This is an archive of the 2015-2016 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, please visit catalog.csun.edu.

This is an archive of the 2015-2016 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, please visit catalog.csun.edu.

UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2015-2016

Program: M.P.H., Public Health

Applied Epidemiology

Overview

The mission of the MPH program in Applied Epidemiology is to prepare professional public health epidemiologists with the necessary problem-solving, critical-thinking and technological skills that will allow them to assess, implement and evaluate programs in diverse human populations and communities.

Applications to the graduate program in Applied Epidemiology are accepted for only the Fall semester. Students should send applications and transcripts (two sets) directly to the University Graduate Admissions Office. Additionally, three letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the Graduate Program Director, Master of Public Health Program, Department of Health Sciences, CSUN (Recommendation forms are provided).

The following criteria are used for evaluating applicants to the Applied Epidemiology graduate program:

  1. Overall GPA.
  2. Graduate Record Examination scores for applicants with an undergraduate GPA less than 3.0.
  3. Any student who has not had HSCI 390/L or an equivalent statistics course will be required to take it before advancing to classified status.
  4. Three (3) letters of recommendation.
  5. Statement of purpose.
  6. All students must show writing competency through completion of the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Examination or its equivalent.

The MPH in Applied Epidemiology requires a minimum of 42 semester hours of coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. A minimum grade of “B-” is required for each course with an overall program GPA of 3.0 required for graduation.

Program Requirements

Qualifying courses determined at advisement: HSCI 390/L or equivalent.

1. Required Public Health Core Courses (21 units)

EOH 554 Seminar: Environmental and Occupational Health Problems (3)
HSCI 533 Advanced Concepts of Health Behavior (3)
HSCI 541 Administration, Supervision and Consultation in Public Health (3)
HSCI 587 Seminar: Epidemiology (3)
HSCI 592 Advanced Biostatistics for the Health Sciences (3)
HSCI 693A Supervised Field Training (2)
HSCI 694 Research Design (4)

2. Required Applied Epidemiology Core Courses (12 units)

HSCI 591 Quantitative Demography for Health Science (3)
HSCI 592A Advanced Biostatistics II (3)
HSCI 695 Public Health Program Evaluation (3)
HSCI 696 Advanced Epidemiologic Research Methods (3)

3. Epidemiology Elective (3 units minimum)

Choose one of the following:

HSCI 588 Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (3)
HSCI 589 Epidemiology of Common Chronic Diseases (3)

4. Additional Electives (3 units minimum)

With approval of the graduate advisor, students may take 500- and 600-level courses in areas of study such as Health Administration, Environmental and Occupational Health (e.g., EOH 560: Environmental and Occupational Health Epidemiology), or related areas of interest.

5. Culminating Experience (3 units)

HSCI 697 Directed Comprehensive Studies (3)
or HSCI 698C Graduate Project (3)

Total Units Required for the MPH Degree: 42

Contact

Chair: Anita M. Slechta
Jacaranda Hall (JD) 2500
(818) 677-4081
www.csun.edu/health-human-development/health-sciences

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, a student with a MPH in Applied Epidemiology will be able to satisfy the following MPH Core and Applied Epidemiology Option outcomes:

MPH Core Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate mastery of oral, written and electronic media communication skills required in the public health and health field.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge and skills associated with multicultural influences and considerations that may impact delivery of culturally competent public health interventions.
  3. Apply the basic principles of ethics and social justice to public health practice, policy and the profession.
  4. Analyze public health issues using the social-ecological model of systems thinking.
  5. Explain how social, behavioral, environmental and biological factors contribute to specific individual and community health outcomes.
  6. Develop strategies that demonstrate collaborative methods for achieving organizational and community health goals.

Applied Epidemiology Option
Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Describe how epidemiologic evidence informs public health practice and policy.
  2. Design epidemiologic studies to evaluate public health interventions and identify risk factors for health outcomes.
  3. Collect and analyze epidemiologic data using appropriate methodologies.
  4. Demonstrate proficient use of statistical software and other analytical tools in support of epidemiologic practice and research.
  5. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of epidemiologic investigations and incorporate into study interpretations and implications.