Course information contained within the Bulletin is accurate at the time of publication in June 2025 but is subject to change. For the most up-to-date course information, please refer to the Course Catalog.
HPM 2202. Man-Made Disasters: Radiological, Chemical & Biological Terrorism. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and models of public health preparedness, mitigation, and evaluation in the context of man-made disasters, including radiological, chemical, and biological incidents. The course addresses identified core competencies of emergency preparedness for public health professionals that include: disaster management, risk assessment, risk communication, governmental resources, functional roles, surveillance, and preparedness evaluation. Man-made disasters will be looked at in a historical, environmental, and psychological context in order to elucidate the role of public health in man-made disaster preparedness and evaluation. In addition the role of cultural competency and the needs of special populations will be addressed. Public perception of risk and media views of man-made disasters will be explored. Public Health majors, minors or students studying in the Public Health concentration must complete this course with a C or better. NOTE: This course is only offered online.
Level Registration Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Course Attributes: SI
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
HPM 2208. Natural Disasters: Response and Recovery. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and models of public health response and recovery in the context of natural disasters. It will assist health care and allied health professionals, public health professionals, and emergency responders to work together to respond effectively and to facilitate recovery in a natural disaster. The course will enable students to meet identified core competencies of emergency health preparedness for public health professionals that include functional roles, resource identification, problem solving, and appropriate response. Students will utilize problem-based learning by analyzing actual disaster events and applying the theories, principles, and practices of response and recovery. In addition, students will learn about the issues faced by special populations and how to address these special needs in natural disaster response and recovery. Public Health majors and minors must complete this course with a C or better.
Level Registration Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Course Attributes: SI
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
HPM 2214. Politics and Payments in US Healthcare System. 3 Credit Hours.
The course provides an overview of the finances and infrastructure on which the U.S. health care system is based as well as a basic overview of the health policy process. Students will learn about private and public health insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP, as well as discuss the growing problem of uninsured populations. In addition, students will explore the policy process behind our current health system, focusing on the role of the legislative, executive, and judicial systems, as well as special interest groups and the role of public opinion in health policy. Public Health majors, minors or students studying in the Public Health concentration must complete this course with a C or better.
Level Registration Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
HPM 2216. Introduction to Health Policy. 3 Credit Hours.
This course introduces students to policy and its influence on public health. Students will gain an understanding of the policymaking process, focusing on prescriptive policy analysis, and will develop fluency in current debates in health policy, both in the context of health care policy and health-relevant social policy. They will also focus on evidence-based communication skills focused on public health policy.
Course Attributes: SI
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
HPM 3131. Global Health Systems. 3 Credit Hours.
Health systems around the world can look very different. Some provide high-quality, advanced services to everyone within a country - and result in very good population health outcomes. Others struggle to provide even minimal health services or fulfill basic public health functions - and result in relatively poor population health outcomes. This course examines healthcare and public health systems around the world and their impact on population health. The course will also explore the role of the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and financing mechanisms like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Students will learn to produce assessments of health systems and assess health system performance.
Course Attributes: SI
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
HPM 3207. Principles of Emergency Management: A Public Health Perspective. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and models of public health preparedness and response for all hazards emergency management. It will enable health care and allied health professionals, public health professionals, and emergency responders to work together to plan and respond effectively to both natural and man-made disasters. The course will introduce students to the identified core competencies of emergency health preparedness for public health professionals which include: functional roles, communication, resource identification, problem solving, and evaluation. The issues of mental health and special populations will be introduced in an emergency management context. Students will utilize problem-based learning by analyzing actual disaster events and applying the theories, principles, and practice of preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery. In addition, students will learn about the importance of personal emergency preparedness, which will include the development of their own emergency plan. Public Health majors or minors or students pursuing the Certificate in Emergency Management with Special Populations must complete this course with a C or better.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
HPM 3208. History of U.S. Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.
To advance public health in the United States, it is important to understand the history of public health and how public health evolves. This course surveys the history of public health in the U.S. over the past 300 years and issues relevant to the 21st century. Each class session will focus on a history of public health theme, including shifting patterns of disease and illness; the emergence of public health as a profession; and the development of the U.S. public health systems. The class will focus on the dual nature of public health, encompassing both the biological basis of medicine and the economic, political, and cultural characteristics of societies in which public health operates. We will highlight how the beliefs and priorities in U.S. society have influenced both response to public health challenges and the activities by public health professionals to address these challenges. This includes scientific standards; religious or moral beliefs; and the political, cultural, economic, and sociodemographic gender context of society. Understanding historical interrelationships among context, issues, and decisions can help public health professionals better recognize and address today's challenges.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Undergraduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: College of Public Health.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
HPM 3215. Special Populations: Strategic Community Outreach. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and models of strategic community outreach as it pertains to the special population communities, within the context of emergency management planning, response, and recovery. It assists health care and allied health professionals, public health professionals, and emergency responders to understand how accessible information and technology is part of the community outreach strategy. The course enables students to meet identified core competencies of emergency preparedness for public health and emergency professionals, which include functional roles, resource identification, problem-solving, and appropriate response. Students utilize problem-based learning by analyzing actual and scenario based disaster events and applying the theories, principles, and practices of strategic community outreach pertaining to emergency response and recovery. In addition, students learn about the issues faced by special population communities and how to address these special needs in all hazard response and recovery. Public Health majors or minors or students pursuing the undergraduate Certificate in Emergency Management with Special Populations must complete this course with a C or better.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Undergraduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C in (HPM 2207 or HPM 3207)
HPM 3216. Public Health Advocacy and Policy Change. 3 Credit Hours.
This course provides students with the knowledge of different approaches to doing public health advocacy and realizing policy change to improve the health of communities. Students will learn to identify public health issues and how to advocate for policy change at local, state, national and global levels.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C in HPM 2214.
HPM 3231. Global Health Policy. 3 Credit Hours.
Health policy has profound implications for public health and health inequity. It determines who lives long, who dies early, and how we engage with social issues like access to healthcare, economic inequality, environmental pollution, and emerging infectious disease. This course introduces students to comparative policy and explores different policy responses to pressing global public health issues in the context of high-, middle-, and low-income countries. Students will identify one global health issue and conduct a health policy analysis that examines the effectiveness of policy responses around the world.
Course Attributes: SI
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
HPM 3382. Independent Study in Public Health. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Students in this course pursue supervised independent projects on issues related to public health. Public Health majors, minors or students studying in the Public Health concentration must complete this course with a C or better. NOTE: Registration must be preapproved by faculty before registration.
Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Public Health.
Level Registration Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
