IUPUI Campus Bulletin 2017-2018

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.

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. Topics include creating layer packages in ArcMap, health data visualization, map design, health data downloading, geocoding tabular data, and spatial analysis and spatial joins. Downloading, processing and visualization of satellite data on environmental parameters commonly determinants of public health will be covered at the end of the course. The course will provide practical experience to students through exercises and a final project.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of biostatistics through computational methods. Topics such as exploratory analysis of health data, probability and probability distributions, and the basics of inference from both the frequentist and Bayesian perspective will be presented. Prerequisite: PBHL-B 275 Probability Without Tears and Without Calculus.

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. Pre-requisites for this course is PBHL B-300 or equivalent or at least one semester of an introductory statistics course or permission of instructor.  Prerequisite: PBHL-B 275 Probability Without Tears and Without Calculus and PBHL-B 280 Biostatistics for Health Data Scientists a Computational Approach.

This is an introductory survey of statistical reasoning and analysis.

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, produce plots, and write functions using the statistical package R. Additional skills that will be acquired include preparation of scientific documents and presentations using R markdown, use of basic tools in the Linux environment and use of scientific text editors. Prerequisites: PBHL-B 275 Probability Without Tears and Without Calculus and PBHL-B 280 Biostatistics for Health Data Scientists: A Computational Approach.

This is the second course in a two-semester sequence teaching fundamental concepts of contemporary regression methods in biostatistics, linear and non-linear. Advanced topics like shrinkage methods (principal components, ridge regression, Lasso, etc.), random effects and repeated measures, ,non-parametric regression (smoothing) and additive models will be presented. Pre-requisites are PBHL B-285 (Classical biostatistical regression methods) or permission of instructor. While this is a self-contained course, working knowledge of the R statistical environment is desirable.

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 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. 

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 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. Students taking PBHL-B 402 may wish to continue their work from PBHL-B 401 within the same organization.

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.

This is a second course in biostatistical computing covering advanced concepts including understanding the basics of statistical algorithms and creating data products. At the end of the course the student will be able to implement their own computational algorithms, create a distributable program in a form of an R package as well as implementing algorithms using web tools. Prerequisite: PBHL-B 325 Introduction to Biostatistical Computing.

Introduction to public health using Indianapolis as 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.

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

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

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.

This course is designed to introduce the student to the ever-expanding area of chronic health conditions and diseases from an epidemiological perspective. First, fundamental concepts in chronic disease epidemiology including descriptive and analytical epidemiologic techniques as well as disease surveillance are presented. The remainder of the course draws upon these techniques to examine the epidemiology of risk factors, chronic conditions, and chronic diseases as well as approaches to prevention and control. Throughout the semester students will learn how to find and apply credible information to describe the epidemiology of chronic disease at various population levels. 

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

This course is designed to introduce the student to the ever-expanding area of chronic health conditions and diseases from an epidemiological perspective. First, fundamental concepts in chronic disease epidemiology including descriptive and analytical epidemiologic techniques as well as disease surveillance are presented. The remainder of the course draws upon these techniques to examine the epidemiology of risk factors, chronic conditions, and chronic diseases as well as approaches to prevention and control. Throughout the semester students will learn how to find and apply credible information to describe the epidemiology of chronic disease at various population levels. 

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

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.   

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Obama Care. http://www.healthcare.gov/law/full/index.html

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

This online 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.

The term culture has increasingly been used in the discourse of public health, for example, with respect to issues of health disparities in the U.S., the development and implementation of “culturally competent” or “culturally appropriate” programs, and in many other ways. What exactly is culture, however? The term is easily applied to all kinds of phenomena, without a critical look at the nature of, and role of culture as an aspect of human behavior. In this course we will examine what is meant by culture, the ways in which culture intersects with health issues, how public health efforts (domestic and global) can benefit by understanding and working with cultural processes, and we will take a brief look at research methods that are useful in identifying relationships between culture and health.

The Community Health Careers Practicum is three-credit hour, satisfactory-fail undergraduate course consisting of two components – field visits to healthcare and public health organizations in Central Indiana and personal career planning.  To receive a passing grade for this course, a student must perform satisfactorily in both components and complete assignments on time.

The field visit component of the practicum is designed to provide a level of knowledge and experience that cannot be obtained from the classroom setting.  It will give students the opportunity to:

The career planning component of the practicum is designed to familiarize students with career planning and job search to include networking with health professionals, finding potential positions, developing a resume and cover letter, preparing for interviews and articulating career goals.  Career planning activities will include:

This course examines fundamental research methods used in the field of public health.  The focus is on understanding how community and clinical data are collected in scientifically valid ways and how study results are fairly interpreted.  Students will become proficient consumers of published research and will be able to identify the strengths and limitations of the designs and approaches used, along with possible confounding factors and biases.  Topics include components of research studies, including:  justification for a research project, development of research questions, research designs (qualitative, quantitative), and selection of participants, sampling methods, and data for analysis.

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.