Course Descriptions—Community Health Sciences

CHSC 400 - Public Health Concepts and Practice (3 sh)

Concepts, principles, discussions, exercises, and case studies that provide an overview of the philosophy, purpose, history, organization, functions, tools, activities, and results of public health practice. Prerequisite: Enrollment restricted to public health students; other graduate, professional and advanced undergraduate students admitted by consent as space permits. To obtain consent, see the SPH registrar.

CHSC 401 - Behavioral Sciences in Public Health (3 sh)

Provides grounding in the social and behavioral sciences to analyze public health issues. Includes analysis of individual, community, institutional, and societal factors influencing health and illness. Prerequisite(s): Enrollment restricted to public health students; other graduate, professional and advanced undergraduate students admitted by consent as space permits. To obtain consent, see the SPH registrar.

CHSC 411 - Nutrition for Public Health Professionals (3 sh)

Foundation course to introduce nutrition principles and their application to public health populations and problems. Prerequisite: CHSC 400 or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 419 - Public Health Aspects of Sexuality and Women's Health (3 sh)

Same as GWS 419. An overview of human sexuality from a public health view with special emphasis on family planning, sexuality, and behavior effects on women's health.

CHSC 425 - Public Health and Aging (3 sh)

Gerontological public health issues are examined through the psychosocial and physical dimensions of the aging process and interactions between the elderly and the health care system. Prerequisite: None.

CHSC 431 - Community Assessment in Public Health (3 sh)

An introduction to community assessment in health promotion. Concepts and models of community health and community social dynamics: community participation and capacity building; strategies for situated inquiry and use of existing indicators; ethical issues. Prerequisites: BSTT 400, EPID 400, CHSC 400 or concurrent registration; and consent of the instructor.

CHSC 433 - Public Health Planning and Evaluation (3 sh)

Planning and evaluation for community health programs, including proposal development and evaluation; considerations for community/consumer involvement in planning process. Prerequisites: Credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 431 (Community Assessment in Public Health) and CHSC 480 (Health Education and Health Promotion) or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 434 - Introduction to Qualitative Methods in Public Health (3 sh)

Introduction to the major techniques used in qualitative research (observation, participant observation, in-depth interviews). Includes field and in-class exercises, and introduces computer-assisted qualitative data analysis.

CHSC 446 - Research Methods in Community Health (3 sh)

Introduction to principles and techniques for scientific investigation of problems in public health research and practice. Prerequisite: BSTT 400 Biostatistics I, or the equivalent.

CHSC 447 - Survey Planning and Design (3 sh)

Same as PA 447. Theory and applications of sample survey planning and design for conducting research in health sciences and related fields. Addresses three major topics: survey design and planning, sampling and data collection procedures. Prerequisite: Graduate or professional standing BSTT 400 or the equivalent.

CHSC 456 - Women's Health: A Primary Health Care Approach (3 sh)

Same as NUPH 455 and NUSC 455 and NUWH 455. Health promotion and disease prevention in women's health. Includes community experience with community women. Primary health care approaches examined. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

CHSC 464 - Survey of Developmental Disabilities (3 sh)

Same as DHD 464. Survey of the developmental disabilities field, including basic definitions, history of DD services, relevant public policies and legislation, service delivery systems, and research. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 480 - Health Education and Health Promotion (3 sh)

Theories of health education and health promotion for public health professionals; approaches for individual, group, and community-level behavior change. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing. Priority enrollment given to students in the division of Community Health Sciences within the School of Public Health.

CHSC 485 - Communications, Mass Media, and Public Health (3 sh)

Examines the development, theoretical bases, and assessments of mass media interventions, and the intended and unintended effects of the mass media in society.

CHSC 494 - Special Topics in Community Health Sciences (1 to 4 sh)

May be repeated for credit. Students may register for more than one section per term. Study of topics in maternal and child health, gerontology, behavioral science of health and illness, international health, community health and public health practice. Prerequisite: Enrollment restricted to public health students; other graduate, professional and advanced undergraduate students admitted by consent as space permits. Consent of the instructor.

CHSC 510 - Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health: Outcomes and Measurement (3 sh)

Introduces key theoretical frameworks, measurement tools, and relevant datasets needed to understand and describe the health status of women, children, and families at the individual and population/community level. Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor.

CHSC 511 - MCH Delivery Systems: Services, Programs, and Policies (3 sh)

Structure, funding, and evidence base for MCH service delivery systems at the federal, state and local levels. Prerequisites: CHSC 400 and CHSC 510; or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 512 - Best Practices in MCH Programs (3 sh)

Using a life span approach within an ecological framework, ‘best practices’ in MCH will be examined in terms of underlying theories, program and policy implementation, evaluation, and advocacy. Prerequisites: CHSC 510 and CHSC 511 and CHSC 543.

CHSC 514 - Nutritional Epidemiology (3 sh)

Examination of nutritional epidemiological techniques in the design of population-based nutrition research. Students complete research proposal using nutritional assessment, epidemiology, and research skills. Prerequisites: CHSC 411 (Nutrition for Public Health Professionals) or EPID 403 (Introduction to Epidemiology: Principles and Methods) or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 518 - The Epidemiology of Pediatric Diseases (3 sh)

Same as EPID 518. Familiarizes the student with issues unique to research on children. Lecture topics include epidemiology of childhood diseases, important research studies, and methodologic problems specific to studying children. Prerequisites: EPID 403 or EPID 400; and EPID 404 and BSTT 400; or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 526 Family Perspectives on Disability (3 sh)

Same as DHD 526. Examines trends, theories and research methods, policies, and family centered intervention approaches for families of persons with disabilities. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 527 - Critical Issues in Long-Term Care Policy (3 sh)

Same as HPA 527. Long-term care organization, financing, delivery, utilization, and policy, emphasizing affordability, access, and quality in a managed care environment. Prerequisites: CHSC 400 and 425 or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 528 - Societal Analysis of Aging, Health, and Health Care (3 sh)

Same as Sociology 528. Analysis of aging, health and health care issues mainly from sociological and public health perspectives. Review and application of appropriate concepts, theories and methods. Prerequisite: CHSC 425 (Public Health and Aging) or consent of instructor.

CHSC 529 - Gerontological Health/Illness Behavior (3 sh)

Perceptions and behaviors of older adults are examined in reference to illness prevention, health promotion and reactions to acute and chronic illness. Prerequisite: None.

CHSC 534 - Management and Analysis of Qualitative Data (3 sh)

A hands-on course that teaches conceptual and technical skills for organizing and analyzing qualitative (textual) data from focus groups, in-depth interviews and other sources, using specialized text-analysis computer software. Prerequisite: CHSC 434 or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 543 - MCH Policy and Advocacy (3 sh)

Explores the social, economic, and political dynamics which influence the development and implementation of MCH policy and U.S. health policy in general. Prerequisite: CHSC 441 or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 544 - Public Health Aspects of Adolescent Health (3 sh)

Same as SOCW 546. Overview of critical health/developmental issues in adolescence; youth participation in health initiatives. Crosscutting perspectives of social identity, gender, culture and social class will be essential to any topic discussion/ assignment. Prerequisite: CHSC 446 or consent of instructor.

CHSC 545 - Reproductive and Perinatal Health (3 sh)

Same as EPID 545. This course focuses on the epidemiology of key reproductive and perinatal health outcomes and relevant health services and health policies. Prerequisites: BSTT 400; and EPID 400 or EPID 403; or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 547 - Public Health Approaches to Maternal and Child Nutrition (2 sh)

Advanced seminar to integrate role and application of nutrition for maternal and child populations. Prerequisite: CHSC 411 or CHSC 441 or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 548 - Readings in Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology (2 sh)

Same as EPID 548. Advanced seminar in reproductive/perinatal epidemiology with particular emphasis on methodological issues. Prerequisites: CHSC 441 (Introduction to Maternal and Child Health) and Epid 404 (Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology) or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 549 - Advanced Applied Methods in Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology (3 sh)

Same as EPID 549. Gives conceptual and technical understanding of statistical and epidemiological methods, and builds skills/proficiency in applying these. Attention is given to data handling tasks and to statistical/epidemiologic strategies for analysis and presentation. Prerequisites: EPID 404 or EPID 402; and BSTT 401; and EPID 406; or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 550 - Advanced Concepts in Community Health Sciences (3 sh)

Critical review of landmark publications in community health, with analysis of current literature for developing community health science and practice. Prerequisite: Completion of CHSC 400 or equivalent.

CHSC 551 - Foundations of Public Health Inquiry (3 sh)

Examination of research paradigms, precepts of theory development, literature synthesis, and ethical principles, all enhance the scholarliness and meaningfulness of doctoral students' public health inquiry. Prerequisite: Open only to Ph.D. degree students.

CHSC 553 - Family Planning: Policies and Practices (2 sh)

Provides an understanding of family planning concepts, including contraceptive and abortion methods, and the policies that affect their implementation. Prerequisite: CHSC 400 and EPID 403 and BSTT 400; or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 554 - International Women's Health: Current and Emerging Issues (3 sh)

To enhance students' understanding of, and sensitivity to, current and emerging international women's health issues. The focus will include studying social and cultural factors affecting women's physical as well as psychosocial health. Prerequisite: CHSC 400; or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 556 - Needs Assessment (4 sh)

Same as OT 556. This course introduces theories of need, models of the needs assessment process, and reviews research methods typically used in conducting needs assessments. Emphasis will be on needs assessments in health-related community agencies. Prerequisites: A 400 or 500-level research course such as OT 510, DHD 415, CHSC 446, or SOC 500. The prerequisite research course needs to provide students with an understanding of basic research design, sampling strategies, and an introduction to methods such as surveys and focus groups.

CHSC 564 - Community Integration in Developmental Disabilities (3 sh)

Same as DHD 564. Historical and contemporary issues pertaining to the empowerment and integration of persons with developmental disabilities into community settings. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

CHSC 577 - Survey Questionnaire Design (3 sh)

Same as PA 577. Concepts and strategies for developing survey questionnaires for various modes of survey data collection. Students develop and present questionnaires related to their individual interests. Prerequisite: CHSC 446 or CHSC 447; and graduate or professional standing; or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 584 - Community Organizing for Health (3 sh)

Focus on the bases of facilitating community organizing processes in health promotion including theories, fieldwork tools, feminist and international perspectives. Field work required. Prerequisite: CHSC 480 or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 586 - Health Behavior Interventions (3 sh)

Addresses advanced concepts and strategies for the development, implementation, and evaluation of public health interventions to change health behaviors. Prerequisites: CHSC 446 and CHSC 480.

CHSC 594 - Advanced Special Topics in Community Health Sciences (1 to 4 sh)

May be repeated for credit. Students may register for more than one section per term. Advanced study of topics in maternal and child health, gerontology, behavioral science of health and illness, international health, community health, and public health practice. Topics vary by semester. Prerequisites: BSTT 400 (Biostatistics I) and EPID 400 (Principles of Epidemiology) or equivalent and CHSC 400 (Public Health Concepts and Practice) and consent of the instructor.

CHSC 595 - Seminar in Community Health Sciences (1 to 3 sh)

May be repeated for credit. Students may register for more than one section per term. Satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only. Analysis of current theory and research in community health sciences. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.