PBH 101—Introduction to Public Health

A general introduction to what public health is, its importance for everybody's health, and how it functions as a combination of science and politics. The role of the public health system will be illustrated by describing issues confronting New York State and what is being done about them.

PBH 102—Promoting Healthy People and Communities

This course focuses on how health promotion strategies influence healthy behaviors, healthy people, and healthy communities. Current public health issues will guide us in examining key health promotion concepts, health concerns at different ages, and the causes of different health behaviors. Health inequalities and mass media's role will also be highlighted.

PBH 203—Concepts of Epidemiology

This course is designed to introduce students to the science of epidemiology. Specific subjects will include causal thinking, the epidemiologic framework, and study designs used in epidemiologic studies and the role of epidemiology in public health. Examples of famous studies will be discussed, including outbreak investigations and major studies that have identified risk factors for the more common diseases in the country and world today.

Pre/Corequisite:

MAT 120

PBH 204—Global Health

The environment affects our health, economics, and quality of life. Globalization has made the earth a much smaller place so that we can no longer focus merely on issues in the United States. This course will address global environmental concerns and their impact on human health. Students will discuss various affecting factors (e.g. urbanization, population pressure, climate change, atmospheric pollution, sanitation, etc.) within the context of their impacts on population throughout the world.

PBH 205—U.S. Health Care System

This course will introduce the students to important issues underlying the US Health Care System - including issues of contemporary importance such as health care cost, health care quality, access to care, increasing number of uninsured, patient safety, prescription drugs policies, physician-patient interaction, adoption and use of health care technologies, and end-of-life care. The course is intended to provide students with an understanding of the various actors, stakeholder interactions, and functions of the US health care system, through a case-based approach interweaving real world events, practice experience, and research on the above issues.