MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM

College of Osteopathic Medicine,

Health Professions Division

Course Title: INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH

(PUH 5101) On-Line/WebCT
An elective course

Credit Hours: 3 Hours

Course Directors: Jon Dodds, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Associate Professor of Public Health
Telephone: (954) 262-1609
Office Fax: (954) 262-3257
Office Hours: By appointment
E-mail: jdodds@nova.edu

Dates: August 28, 2010 –December 11, 2010

Course Description:

An introduction to the history, concepts, values, principles and practice of public health. It
provides an overview of the essential areas of public health including biostatistics,
epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, environmental and occupational health, and
health policy, planning and management.

Course Materials:

Required Text: Turnock, B.J., Essentials of Public Health. 2007 .Jones & Bartlet Publishers.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7637-4525-7; ISBN-10: 0-7637-4525-1

Course Goal:

To introduce the student to the field of public health, including the principles, discipline and
practices which embody the field.

Competencies
1. Demonstrate the ability to discuss a public health problem substantively and scientifically,
including demographics, geography, magnitude and time trends..
2. Demonstrate understanding of the three core functions of public health (assessment, policy
development and assurance).

Course Learning Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Describe the major disciplines associated with public health and arrive at workable
definitions of Public Health.
2. Discuss the basic concepts of Epidemiology and determinants of disease.
3. Discuss the role of data in Public Health.
4. Describe the various components of the public health workforce.
5. Describe the processes of health care administration, legislation and financing.
6. Describe how psychosocial factors affect health and health behavior.
7. Discuss the major Public Health issues in environmental health.
8. Discuss the role of Public Health in assuring access to medical care.
9. Describe prevention methods to enhance the health and safety of the population.
10. Identify major Public Health achievements and challenges at the dawn of the 21st century.

Course Structure and Requirements:

This course will be taught via WebCt. Assignments will be posted under the student’s name.
Face-to-face discussions with faculty may be arranged when necessary or at the student’s
request. The course director will also be accessible via telephone and e-mail. Throughout the
course the Course Director will post discussion questions via the discussion board for
class interaction. Feedback will be given to students on assignments in a timely manner
after the due date. Late assignments will result in reduced points. Make-up assignments are
the prerogative of the course director.
Important Information on WebCT:
1) It is imperative that you have a Nova Southeastern University email account in order to
access distance education course materials and NSU library resources. This account will
consist of your assigned username and password. If you do not have a NSU username and
password you must contact the HPD Office of Information Technologies at 954-262-
1500. You may also access more information regarding email accounts at
http://www.nova.edu/webct/login_prob.html .
2) To start your WebCT course, please go http://webct.nova.edu and log in with your
NSU e-mail account username and password. If you are registered to the course, you
should see the link to the course after you have successfully logged in. Please contact the
course instructor directly if you don't see the link to the course, or have difficulties logging
in.
You may also call 954-262-help for any other technical problems
3) It is the student's responsibility to log in to the course before or during the first week.

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 4) Access on-line library materials located at: http://nova.campusguides.com/ph

This course will involve 5 types of learning activities.

1. Textbook study: Each week students will study one chapter in the textbook and
submit a short, essay-style answer to one of the discussion questions in the textbook.
2. Discussion Board: Each week the students will interact with each other and the
instructor through the discussion board, in response to discussion topic or questions
posted by the course director. Students will share their knowledge and views among
themselves in response to the topics or scenarios posed. Students will respond to each
others’ comments throughout the week. Grading of this section will be based on
participation and quality of comments and information presented by students.
3. Public Health Resources, Web Search Reports. During the semester students will
study a group of internet web sites related to public health and will submit written
observations and impressions of the web sites.
Group 1 Web Search Group 2 Web Search
www.asph.org www.nih.gov
www.ceph.org www.hrsa.gov
www.apha.org www.epa.gov
www.doh.state.fl.us www.osha.gov
www.brhpc.org www.fda.gov
www.health.gov www.who.int
www.healthypeople.gov www.census.gov
www.surgeongeneral.gov www.prb.org
www.dhhs.gov www.usda.gov
www.cdc.gov www.ahrq.gov

4. Synchronous Chats: On two dates students and course director will have an evening
synchronous ‘chat’, on-line about the course concepts.
5. Final Paper: This paper will give students the chance to produce an ‘integrated’
concept of what public health is all about and how it may move forward.

Course Evaluation and Grading Criteria:

The course will be letter graded on the following scale:

0 - 100 Scale Letter-Grade Scale ‘Quality Points Scale’

94-100 A 4.0
90-93 A- 3.7
87-89 B+ 3.3
84-86 B 3.0
80-83 B- 2.7
77-79 C+ 2.3
73-76 C 2.0
70-72 C- 1.7
Below 70 F 0.0

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Student learning will be evaluated in a variety of ways:

Chapter Questions 25%

Discussion Board Contributions 25%
Public Health Resources, Web Search reports 20%
Synchronous Chats 5%
Final Paper 25%

Student feedback to the instructor is welcome throughout the course. The instructor will
submit feedback and grades to the students on an ongoing basis throughout the course.
The student will be required to complete a Course Evaluation at the completion of the course.
The student is welcome to give feedback on the course to the Course Director at any stage of
the course.

Course Schedule

Week 1:
Synchronous Chat (Course Orientation)
This synchronous (live) chat session will orient the student to the course, as well as to
definitions and concepts of public health.
Synchronous (Live) Chat Session: Friday, August 27, 2010

Textbook study: Chapter 1. What is Public Health?

Chapter 1 will introduce the student to the history and principles of Public Health.
Assignment: Please study Chapter 1 and answer discussion question #4, applying your
critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box by 9/3/2010

Discussion Board: participate during the week of 8/27 to 9/3.

Week 2:
Textbook study: Chapter 2. Understanding and Measuring Health
Chapter 2 will address the methods of obtaining health statistics and applying them to
community health problems and interventions.
Assignment: Please study Chapter 2 and answer discussion question 5, applying your
critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box by 9/10/2010.

Discussion Board: participate during the week.

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Week 3:
Textbook study: Chapter 3. Public Health and the Health System
Chapter 3 will introduce the student to the structure and function of public health
systems, as well as the changing roles, themes and paradigms in the health system.
Assignment: Please study Chapter 3 and answer discussion question 4 thoroughly,
applying your critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box
by 9/17/2010.

Discussion Board: participate during the week.

Week 4:
Textbook study: Chapter 4. Law, Government, and Public Health
Chapter 4 will introduce the student to health policy and administration and how the
government agencies impact public health.
Assignment: Please study Chapter 4 and answer discussion question 1 thoroughly,
applying your critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box
by 9/24/2010.

Public Health Resources, Web Search, Group 1:

This module will further introduce the student to the field of Public Health through an
exploration of websites in Group 1
Assignment: Write a summary of your observations and impressions (a minimum of
200 words per web site). Post in the Assignment box by 9/24/2010.

Week 5:
Textbook study: Chapter 5. Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
Chapter 5 addresses public health roles in emergency preparedness.
Assignment: Please study Chapter 5 and answer discussion question 2 thoroughly,
applying your critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box
by 10/1/2010.

Discussion Board: participate during the week.

Week 6:
Textbook study: Chapter 6. The Public Health Workforce
Chapter 6 addresses the composition and characteristics of the public health
workforce.
Assignment: Please study Chapter 6 and answer discussion question 2 thoroughly,
applying your critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box
by 10/8/2010.

Discussion Board: participate during the week.

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Week 7:
Textbook study: Chapter 7. Public Health Administration
Chapter 7 introduces the student to the infrastructure and functions of the
administrative components of public health.
Assignment: Please study Chapter 7 and answer discussion question 1 thoroughly,
applying your critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box
by 10/15/2010.

Discussion Board: participate during the week.

Week 8:
Textbook study: Chapter 8. Environmental and Occupational Health
Chapter 8 will introduce the student to the principles and practice of environmental
and occupational health.
Assignment: Please study Chapter 8 and answer discussion question 1 thoroughly,
applying your critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box
by 10/22/2010.

Public Health Resources, Web Search, Group 2:

Assignment: Write a summary of your observations and impressions of web sites in
Group 2. (a minimum of 200 words per web site). Post in the Assignment box by
10/22/2010

Week 9:
Textbook study: Chapter 9. Public Health Nursing
Chapter 9 addresses the role of nurses in public health.
Assignment: Please study Chapter 9 and answer discussion question 1 thoroughly,
applying your critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box
by 10/29/2010.

Discussion Board: participate during the week.

Week 10:
Textbook study: Chapter 10. Epidemiology and Disease Control
Chapter10 addresses the role of epidemiologists in public health.
Assignment: Please read Chapter 10 and answer discussion question 1 thoroughly,
applying your critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box
by 11/5/2010.

Discussion Board: participate during the week.

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Week 11:
Textbook study: Chapter 11. Public Health Education and Information
Chapter 11 addresses the role of the public health educator and information
dissemination in public health.
Assignment: Please read Chapter 11 and answer discussion question 1 thoroughly.
Due 11/12/2010.

Discussion Board: participate during the week.

Week 12:
Textbook study: Chapter 12. Other Public Health Professional Occupations
Chapter 12 will introduce students to a variety of public health-related professions.
Assignment: Please read Chapter 12 and answer discussion question 4 thoroughly,
applying your critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box
by 11/19/2010.

Discussion Board: participate during the week.

Week 13
Textbook study: Chapter 13. Public Health Program Occupations
Chapter 13 addresses the role of public health specialists and analysts and community
outreach.
Assignment: Please read Chapter 13 and answer discussion question 1 thoroughly,
applying your critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box
by 11/26/2010.

Discussion Board: participate during the week.

Week 14
Textbook study: Chapter 14. Public Health Practice: Future Challenges
Chapter 14 discusses the future of public health.
Assignment: Please read Chapter 14 and answer discussion question 1 thoroughly,
applying your critical thinking skills (minimum of 300 words): Post in assignment box
by 12/3/2010.

Summative Chat
Synchronous (Live) Chat Session: 12/3/2010
This will be a discussion and reflections on the text readings and assignments
completed. Students will also reflect on the outcome of their learning.

Week 15
Final Paper

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Write a summative paper (APA style, double space, a minimum of 5 pages, with at
least 5 scholarly journal references) titled: Making Public Health Work Better:
Opportunities, Challenges, Solutions. Briefly identify the opportunities that exist,
discuss the challenges, and suggest potential solutions to overcome those challenges.
Post in the Assignment Box by 12/10/2010.