PHI Interest Areas

Culturally Responsive Public Health Practice

This concentration area has been developed to expand the skills of working public health professionals in the delivery of culturally responsive services. It is part of a major effort to encourage participation by members of underserved and underrepresented communities in public health education opportunities.

Environmental Health Sciences

The courses in environmental health sciences consider the environment and its effects on human health. Issues of water and air quality, food safety and the effects of industrialization are considered as well as major ecological problems. Interactions between the physical environment and biological health risks are also examined. Courses include content based on research and best practices across public health disciplines and opportunities for participants to apply concepts and principles in practice settings through hands-on activities, case studies, group discussion and/or field trips.

Globalization and Health
Introduction to Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety: Does the Shoe Fit? (Cancelled)

Global Health

Courses in this new concentration area provide opportunities to explore relationships between health, environment, politics, culture and economics in developed and in developing nations. Practical application of theory in the field is a major component of the courses and participants will not only identify major factors influencing global health but will consider ways to develop appropriate policies to alleviate public health problems.

Food Protection, Safety and Security

These timely, practical courses are designed for public- and private-sector professionals who plan to or currently work in food regulatory agencies, food production, food processing, agricultural industries or public health organizations.

Infectious Disease Epidemiology

The epidemiology of infectious diseases worldwide is growing increasingly complex with the many emerging social, political and demographic changes in population as well as dynamic changes in animal and vector populations and the environment.

Public Health Leadership

As professionals assume management roles and need to enhance their leadership skills, these practical courses are designed to help them manage programs, staff and careers with creativity, awareness and passion.

Public Health Preparedness, Response & Recovery

This concentration area includes courses designed to improve the capacity of frontline public health workers and other health and human service professionals responding to public health threats. Course content is built on competencies identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as essential to effective emergency and bioterrorism readiness for public health personnel.

Research Methods

Evaluation – determining significance, worth or condition by careful appraisal and study – is a challenge and can be done in a variety of ways. This series of courses presents different evaluation approaches that are credible, practical and useful, and include strategies for design.

Community Based Participatory Research
Data Driven Decision Making
Introduction to GIS
Performance Improvement for Public Health Departments Using Quality Improvement Methods
Qualitative Data Analysis
Topics in Hierarchical Bayesian Analysis
Topics in Translational and Clinical Research (Cancelled)

Women & Child Health & Nutrition

Courses in this concentration area strengthen and expand the abilities of health and human service professionals to identify and promote social and environmental conditions contributing to the health of families, mothers and children, and to develop public health programs that include health promotion and disease prevention as well as primary care services.