Master of Public Program Competencies Implemented Fall 2015
Master of Public Core Competencies SPH Q501 Biostatistics 1. Describe the roles biostatistics serve in the discipline of public health. 2. Apply descriptive and inferential methodologies according to the type of data model for answering a particular public health research question. 3. Interpret results of statistical analyses for/in public health studies. SPH V541 Environmental 1. Identify the effects of major environmental and occupational agents on human health and safety. 2. Compare and interpret federal and state regulatory programs, guidelines and authorities that control environmental health issues. SPH E651 Epidemiology 1. Describe a public health problem in terms of magnitude, person, place and time. 2. Calculate basic epidemiologic measures. 3. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of epidemiologic reports. SPH B589 BSCH 1. Differentiate social from behavioral factors as determinants of the health. 2. Apply theories and concepts from several ecological levels to public health. SPH P510 Public Administration 1. Evaluate the main components and issues of the organization, financing and delivery of health services and public health systems. 2. Apply the principles of management to organizational initiatives. Page 1 of 10
MPH: Biostatistics Competencies by Course 1. Describe the roles biostatistics serve in the discipline of public health. 2. Apply descriptive and inferential methodologies according to the type of data model for answering a particular public health research question. 3. Interpret results of statistical analyses for/in public health studies. 4. Explain general principles of experimental design in attempting to identify risk factors for disease. 5. Apply statistical reasoning to structure thinking and solve a wide range of problems in public health. 6. Use information technology to access, analyze, and interpret public health data. 7. Choose appropriate multivariate statistical methods to address research questions. 8. Conduct multivariate statistical analysis on empirical data and interpret computer output correctly. 9. Comprehend and critique research papers that use multivariate statistical methods. 10. Use appropriate statistical approaches to study the relationships among categorical dependent variable and predictors to answer research questions. 11. Use appropriate linear models to study the relationships among variables to answer research questions. 12. Specify statistical models according to the structure of the multilevel or longitudinal data. 13. Conduct longitudinal analysis on empirical data and interpret computer output correctly. 14. Comprehend and critique research papers that use longitudinal analysis methods. Core Q501 Introduction to Statistics in Public Q601 Analysis & Design Q602 Multivariate Statistical Analysis Q603 Categorical Data Analysis Required or Electives Q604 Applied Linear Regression Q605 Analysis of Multi-level & Longitudinal Data Q611 Statistical Packages in Research Q612 Survival Analysis Page 2 of 10
15. Describe the role statistical packages serve in the discipline of public health. 16. Describe and apply data management skills to handle research data in public heath area. 17. Apply basic descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze research data in public health area and interpret the results properly. 18. Use appropriate statistical methods to study the relationship among censored outcomes and independent variables to answer research questions. Page 3 of 10
Competencies by Course MPH: Behavioral, Social and Community SPH B589 SPH B501 Social & Behavioral Assessment & Determinants of Planning in PH SPH B602 Intervention Design in PH SPH B529 & Disease Disparities in Diverse Communities SPH H562 Program Evaluation 1. Differentiate social from behavioral factors as determinants of the health. 2. Apply theories and concepts from several ecological levels to public health. 3. Use information from individual, organizational and community concerns, assets, resources and deficits to plan community-based public health programs, policies, and interventions. 4. Use input from critical stakeholders to plan community-based public health programs, policies and interventions. 5. Apply established steps and procedures to plan community-based public health programs, policies and interventions. 6. Outline behavioral, social and community health interventions that address multiple levels in the ecological framework. 7. Develop behavioral, social, and community health interventions that are grounded in theory, supported by evidence, and based on community input. 8. Develop approaches that acknowledge the role of cultural factors in public health practice. 9. Apply principles of community-based participation to improve health in diverse communities. 10. Use input from critical stakeholders to evaluate community-based public health programs, policies, and interventions. 11. Apply established steps and procedures to evaluate communitybased public health programs, policies and interventions. Page 4 of 10
Competencies by Course MPH: Epidemiology SPH E651 Epidemiology SPH E658 Advanced Epi SPH E659 Advanced Epi Methods SPH E653 Chronic Disease Epi SPH E655 Infectious Disease Epi SPH E657 Social Epi 1. Describe a public health problem in terms of magnitude, person, place and time. 2. Calculate basic epidemiologic measures. 3. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of epidemiologic reports. 4. Apply epidemiological concepts and methods to identify determinants of health problems in populations. 5. Analyze and interpret data arising from case-control and cohort studies using both crude and stratified methods of analysis. 6. Generate hypotheses and identify an appropriate study design to answer epidemiologic questions. 7. Access secondary data and demonstrate ability to manage data sets necessary for epidemiologic analysis. 8. Use epidemiologic methods to develop a chronic disease research strategy. 9. Describe the distribution of chronic diseases and their associated risk factors. 10. Analyze surveillance data to describe the distribution of an infectious disease in a population. 11. Design studies intended to respond to epidemiologic disease outbreaks. 12. Describe public health problems pertinent to the community. 13. Evaluate the impact of social interventions to the epidemiology of negative health states. Page 5 of 10
Competencies by Course 1. Identify the effects of major environmental and occupational agents on human health and safety. 2. Compare and interpret federal and state regulatory programs, guidelines and authorities that control environmental health issues. 3. Describe the effects of biological, chemical, and physical hazards on the human body, including the role of genetic factors, pathways and routes of exposure, fate within the body, and adverse health effects. 4. Examine the science underlying testing for the ability of chemicals to elicit adverse human health effects. 5. Identify the epidemiologic methods used to investigate the relationship between environmental agents and human disease. 6. Compare the different exposure assessment techniques used to characterize environmental health impacts and their advantages and disadvantages of use. 7. Integrate the disciplines of exposure assessment and toxicology to quantify environmental health risks as they pertain to policy setting initiatives. 8. Evaluate environmental and occupational health risks and develop appropriate control measures. 9. Interpret and communicate environmental and occupational health findings to diverse communities. 10. Apply epidemiologic methods to discern relationships between the environment and human health. MPH: Environmental SPH V541 Environmental Science SPH V542 Principles of Toxicology SPH V545 Exposure Assessment and Control SPH V546 Risk Assessment, Policy, & Toxic Regulations SPH V548 Environmental & Occupational Epidemiology Page 6 of 10
Competencies by Course MPH: Public Administration SPH P510 SPH H661 Public Legal Issues in Admin Promotion SPH H662 Acquiring & Managing Funds for & Human Services SPH 561 Financing & Budgeting SPH H562 program Evaluation 1. Evaluate the main components and issues of the organization, financing and delivery of health services and public health systems. 2. Apply the principles of management to organizational initiatives. 3. Identify and interpret public health laws, regulations, and policies. 4. Articulate the health, fiscal, administrative, legal, social, and political implications of public health policy options. 5. Prepare proposals for funding from external sources for public health programs and research projects. 6. Develop and construct budgets for public health programs and research projects. 7. Develop strategies for determining budget priorities for public health programs. 8. Use input from critical stakeholders to evaluate community-based public health programs, policies, and interventions. 9. Apply established steps and procedures to evaluate community-based public health programs, policies and interventions. Page 7 of 10
MPH: Family SPH F510 Competencies by Course African American and Latino Families 1. Analyze and interpret how family theories and conceptual frameworks inform research and practice in family health. 2. Analyze the effects families have on physical, mental, social, spiritual, and cultural dimensions of health. 3. Evaluate how societal attitudes and policies affect family resources and resilience. 4. Identify how family and community demographic trends affect disparities and subsequent educational approaches used to improve family health. 5. Summarize how social and cultural factors affect family health. 6. Evaluate how families interact with societal systems such as educational, governmental, legal, community, and religious systems. 7. Evaluate and critique family-based programs designed to improve the health of families. 8. Integrate family and public health theories in relation to health concerns across the life course. SPH F557 Stress and Resilience in the Family and Community SPH F654 Conceptual Frameworks in Human Development and Family Studies SPH F656 Families and Page 8 of 10
Competencies by Course MPH: Physical Activity SPH K553 Physical Activity and Public 1. Interpret physical activity data as a tool to develop and prioritize communitybased interventions, including policies, to promote physical activity. 2. Understand methods to assess physical activity across diverse community populations. 3. Develop and apply evidence-based knowledge and understanding of the relationship between physical activity and health across the life-span. 4. Understand evidence-based models to plan, evaluate, and translate physical activity interventions at community levels. 5. Outline behavioral, social and community health interventions that address multiple levels in the ecological framework. 6. Develop behavioral, social, and community health interventions that are grounded in theory, supported by evidence, and based on community input. 7. Address cultural, social, behavioral, and environmental factors that affect the development and implementation of physical activity promotion. 8. Recommend and translate effective intervention strategies to partners and other constituents. 9. Use social marketing principles to promote physical activity within target populations. 10. Facilitate and coordinate with local and community organizations to develop and implement policy and environmental changes designed to increase opportunities for physical activity. SPH K554 Physical Activity & Public Seminar SPH K556 Methods in Physical Activity Assessment SPH B602 Intervention Design in Public SPH K524 Physical Activity in Diverse Populations 11. Collaborate with other disciplines to promote and administer physical activity research, practice, and policy at the community, state, or federal level. Page 9 of 10
MPH: Professional Education Competencies by Course SPH H500 Principles of Education SPH H552 Instructional Planning in PH Settings 1. Collect health related data regarding needs, assets and capacity for health education programs. 2. Design health related programs consistent with health education concepts, theories and specified program objectives. SPH H640 Research in Education SPH H610 Professional Applications in Education 3. Exhibit competence in delivering planned health education programs. 4. Use appropriate methods (quantitative/qualitative) to evaluate and conduct research related to health education. 5. Facilitate partnerships among health and education related agencies and organizations to accept and support health education. 6. Exhibit competency for the selection, development and dissemination of health education resources and training materials for diverse populations. 7. Demonstrate professional responsibility toward the promotion of health education and the discipline. Page 10 of 10