimation; Bayes estimators; consistence; Neyman-PearsonLemma; UMP tests; UMPU tests; Likelihood ratio tests; largesample theory. (Cross-listed as HPH 697 or AMS 571).Prerequisite: AMS 312; AMS 570 is preferred but not required3 credits Lecture

HPH 698 Data Analysis IIntroduction to basic statistical procedures. Survey of elemen-tary statistical procedures such as the t-test and chi-squaretest. Procedures to verify that assumptions are satisfied.Extensions of simple procedures to more complex situationsand introduction to one-way analysis of variance. Basicexploratory data analysis procedures (stem and leaf plots,straightening regression lines, and techniques to establishequal variance). (Cross-listed as AMS 572 or HPH 698).

Prerequisite: AMS 312 or permission of instructorFall, 3 credits Lecture

HPH 699 Design of ExperimentsDiscussion of the accuracy of experiments, partitioning sumsof squares, randomized designs, factorial experiments, Latinsquares, confounding and fractional replication, response sur-face experiments, and incomplete block designs. (Cross-listedas AMS 582 or HPH 699).Prerequisite: AMS 572 or equivalent3 credits Lecture

Time and Location of CoursesMost courses are taught on the Health Sciences Center cam-pus and are offered in the late afternoon or early evening.

Student ProgressThe following grading system is used in the GraduateProgram in Public Health:A (4.0), A- (3.67), B+ (3.33), B (3.00), B- (2.67), C+ (2.33), C(2.00), C- (1.67), and F (0.00).

Unless specified differently in the course syllabus, coursegrades on a 100 point scale are: A (93-100); A- (90-92); B+ (87-89); B- (80-82); C+ (77-79); C (73-76); C- (70-72); F (69 orlower).

Students must maintain an overall 3.0 average in the M.P.H.Core. Students may receive a grade less than B- in one course,without being penalized. After earning one course grade lessthan B-, students will be required to repeat any other coursesin which the receive a grade of less than a B-. All courses inthe concentration must receive a B or better.

In order to encourage students to develop excellent writingskills, course grades will reflect the quality of writing incourse assignments. The specific policy on grading the qualityof writing will be prerogative of the course instructor, and itmust be explained in the course syllabus.

The M.P.H. degree requirements are rigorous, and studentsmust be able to devote sufficient time to meet the perform-ance standards required. Most students are part time. If thestudent carries 7-8 credits per semester, including two sum-mers, the M.P.H. degree can be earned in two years. TheProgram also accommodates full-time study.

Public Health Grand Round Lecture PolicyTo provide M.P.H. students with information on emerging andimportant public health issues, the Graduate Program inPubic Health will sponsor a Public Health Grand Rounds lec-ture series each fall and spring term. M.P.H. students mustattend at least 6 grand round lectures each academic year foreach term in attendance in the Program, regardless of full- orpart-time status. Lectures other than those scheduled as partof the Public Health Grand Rounds lecture series may be sub-stituted on a case-by-case basis, with prior approval fromM.P.H. Program Coordinator, and with proper documentationof attendance. Students cannot receive a passing grade in theCapstone Seminar if they have not attended the requirednumber of lectures.



Advising PolicyWhenever possible, students will be assigned to a faculty advi-sor in the student’s concentration. The role of the faculty advi-sor will be to meet with their advisees at least twice a year todiscuss students’ progress through the program, assessinggrowth, acting as a touchstone if they have problems, guidingindependent study projects and suggesting a direction fortheir practicum projects. The faculty advisor will also discussstudents’ expectations for the future. The meeting can be inperson or by phone, whichever is preferred by the student andfaculty advisor.

Time LimitsNot including granted leaves of absence, all requirementstowards the M.P.H. degree, the B.S./M.P.H. degree, and theM.P.H./M.B.A. degree must be completed within five yearsfrom matriculation in the Program. The M.D./M.P.H. concur-rent degree can take six years.

Academic IntegrityIntellectual honesty is a cornerstone of all academic and schol-arly work. Therefore, the Graduate Program in Public Healthviews any form of academic dishonesty as a very serious mat-ter. The Program treats each suspected case of academic dis-honesty on a case-by-base basis. The course instructor maychoose to handle an incident or bring it to the ExecutiveCommittee for review and recommendations. In this case, theDirector will make the final determination of action, based onthe recommendations of the Executive Committee. The stu-dent may appeal the decision of the course instructor or theDirector, following the guidelines of the Program’s AcademicAppeal Policy (see Graduate Program in Public HealthStudent Handbook).

Attendance RequirementsAttendance is mandatory, unless there is a medical reason orthe student is excused by the Program Director or courseinstructor. If a course instructor has no written policy in thesyllabus regarding the consequences for being absent fromclass, the Graduate Program in Public Health policy willapply: three or more unexcused absences from class willreduce the final course grade by a full letter grade (e.g., A to B).



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