2026-2027 Academic Catalog

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Population Health Sciences (PHS)

PHS 1004 - BSPH Essentials (1 credit) 
Introduction to the Department of Population Health Sciences and the Public Health curricula requirements. Introduces students to experiential learning opportunities, undergraduate research, ethical behaviors and career paths within the discipline. Exploration of programs, services and resources to enhance awareness of opportunities and support systems available for student success including academic advising and career planning. Intended for Public Health majors in their first semesters, either as incoming freshmen, transfer students or change of major students.
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
PHS 1514 - Personal Health (3 credits) 
Fundamental health content and theory to provide students with constructive health information necessary to meet current and future personal health needs. Special emphasis on wellness and health promotion.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 1984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 2004 - Introduction to Public Health (3 credits) 
Examination of how public health core disciplines of epidemiology, health policy and administration, health behavior, and environmental health work together in addressing public health problems. Special emphasis on the history of public health, the public health infrastructure and role of health informatics in public health.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 2974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 2974H - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 2984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 2994 - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 2994H - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 3014 - Introduction to Environmental Health (3 credits) 
Overview of environmental health, examining local, national, and international frameworks. Environmental factors that affect human health, including major classes of chemical, biological, and physical exposures from different environmental media (air, water, food, and soil). Special emphasis on toxicology and epidemiology methodologies used at the individual (mechanistic) level and at the population level to determine environmental causes of disease. Find the most appropriate prevention or control measure to minimize adverse health outcomes.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 3044 - Global Health Issues (3 credits) 
Students will get an overview of the determinants of health and how health status is measured. Students will also review the burden of disease, who is most affected by different disease burdens, risk factors, and key measures to address the burden of disease in cost-effective, doable, sustainable, and fair ways. Special attention will be paid throughout the course to health systems issues. The course will cover key concepts and frameworks but be practical in orientation. The course will be global in coverage but will focus on low- and middle-income countries, the health of the poor, and health disparities. The course will pay particular attention to the linkages between health and development. Pre: Junior standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 3064 - Public Health Seminar (1 credit) 
Current topics in public health research, policy and practice, including biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy, environmental health, social and behavioral medicine, infectious diseases, and public health education. Pass/Fail only.
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
PHS 3074 - Public Health Professional and Practicum Prep (1 credit) 
Preparation for the public health profession and practicum experience. Covers the necessary skills to become a successful public health professional. Students will explore and prepare for public health practicum and career opportunities by assessing interests, creating resume/CV, identifying practicum placement opportunities and future career opportunities and completing necessary placement materials. Communication, ethical considerations, leadership and teamwork, professional skills along with the development of tailored resume/CV, cover letters, interviewing and networking will be covered. P/F only. Pre: Junior Standing.
Prerequisite(s): PHS 2004 
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
PHS 3534 - Drug Education (3 credits) 
Interpretation of multidimensional (social, psychological and physiological) scientific data regarding drugs. The major drug categories will be covered with special emphasis on substance misuse and abuse.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 3634 - Epidemiologic Concepts of Health and Disease (3 credits) 
Designed to give students in the health sciences a basic understanding of the modern concepts regarding health and disease as well as skills in organizing epidemiological data, disease investigation and surveillance. Includes a survey of terms, concepts, and principles pertinent to epidemiology. Lifestyles of populations and the relationships between lifestyles and health status are studied.
Prerequisite(s): STAT 2004 or STAT 3005 or STAT 3604 or STAT 3615 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: HNFE 3634 
PHS 3654 - Rural Health (3 credits) 
Exploration of the socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, environmental and other factors that impact human health and contribute to disproportionate health outcomes. Introduction to concepts surrounding rural health, including: (i) defining rurality; (ii) identifying social determinants of health; (iii) reviewing the history of the US public health systems and policies tasked with improving rural health; (iv) describing critical disproportionate health outcomes impacting rural communities (such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental health and substance use disorders), and the drivers of these health outcomes; and, (v) (v) assessing health of special populations living in rural communities, such as maternal, newborn, adolescent and child health, aging populations and migrant populations (vi) discussing the assessment, planning, policies, and interventions which can be implemented to improve the health of rural communities at the population level.
Prerequisite(s): PHS 2004 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 3964 - Practicum (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 3984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 4014 - Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation (3 credits) 
Fundamental of public health program development, implementation and evaluation. Basic processes, approaches and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations. Pre: Junior Standing
Prerequisite(s): PHS 2004 and HNFE 2664 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 4044 - Public Health Policy and Administration (3 credits) 
Evolution and analysis of public health policy in the United States. Public health and care systems. Administrative concepts central to public health such as human resources, strategic planning, controlling, directing, leadership and health law. Junior Standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 4054 - Concepts in One Health (3 credits) 
Dynamic interdependence of human, animal and environmental health; theoretical foundations of One Health; One Health research methods for assessing animal-human linkages; One Health operationalization in human medicine, veterinary medicine and public health; policies and practices related to One Health; and capacity building and public engagement; One Health and traditional Medical Model approaches to health problems. Pre: Junior standing.
Prerequisite(s): PHS 3014 and PHS 3634 
Pathway Concept Area(s): 3 Reasoning in Social Sciences, 4 Reasoning in Natural Sci., 11 Intercultural&Global Aware. 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 4064 - Modeling Infectious Diseases (3 credits) 
Mathematical modeling of infectious diseases; simple epidemic models, risk structure and modeling risk structure, multi-pathogen models, multi-host models, temporal seasonal models, spatial models, stochastic dynamics and modeling for public health policy. Pre: Junior Standing.
Prerequisite(s): MATH 1014 or MATH 1025 or MATH 1225 or MATH 1524 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 4074 - Practicum in Public Health (2 credits) 
Application of Public health theories, concepts and data in a work setting; comprehensive, structured experience requires student to demonstrate professional competencies and ethical behavior while working closely with a supervisor in a public health practice setting. Pass/Fail Only. Pre: Senior standing.
Prerequisite(s): PHS 3074 and PHS 2004 and PHS 3014 and PHS 3634 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd) 
PHS 4094 - Appalachian Community Research (3 credits) 
Undergraduate participatory community research as applied to issues of cultural heritage, sustainability, and identity. Students engage in projects defined by community groups and organizations as being critical to their well-being, continuity, or growth. Emphasis is on developing concepts of civic professionalism and developmental democracy.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: APS 4094, SOC 4094 
PHS 4174 - Capstone in Public Health (2 credits) 
The capstone in Public Health course is designed for Public Health students to integrate and synthesize knowledge gained for the undergraduate BSPH core curriculum. Students will apply the knowledge gained from the core BSPH courses to analyze, explain and address public health problems. Class deliverables will focus on public health case studies and the 10 Essential Public Health services (EPHS). This course serves as the BSPH program culmination course. Pre: Senior Standing.
Prerequisite(s): PHS 2004 and PHS 3014 and PHS 3634 and PHS 3074 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd) 
PHS 4974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 4974H - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 4984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 4994 - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 4994H - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 5004 - Foundations of Public Health (1 credit) 
Foundational principles of public health, including history, core functions and essential services. Public health ethics and values. Career opportunities in the public health core disciplines. Biologic determinants of health. Global and One Health frameworks for health and health professionals. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
PHS 5014 - Decision-Making and Policy in Environmental Health (3 credits) 
Exploration of scientific tools to measure environmental hazards to human and/or animal health and the policy tools and individual behaviors used to manage them. Students will learn (1) fundamentals of the disciplines that combine to generate knowledge in environmental health (toxicology, epidemiology, environmental modeling, and exposure assessment); (2) the legal, political, moral, and cultural drivers and constraints on this decision-making; and (3) the analytic tools used to structure government, corporate, and individual decisions under uncertainty (life-cycle assessment, cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment). Students will develop fluency in these areas by way of individual and group assignments, a policy memo, oral presentations, and student-led discussions that probe real-world case studies of disagreements, dilemmas, and controversies in environmental health. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: VM 7014 
PHS 5024 - Epidemiology and Quantitative Methods in Public Health Lab (1 credit) 
Statistical skills needed to conduct epidemiologic and public health research including descriptive statistics, bivariate statistics, and regression. Reading and writing code. Manipulate, analyze, and visualize public health data using statistical software. Probability, confidence intervals, and significance. Statistical power. Pre: Graduate standing.
Corequisite(s): PHS 5026 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lab, 1 Crd) 
PHS 5025 - Epidemiology and Quantitative Methods in Public Health (3 credits) 
5025: Investigation and analysis of dynamics and determinants of disease in communities and populations. Philosophy, assessment, and application of public health science, ethics, study design, data analysis, and epidemiologic measures. 5026: Basic ideas, methods, and measures of epidemiology. Statistical knowledge and skills to analyze and interpret data from epidemiologic studies. Introduction to common statistical packages. Evaluation of scientific evidence from literature. Identify and minimize major potential sources of error in epidemiologic studies. Pre: Graduate standing for 5025.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 5026 - Epidemiology and Quantitative Methods in Public Health (3 credits) 
5025: Investigation and analysis of dynamics and determinants of disease in communities and populations. Philosophy, assessment, and application of public health science, ethics, study design, data analysis, and epidemiologic measures. 5026: Basic ideas, methods, and measures of epidemiology. Statistical knowledge and skills to analyze and interpret data from epidemiologic studies. Introduction to common statistical packages. Evaluation of scientific evidence from literature. Identify and minimize major potential sources of error in epidemiologic studies. Pre: Graduate standing for 5025.
Prerequisite(s): PHS 5025 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 5034 - Health Behavior and Health Education (3 credits) 
This course has two main purposes: (1) to familiarize students with historical, theoretical and methodological aspects of health psychology, and (2) to acquaint health education students with the social, psychological, and cultural determinants of health behaviors which form the underpinnings of health education practice.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 5044 - Public Health Policy and Administration (3 credits) 
Multiple dimensions of the health policy-making process including the roles of ethics and evidence. Analyzing health polices for their impact on public health and health equity. Examining the structure and function of health care models nationally and globally. Constitutional basis for public health. Applying principles of planning, organizing, directing, staffing, and budgeting to public health agencies. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: HNFE 5694 
PHS 5054 - Public Health Leadership and Interprofessionalism (2 credits) 
Fundamentals of public health leadership and management using a systems-thinking lens. Decision-making, change management, shared vision, and communication. Strategic planning and public health ethics. Negotiation role-playing. Models of team effectiveness. Team building applied to working on public health and interprofessional teams. Collaborative leadership, personal leadership styles, and self-reflection. Diversity and cultural competency in the public health setting as a leader. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd) 
PHS 5064 - Public Health Program Development and Evaluation (3 credits) 
Development and evaluation of public health education and infectious disease programs. Health equity, systems thinking, and cultural responsiveness throughout the program development and evaluation cycle. Assessment of community health needs. Engagement of diverse stakeholders. Effective public health program design. Development of evaluation plans to assess processes, outcomes, and impacts. Relationship between program development, ongoing evaluation, and improvement. Communication of evaluation findings to stakeholders. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: VM 7064 
PHS 5074 - Rural Environmental Health (3 credits) 
In this course, students will gain knowledge on how chemical and physical (and some biological) hazards commonly encountered in rural occupational and residential environments affect human health. Students will learn how scientific analyses are designed to 1) assess the toxicity or potency (dose-response) of those hazards using toxicology and epidemiology approaches and 2) estimate exposure to hazards via built/natural environment pathways (e.g. air, water, soil, and food) and 3) estimate health risk from specific exposure scenarios. Students will learn how information is integrated into population-level risk assessments and how scientists, governments, impacted people and relevant non-governmental organizations design effective interventions to manage risk, and develop evaluation plans to assess effectiveness, using tools such as global burden of disease metrics, health impact assessment, and life cycle analysis tools. Students will learn to describe and communicate findings to various interested parties using message maps. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 5204 - Principles of Community Health Education (3 credits) 
Public health issues and concepts are analyzed and evaluated in relationship to existing principles of health education.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 5224 - Comp Health Systems (3 credits) 
Comprehensive examination of the structure and function of worldwide healthcare and public health systems. National health services with central funding, social insurance programs, decentralized systems, and private insurance systems. Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing required.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 5234 - Methods of Community Health Engagement (3 credits) 
This course is designed to present core concepts, models, methods, strategies and challenges in the process of working with communities to improve community-identified population health needs. This course presents an overview of models for community organizing and community capacity building and provides students the opportunity to apply classroom concepts “in the field” through working with community partners and the development and presentation of a group Needs Assessment in collaboration with the community partner. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 5244 - Sexual Health and Human Rights (3 credits) 
Sexual and reproductive health from human development, public health, and critical feminist perspectives, with special attention to human rights issues. Sexually transmitted infections; HIV/AIDS; unintended pregnancy; population policies; eugenics; sexual and reproductive rights; positive sexuality, sex education; and health promotion. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: HD 5244, WGS 5244 
PHS 5254 - Social Epidemiology (3 credits) 
Analyze social determinants of health through the life-course in relationship to public health. Interplay of social factors that influence health domestically and globally. Application of social epidemiology to a range of health outcomes. Informing effective community-engaged solutions and policies to address health issues. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: HD 5254 
PHS 5314 - Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3 credits) 
Dynamics and determinants of infectious diseases and their assessment on the molecular to population continuum in a systems based approach. Infectious disease transmission mechanisms; population susceptibilities; environmental, social, cultural and economic contributors to infectious disease propagation; detection and surveillance; geographic information systems; epidemiologic study design; and infectious disease modeling. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing required
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: VM 7314 
PHS 5324 - Pub Hlth Infect Contrl & Prev (3 credits) 
Assessment, policies, and procedures for control and prevention of infectious diseases in communities and populations. Sources, transmission mode, and local community to international dissemination of infectious disease agents; antimicrobial and chemical resistance; vaccine development, safety, and coverage; community and hospital based needs and interventions; and regulatory frameworks. Pre: Graduate Standing required.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: VM 9324 
PHS 5334 - Principles of Infectious Diseases (3 credits) 
Principles of infectious diseases important for local, national, and global public health. Bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic pathogens; mechanisms of disease; host immune response to pathogens. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: VM 9334 
PHS 5344 - Neglected and Emerging Infectious Diseases in Public Health (3 credits) 
Neglected infectious diseases and their association with marginalized populations and factors including poverty, social and health inequities, water, sanitation and hygiene, and urbanization. Critical factors for emergence/re-emergence of infectious diseases in populations and regions, including geopolitical challenges, zoonotic and vector impacts. Evaluate studies and global responses to neglected and emerging infectious diseases to inform the development of One Health interventions. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: VM 9344 
PHS 5454 - Beyond Private Practice: Veterinary Careers and Pathways (1 credit) 
Exploration of veterinary career opportunities in federal and state governments; zoological, wildlife, aquatic, and conservation medicine; animal-related industries; academia and research; and emerging opportunities. Focus on pathways and processes used to determine career choice. Emphasizes development of resumes, interviewing and negotiating for public and corporate careers. Pass\Fail only.
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: VM 8664 
PHS 5464 - Veterinarians and Public Policy (2 credits) 
Formulation and implementation of veterinary public policy at the international, national, state, professional association, and consumer level. Discussion of the formulation of legislation, regulation, guidance and resolutions. Roles of science, law, politics, economics, societal values, and stakeholder influence in forging veterinary public policy. Moral and ethical dimensions of veterinary public policy making. Focus on the formulation, role and impacts of public policy relative to the practice of private and public veterinary medicine. Pre: Graduate standing. Pass\Fail only.
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: VM 8364 
PHS 5474 - Developing the Public Veterinary Practitioner (2 credits) 
Principles of outbreak investigation, descriptive epidemiology, and disaster management in the control of infectious animal disease outbreaks; risk analysis; literature review methods; design of disease surveillance, prevention and control programs; principles of animal welfare; and global veterinary capacity building. Topics discussed within the context of state and federal government agencies, corporate/industry, and clinical institutions. Emphasis on communication, teamwork and leadership skills. Pass/Fail only.
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: VM 8504 
PHS 5484 - Topics in Veterinary Public Health (2 credits) 
Contributions of veterinary science to human health and well-being. Water quality and animal agriculture; antimicrobial use in animal populations and the impact on human health; environmental aspects of emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases; zoonoses of global importance; prioritization methods for infectious diseases; food safety, security and defense; socioeconomic impacts of animal disease; Human-Animal interaction/Human-Animal bond. Pass/Fail only. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: VM 8464 
PHS 5494 - Problem Solving in Public and Corporate Veterinary Practice (2 credits) 
Public veterinary practice skills for veterinarians working in public and corporate practice. Communication with the media and stakeholders, methods for group decision-making, and frameworks for problem solving, including SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis, Risk Analysis, and the PESTLE framework. Government infrastructure and regulations related to infectious disease management in animal populations, emergency management, public health and animal welfare. Pass/Fail only.
Corequisite(s): PHS 5484 or VM 8464 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: VM 8224 
PHS 5704 - Drinking Water & Health (3 credits) 
Drinking water contamination and associated health outcomes. Programs to improve safe water access. Viral, bacterial, protozoal, and helminthic pathogens. Heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants. Drinking water treatment and supply in rural areas. Study designs for health outcome assessment. Field-based intervention trials. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: CEE 5704 
PHS 5714 - Health of the Elderly (3 credits) 
The health needs and problems of the elderly, the implications for those working with the elderly, and possible health care delivery systems.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 5724 - Ethical Foundations of Public Health (3 credits) 
Methods for ethics decision-making in public health and health policy, exploration of theoretical foundations of ethical public health practice, methods for identifying ethical challenges and ethical dilemmas, skills for managing ethical ambiguity, differences and similarities between professional ethics, research ethics, clinical ethics, and public health ethics, key historical events in public health that led to ethical and policy requirements, decision-making frameworks to analyze public health ethical challenges, current writings in public health ethics literature, well-reasoned written and oral arguments for a course of action to address public health ethics dilemmas. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 5904 - Project and Report (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 5924 - Capstone in Public Health (3 credits) 
Synthesis of coursework and practicum experience into a final comprehensive product which integrates knowledge and skills acquired in all core classes, specific MPH concentration courses and practicum experience for developing, implementing and evaluating a public health program; tests students ability to effectively analyze a public health problem and develop an intervention toward a solution to the problem. Pre-requisite: Graduate standing; completion of 39 hours of MPH coursework including enrollment in or completion of public health practicum.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 5934 - Public Health Integrative Learning Experience (3 credits) 
Culminating experience required for the MPH degree. Integration of program foundational and concentration-specific competencies. Team-based public health educational and professional experience. Addressing a public health challenge. Working with a mentor from an external stakeholder organization. Producing individual high-quality written deliverable. Reflection on the learning experience. Team presentation of project. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 5935 - Preparation for Public Health Practice (1 credit) 
Preparation for the public health profession. Covers the necessary skills to become a successful public health professional. 5935: Exploration of Public Health Practice Experience (PHPE) placement opportunities. PHPE goals, objectives, and competencies. PHPE products that align with academic and professional goals. PHPE learning contract. Institutional review board (IRB) protocols. Communications and professionalism skills. Academic poster and e-portfolio design. Work/life balance strategies. 5936: Examination of professional preparation for careers in public health. Job search strategies, resume/CV and cover letter writing, interviewing, and networking. Workplace skills, including professional communication, group process, leadership/supervision skills, working with the media, and survey design and data presentation. Personal/professional growth strategies, including salary and benefits negotiation, debt management, and time management. Grant writing. Pre: Graduate standing; 5935 for 5936. Pass/Fail only.
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
PHS 5936 - Preparation for Public Health Practice (1 credit) 
Preparation for the public health profession. Covers the necessary skills to become a successful public health professional. 5935: Exploration of Public Health Practice Experience (PHPE) placement opportunities. PHPE goals, objectives, and competencies. PHPE products that align with academic and professional goals. PHPE learning contract. Institutional review board (IRB) protocols. Communications and professionalism skills. Academic poster and e-portfolio design. Work/life balance strategies. 5936: Examination of professional preparation for careers in public health. Job search strategies, resume/CV and cover letter writing, interviewing, and networking. Workplace skills, including professional communication, group process, leadership/supervision skills, working with the media, and survey design and data presentation. Personal/professional growth strategies, including salary and benefits negotiation, debt management, and time management. Grant writing. Pre: Graduate standing; 5935 for 5936. Pass/Fail only.
Prerequisite(s): PHS 5935 
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
PHS 5944 - Veterinary Public Practice Experience - Practicum (3 credits) 
This course provides a planned, individualized, mentored, and evaluated experiential learning opportunity that promotes an understanding of the breadth of veterinary medicine and an appreciation for the roles of veterinarians in career areas other than private clinical practice. Students will identify an area of interest in veterinary public practice, including emerging fields in veterinary medicine, and engage in a supervised project that will allow them to gain experience and hone their skills in that area, as well as their ability to work in teams, and to generate a project deliverable and an ePortfolio. Pre: The five 8000-level prerequisite courses are professional degree (Veterinary) program courses that will be cross-listed at the 5000 level for the Graduate Certificate as follows: VM 8664 (PHS 5454); VM 8364 (PHS 5464); VM 8504 (PHS 5474); VM 8464 (PHS 5484); VM 8224 (PHS 5494).
Prerequisite(s): (VM 8664 or PHS 5454) and (VM 8464 or PHS 5484) and (VM 8364 or PHS 5464) and (VM 8224 or PHS 5494) and (VM 8504 or PHS 5474) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
PHS 5964 - Practicum (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 5974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 5984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
PHS 8984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course