Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) - Environmental Health Concentration

The MPH degree is designed to meet the needs of recent baccalaureate graduates planning careers in public health and related professions. Current public health and clinical practitioners wanting to increase their knowledge of population-based issues seek this degree. However, an educational background that includes a conceptual knowledge of anatomy and physiology will offer the student more flexibility in the selection of an area of concentration. Overall Learning Outcomes Propose solutions for public health problems using sound data analysis and evidence-based decision making (SLO 1) Competencies: Use evidence based principles and scientific knowledge effectively when involved in evaluation and decision-making in public health Assess population-based health problems from the perspective of multiple public health science disciplines. Propose potential solutions to public health problems based on an understanding of systems theory, essential services, and social, behavioral, environmental, and biological factors that contribute to the problem. Use basic terminology and definitions of epidemiology. Identify key sources of data for epidemiologic purposes. Calculate basic epidemiologic measures and draw appropriate inferences. Describe basic concepts of probability, random variation, and commonly used statistical probability distributions. Apply and interpret common statistical methods for inference. Demonstrate cultural competency in public health through transdisciplinary communication and collaboration (SLO 2) Competencies: Collaborate in interprofessional partnerships to implement organizational initiatives at the individual, organizational, and community level. Organize and deliver effective written and verbal communications about public health activities using appropriate communication strategies to professionals, labor, industry, the general public and the media. Identify basic theories, concepts and models from a range of social and behavioral disciplines that are used in public health research and practice. Identify the causes of social and behavioral factors that affect health of individuals and populations. Describe the genetic, physiologic, and psychosocial factors that affect susceptibility to adverse health outcomes following exposure to environmental hazards. Manage potential conflicts of interest encountered by practitioners, researchers, and organizations. Evaluate program planning, ethical and professional strategies in public health (SLO 3) Competencies: Apply ethical principles to public health program planning, implementation and evaluation Apply the principles of planning, staffing, managing and evaluation in organizational and community initiatives. Environmental Health Students will be able to Prepare small scale studies that evaluate interventions that reduce occupational and environmental risks to targeted populations. Critique scientific literature in occupational and environmental health to determine its relevance to advancing practice-based strategies that reduce threats from environmental and occupational hazards. Propose engineering, educational, policy and enforcement strategies that reduce occupational and environmental health risks in populations. Summarize the role of policy, regulation and enforcement to prevent, modify and remove environmental and occupational hazards and risks. Construct working groups and teams from different backgrounds to improve the public’s health when threatened by environmental and occupational health hazards.