Zuzana Bic, Dr.P.H., MUDr.
E-mail: ZBic@uci.edu
PubHlth 1 – Principles of Public Health
Summer Session II
2014
Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention, Public Health Program,
College of Health Sciences, University of California Irvine
2014
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Cover design by UCI student Fahrzad Alikoza, alumni PubHlth 199 & 198 Public Health for the Corporate World
PubHlth 1 – Principles of Public Health
Summer Session II, 2014 (Online class)
University of California Irvine, College of Health Sciences
Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention, Public Health Program, UCI
Instructor
Zuzana Bic, Dr.P.H., MUDr.
E-mail: ZBic@uci.edu
Contact
Information
Email: zbic@uci.edu
Office: N/A
Office Hours: Monday & Friday from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Office Phone: 949-378-3065 or skype “ZuzanaBic”
TA (TBA)
Name: TBA
Skype username: TBA
Office Hours:
TBA
Email: TBA
Course
Description
Introduces the major concepts and principles of public health and the determinants
of health status in communities. Emphasizes the ecological model that focuses on the
linkages and relationships among multiple natural and social determinants affecting
health. 4 hours lecture
Course
Summary
This is an online class. There are no meetings in the classroom. Audio-lectures, Power
Points presentations, additional readings, web-links, study materials, assignments and
exams are online. Communication with instructor is by e-mail, on discussion board at the
class website, over the phone and over Skype. All assignments are submitted, graded and
returned at the class website.
Course
Prerequisites
1)
Official: N/A
2)
3)
4)
5)
Non-Official:
Self-motivated and self-disciplined
Able to learn without personal, face-to-face interaction of the instructor
Able to follow written instructions
Not easily frustrated when there are technical problems
6)
Textbook
and reading
materials
REQUIRED TEXT:

1. INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH, Mary-Jane Schneider, 4rd edition, 2014,
Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776, ISBN: 978-1-44968887-5 www.jbpub.com
Recommended:
 2. PUBLIC HEALTH – CAREER CHOICES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, Bernard
J. Turnock, 2006 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776,
Phone: 978-443-5000, ISBN - 13: 978-0-7637-3790-0, www.jbpub.com
2
Email Info
Questions
• Check your uci.edu email on a regular & consistent basis!
• Configure your uci.edu account to forward your emails to your personal email account if you
don’t usually check your uci.edu email over the summer..
• On all email correspondence, always include your first & last name, the class in which you’re
enrolled (“PH 1” in either in the text of the message or in the subject line), and the original
email(s) if a reference is necessary.
• Allow 24 hours for a response from your instructor and TA
In an online course, the majority of our communication takes place in the course forums.
However, when we have a need for communication that is private, whether personal,
interpersonal, or professional, we will use individual email or telephone.
If you feel it is necessary to contact me, please follow these guidelines:
1. Check your syllabus. Can your question be answered by the syllabus or the textbook? Has
someone already posted your question in the General Discussion forum? Look there first.
2. Use your UCI email account. Questions from private accounts will NOT be answered.
3. Phrase your email in a professional manner. Salutations such as: "Hey" or "Hi there" are not
professional and emails containing such language will not be answered.
4. Type the name of the class and the subject of your email in the subject line.
5. Use complete sentences and correct punctuation and grammar in the body of your email.
6. Sign your email with your full name and your student ID number
Technical Problems:
For all technical questions or problems e-mail: dlc-tech@uci.edu , M-F: 8 – 5 pm.
If you have any technical problems during the exams or during a submission please inform me
immediately at zbic@uci.edu, your TA as well as dlc-tech@uci.edu
Internet connectivity: Please ensure that you have a stable Internet connection when you
are taking the quizzes and exams. Whenever possible, use a wired connection instead of a
wireless connection. Connectivity issues that arise during a quiz may prevent you from
completing the quiz or may cause scoring errors.
To access this online course you need an enrollment key. Login to this course on EEE
to locate the enrollment key. If you have course enrollment questions please contact the
Summer Session office, summer-session@uci.edu.
Course
Objectives
UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
1. Understand the role of public health by analyzing topics on public health and society
from current media/ current research, and suggest/develop various types of intervention
…………..……………………………………………………....RESEARCH PAPER
2. Understand “What is Public Health”, follow the online assigned topic and answer the
assigned questions and post to Discussion Forum………….……….DISCUSSIONS
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3. Synthesize and apply information pertaining to the public health in the terms of science,
politics, policy, epidemiology, statistics, prevention and society….…MIDTERM EXAM
4. Synthesize and apply the concepts of public health for health-related conditions.
……………………….…………………………………………….……FINAL EXAM
5. Gain a stronger understanding of the concepts of public health………QUIZZES
Course
Requirements
1. Syllabus Quiz: You’ll take a quiz that’s based on the syllabus. The syllabus quiz is open book
exam.
2. Lectures: You'll listen to audio/visual recordings of lectures each week.
3. Discussions: You'll respond to questions that pertain to the lectures each week and share with
your classmates in the Discussion Forum (where you will be assigned)
4. Research Paper: You’ll choose your topic and you will write (1) Description and analysis of
the specific PH problem, (2) How the problem needs to be solved or was solved, (3) How to
prevent the PH problem - your OPINION on the prevention of this specific PH problem in the
future.
5. Quizzes: You’ll practice your knowledge in short quizzes (T/F or multiple choice) each week.
These quizzes are closed book. You may not collaborate with others on these quizzes.
6.
Estimated
Weekly Time
Commitment
Due Dates
Exams: You’ll take a midterm and a final exam. Each exam will consist of 75 points. Exam #1
will cover Chapter 1-15 and all week 1-2 materials; Exam #2 will cover Chapter 16-31 and all
week 3-5 materials. These exams are closed book. You may not collaborate with others on
these exams. Exam #1 will consist of 75 multiple choice questions and true/false questions
and you will have 75 minutes. Exam #2 will consist of 60 questions multiple choice questions
and true/false, please note 5 questions will have 3 points value. You will have 60 minutes and
you will take the exam with Proctor U online. You need to pay $16.25 with Proctor U.
Guidelines will be on your class website.
Lectures
120 minutes
Note: Online classes are supposed to
Discussions
120 minutes
take the SAME amount of time as
Research Paper
180 minutes
traditional classroom courses.
Exams
150 minutes
Quizzes
30 minutes
TOTAL
Approximately 10 hours each week for assignments
Write down these dates on your calendar; Do NOT rely on a reminder from your instructor!!
Please note: all the due dates are in Pacific Daylight Time
Syllabus Quiz: Due August 10, at 11:00 p.m.
final exam)
(1 point, extra credit will be added to the
Week 1: Due August 101 at 11:00 p.m.
• Discussion Post #1 Due Wednesday, August 6 at 11:00 p.m.
• Discussion Post #2 Due Sunday, August 10 at 11:00 p.m.
• Quiz is open on Friday, August 8, from 7:00 a.m. -11:00 p.m.
Week 2: Due August 17 at 11:00 p.m.
• Discussion Post #1 Due Wednesday, August 13 at 11:00 p.m.
• Discussion Post #2 Due Sunday, August 17 at 11:00 p.m.
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•
•
Quiz is open on Friday, August 15, from 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Send approval of your topic for research paper before August 16
Week 3: Due August 24 at 11:00 p.m.
• Discussion Post #1 Due Wednesday, August 20 at 11:00 p.m
• Discussion Post #2 Due Sunday, August 24 at 11:00 p.m.
• Quiz is open on Friday, August 22, from 7:00a.m.- 11:00 p.m.
• MIDTERM, Due Thursday, August 21, is open on class website from 7:00 a.m. -11:00 p.m.
Week 4: Due August 31 at 11:00 p.m.
• Discussion Post #1 Due Wednesday, August 27 at 11:00 p.m.
• Discussion Post #2 Due Sunday, August 31 at 11:00 p.m.
• Quiz is open on Friday, August 31, from 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
• Research Paper, Due Tuesday, August 26 at 11:00 p.m.
Week 5 : Due September 7 at 11:00 p.m.
• Discussion Post #1 Due Wednesday, September 3 at 11:00 p.m.
• Discussion Post #2 Due Sunday, September 7 at 11:00 p.m.
• Quiz is open on Friday, September 5, from 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Extra credit:
audio (narrative) presentation with power points for 5 minutes and one peer review of other
student-presentation in your group. ( there will be 2 topics for each group and guidelines on
the class website during week 2) Due Sunday, September 7 at 11:00 p.m. (4 points extra credit
will be added to the final exam)
Week 6: Due Tuesday, September 9, Final exam,
• is open on class website from 7:00a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Grading
System
Discussion Forum (18%)
75 points
(15 points each week)
Research Paper (30%)
75 points
(75 points)
Quizzes (2 % of the grade)
20 points
(4 points each week)
Exams (50% of the grade)
150 points
(75 points each)
TOTAL (100%)
320 points
Late policy
-1point for every day if the assignment is submitted late
Mandatory
Turnitin
submission
Please note you need to submit your Research Paper to: http://turnitin.com/
You will receive the code and the instructions during week 2.
Grading
Scale
NOTE: Grades are not based on a curve. Your grade will be calculated by adding the
points you earn on each assignment. Please note each assignment has its own VALUE!!!
Grade is calculates as a summation of %.
Out of 100%
Scale:
A+ ≥ 98.3 > A ≥ 93.5 > A- ≥ 90
B+ ≥ 86.5 > B ≥ 83.5 > B- ≥ 80
C+ ≥ 76.5 > C ≥ 73.5 > C- ≥ 70
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D+ ≥ 66.5 > D ≥ 63.5 > D- ≥ 60 > F
Lecture
Schedule
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Ch 1, Ch2, Ch3, Ch4, Ch5, Ch 6 and links
Ch 7, Ch 8, Ch 9, Ch 10, Ch 11, Ch 12 and links
Ch 13, Ch 14, Ch15,Ch 16, Ch 17, Ch 18 and links
Ch 19, Ch 20,Ch 21, Ch 22, Ch 23, Ch 24 and links
Ch 25,Ch 26, Ch 27, Ch 28, Ch 29, Ch 30, Ch 31 and links
CODE OF CONDUCT:
All participants in the course are bound by the University of California Code of Conduct, found at
http://www.ucop.edu/ucophome/coordrev/ucpolicies/aos/uc100.html.
The learning environment at the University of California, Irvine is one based on honesty and integrity. This
environment can be maintained only if all participants recognize the importance of maintaining the highest
ethical standards. It is critical for all concerned that all student work be the sole work of each individual student.
The tests in this course are to be taken by you and you alone, without help. You may not print the tests. You are
to take the tests without assistance from printed materials, the Internet, your cell phone, or any other way in
which you could gather information. Doing so constitutes academic dishonesty. Please familiarize yourself with
the UCI Academic Honesty Policy.
Anyone caught cheating or in any other way in violation of the university policy on academic honesty will
receive an F in the class. There are no exceptions to this rule.
ATTENTION:
Explanation to Turnitin: Please be sure that your work is your own creative work!! You are not allowed to use your
previous work with similar topic for this research paper. You are not allowed to copy whole sentences from other already
published sources. Please use citation in the text – if you are using statistics and other unique information. You may use
“quotation marks” for a special unique information – only 1 is allowed. Please explore turnitin website:
http://turnitin.com/ Turnitin: 1-11% is 0, 12-15% is -2 points, 16-19% is -4 points, 20-23% is -6%, 24-27% is -8points,
28-31% is -10%, 32-35% is -12 points, 36-46% is -50%, 47% and higher is 0% . Please note also: we will check for
“quotation marks” and also if there are common sentences and common words (these will be excluded)
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COURSE SCHEDULE
Schedule of Lectures, Assignments, Exams and Readings
DATE & DAY
TOPIC
ASSIGNMENT / DUE
READINGS
WEEK 1:
Monday, August 4
Lectures for week 1
Audio: with power points
Due:
#1: Syllabus Quiz
( extra credit)
#2:Discussions
#3: Quiz
Book #1: chapters 1-6
Book # 2: Chapter 1 - 3
Syllabus: introduction to
the course
Chapter 1 - Chapter 6
Helpful Reading sources for all weeks:
http://publichealth.jbpub.com/schnei
der/3e/
http://publichealth.jbpub.com/schnei
der/3e/weblinks.aspx
World Health Organization (WHO)
www.who.int
Links
Video clips
The American Journal of Public Health
www.ajph.org.
ONLINE questions and puzzles may
help you for midterm and final exam
review
Guidelines:
http://publichealth.jbpub.com/schnei
der/3e/matching.aspx
WEEK 2:
Monday, August 11
Lectures for week 2
Audio: with power points
Chapter 7 - Chapter 12
Due:
#1:Discussions
#2: Quiz
http://publichealth.jbpub.com/schnei
der/3e/crosswords.aspx?chapter=1
Book #1: Chapters 7-12
Book # 2: Chapter 4-5
Links
Video Clips
WEEK 3:
Monday, August 18
Lecturer for week 3
Audio: with power points
Chapter 13 - Chapter 18
WEEK 4:
Monday, August 25
Due:
#1:Discussions
#2: Quiz
Links
Video Clips
#3: Due on August 21
Midterm is open from
7:00 a.m. -11:00 p.m.
75 questions
Lectures for week 4
Audio: with power points
Due:
#1:Discussions
#2: Quiz
Chapter 19- Chapter 24
Links
Video Clips
#3:Due on August 26 at
11:00 p.m. Research
Paper - upload into
class website under
assignments and into
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Book #1: chapters 13-18
Book # 2: Chapter 6 - 7
Study Guide for
midterm: all materials
from week 1 and week 2
and chapters 1-15
included.
Book #1: Chapters 19-24
Book # 2: Chapter 8 -10
turnitin)
DATE & DAY
Week 5:
Monday, September 1
TOPIC
Lectures for week 5
Audio: with power points
Chapter 25 – Chapter 31
Links
Video Clips
Week 6:
Tuesday,
September 9
FINAL EXAM
ASSIGNMENT / DUE
Due:
#1:Discussions
#2: Quiz
#3: Extra credit
audio (narrative)
presentation with power
points for 5 minutes and
one peer review of other
student-presentation in your
group.
Due on September 9
Final Exam
is open from
7:00 a.m. -11:00 p.m.
60 questions
READINGS
Book #1: Chapters 25-30
Study Guide for Final
Exam: materials from
week 3, week 4 and
week 5 and Chapters 1631 included
FINAL EXAM
Stay Healthy!
Eat what you want to eat
after you eat what you should eat
Anon., 1918
Thy Food shell be thy medicine
-- Hippocrates, 460-36- BC
No less than two hours a day should be devoted to exercise,
and the weather shell be little regard,
I speak from experience,
having made this arrangement of my life
--Thomas Jefferson, 1786
There is nothing either good or bad,
but thinking makes it so
--William Shakespeare
When a health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself,
art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight,
wealth become useless,
and intelligence cannot be applied.
--Herophilus
Used by Students’ Public Health Association at UCI
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Additional Resources and Reading Resources :
The American Journal of Public Health, www.ajph.org.,
The Nation's Health, APHA's official monthly newspaper is now available in full online. Visit The Nation's
Health Web pages
World Federation of Public Health Associations www.wfpha.org
World Health Organization (WHO) www.who.int
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) www.unicef.org
Global Health Council www.globalhealth.org
African Council for Sustainable Health Development (ACOSHED) www.acoshed.net
Association of Schools of Public Health www.asph.org
Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region www.aspher.org
Latin American and Caribbean Association of Education in Public Health www.alaesp.sld.cu/html/informe.htm
Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health www.apacph.org
Public Health archives:
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/tocrender.fcgi?journal=333&action=archive
Journals in Public Health:
http://jpubhealth.oxfordjournals.org
http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/
http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/reports/mfr1.dtl
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INSTRUCTIONS
How to listen to the SYLLABUS
To log into the class you need to have a code – you will receive it by e-mail. If you need to get your code please
contact summer-session@uci.edu
1. Log into the class homepage
2. Click on syllabus, open and read first your syllabus
3. Click on the Introduction, listen to the introduction to your class. You may listen many times.
4. Click on the link syllabus quiz and answer the questions there. The syllabus quiz is your extra credit (+1 point).
How to listen to the LECTURES, see video clips, links and print lecture notes
1. Log into the class homepage
2. Click on the appropriate lecture, video clips, links
3. Click on lecture notes – you may print the information
How to do the DISCUSSIONS
1. Week 1-5: Please find your group to which you have been assigned. Every Wednesday you will write and post
before 11:00 p.m. your Discussion Post #1 to the assigned question. As soon as you will post your discussion into
the forum you will see your classmates’ discussions. Please choose one and write your Discussion Post #2 to it
and post it before every Sunday, at 11:00 p.m. Each “Discussion Post” should include your thoughts and opinion
of at least 150 words. The total is 300 words for each week. Type “Word Count” and provide an accurate word
count at the END of your Discussion Post.
How to do the RESEARCH PAPER
1.
2.
3.
4.
Follow the rubric and in a Word document, type a research papers.
To submit: click on class homepage, click on assignments and upload there.
To submit into turnitin: go into http://turnitin.com/ , log in: PH1online , password: SMILE
Please note password is case sensitive. You can submit only once – your final paper!!!
How to do the QUIZZES
1.
From the home page click on Quizzes under each week, it is open only every Friday from 5:00-8:00 p.m. and you
will have 10 minutes timer for 4 questions, they are only T/F or multiple choice questions.
How to check your grade book and your points
1. Check your score every Tuesday. From the class homepage, click on Gradebook.
2. Please see your points and the feedback for each assignment. If you have questions please email your instructor
and request the feedback so you don’t repeat the same mistake for the remaining assignments
How to take the EXAMS
1. Study the study guide that’s posted under the Study Guide for midterm and for final exam
2. Log onto the class homepage and click on the exam you need to take and follow the instructions there for saving
and submitting.
3. Please be aware that midterm is open on August 21, from 7:00 a.m. -11:00 p.m. and you will have 75 minutes for
75 questions. If you would like to have 75 minutes for your exam you need to start to take your exam before it
will be closed you need to take the exam at 9:45 p.m.
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4. You will take the final exam online, in a proctored setting. You will be connected to a live person during your
exam who will be there to guide you through the process and assist with any technical problems. Please
read more about this on the course home page, in the Final Exam section. You need to pay to Proctor U for
your final exam $16.25 for 60 minutes exam with 60 questions. You and final exam is open on September 9,
from 7:00 a.m. -11:00 p.m.
5. If you’d like to see which questions you missed, you’ll need to talk (during office hours) or send e-mail to your
instructor.
How to do extra credit (+4 points)
Your group will receive 2 topics – each student will do 5 minutes audio narrative with 5 slides and post this
information to the class website. Each member of the group will do peer review of one presentation and post
this info into class website. ( topics and guidelines will be posted during week 2 for each group)
Grading Criteria
Research Paper (75 points)
Failed to submit the assignment
Failed to submit to turnitin
Additional rubric is below
-75 points
- 75 points
Discussions (15 points/week)
Failed to post 2 discussions
-15 points
Failed to post 1 discussion
-7.5 points
Failed to write a reaction to the question or to the response of at least 150 words
-4 points
Failed to type “Word Count” at the end and include an ACCURATE number of words.
-.5 points
Failed to include your opinions, thoughts/ ideas in your replies (see additional rubric below) -5 points
Failed to post the first discussion by Wednesday, at 11:00 p.m.
-3 points
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RUBRIC for RESEARCH PAPER “Public Health Problem”
You may choose any topic which is connected with Public Health, you may be specific or general. You may pick up the topics from news,
media, public health literature, from domestic sources, from international sources etc…). If you have questions about the topic, please
contact me at ZBic@uci.edu, I will be happy to advice you.
Public Health Topic:
Please write on a separate cover page: Public Health Topic - title, your
name, ID, class, year, your instructor’s name
Length of writing and with references included: total 3 pages, single
spaced ( min. 2& 2/3 pages text, 1/3 page references)
Please organize the paper into paragraphs with the title:
Public health problem, How to solve the PH problem, Public Health in the
future)
5 points
Separate cover page included (1)
Length of paper following guidelines (2)
Paper is organized into paragraphs that are clearly
titled: Public health problem, How to solve the
problem,, and Public health in the future (1)
Paper included correct spelling, grammar, font
size/style, and page margins (1)
Correct spelling and grammar, 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, with 1 to
1.25 inch margins on each side, top and bottom
Research Paper Total: 4 pages ( Cover page and 3 pages)
5 references minimum/3 from these must be from scientific literature
(scholar literature), use AMA or APA style ONLY!
10 points
5 References minimum (5)
3 references must be from scientific literature –
SCHOLAR LITERATURE/Peer reviewed (3)
Paper uses APA or AMA referencing style (2)
Public Health Problem
Description and analysis of the specific PH problem.
Please include : #1: why is the problem in the society? #2: how this
happened, why this happened etc. #3: What are the risks for the community
in the future #4: What are/were the etiological risk factors?
How to solve the Public Health problem
How the problem needs to be solved or was solved.
Please include: #1description of strategies, PH intervention programs, PH
policy etc. also you may add examples from other
cultures/countries/history)
Public Health in the Future:
How to prevent the PH problem
Please include: #1conclusion with justification from research literature
what should be done to PREVENT the PH problem/ to prevent the
reoccurrence of the PH problem.
#2: comparison with other nations, or other situations, or with the history
etc. or ” you may add your own experience with the problem, #3: your
OPINION on the prevention of this specific PH problem in the future
TOTAL
20 points
Paper includes description and analysis of the specific
PH problem (4)
Paper includes:
1) Why does the problem exit in the society? (4)
2) How did the problem happen? Why did it
happen? Where did it happen? (4)
3) What are the risks for the community in the
future? (4)
4) What are/were the etiological risk factors?
(4)
20 points
Paper includes discussion of how the problem was
solved or needs to be solved (10)
Paper includes:
1) Description strategies, PH intervention
programs, PH policies, etc. that are
important to the solution of the problem (5)
2) You may also add examples from other
cultures, countries/history to strengthen your
discussion (5)
20 points
Paper includes discussion of how to prevent PH
problem (5)
Paper includes the following:
1)Conclusion with justification from the literature
about what should be done to prevent the PH problem
or to prevent reoccurrence of the PH problem (5)
2) Comparison with other nations, with other
situations, or with history, etc. or add your own
experience with the problem (5)
3) Your opinion on the prevention of this PH problem
in the future (5)
75 points ( value 30% of the grade)
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Rubric to the Discussion Post #1 and Discussion Post #2
Points Category
5
Thought provoking or
challenging new idea
informed by reading or
lesson
3
Opinion based on
information from
reading or lesson
2
Answered as required,
but nothing more
0
Inappropriate or
insufficient postings
Explanation
This rating is given to posts that present a new idea or challenges
others posts based on information from lesson or textbook or
other scholarly source.
This rating is given when a person writes a fact-based forum post.
The facts could come from a lesson or a chapter from the
textbook, or another scholarly external source.
This rating is given when a post answers all parts of my question,
but does nothing more. May show an absence of depth or
thought.
This rating is given to posts that do not meet my grading
requirements. Used for: agreement without new substance,
general humor, posts that do not fit into the current discussion.
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Undergraduate Degree Competencies
At UC Irvine, the Bachelor of Science in Public Health Sciences and the Bachelor of Arts in Public Health Policy degree
programs train students in multidisciplinary approaches to assess population health status and to reduce the burden of
disease through preventive strategies that fulfill society’s need for understanding and assuring conditions in which people
can be healthy. Students enrolled in these academic degrees explore both quantitative and qualitative aspects of public
health research and practice. In addition, our training program facilitates the acquisition of both analytical and abstract
reasoning abilities in key public health sub-disciplines. To be admitted as freshmen into the undergraduate degree
programs, students are expected to demonstrate proficiency through college preparatory high school curriculum
including two years of biology, a combination of natural science courses including one year each of mathematics and
chemistry, and courses in health science and social sciences. Upon graduation students have the opportunity, through
selective employment or further education, to become the new generation of public health professionals prepared to
face emerging challenges to human health from a population perspective.
The undergraduate curriculum is organized in three modules:
a. Lower Division Requirements, including campus-wide breadth courses, the general education requirements, and
two introductory courses in public health, namely PH-1 (Principles of Public Health) and PH-2 (Case Studies in
Public Health). The general education requirement is a graduation requirement with courses required in each of
the following categories”:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
Writing (two lower-division plus one upper-division course)
Science and Technology (three courses)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (three courses)
Arts and Humanities (three courses)
Quantitative, Symbolic, and Computational Reasoning (three courses)
Language Other Than English (one course)
Multicultural Studies (one course that may also satisfy another GE requirement)
International/Global Issues (one course that may also satisfy another GE requirement)
Laboratory or Performance (one course that may also satisfy another GE requirement)
b. Upper Division Selective Requirements, covering core public health sub-disciplines and applications in four
categories, namely, Epidemiology, Genetics, and Health Informatics (PH-101 to PH-119); Health Policy and
Management (PH-120 to PH-139); Social and Behavioral Health Sciences (PH-140 to PH-159); Environmental and
Global Health Sciences (PH-160 to PH-179); and Infectious and Chronic Diseases (PH-180 to PH-189).
c. Practicum and Culminating Experience: All Public Health Majors must complete 100 hours of practicum (PH-195W)
in an off-campus public health agency concurrently with an in-class writing project that combines writing in the
discipline with analysis of their culminating experiences in the program.
The B.A. and B.S. degrees in public health facilitate the grounding of students in the core principles of public health
theory and practice followed by more in-depth studies leading to a level of specialization in sub-disciplines that prepare
students for employment or graduate studies in public health. The requirements for the undergraduate degree programs
are published in the university catalogue1, and a hard copy will be made available in the resource file. A matrix of how
competencies match onto the learning experiences is presented in Table 1.
1
University of California, Irvine – 2011 – 2012 Catalogue - http://www.editor.uci.edu/catalogue/11-12Catalogue.pdf (Public health is
presented on pages 537 - 545).
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After completing the B.S. degree in Public Health Science, graduates are competent to:
I.
Apply core concepts of Public Health, grounded in an ecological perspective, to articulate the natural and social
determinants of health status in communities and the dynamic interplay among these factors, all of which affect the
health of populations.
II.
Analyze case studies in public health practice to reveal crosscutting themes, principles and strategies for
addressing persistent and emerging contemporary challenges in public health.
III.
Apply epidemiologic and quantitative methods to analyze the geographical, temporal, and demographic patterns
of the distribution of disease and injury in communities with the goal of identifying valid indices on which theoryinformed, evidence-based interventions can be developed.
IV.
Assess the health conditions of populations through an ecological approach to public health that emphasizes
natural determinants of health status— as evidenced by proficiency in sub-disciplines including biological aspects of public
health; epidemiology, genetics, and health informatics; environmental and global health sciences; and infectious and
chronic diseases.
V.
Demonstrate the ability to apply cumulative knowledge of the interactions between natural health risk factors
and vulnerable populations to support disease prevention programs at public health agencies or other field-based
settings.
VI.
Apply abstract reasoning and critical thinking skills to communicate public health research and practice to public
and professional audiences.
After completing the B.A. degree in Public Health Policy, graduates are competent to:
I. Apply core concepts of Public Health, grounded in an ecological perspective, to articulate the natural and social
determinants of health status in communities and the dynamic interplay among these factors, all of which affect the
health of populations.
II. Analyze case studies in public health practice to reveal crosscutting themes, principles, and strategies for addressing
persistent and emerging contemporary challenges in public health.
III. Apply epidemiologic and quantitative methods to analyze the geographical, temporal, and demographic patterns of the
distribution of disease and injury in communities with the goal of identifying valid indices on which theory-informed,
evidence-based interventions can be developed.
IV. Assess the health conditions of populations through an ecological approach to public health that emphasizes natural
determinants of health status— as evidenced by proficiency in sub-disciplines of social and behavioral health sciences
and health policy and management.
V. Demonstrate the ability to apply cumulative knowledge of the interactions between social and behavioral health risk
factors and vulnerable populations to support disease prevention policies at public health agencies or other field-based
settings.
VI. Apply abstract reasoning and critical thinking skills to communicate public health research and practice to public and
professional audiences.
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Table 1. Matrix of competencies and learning experiences for the undergraduate degrees.
Competency
Category
Learning Experiences
PH-1 and
Lower
Division
Requirements
X
PH-2 and
Lower
Division
Requirements
PH-101
Upper
Division
Requirements
PH-195W
I
x
II
X
x
III
X
x
IV
X
x
V
X
VI
X
*Course descriptions and curriculum requirements are published online: http://www.editor.uci.edu/catalogue/1112Catalogue.pdf (page 539).
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