IU Indianapolis Bulletin » Schools » Welcome to the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health! » Courses » Undergraduate Courses

Welcome to the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health!

Courses

Undergraduate Courses
The abbreviation "P" refers to course prerequisites and "R" to recommended prerequisite courses. Prerequisites can be waived by the instructor of the course. The number of hours of credit is indicated in parentheses following the course title. Courses are listed in three groups: environmental health science, health services management, and public health.
  • PBHL-A 115 What's in your Backyard? Environment and Health (3 cr.) Environment where people live, work, play has a profound impact on human health and wellbeing. Through case-based learning, we will examine contemporary and emerging global environmental issues, their links to human health effects, and ways to solve these problems. We will explore future approaches to making environments sustainable and health-promoting.
  • PBHL-A 120 Culture, Health and Happiness (3 cr.) In the U.S. we don't have one culture. We have regional cultures which influence our environment and health. Students of all majors can learn about mortality patterns in different cultural regions of the country, and learn to use concept maps to understand cultural influences on those patterns in death.
  • PBHL-A 130 Get Creative! Solving Global Health Challenges (3 cr.) Novel solutions are needed to address disease- and non-disease challenges in global health. Learn how technical solutions can help overcome barriers to disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and how stakeholders can work together to align objectives and build capacity.
  • PBHL-A 140 Preparing for Disasters (3 cr.) Explore natural and environmental disasters we may face, steps for individual readiness to confront them, and social theories which underpin the steps. Students will learn disaster preparedness principles on the individual and community levels, and develop both a disaster plan and emergency supplies kit for themselves and their families.
  • PBHL-A 215 Storytelling with Data (3 cr.) Communicating data effectively to the public, policy makers, and media is essential to facilitate understanding, influence decision making and create change. Explore how to display and describe health and social science data. Bring data to life by choosing the best visual, the most impactful words, and the most strategic delivery.
  • PBHL-A 310 Exposure Assessment Laboratory and Data Analysis (4 cr.) This course will improve students understanding of principles in environmental exposure assessment through a two-pronged approach. Students will first learn to apply math and chemistry principles to environmental problems in small group learning activities. Laboratory experiments will then demonstrate exposure assessment techniques and allow student to evaluate health concerns.
  • PBHL-A 316 Environmental Health Science (3 cr.)

    The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with human/environment interaction and the potential impact of environmental hazards on human health and safety. This course focuses on the study of disease and injury-causing agents in the environment, where they come from, and their impact on human populations and communities. A variety of man-made and natural environmental agents will be studied. We will focus on biological, chemical, physical, and psychosocial agents and the illnesses and injuries produced by them. A variety of environmental control strategies, including technology, health promotion, and policy will be examined throughout the course.

  • PBHL-A 320 Prevention Strategies to Improve Population Health (3 cr.) Fundamentals of strategies to prevent injury and illness at the population level. We will explore the concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention with emphasis on regulatory, design, and clinical solutions.
  • PBHL-A 325 How Not to Get Killed: Injury (3 cr.) An examination of intentional and unintentional injury in our homes, on our streets, and in our workplaces. We will explore major injury classes, the impact on the public's health, identification of causal factors, and intervention strategies.
  • PBHL-A 330 Humans in Extreme Environments (3 cr.) Exploration of human performance, resilience, and adaptation to extreme environmental conditions, with emphasis pertaining to the occupational environment. We will examine physiological response and other human factors in these environments, including temperature extremes, low and high altitude, and in-air/space travel.
  • PBHL-A 380 Environmental Health Internship (3-6 cr.) P: Permission of Instructor. The internship in environmental health science provides students with an opportunity to gain meaningful and appropriate experience in any of the disciplines within environmental health. Students may seek internships in local, state, national, or international organizations in the government, not-for-profit, business, or industrial sectors, providing the work of the internship reflects one of the environmental health disciplines. Internships may be paid or unpaid.
  • PBHL-A 410 Fundamentals of Toxicology (3 cr.) This course is structured for those students desiring a basic understanding of the principles and practices of toxicology and how these are applied in the environmental regulator arena.
  • PBHL-A 415 Explosions, Collapses, and Toxic Spills: Prevention & Response (3 cr.) An exploration of catastrophic global incidents that have caused large scale fatalities, injury, illness, and massive destruction. We will examine select case studies to determine events leading to the incident, the subsequent rescue and recovery efforts, impact on the public's health, and identification of causal factors to inform prevention strategies.
  • PBHL-A 420 Armed Conflict, Natural Disasters, and Health (3 cr.) Explores the environmental public health concerns facing refugee populations from armed conflict, natural disasters, and other forced migration. Examines the response from local and international organizations, the effects of inadequate resources, and future solutions to improve refugee health.
  • PBHL-A 428 Public Health Sanitation (3 cr.)

    In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of proper food, water, and waste sanitation, and the impact healthy living conditions have on public health. We will discuss these fundamentals from the perspective of developed and developing countries and how the process of sanitation differs during emergencies and natural disasters.

  • PBHL-A 430 E-waste, Toxic Materials, and Conflict Minerals (3 cr.)

    We will consider modern electronics from an environmental public health perspective. Using the lifecycle of electronics as a frame we will examine processes of production and use, consideration the people who do the work and the environment which provides the raw materials and absorbs the results.

  • PBHL-A 433 Industrial Hygiene (3 cr.)

    There are nearly 5,000 workplace fatalities in the United States—about 13 deaths per day—and an estimated 50,000 annual deaths from work-related diseases. Approximately 10 million non-fatal injuries and illnesses occur each year. In this course, we will learn to anticipate, recognize, evaluate and control the hazards that face workers each day, including chemical, physical, biological, and psychosocial stressors. Through problem-based learning, we will focus on applied problem solving.

  • PBHL-A 435 Energy, Climate Change, Resilience, and Health (3 cr.)

    Climate change is a contentious, complex and important topic. In this course, we will address the whole complexity of climate change, explore its connection to energy consumption and discuss its impacts on human health and welfare and the possible remediation to together navigate a sustainable path of going forward both as a society and an individual. 

  • PBHL-A 440 Terrorism as a Public Health Threat (3 cr.)

    Explores mass casualty/high disruption weapons as a public health threat, with an emphasis on health protection of community members and first responders. We will examine multi-hazard emergency response frameworks; the structure/function of these weapons and their health effects; and the cycle of preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.

  • PBHL-A 441 Public Health Applications of GIS (3 cr.) Using ArcGIS Desktop software, this course aims to familiarize students with applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the context of public health. Public health cases will be used to explain and teach principles, methods, and techniques.
  • PBHL-A 445 Global Environmental Health & Sustainable Development (3 cr.)

    Analysis of how the global model of development is characterized by and influences relationships between the environment and human activities, and how such relationships influence human health. Based on the comprehension of such relationships, this course examines the possible approaches to control major environmental health problems in a sustainable manner. 

  • PBHL-A 450 Food and Water: Safety, Scarcity, Security (3 cr.)

    An exploration of food and water use, sanitation and safety, and its availability. We will examine the impact of human activity, including the demands of population growth, industrial development, and advancement in technology on food, water, and human health.

  • PBHL-A 453 Study Abroad: Geneva (3 cr.)

    This course provides students with an in-depth introduction to global organizations responsible for supporting health leadership and health systems strengthening worldwide. Participants will spend substantial time out in the field meeting health experts and mid- to senior-level managers and leaders.

  • PBHL-A 454 Study Abroad: London (3 cr.)

    This course provides an in-depth introduction to a global model for health services delivery and provides students with the opportunity to compare and contrast systems in England and the United States. Participants will spend substantial time out in the field visiting London-area health facilities, historical sites, and universities.

  • PBHL-A 455 Study Abroad: Israel (3 cr.)

    This course provides an in-depth introduction to a global model for health services and provides students with the opportunity to compare and contrast systems in Israel and the U.S. Participants will spend time out in the field visiting health facilities, historical sites, and cultural locations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

  • PBHL-B 275 Probability Without Tears and Without Calculus (3 cr.)

    This is a course teaching fundamental concepts in biostatistics through computer simulation. While this is a self-contained course, working knowledge of R or another computer language is desirable.

  • PBHL-B 300 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr.)

    This is an introductory survey of statistical reasoning and analysis.

  • PBHL-B 301 Biostatistics for Health Information Management (3 cr.) This course introduces the basic principles and methods of data analysis in public health biostatistics. Emphasis is placed on public health examples as they relate to concepts such as sampling, study design, descriptive statistics, probability, statistical distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, chi-square tests, t-tests, analysis of variance, linear regression and correlation.
  • PBHL-B 304 Biostatistics for Health Data Scientists A Computational Approach (3 cr.)

    This course introduces the basic principles and methods of data analysis in public health biostatistics. Emphasis is placed on public health examples as they relate to concepts such as sampling, study design, descriptive statistics, probability, statistical distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, chi-square tests, t-tests, analysis of variance, linear regression, correlation.

  • PBHL-B 352 Fundamentals of Data Management in R (3 cr.)

    This course teaches concepts related to research data planning, collection, storage, processing, and dissemination. The curriculum includes theoretical guidelines and practical tools for conducting public health research. Hands-on training with real-world examples and problem-solving exercises in RStudio and RMarkdown will be used to ensure students are comfortable with all concepts.

  • PBHL-B 384 Classical Biostatistical Regression Methods (3 cr.) This is the first course in a two-semester sequence teaching fundamental concepts of classical regression methods in biostatistics, both linear (i.e., least squares) and non-linear (e.g., logistic, Poisson, etc.). While this is a self-contained course, working knowledge of the R statistical environment is desirable.
  • PBHL-B 401 Health Data Science Internship I (3 cr.) This course provides real-world experience applying data science techniques in the form of an internship within the university or industry setting. Students in the Bachelor of Science program in Health Data Science will be matched with internship supervisors or organizations and undertake projects geared towards applying skills they have acquired from the BS in Health Data Science curriculum.
  • PBHL-B 402 Health Data Science Internship II (3-4 cr.) This course provides real-world experience applying data science techniques in the form of an internship within the university or industry setting. Students in the Bachelor of Science program in Health Data Science will be matched with internship supervisors or organizations and undertake projects geared towards applying skills they have acquired from the BS in Health Data Science curriculum. Satisfactory completion of the course will be determined jointly by internship supervisor and HDS Faculty. Students should expect to submit a final project and oral report to either the organization internship supervisor, appointed HDS Faculty, or both.
  • PBHL-B 420 Introduction To Statistical Learning (3 cr.)

    This is a course teaching fundamental concepts of statistical learning, a broad set of methods which refers to making sense of complex data. Such methods include, but are not limited to, the sparse regression (e.g. LASSO), classification and regression trees (CART) and support vector machines. This course is intended for students starting out in this area who perhaps lack the mathematical training to absorb a very technical treatment of these topics. For this reason, this course focuses on the application with less focus on the mathematical details.

  • PBHL-B 452 Fundamentals of Public Health Data Management (3 cr.) This course teaches concepts related to research data planning, collection, storage, processing, and dissemination. The curriculum includes theoretical guidelines and practical tools for conducting public health research. Hands-on training with real-world examples and problem-solving exercises in SAS will be used to ensure that students are comfortable with all concepts.
  • PBHL-B 481 Introduction To Biostatistical Computing (3 cr.) This is a course teaching fundamental concepts of biostatistical computing, a broad set of skills required for data acquisition, processing and visualization. At the end of the course the student will be able to analyze and manage statistical data, use reproducible reporting functionality, write their own functions, apply string and document processing techniques, have an understanding of object oriented programming in R, use non-standard evaluation (NSE) techniques within the R language, and create reproducible software in package form for the R language.
  • PBHL-E 202 Topics in Public Health (1-3 cr.)

    This course has a variable title and can be offered for variable credits. Similar to topics courses offered in other IUI programs, this course offers an introduction to a variety of public health topics and current issues will be covered in this course.    

  • PBHL-E 210 Zombie Apocalypse and Doomsday Infections (3 cr.) The focus is infectious diseases, the possibility of a zombie infection. We will discuss infections that have changed the course of history. Included topics are: disease transmission, outbreak investigations, control measures, assessment, and field investigations.
  • PBHL-E 303 Topics in Public Health (1-4 cr.) This course has a variable title and can be offered for variable credits. Similar to topics courses offered in other IUI programs, this course offers an introduction to a variety of public health topics and current issues will be covered in this course.
  • PBHL-E 322 Principles of Epidemiology (3 cr.)

    This course will introduce students to basic epidemiologic concepts including determinants of health and patterns of disease in populations, population health descriptive techniques, use of health indicators and secondary data sources. Students will gain an understanding of the role of epidemiology in developing prevention strategies and policy. Among the topics to be covered are measures of mortality and morbidity, design and analysis of observational studies, community health assessment, and program evaluation.

  • PBHL-E 330 Evidence-Based Public Health (3 cr.) This course will introduce methods for generating, locating, assessing, adapting, and evaluating evidence for public health programs. In addition to establishing a framework for selecting evidence-based interventions, the course will include focus on principles of scientific writing necessary for public health professionals to convey messages to stakeholders.
  • PBHL-E 333 Buzzed and Stoned: The Epidemiology of Substance Abuse (3 cr.) This course will introduce students to substance abuse research from a public health perspective. We will utilize epidemiological concepts and tools to study distribution of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use; identify social-behavioral factors that predispose individuals to engage in substance abuse and discuss health behavior theories and models; and review health and drug-control policy interventions. Students will learn key principles and concepts of substance abuse and addiction, and discuss short- and long-term effects of the primary drugs of abuse.
  • PBHL-E 335 The Lurking Pandemic: Chronic Disease Epidemiology (3 cr.) This course is designed to introduce the student to the ever-expanding area of chronic health conditions and diseases from an epidemiological perspective.
  • PBHL-E 395 Sores and Drips: Epidemiology of Sexually Transmitted Infections (3 cr.) The burden of sexually transmitted infections continues to climb, not only in the U.S. but globally at an incredible pace. This course will explore the epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections both in the U.S. and globally. Discussing the etiology of the STIs and methods of control and prevention through the use of case studies and historical exploration.
  • PBHL-H 100 Topics in Public Health (1-3 cr.)

    This course has a variable title and can be offered for variable credits. Similar to topics courses offered in other IUI programs, this course offers an introduction to a variety of public health topics and current issues will be covered in this course.    

  • PBHL-H 101 Influencing the Public’s Health (3 cr.)

    This course exposes students to the role of policy in influencing the health of human populations in our work, civil society, and our own lives. Students from all disciplines will benefit from exploring empirical patterns and historical contexts that influence health policy decisions for our country’s complex healthcare and public health systems.   

  • PBHL-H 120 Health Care Delivery in the U.S. (1-3 cr.) An overview of the health care delivery system in the U.S. from the lens of health care managers, this course will introduce the history of U.S. health care, management in the health care delivery context, the role of government and policy in health care delivery, and the interconnectedness of health care delivery and public health. Health care administration career pathways will also be explored.
  • PBHL-H 200 Health Care Accounting (3 cr.) Health Care Accounting will provide the students with a foundation in health care accounting form long-term to acute care. Topics will include balance sheet of financial position, income statement of revenues and expenses, journals, ledgers, trial balances and discrimination of formatting financial statements between acute care and long-term care organizations.
  • PBHL-H 202 Topics in Public Health (1-3 cr.) This course has a variable title and can be offered for variable credits. Similar to topics courses offered in other IUI programs, this course offers an introduction to a variety of public health topics and current issues will be covered in this course.
  • PBHL-H 220 Public Health Systems Policy (3 cr.) This course will examine the concepts of health policy and management and its impact on social behavioral and environmental public health sciences. Content covered will include fundamental characteristics and organizational structure of the public health system.
  • PBHL-H 245 Professionalism in the Healthcare Workplace (3 cr.) This course provides an overview of healthcare organizational structures, professional self-presentation, business etiquette, and strategies for professional success in a healthcare workplace. An emphasis will be placed on each student's development and application of professional skills and behaviors required in healthcare administration and other sectors of the healthcare industry.
  • PBHL-H 303 Topics in Public Health (1-3 cr.) This course has a variable title and can be offered for variable credits. Similar to topics courses offered in other IUI programs, this course offers an introduction to a variety of public health topics and current issues will be covered in this course.
  • PBHL-H 305 Medical Group Management (3 cr.) Medical Group Management is a survey course that will provide students with a foundation in understanding the fundamental skills needed to manage medical group practices. The course will mainly examine the management of physician practices, including primary care, and physician specialty service lines.
  • PBHL-H 310 Lean Methodology in Healthcare Organizations (3 cr.) Using a combination of experiential (learn by doing) and lectures, students will be introduced to: the history of Lean and its rise in healthcare, identification and quantification of the value of waste removal in process oriented work systems, Lean thinking, facilitation, tools and leadership. Students will work independently and in small groups.
  • PBHL-H 315 High-Risk Health Behavior and Harm Reduction (3 cr.) In this course, we will look at high-risk health behaviors through a public health lens. The term "high-risk" can refer to both behaviors and groups. High-risk behaviors are activities people engage in that make them more vulnerable to contracting specific health problems, while high-risk groups are collections of individuals prone to engage in high-risk behaviors. The effects of high-risk health behaviors extend beyond the individual who engages in them. This is a writing intensive course.
  • PBHL-H 320 Health Systems Administration (3 cr.)

    This course explores components of the United States health care system and associated managerial, organizational, financial, insurance, delivery, quality improvement, workforce, performance, structures, issues and challenges. In addition, this course explores the organization and structure of public and private healthcare systems, and how recent changes in regulation and reimbursement are affecting significant change in the healthcare industry. Successful completion of this course will help provide students with a general foundation of knowledge about the U.S. health care system and major structural and organizational components, and how changes in health policy and regulation, along with changes in reimbursement, are helping to drive the integration of public health, private health, and social service organizations towards population health management. 

  • PBHL-H 325 Health Information Technology Management and Policy (3 cr.) This course will familiarize students with current issues associated with health information technology (IT) and their impact on the U.S. healthcare system. Health IT applications are playing an increasingly important role in assuring high quality care and have the potential to transform the nature of healthcare delivery. This course will review the evidence on the impact of Health IT from the perspectives of hospitals, physicians, patients, payers, and society.
  • PBHL-H 330 Global Public Health (3 cr.) All public health is global in today's world. This course will explore the key global public health issues that face countries throughout the world, ranging from malnutrition to the use of new technologies to improve health. The course will focus on the ways in which health policy of both developed and developing countries, impacts public health strategies, specific interventions, and outcomes.
  • PBHL-H 345 Operations Management and Quality Improvement in Healthcare (3 cr.) This course provides an overview of the healthcare operations managment (OM), with emphasis on quality improvement. You will apply OM principles to develop more effective operational processes, mitigate risks, and improve quality. Discussions, case studies and assignments will focus on strategies and techniques of quality improvement processes, project managment and others.
  • PBHL-H 346 Organizational Behavior & Human Resources for Healthcare (3 cr.) This course introduces disciplines of organizational behavior and human resources management (HRM) and their application to the management of healthcare organizations. The course examines how to effectively manage individuals, teams and systems in the dynamic legal, social, and economic healthcare environment.
  • PBHL-H 352 Health Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.) P: BUS-A 200 or BUS-A 201.

    Health Finance and Budgeting is the study of the financial management of healthcare facilities based on generally accepted business practices. The topics will include: provider payment systems, healthcare financial statements, presentation and analysis, principles and practices in healthcare accounting, working capital management, budgeting and variance analysis.

  • PBHL-H 353 Advanced Health Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.) P: PBHL-H 352.

    Advanced Health Finance and Budgeting builds on the elements learned in H352. The topics will include capital expenditure decisions, financing capital expenditures, defining cost information, time value analysis, and cost allocation strategies.

  • PBHL-H 354 Health Care Economics (3 cr.) This course applies economics to the study of administrative and policy issues in the health care sector. Economic concepts are used to explain the system of health care financing and the organization of health care delivery in the U.S. The economic evaluation of health care programs is also discussed.
  • PBHL-H 361 Leadership in Health Management Resolving Disputes and Difficult Conversations (3 cr.) P: PBHL-H 320; junior standing. Negotiation occurs every day in our professional and personal lives. Through readings, lectures, reflection, writing, and numerous in class exercises and simulations, this course will help students build principled dispute resolution and assertive communications skills critical to thriving in and leading through challenges arising in any healthcare setting.
  • PBHL-H 375 Management of Health Service Organizations (3 cr.)

    This course explores the discipline of management and its major components relating to health service organizations. This course will provide students with a foundation of basic fundamentals, principles and techniques of management which have particular relevance and application in healthcare. Students will learn about management theory and its practical application in healthcare in fundamental areas such as planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Other key elements of management such as communication, decision making, delegation, participatory management, leadership style, managing staff, teamwork, and change and innovation will be explored. Successful completion of this course will help provide students with a general foundation of knowledge about management and its application in health service organizations. Instructional methods used will include lectures, interactive discussions, readings, in-class exercises and individual and group homework assignments using a wide range of management terms, concepts, fundamentals, theories, methods, techniques, and practices used in managing health service organizations. Special emphasis will be given to the role and application of leadership in the management of a diverse healthcare workforce, in a variety of health service settings. This course is designed to help create a foundation of knowledge and understanding of management that students will use in other courses in the public health undergraduate programs.

  • PBHL-H 379 Career Preparation in Health Services Management (3 cr.)

    This course will emphasize career planning and professional development in health services management. Students will be led through the internship search process in preparation for their practical experience in health administration. Health care workplace culture will also be explored.

  • PBHL-H 380 Health Services Management Internship (1-6 cr.) P: Permission of Instructor. The Internship Course is designed to provide students with work experience that compliment their classroom preparation. The internship program is a self-directed program in which eligible students are responsible for identifying internship opportunities. Students are expected to identify potential opportunities and work with their faculty advisor to ensure these opportunities are appropriate to the student's knowledge and skills and suitable for the student's goals. It is offered from 1 to 6 credits with 80 hour increments of an internship experience equivalent to 1 credit hour.
  • PBHL-H 401 Strategic Planning for Health Organizations (3 cr.) This course examines the strategic planning process and the compelling reasons for its relevance in today’s dynamic healthcare environment. In this course, students will establish goals for the strategic planning process, and develop a strategic plan document and its major components, format and structure as applied in health service organizations. Students will examine and apply the strategic management process, and recognize and describe the supportive activities including the initial organizational “plan to plan”; board of directors “kickoff” meeting or retreat; stakeholder interviews using a structured questionnaire, and the major strategic plan document components that include the executive summary; directional strategies; environmental assessment; service area competitive analysis; internal analysis; SWOT analysis; strategic initiatives; strategic action plan implementation monitoring, measurement and evaluation; and strategic thinking and momentum. In addition, the final deliverables (completed in assigned teams) include compiling/finalizing a strategic plan document for a health services organization, and an in-class business presentation of the strategic plan.
  • PBHL-H 404 Topics in Public Health (3 cr.) This course has a variable title and can be offered for variable credits. Similar to topics courses offered in other IUI programs, this course offers an introduction to a variety of public health topics and current issues will be covered in this course.
  • PBHL-H 411 Chronic And Long Term Care Administration (3 cr.)

    This course is an introductory study of the purpose, organization, and management of long-term care services and providers. The course will provide an understanding of who receives long-term care service; the venues in which services are provided; how services are provided; how providers are regulated; how they are paid; and career opportunities. The course will focus upon the needs of the elderly; the role of long-term care as a member of the healthcare services provider community; and, the organization and structure, of the continuum of long-term care provider types. The impact of the regulatory processes upon management of personnel, services and finances will be studied in detail. Current issues, including quality improvement initiatives impacting the future of long-term care will be reviewed.

  • PBHL-H 420 Health Policy (3 cr.) P: PBHL-H 320.

    This course will provide the opportunity to examine and analyze the financing, organization and delivery of health care in the U.S. and how these core elements are shaped and influenced by health care policy and decision-making. Additionally, we will examine the landmark health care reform currently being implemented vis-a-vis the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010, also known as Obamacare.

  • PBHL-H 432 Health Care Marketing (3 cr.) A practical study of marketing in health care institutions, health service organizations, and health insurers. A basic foundation in marketing principles, new methods in marketing products and services, and inexpensive marketing techniques will be examined.
  • PBHL-H 441 Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration (3 cr.)

    This course will familiarize students with, and introduce students to, the legal and regulatory terrain unique to health care facilities by providing an overview of the legal liabilities and obligations of health care providers as well as the potential legal recourses available.

  • PBHL-H 450 Health Systems Around the World: Understanding England's National Health Service (3 cr.) This course provides an in-depth introduction to a global model for health services delivery and provides students with the opportunity to compare and contrast systems in England and the United States. Participants will spend substantial time out in the field visiting London-area health facilities, historical sites, and universities.
  • PBHL-H 455 Topics in Public Health (1-3 cr.) Extensive discussion of selected topics in public health. The topic may change from semester to semester, based on resource availability and student demand. May be repeated for credit.
  • PBHL-H 474 Health Administration Ethics Seminar (3 cr.) P: PBHL-H 320 and Senior Standing.

    This course will follow an interactive, theory-based approach to examine ethical decision-making challenges from health care provider, managerial, and public health perspectives. It will examine ethical dilemmas in the context of health services delivery to facilitate discussion about the broader implications of decisions made. Students must exhibit the ability to think critically about society and culture, social determinants that influence health outcomes, and the duties and responsibilities of health care actors at the individual, organizational, and societal levels to improve health care delivery as well as outcomes. Lastly, students are expected to demonstrate the ability to apply theories and principles to address complex ethical issues related to health care delivery and administration.

  • PBHL-H 475 Health Services Management Capstone (3 cr.) P: Prerequisite: PBHL-H 200 with "C" or better or BUS-A 201 with "C" or better or BUS-A 200 with "C" or better. This course will emphasize the application of knowledge gained in the major to real health care scenarios. Additionally, students will reflect on and evaluate their personal and professional growth and build on their internship experiences to prepare themselves for the transition to professional life in a health care setting.
  • PBHL-P 100 Topics in Public Health (1-3 cr.) An introduction to public health disciplines, topics and issues.
  • PBHL-P 109 Introduction to Public Health (3 cr.) Introduction to public health using Indianapolis as a case study. Well-being, illness, injury, education, violence, housing, work, cultural and neighborhood variability will be examined to demonstrate the public health perspective on any situation and to see how the state of health in our city connects to the nation and the world.
  • PBHL-P 200 Topics in Public Health (1-3 cr.) An introduction to public health disciplines, topics and issues.
  • PBHL-P 300 Topics in Public Health (1-3 cr.) An introduction to public health disciplines, topics and issues.
  • PBHL-P 450 Study Abroad: London (3 cr.) This course provides an in-depth introduction to a global model for health services delivery and provides students with the opportunity to compare and contrast systems in England and the United States. Participants will spend substantial time out in the field visiting London-area health facilities, historical sites, and universities.
  • PBHL-P 451 Study Abroad: Sweden (3 cr.) This course provides an introduction to a globally admired model for health services delivery and provides students with the opportunity to compare and contrast systems in Sweden and the United States. Participants will spend substantial time out in the field visiting Stockholm-area health facilities, historical and cultural sites.
  • PBHL-P 452 Study Abroad: Nicaragua (3 cr.) This course provides an in-depth introduction to the health system in Nicaragua and provides students with the opportunity to compare and contrast systems in Nicaragua and the United States. Participants will spend substantial time out in the field visiting the Nicaraguan health facilities, historical and cultural sites and will participate in a service project constructing composting latrines to improve public and environmental health in the rural community of La Concepcion.
  • PBHL-P 453 Study Abroad: Geneva (3 cr.) This course provides students with an in-depth introduction to global organizations responsible for supporting health leadership and health systems strengthening worldwide. Participants will spend substantial time out in the field meeting health experts and mid- to senior-level managers and leaders.
  • PBHL-P 456 Study Abroad: Norway and Sweden (3 cr.)

    This course provides an introduction to a globally admired model for health services delivery and provides students with the opportunity to compare and contrast systems in Norway, Sweden, and the United States. Participants will spend substantial time out in the field visiting area health facilities, historical and cultural sites.

  • PBHL-P 457 Study Abroad: El Salvador (3 cr.) This course provides an in-depth introduction to the health system in El Salvador and provides students with the opportunity to compare and contrast systems in El Salvador and the United States. Participants will spend substantial time out in the field visiting the El Salvadoran health facilities, historical and cultural sites and will participate in a service project constructing composting latrines to improve public and environmental health in the municipality of Suchitoto.
  • PBHL-P 490 Internship in Public Health (3 cr.)

    The internship provides students the opportunity to synthesize and apply skills and knowledge they have learned throughout the BSPH program to the practice setting. Internship projects can take place within local, state, national, international governmental agencies, academia, nonprofits, industry, or healthcare sectors, and must be led by a qualified supervisor.

  • PBHL-P 491 Capstone in Public Health (3 cr.)

    The capstone experience requires students to integrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions acquired during their entire academic career as it connects to their discipline of study. Capstone projects will be connected to local, state, national, or international governmental agencies, health-related organizations, academia, and/or nonprofit organizations.

  • PBHL-S 105 Movies, Music, and Public Health (3 cr.) This undergraduate course will expose students to a variety of public health issues portrayed in movies, music, and other media. Students will view and critically analyze a series of selected films, albums, television shows, documentaries, podcasts, and readings relevant to current public health trends.
  • PBHL-S 120 Introduction to Community Health (3 cr.) This course offers students a basic introduction to community health. The class will present health issues with a focus on a community, not individual perspective; as a result, students will learn about public health approaches to health assessment, health promotion and disease prevention.
  • PBHL-S 220 Navigating the Maze to Healthy Living (3 cr.)

    This course provides students with knowledge and understanding of factors influencing personal health, health behaviors, health promotion, and disease prevention. The course emphasizes lifestyles and personal decision making as a consumer of health and health care services.

  • PBHL-S 222 This Stress is Killing Me: Stress And Its Effects On You (3 cr.) This course will teach you all about stress and its effect on your body and mind. You will learn the biology of stress, factors that protect you from stress or make you more vulnerable to it and the experience of stress in various settings, such as work, family and community. You will also learn how to manage stress.
  • PBHL-S 240 Peer Health Education and Leadership (3 cr.)

    Peer Health Education and Leadership will consist of classroom and online components. Students will be engaged with in-classroom workshops facilitated by the Office of Health and Wellness Promotion staff and campus partners, focused on content education and skills training. Students will also learn, discuss, and reflect with their peers in an online environment, building a foundational understanding of health and wellness topics and aspects of leadership development.

  • PBHL-S 250 Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Public Health (3 cr.) This course introduces students to the social and behavioral science principles that provide the foundation for how public health engages with people and communities to prevent disease and promote health. Students will explore topics that promote a broad understanding of determinants of health and the multiple factors contributing to health and illness.
  • PBHL-S 303 Topics in Public Health (1-3 cr.)

    This course has a variable title and can be offered for variable credits. Similar to topics courses offered in other IUI programs, this course offers an introduction to a variety of public health topics and current issues will be covered in this course.    

  • PBHL-S 305 Careers in Public Health (3 cr.) This undergraduate course will expose students to a variety of public health careers and provide skills necessary for identifying and obtaining a career in public health. Students will have the opportunity to interact with professionals from the private and public sectors who will introduce students to the many careers in public health and to the various roles and functions of public health professionals. Students will engage in professional development through various activities including developing a personal career plan, job seeking strategies, résumé design, and interview techniques to prepare them for professional careers.
  • PBHL-S 315 Community Organizing for Health Promotion (3 cr.) P:  PBHL-S 120.  Through this course, students will learn processes for community assessment, organizing, and advocacy. The course will address methods for strengthening communities to prevent and solve community health problems while building students' civic identity, leadership, and management skills.
  • PBHL-S 325 Urban Angst. Suburban Blues: Public Mental Health (3 cr.)

    This course will examine how the mental health of communities is influenced by geopolitical influences, SES, neighborhood, safety, culture, environment, community and other elements external to the individual. Using textbooks, case study readings, and multimedia we will analyze causes of mental (dis)ease in the general public and develop a stronger understanding of how the outside world can impact the health of the mind.

  • PBHL-S 330 Theoretical Foundations of Community Health (3 cr.) This course will explore the theories of health behavior change that are used to develop health interventions for individuals and communities. Students will learn different theories, how to put them into practice, and how useful and practical they are for various populations and contexts.
  • PBHL-S 337 Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health (3 cr.) This course introduces students to an ecological perspective of health, going beyond biology and individual factors to investigate the influence on health of the social systems in which individuals live, work, learn, and play. Through the lens of social justice, students will examine how contemporary social issues influence populational differences in health (health disparities).
  • PBHL-S 340 Cultural Considerations in the Promotion of Health (3 cr.) In this course we will examine what is meant by culture, the ways in which culture intersects with health issues, and how public health efforts (domestic and global) can benefit by understanding and working with cultural processes.
  • PBHL-S 349 Research Methods in Community Health (3 cr.) P: PBHL-B 300 or permission of instructor;

    This course helps students develop an appreciation and understanding of the fundamental research methods used in community health and how to apply those methods to inform their work to improve the health of the community. The focus is on understanding how community- and personal-level data are collected and interpreted in scientifically valid ways. Students will become proficient consumers and users of published research and will be able to identify the strengths and limitations of the designs used, along with possible confounding factors and biases.

  • PBHL-S 360 Assessment and Planning for Community Health Promotion (3 cr.) P: PBHL-S 330 This course applies theory-based concepts and methods of health promotion focusing on needs assessment and intervention planning for individual and community health programs.
  • PBHL-S 361 Implementation and Evaluation for Community Health Promotion (3 cr.) P: PBHL-S 330 and PBHL-S 360 This course applies theory-based concepts and methods of health promotion focusing on program funding, implementation, and evaluation for individual and community health programs.
  • PBHL-S 415 Applied Health Promotion Methods (3 cr.)

    This course provides students with understanding, application, and practice of key methods in community health promotion including health communication, health education, health policy, and community mobilization strategies. Application of theory and implementation of methods at individual and community levels are addressed.

  • PBHL-S 416 Health Promotion Applications (3 cr.) P: PBHL-S 361 This course provides students with opportunities to apply and practice key methods in community health promotion. Emphasis is on utilizing simulations, workshops, and training programs to acquire professional skills and certifications to expand the résumé and professional portfolio.
  • PBHL-S 422 Coaching for Health and Wellness (3 cr.) This course is designed to teach students how to coach individuals and groups attempting to improve their health behaviors. Theory, evidence-based practices, and different types of communication and interviewing styles will be explored through hands-on activities. Students will practice the learned techniques throughout the semester and will be able to apply these techniques upon completion of the course. Students planning to become health educators, health care providers, and others interested in guiding behavior change will benefit from this course.
  • PBHL-S 460 Biosocial Approach to Global Health (3 cr.) The course will provide students with an opportunity to examine key global health issues using a biosocial justice perspective. Students will participate in authentic global health work as they will partner with MPH students from a university global partner to develop a strategic plan to address a global health issue. The course will require students to engage in analytical reading and discussions, and produce and deliver impactful written and oral communications.
  • PBHL-S 469 Practicum in Community Health (3 cr.) P: PBHL-S 361, senior standing, permission; The course integrates academic elements and on-site work objectives in a 180-hour experience in an approved community health setting. The practicum provides students with observation and experience in a minimum of three of the responsibility areas outlined in the national Responsibilities and Competencies for Entry-Level Health Education/Promotion Specialists (NCHEC).
  • PBHL-S 479 Internship in Community Health (3 cr.) P: PBHL-S 361, senior standing, permission; The course integrates academic elements and on-site work objectives in a 360-hour experience in an approved community health setting. The internship provides students with observation and experience in a minimum of four of the responsibility areas outlined in the national Responsibilities and Competencies for Entry-Level Health Education/Promotion Specialists (NCHEC).
  • PBHL-S 499 Capstone Experience: BSPH in Community Health (3 cr.) P: Students must be in their last semester of the senior year. The capstone is a culminating experience that pulls together and puts into practice the relevant knowledge from the undergraduate experience, and provides a stepping stone to the intended careers and/or next-level learning and educational pursuits. The capstone experience requires students to integrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions acquired during their entire academic career as it connects to their discipline of study, reflect on personal growth and professional development, produce a tangible deliverable that requires a significant investment of time and effort, and share tangible deliverables with stakeholders.