Syllabus
COURSE TITLE/NUMBER
PHC 4101: Introduction to Public Health
COURSE OVERVIEW
The course is a part of the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program. The primary purpose of this course
is to learn the basic terms and definitions of public health and understand the factors leading to disease
causation as well as disease prevention. Programs and policies that effect healthcare in a positive manner apply
basic principles of scientific reasoning as well as a concise use of available data and information. The topics
introduced in this course serve as a basis for enhancing the participants’ ability to critically evaluate current
trends in healthcare, as well as develop programs and policies in an analytical manner.
INSTRUCTORS
Enid Sisskin, PhD
Bethany Miller, MPH
Patrick Lynch, MPH
CONTACT INFORMATION
Enid Sisskin: Email: esisskin@uwf.edu; Phone: 850-473-7473
Bethany Miller: Email: bmiller1@uwf.edu; Phone: 850-512-4894
Patrick Lynch: Email: plynch@uwf.edu;
School of Allied Health and Life Sciences,
University of West Florida
PREREQUISITES OR CO-REQUISITES
None. Anyone interested in the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences should contact Dr. Angela Hahn at 850474-3166 or ahahn@uwf.edu or Ms. Karen Valaitis at 850-857-6005 or kvalaitis@uwf.edu.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces students to the history of public health, the structure of the public health system and the
various sectors of public health practice, in order to gain an understanding of the complex factors that determine
the health status of a community. Lectures will draw from the public health field, but also related disciplines
such as behavioral sciences, health care management, medical ethics, and social work. National, state, and local
level practices will be analyzed, as well as the role that law and government play in the public’s health. The
course is also intended to simulate student interest in other public health course and program offerings.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (Objectives)
Specifically, upon completion of this course the student should be able to:
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Define health and be able to show a relationship between the determinants of health and health outcomes
Briefly discuss the history of public health and cite significant historical events achievements in the 20th
century, as well as public health responses to current problems
Define and explain the core functions of public health
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Explain the public health system infrastructure and competencies for public health employees
Explain the historical development, functions and structure of federal, state and local health agencies
and the role of government
Define public health, components of the public health system, and the relationship between the public
health and health care systems
Define epidemiology and compare types of epidemiological studies
Recognize the factors relating to zoonotic and vector-borne diseases and food safety
Examine sources of environmental hazards and injuries and propose how epidemiological methods can
be used to reduce them
Demonstrate the principles of effective risk communication
Define and describe “family health”
Evaluate the importance of emergency preparedness and examine the future of public health
Analyze a local public health issue
Evaluate and discriminate between several possible solutions to an identified public health problem
The course meets the following core goals for the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program:
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Content and Critical Thinking
o
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Students will be able to apply critical thinking and decision making skills in analyzing or
developing public health program or policy options.
o Students will identify and use appropriate concepts, theories, and principles in regards to the
prevention of disease, disability, and dependency in a community.
o Students will understand the interrelation between health and the rest of a region’s economy.
o Students will understand how basic tools of public health are used is assessing the health of a
community and how to examine and control infectious or non-infectious threats to health.
Communication
o
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Students will be able to communicate in a knowledgeable and well-versed manner with others in
their field, regarding public health.
Students will be able to discuss issues of public health in a clear, concise, and easily
understandable manner with the general public, mass media outlets, and government officials.
Fulfillment of these goals will be assessed through three exams, six one to three page essay assignments, and
threaded discussions:
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The exams will consist of randomly generated short answer questions - multiple choice, true/false,
matching, fill-in-the-blank, and short (50 words or fewer) essays. No two students will have the same
exam.
There will be six written assignments. Assignments will be on topics of my choice. Each assignment
will require a succinct, concise, and complete analysis of the issue at hand. The requirements for each
assignment will be listed in the directions.
You will also take part in threaded discussions, consider each a brief paper and you will need to supply
at least one reference, cited correctly. Keep discussion posts on subject. Keep discussion posts on
subject. Do not quote the entire text. Make sure your posted replies are substantive. Do not just agree
or disagree with your fellow classmates - give us some new insight or information that shows why you
agree or disagree. Be prepared to defend your position. However, you MUST be polite and respectful
in your postings no matter how much you might disagree. Responses when required will be worth 25%
of your discussion grade. You must use proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting in
formal discussion postings, see the discussion rubric.
The discussion thread where you can all spell as badly as you want is the Campus Lounge. Anything
goes there (to a point), and I hope that you will use the Lounge to get to know each other, to talk about
course material and assignments, and feel free to use it as you will. I hope that we can have a lot of fun
there.
Characteristics of Submitted Student Work and Assignments:
SKILL MASTERY
LEVEL
CONTECT/CRITICAL THINKING
COMMUNICATION
Student has clear understanding of, and an
ability to identify how health and public
health is defined. Students will be able to
Student shows clear expression of ideas in
apply critical thinking and decision
writing with proper spelling, grammar and
making skills in analyzing or developing
technical ability to articulate and integrate
public health program or policy options.
Students will be able to use written language
professionally and effectively.
Students will identify and use appropriate
concepts, theories, and principles in
Students will be able to communicate in a
Very Good-Excellent regards to the prevention of disease,
knowledgeable and well-versed manner with
disability, and dependency in a
others in their field, regarding public health.
community. Students will understand the
interrelation between health and the rest of
Students will be able to discuss issues of public
a region’s economy. Students will
health in a clear, concise, and easily
understand how basic tools of public
understandable manner with the general public,
health are used is assessing the health of a
mass media outlets, and government officials.
community and how to examine and
control infectious or non-infectious threats
to health.
Student has a basic understanding of, and
an ability to identify how health and public
health is defined. Students will be able to Student shows the basic skills expression of
ideas in writing with proper spelling, grammar
apply critical thinking and decision
making skills in analyzing or developing and technical ability to articulate and Students
public health program or policy options. will be able to use written language
Students will identify and use appropriate professionally and effectively.
concepts, theories, and principles in
regards to the prevention of disease,
Students will be able to communicate in a
Satisfactory
disability, and dependency in a
knowledgeable and well-versed manner with
community. Students will understand the others in their field, regarding public health.
interrelation between health and the rest of
a region’s economy. Students will
Students will be able to discuss issues of public
understand how basic tools of public
health in a clear, concise, and easily
health are used is assessing the health of a understandable manner with the general public,
community and how to examine and
mass media outlets, and government officials.
control infectious or non-infectious threats
to health.
Student has a lack of understanding of the
Student has a critical inability to grasp and
appropriate strategies for specific infectious
apply the principles of epidemiological
diseases, exhibits deficiencies in technical writing
methods, including design, sampling
style and skills, uses expression of ideas in
techniques and appropriate statistical
Unsatisfactory
writing with proper spelling, grammar and
methods expected at the graduate level.
technical ability to articulate and integrate best
practice and effective strategies for the
prevention
LECTURE TOPICS COVERED
Approximate
coverage
Health Defined, an Introduction to Public Health
4 hours
History, Goals and Organization of Public Health
including the Core Functions of Public
4 hours
Health.
The Role of Government in Public Health
4 hours
Public Health and the Health Care System
4 hours
Epidemiology and Public Health
4 hours
Infectious and Chronic Diseases
4 hours
Agents of Environmental Disease – Vector-borne
4 hours
and Zoonotic Diseases
Agents of Environmental Disease and Injuries
4 hours
Public Health Threats: Tobacco and Obesity
4 hours
Family Health
4 hours
Effective Risk Communication
4 hours
Future Challenges and Emergency Preparedness
4 hours
48 hours
Total instructional hours
Topic
REQUIRED TEXTS
Schneider, Mary-Jane. Introduction to Public Health. Fourth Edition. Jones and Bartlett. 2013.
This book is available online, for rent at the UWF bookstore, or as an eBook through CourseSmart and perhaps
other venders.
REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY
Other required readings will be announced in class and made available online.
Additional Texts Used:
Turnock, B. Public Health: What it is and How it Works
Friis, R. Environmental Health
Riegelman, R. Public Health 101
SPECIAL TECHNOLOGY UTILIZED BY STUDENTS
Beyond baseline requirements of e-mail and word processing, students must be able to conduct Internet
research. Students are encouraged to complete this course utilizing the equivalent of a cable-speed modem.
Completing the course modules via a telephone dial-up connection will require significant download times for
larger audio-visual content.
GRADING/EVALUATION
Due to the distance learning nature of this course, all requirements must be completed within the time
scheduled, unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor. Participation in online forum discussions will
be graded using this Discussion Forum Grading Rubric. Your final grade will be determined by the points you
accumulate within each category, divided by the total points available within that category. These scores will
then be weighted based upon the percentages indicated below to determine your final grade. On-line facilities
will be provided so students can monitor their own progress.
Incompletes: The University of West Florida has an "Incomplete Policy." If you are thinking of asking for
an incomplete in this course, read the policy before you contact me.
Graduate Students
Examination 1
Examination 2
Examination 3
Discussions
Essays/Activities
Chapter Quizzes
19%
19%
19%
19%
19%
5%
The following grading scale will be used to determine final grades:
Grade
Description
Grade
Points
A
Outstanding
4.0
AOutstanding
3.7
B+
Above average
3.3
B
Above average
3.0
BAbove average
2.7
C+
Average
2.3
C
Average
2.0
CAverage
1.7
D+
Below average
1.3
D
Below average
1.0
F
Failure
0.0
I
Incomplete
*
Written Assignments: Each student will be required to submit 6 writing assignments on a variety of public
health topics and participating in threaded discussions. If you need writing assistance, as an online student, you
do have access to the online services and tutorials of the UWF Writing Lab. Please review their services and
tutorials now, located here. You can also call the Grammar Hotline at: (850) 474-2129. I also suggest the online
tutorials of the UWF Library, located here.
Examinations: There will be three major examinations consisting of randomly generated short answer
questions and essay questions and weekly chapter quizzes.
Expectations for Academic Conduct / Plagiarism Policy
Academic Conduct Policy: (Web Site) | (PDF Format) |
UWF Library Online Tutorial: Plagiarism |
It is the philosophy of the University of West Florida that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable
mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be
disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or
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expulsion from the University. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism,
collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another
person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student, or the
attempt to commit such acts.
In addition, any behavior that interferes with the conduct of a class is classified as disruptive behavior and will
not be tolerated.
Since we take Academic Integrity very seriously, you will need to submit a statement before each Exam that the
work you are submitting is your own and that you did not give not receive any unauthorized aid and you are
following the rules of the Exam.
You are required to take the UWF Library Plagiarism Tutorial and receive a 100% on the Plagiarism Quiz
(continue to take the quiz until you receive a 100%) and forward the confirmation of that to me. The
consequences of plagiarism are usually suspension and a permanent mark on your academic record which will
haunt you for the rest of your academic and professional life.
You will also need to take and score 100% in the Academic Integrity Quiz (in the Quiz section of the course)
before you will get access to the second module. Information is given in the Important Information section.
ASSISTANCE
The University of West Florida supports an inclusive learning environment for all students. If there are aspects
of the instruction or design of this course that hinder your full participation, such as time-limited exams,
inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos and podcasts, reasonable accommodations can be
arranged. Prior to receiving accommodations, you must register with the Student Disability Resource Center
(SDRC) at http://uwf.edu/sdrc/internal/. Appropriate academic accommodations will be determined based on
the documented needs of the individual. For information regarding the registration process, e-mail
sdrc@uwf.edu or call 850.474.2387.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
This course is reviewed during the semester and in an ongoing basis for quality by assessment personnel within
the School of Allied Health and Life Sciences (SAHLS) to meet national standards established by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools, the Council on Education for Public Health, and/or to address quality
enhancement initiatives of SAHLS. Student feedback is also vital to this process. When reviewing our
programs, our accrediting partners expect to see 100% participation in the State-of-Florida mandated SUSSAI
(State University System Student Assessment of Instruction) evaluations. Thus, at the end of the semester, we
need to hear from the folks that enjoyed the class and from the folks that have suggestions for improvement.
BUT, we do need to hear from each and every student in this class, and we value your input.
When SUSSAI evaluations are ready for you to complete, you will see a News posting in the course. Please
take a few minutes to complete this anonymous, brief web-based evaluation on this course.
Please be assured that all evaluations that are completed online are of a confidential matter. Your name, social
security number, and e-mail address will not be revealed to your instructor, department, or college. Only one
evaluation per course per student can be submitted. Please do not delay completing the evaluation when the
time approaches. Due to the significance of this information, I will not be able to pre-release grades in
eLearning if we are not close to the 100% participation goal before finals week. Thank you!
ONLINE TEST TAKING GUIDELINES
If you experience any other technical problems or errors during any timed exam that does not overlap with the
eLearning maintenance window, you are required to notify the Helpdesk immediately at helpdesk@uwf.edu or
(850) 474-2075. Failure to contact the HelpDesk to report the problem will result in a grade of 0 automatically
being assigned. If you are unable to get immediate assistance from the HelpDesk during the exam, but have
documented the problem in an email or voice mail, you may attempt to restart the exam using the same browser,
or attempt to re-enter the exam with another browser. If you are still unable to restart the exam and continue
with saving, please note that for your final submitted score to be recorded, you MUST still prove that you
documented the original technical problem with the HelpDesk via helpdesk@uwf.edu or (850) 474-2075.
Failure to do so will result in an automatic grade of 0 being assigned.