Fall Course Descriptions for SPPH

Bioethics & Health Humanities Courses (BHH)

Biostatistics & Data Science Courses (BIOS)

Epidemiology Courses

Global Health & Emerging Diseases Courses (GHED)

Population Health & Health Disparities Courses (PHHD)

  • PHHD 6324 Research Methods II (2024)

School of Public and Population Health Courses

Bioethics & Health Humanities Course Descriptions

BHH 6097 Research

This course is designed to afford the student the opportunity to develop a thesis or dissertation proposal under faculty guidance. The proposal development may involve a literature search, preliminary experimentation, or a pilot field study. The research will be preliminary but relevant to the thesis or dissertation. Credit and hours to be arranged. Teaching technique is tutorial in nature.

Prerequisites: None
Terms offered: I, II, III
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Variable

BHH 6098 Thesis

Once admitted to candidacy, it is required for students pursuing a Master of Science or Master of Arts degree to enroll in this course. This course is for the formal research and writing leading to the preparation and completion of the thesis for the Master of Science or Master of Arts degree while under the direction of the student's supervisory committee. The student will pursue the proposed research and present a progress report and/or agreed upon objectives to the mentor and/or supervisory committee for approval and recommendations. Grading will be based upon the student's level of performance as reported by the chairperson of the student's supervisory committee and will be assigned as Satisfactory (S), Needs Improvement (N), or Unsatisfactory (U).

Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy
Terms offered: I, II, III 
Year Offered: Annually
Hours per week: Variable 3-9


BHH 6099 Dissertation

Once admitted to candidacy, it is required for students pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy degree to enroll in this course.  This course is for the formal research and writing leading to the preparation and completion of the dissertation for the Doctor of Philosophy degree while under the direction of the student’s supervisory committee. The student will pursue the proposed research and present a progress report and/or agreed upon objectives to the mentor and/or supervisory committee for approval and recommendations. Grading will be based upon the student's level of performance as reported by the chairperson of the student's supervisory committee and will be assigned as Satisfactory (S), Needs Improvement (N), or Unsatisfactory (U).

Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy 
Terms offered: I, II, III
Year Offered: Annually
Hours per week: Variable 3-9

BHH 6101 Ethics in Scientific Research

This course aims at providing an introduction to the ethics of scientific research and its impacts on society. The course first looks at ethical decision-making, norms and ideals of science, and discusses why ethics should be important for science. We will learn how to apply ethical frameworks to topical issues including conflict of interest, bias, research collaboration, peer review, authorship, research on human subjects, animal research, and research misconduct. 

Small group discussions throughout the course will help students develop critical thinking skills. Using case-based analysis students will identify ethical issues, discuss applicable ethical principles and frameworks, and justify appropriate actions or outcomes. By sharing this thought process in small group settings, students will identify different systems of thought, values, and cultures. 

BHH 6301 Histories of Health & Bioethics

Bioethics and health humanities are relatively new fields that have shaped—and been shaped by—the history of medicine and public health. In this course, we will utilize history to analyze cases and social movements that have influenced the development of these fields and explore how historical methods can contribute to them. Special emphasis will be placed on how social, political, and ethical contexts have changed over time. Students will gain a multidisciplinary foundation upon which they can not only analyze issues of the past, but also address contemporary and future challenges in bioethics and health humanities.

BHH 6304 Introduction to Health Humanities

This foundational course provides an overview of the fundamental relationship between humanities and health. The first part of the course provides an historical introduction to emergence of the humanities and the recognition of their importance in medicine and health care. In the second part of the course, invited speakers from several health related professions introduce students to the history and value of their respective health professions and the ways in which humanities are important in their work.

BHH 6306 Foundations in Bioethics

Bioethics is a rich, multidisciplinary field of inquiry. Bioethics begins, no matter what discipline from which one comes, with encountering a problematic, value laden practical situation in biomedical science or practice, which provokes one to ask basic ethical questions, many of which are perennial ethical questions. From this initial ethical inquiry, the quest begins to find our ethical bearings and to explore the ways in which an acceptable ethical argument or value position can be adequately formulated. To do bioethical inquiry adequately, a bioethicist must have some knowledge of relevant theoretical perspective and be skilled in its practical application. This course will prepare students to use these common methods and approaches and is meant to be a foundational experience in their bioethics education that will be used in all of their inquiries into bioethical problems. 

BHH 6312 Science and Technology Studies

This graduate seminar provides and advanced introduction to the field of science and technology studies (STS). In this course we will examine how the production and application of knowledge has attained authority in contemporary societies. we will read key theoretical and empirical works in STS. Central themes of expertise, risk, and governance will be explored through topical studies or life sciences, biomedicine, and emerging biotechnologies. Students will sharpen methodological capacities to understand interactive dynamics or knowledge and power in contemporary ethics, policy and pratice.

BHH 6314 Research Ethics

This course aims at providing an introduction to research ethics.

BHH 6316 Disability Ethics

This course is designed to introduce students to key concepts and theories of disability, as well as provide both political and bioethical analyses of disability issues in healthcare, research, and society. Texts and resources will be primarily sourced from disabled writers and creators.

Biostatistics & Data Science Course Descriptions

BIOS 6321 Survival Data Analysis

This course covers the following: Scope of Survival Analysis, Definition Failure Times, Left & Right Censoring, Left & Right Truncation, Accelerated Failure Time Testing, Distributions of Failure Times (particularly families of exponentially distributed failures), Hazard Functions, Survivorship Functions, Product Limits and Actuarial Estimators, Statistical Tests for Comparing Failure Time Distributions, Statistical Software for Survival Analysis, Competing Risks and Proportional Hazards, Time Dependent Covariates, Repeating Events and Frailty Models.

BIOS 6341 Categorical Data Analysis

This course surveys theory and methods for the analysis of categorical response and count data. The course begins with an overview of classic results and likelihood based inference for categorical data analysis (chi-square statistics). We will then examine appropriate methods for dealing with contingency tables. Additional topics include logistic regression, model building strategies, multiple logistic regression, poisson regression, Loglinear Models, Multicategory Logit Models, and Models for Matched Pairs.

BIOS 6343 Biostatistics

This course introduces the general application of biostatistical analysis, as performed in the biomedical, public health and social sciences. The course will examine how a wide variety of problems can be described and analyzed using the language of statistics. Specific topics to be covered include:

  • probability and distributions, data types, graphical representation of data, and the connection of probability to statistics and statistical inference;
  • hypothesis testing, equivalence testing, one vs. two sided tests;
  • parametric bivariate statistics such as the t-test and chi-squared tests, and their appropriate application, as well as non-parametric alternatives;
  • parametric multivariate statistics such as ANOVA, the regression framework including linear and logistic

The aim of the course is fourfold. First, to familiarize students with the vocabulary, basic notions, and some general concepts of statistics. Second, to apply these techniques to real data sets, using statistical programming software. Third, to learn how to use a statistical software programming language for data manipulation and analysis, and to gain a general understanding of statistical software tools. Fourth, to critically analyze both the results of our own analyses, as well as published work in the biomedical literature.

Evaluation of students will be done through class assignments and two final group projects where 1) students are to present a critical analysis of an article from the literature, highlighting and explaining the statistical concepts therein, 2) students carry out an analysis of real world data of their choosing, and explain their methodology, results, and the implications thereof. Details are provided below.

BIOS 6485 MPH Biostats & Data Management

This course will introduce the foundation of statistical theory and methods for summarization and elementary analysis of public health related data. Students will be able to carry out most statistical analyses discussed in the course with R. Topics include study design, data description, elements of probability, distribution of random variables, application of the binomial and normal distribution, estimation and confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, contingency tables, regression, and analysis of variance.

Epidemiology Course Descriptions

EPI 6330 Intro to Epidemiology

This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of epidemiology, the study of the distribution and determinants of health in populations and the application of this study to control and improve health outcomes.  Concepts that will be covered include: historical foundations of epidemiologic research, measures of disease frequency, standardization, study design, measures of effect, screening, and causality.  The student will gain insight into the strengths and limitations of population-based research, acquire skills to critically evaluate epidemiologic research, understand the basis of causal inference regarding health and disease, and appreciate the scope of epidemiology and its uses in the areas of public health and clinical care.

EPI 6395 Applied Epidemiology

This course is designed as an introduction to epidemiologic and public health aspects of infectious disease, chronic disease, and injury prevention and control. The course will provide epidemiologic frameworks for understanding, prioritizing, preventing, and/or controlling these issues, with specific topics emphasized. Course materials, readings, discussions, and a semester-long project will provide an overview of these topics as well as an opportunity to select a specific topic to design an epidemiologic study.

Global Health & Emerging Diseases Course Descriptions

GHED 6303 Global Health Governance & Diplomacy

The course aims to build capacity for achieving the health-related sustainable development goals by cultivating a better understanding of the governance structures for health, the challenges of program implementation, and the application of a health diplomacy framework. The course will also discuss the challenges facing health systems during the time of pandemic, focusing on the role of governance structure and stewardship in shaping the pandemic response. Grades are based on submitting and presenting weekly homework assignments, active participation and engagement in group work and professionalism.

GHED 6304 Global Health & International Development

This course will introduce fundamental concepts and explore the field of global health from multiple critical perspectives, including economics, political science, sociology, anthropology, human rights, and public health. Students will learn about the key frameworks, actors, systems, and practices that define global health in the modern era. They will engage in critical self-reflection while developing the ability to apply a health equity lens to evaluate emergent global public health challenges within their historic, structural, and political contexts. In so doing, the course will equip students with knowledge, attitudes, and approaches that apply to public health practice at regional, national, and international levels.

Population Health & Health Disparities Course Descriptions

PHHD 6304 Proposal Development

Students will be guided in writing a research proposal. Students will develop their own research projects, following a standard professional format for a dissertation proposal or small federal or foundation grant.  Each section will be considered in detail.  One focus will be on presenting a clear and logical argument with a rationale for the proposed work with appropriate supporting references.  A second focus will be on the writing itself and how to develop productive writing skills.  Students will share in critiquing one another’s writing in order to learn how to write clearly. Students will set weekly goals and keep a log of writing activities and progress. The semester’s project is a complete proposal. 

School of Public and Population Health Course Descriptions

SPPH 6011 Rotation

This course allows the student, under faculty guidance, to engage in a limited research project unrelated to his or her thesis or dissertation, but concerned with their area of study (Population Health Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Rehabilitation Sciences, or Public Health). Credit and hours to be arranged. Course grade will be based on satisfactory performance and accomplishments in the chosen research area.

SPPH 6016 Integrative Learning Experience

The Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) is a requirement of all MPH students. The ILE is a culminating project that allows students to integrate the knowledge and skills they have gained throughout their MPH coursework and practice experience. It is intended to provide students with the opportunity to explore a public health area of interest in greater depth, produce a high-quality written product that aligns with their educational and professional goals, and demonstrate the synthesis of competencies attained during the MPH program.

SPPH 6070 Applied Practice Experience

This course involves the completion of the Applied Practice Experience (APE) requirement described by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The APE allows students to gain experience and develop skills towards the application of public health knowledge to address public health problems. Students are able to gain applied experience in a variety of settings, including governmental, non-governmental, non-profit, and for-profit agencies. The activities that are completed through this course should be mutually beneficial to both the student and the selected site.

SPPH 6097 Research

This course is designed to afford the student the opportunity to develop a thesis or dissertation proposal under faculty guidance. The proposal development may involve a literature search, preliminary experimentation, or a pilot field study. The research will be preliminary but relevant to the thesis or dissertation. Credit and hours to be arranged. Teaching technique is tutorial in nature.

Prerequisites: None
Terms offered: I, II, III
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Variable

SPPH 6098 Thesis

Once admitted to candidacy, it is required for students pursuing a Master of Science or Master of Arts degree to enroll in this course. This course is for the formal research and writing leading to the preparation and completion of the thesis for the Master of Science or Master of Arts degree while under the direction of the student's supervisory committee. The student will pursue the proposed research and present a progress report and/or agreed upon objectives to the mentor and/or supervisory committee for approval and recommendations. Grading will be based upon the student's level of performance as reported by the chairperson of the student's supervisory committee and will be assigned as Satisfactory (S), Needs Improvement (N), or Unsatisfactory (U).

Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy
Terms offered: I, II, III 
Year Offered: Annually 
Hours per week: Variable 3-9

SPPH 6099 Dissertation

Once admitted to candidacy, it is required for students pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy degree to enroll in this course.  This course is for the formal research and writing leading to the preparation and completion of the dissertation for the Doctor of Philosophy degree while under the direction of the student’s supervisory committee. The student will pursue the proposed research and present a progress report and/or agreed upon objectives to the mentor and/or supervisory committee for approval and recommendations. Grading will be based upon the student's level of performance as reported by the chairperson of the student's supervisory committee and will be assigned as Satisfactory (S), Needs Improvement (N), or Unsatisfactory (U).

Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy 

SPPH 6147 In the PHield (2024)

This course is designed to introduce MPH students in the Public Health Practice concentration to different careers in the public health field (PHield). Each week, a guest speaker will be brought into share about their career path, their current organization/agency, as well as the duties/responsibilities of their position. There will be time for students to dialogue with each speaker. In addition to the speakers, students will also be expected to complete personal professional development activities like job searching/identification, as well as cover letter and resume/CV writing.

SPPH 6159 Prevention Science

The levels of prevention—primary, secondary, and tertiary—are important concepts in both clinical and public health interventions. To address individual and population health improvement and to reduce health inequities, practitioners need to understand how to prevent the onset and progression of disease and how to promote recovery and rehabilitation. Using case studies, students will practice identifying preventive interventions in health care and public health along with potential opportunities to build partnerships across the fields of practice. The prevention and population health model depicted will be used to guide discussion and activities.

SPPH 6161 Evidence-based Practice

Preventive interventions in clinical medicine and public health should be evidence- based and adopt a systematic approach to identifying, integrating, and applying the available evidence. Evidence-based decision-making should incorporate findings from formal research studies, but also data on patient and population preferences and values, and information on available resources. In this course a general framework for evidence-based decision-making will be presented and its application to different practice settings considered. This course is designed to align with topics in Gastrointestinal/Nutrition (GIN), which you are concurrently taking in JSSOM.

SPPH 6195 Professional Development

This course allows students to increase their knowledge and skills around current issues in public health, programs, and research in various areas, including public health, preventive medicine, health policy, advocacy, and community engagement. The course also offers an opportunity for practical knowledge exchange and application of skills to help students become well-rounded practitioners in the field of public health.

SPPH 6201 Approaches to Academic & Professional Writing

This course is an introduction to scholarly writing. The course emphasizes skills used in research (e.g., manuscripts, research proposals), but students will also learn aspects of writing style, clarity, and structure that are valuable in all professional settings. Students will develop knowledge and skills through selected readings and class discussions. Students will choose between writing a brief scientific manuscript or an NIH-style specific aims page as their final project. Students will submit sections of their manuscript or specific aims page during the semester for feedback and submit a full draft in the last week of the semester.  

SPPH 6296 T.I.E.R.

Novel and innovative research agendas can extend beyond the search for new discoveries.  Examining how and why these new discoveries make their way into broader use in research and practice is an emerging field of study. This course introduces students to translation, implementation, and evaluation research (TIER) approaches, all of which are employed as the dissemination of discoveries are studied. 

Models of Translational Research describe a process of translating: (1) basic science findings to clinical applications, (2) effective clinical applications to broader clinical practice, and (3) practice changes to improved population health.  Efficacy and Effectiveness Research evaluates the impacts certain practices, interventions, policies, or other innovations have in practice under controlled (efficacy) and real-world (effectiveness) situations. Dissemination research evaluates planned approaches to communicate evidence-based interventions to target audiences. Implementation research evaluates efforts to move evidence-based clinical or public health interventions into routine care. Outcomes of interest in both types of research are typically measured at the organizational, community, or policy levels and include:  more effective health services, better prevention, reduction in health disparities, or, in non-health settings, impact on the underlying root causes of population health (Brownson, Colditz,& Proctor, 2012).

This course provides a survey of these various arenas of research, including the historical context of these fields, their unique methodologies, and examples of their use in practice.  This course also attempts to integrate realistic experiences into its content and activities.  In practice, group work is heavily involved, as the field of translational science is built upon the understanding that individual silos, in part, are a barrier to scientific discovery and innovation. However, there will be several individual assignments to ensure you are understanding, incorporating, and able to apply the materials being covered in class.  Central to the success of this course are preparation (i.e., ensuring that readings have been completed prior to class), collegiality, professionalism, and the giving and receiving of constructive feedback.

SPPH 6303 ASM I

This course will teach residents the fundamental principles and physiologic changes of aerospace environments as they pertain to a variety of human body systems. It will introduce concepts for spaceflight and compare and contrast different models (government vs. private). It will also introduce topics of systems engineering, vehicle design, and requirements writing.

SPPH 6324 Assessment, Planning & Evaluation

Public Health Assessment, Planning, and Evaluation is designed to facilitate the integration and application of a variety of public health topics, issues, and skills. In particular, students will gain greater understanding of community assessment, program planning, and program evaluation. This course is designed to provide students with different perspectives and approaches, as well as a greater familiarity of a range of methods, essential to public health practice. Topics will be framed around the application of public health practice skills.

SPPH 6384 Health Policy & Management

This course is designed to provide an overview of the U.S. health care delivery system and policies. We will compare the U.S. system with that of other industrialized and developing countries. Detailed examination of the structure of the U.S. health insurance market and the Affordable Care Act will be undertaken. You will learn the theory and practice of policy evaluation. You will also develop an understanding of the current problems and issues in health care delivery.

SPPH 6390 Intro to Rehabilitation

This interdisciplinary course provides an overview of the integrated fields of disability, rehabilitation science, and engineering. Weekly didactic lectures will be complimented by presentations by and interactive discussions with investigators in the three research focus areas of the UTMB Rehabilitation Sciences program.

SPPH 6403 Analytical Methods

This course is designed to provide an overview of analytical methods in public health, both quantitative and qualitative. Students will learn basics of epidemiological study design, basic quantitative and qualitative analysis, data collection, and interpretation.

SPPH 6410 Public Health Practice I

This course is designed to provide students in the Public Health Practice concentration of the MPH program with a strong foundation in the systems and structures that address and impact public health. Students will be acquainted with concepts and performance of public health practice as well as the core functions of various public health agencies and organizations. Current public health topics will be discussed and representatives from programs/agencies that serve public health functions will participate in course activities.

SPPH 6484 Applied Public Health Leadership

This course is designed to provide Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health (MD/MPH) students with knowledge and skills around leadership in a public health context, communication, and stakeholder engagement in public health.

SPPH 6485 Policy & Equity

The Policy and Equity course will enable students to evaluate and recommend policies for a selected issue, apply advocacy products or plans for the selected issue, and apply the policy-making process for the issue. Students will compare and contrast health systems’ models at the global level, including how values and culture affect these systems and the policies that create or change these systems. Students will identify historical and present-day factors (e.g., social, systemic, organizational, community) that contribute to health inequities and obstruct achieving health equity, and develop a systems map identifying multi-level causes, including structural bias, social inequities, and racism, for the public health or health-related issue.

Bioethics & Health Humanities Course Descriptions

BHH 6097 Research

This course is designed to afford the student the opportunity to develop a thesis or dissertation proposal under faculty guidance. The proposal development may involve a literature search, preliminary experimentation, or a pilot field study. The research will be preliminary but relevant to the thesis or dissertation. Credit and hours to be arranged. Teaching technique is tutorial in nature.

Prerequisites: None
Terms offered: I, II, III
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Variable

BHH 6098 Thesis

Once admitted to candidacy, it is required for students pursuing a Master of Science or Master of Arts degree to enroll in this course. This course is for the formal research and writing leading to the preparation and completion of the thesis for the Master of Science or Master of Arts degree while under the direction of the student's supervisory committee. The student will pursue the proposed research and present a progress report and/or agreed upon objectives to the mentor and/or supervisory committee for approval and recommendations. Grading will be based upon the student's level of performance as reported by the chairperson of the student's supervisory committee and will be assigned as Satisfactory (S), Needs Improvement (N), or Unsatisfactory (U).

Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy
Terms offered: I, II, III 
Year Offered: Annually
Hours per week: Variable 3-9


BHH 6099 Dissertation

Once admitted to candidacy, it is required for students pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy degree to enroll in this course.  This course is for the formal research and writing leading to the preparation and completion of the dissertation for the Doctor of Philosophy degree while under the direction of the student’s supervisory committee. The student will pursue the proposed research and present a progress report and/or agreed upon objectives to the mentor and/or supervisory committee for approval and recommendations. Grading will be based upon the student's level of performance as reported by the chairperson of the student's supervisory committee and will be assigned as Satisfactory (S), Needs Improvement (N), or Unsatisfactory (U).

Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy 
Terms offered: I, II, III
Year Offered: Annually
Hours per week: Variable 3-9

BHH 6101 Ethics in Scientific Research

This course aims at providing an introduction to the ethics of scientific research and its impacts on society. The course first looks at ethical decision-making, norms and ideals of science, and discusses why ethics should be important for science. We will learn how to apply ethical frameworks to topical issues including conflict of interest, bias, research collaboration, peer review, authorship, research on human subjects, animal research, and research misconduct. 

Small group discussions throughout the course will help students develop critical thinking skills. Using case-based analysis students will identify ethical issues, discuss applicable ethical principles and frameworks, and justify appropriate actions or outcomes. By sharing this thought process in small group settings, students will identify different systems of thought, values, and cultures. 

BHH 6301 Histories of Health & Bioethics

Bioethics and health humanities are relatively new fields that have shaped—and been shaped by—the history of medicine and public health. In this course, we will utilize history to analyze cases and social movements that have influenced the development of these fields and explore how historical methods can contribute to them. Special emphasis will be placed on how social, political, and ethical contexts have changed over time. Students will gain a multidisciplinary foundation upon which they can not only analyze issues of the past, but also address contemporary and future challenges in bioethics and health humanities.

BHH 6304 Introduction to Health Humanities

This foundational course provides an overview of the fundamental relationship between humanities and health. The first part of the course provides an historical introduction to emergence of the humanities and the recognition of their importance in medicine and health care. In the second part of the course, invited speakers from several health related professions introduce students to the history and value of their respective health professions and the ways in which humanities are important in their work.

BHH 6306 Foundations in Bioethics

Bioethics is a rich, multidisciplinary field of inquiry. Bioethics begins, no matter what discipline from which one comes, with encountering a problematic, value laden practical situation in biomedical science or practice, which provokes one to ask basic ethical questions, many of which are perennial ethical questions. From this initial ethical inquiry, the quest begins to find our ethical bearings and to explore the ways in which an acceptable ethical argument or value position can be adequately formulated. To do bioethical inquiry adequately, a bioethicist must have some knowledge of relevant theoretical perspective and be skilled in its practical application. This course will prepare students to use these common methods and approaches and is meant to be a foundational experience in their bioethics education that will be used in all of their inquiries into bioethical problems. 

BHH 6312 Science and Technology Studies

This graduate seminar provides and advanced introduction to the field of science and technology studies (STS). In this course we will examine how the production and application of knowledge has attained authority in contemporary societies. we will read key theoretical and empirical works in STS. Central themes of expertise, risk, and governance will be explored through topical studies or life sciences, biomedicine, and emerging biotechnologies. Students will sharpen methodological capacities to understand interactive dynamics or knowledge and power in contemporary ethics, policy and pratice.

BHH 6314 Research Ethics

This course aims at providing an introduction to research ethics.

BHH 6316 Disability Ethics

This course is designed to introduce students to key concepts and theories of disability, as well as provide both political and bioethical analyses of disability issues in healthcare, research, and society. Texts and resources will be primarily sourced from disabled writers and creators.

Biostatistics & Data Science Course Descriptions

BIOS 6321 Survival Data Analysis

This course covers the following: Scope of Survival Analysis, Definition Failure Times, Left & Right Censoring, Left & Right Truncation, Accelerated Failure Time Testing, Distributions of Failure Times (particularly families of exponentially distributed failures), Hazard Functions, Survivorship Functions, Product Limits and Actuarial Estimators, Statistical Tests for Comparing Failure Time Distributions, Statistical Software for Survival Analysis, Competing Risks and Proportional Hazards, Time Dependent Covariates, Repeating Events and Frailty Models.

BIOS 6341 Categorical Data Analysis

This course surveys theory and methods for the analysis of categorical response and count data. The course begins with an overview of classic results and likelihood based inference for categorical data analysis (chi-square statistics). We will then examine appropriate methods for dealing with contingency tables. Additional topics include logistic regression, model building strategies, multiple logistic regression, poisson regression, Loglinear Models, Multicategory Logit Models, and Models for Matched Pairs.

BIOS 6343 Biostatistics

This course introduces the general application of biostatistical analysis, as performed in the biomedical, public health and social sciences. The course will examine how a wide variety of problems can be described and analyzed using the language of statistics. Specific topics to be covered include:

  • probability and distributions, data types, graphical representation of data, and the connection of probability to statistics and statistical inference;
  • hypothesis testing, equivalence testing, one vs. two sided tests;
  • parametric bivariate statistics such as the t-test and chi-squared tests, and their appropriate application, as well as non-parametric alternatives;
  • parametric multivariate statistics such as ANOVA, the regression framework including linear and logistic

The aim of the course is fourfold. First, to familiarize students with the vocabulary, basic notions, and some general concepts of statistics. Second, to apply these techniques to real data sets, using statistical programming software. Third, to learn how to use a statistical software programming language for data manipulation and analysis, and to gain a general understanding of statistical software tools. Fourth, to critically analyze both the results of our own analyses, as well as published work in the biomedical literature.

Evaluation of students will be done through class assignments and two final group projects where 1) students are to present a critical analysis of an article from the literature, highlighting and explaining the statistical concepts therein, 2) students carry out an analysis of real world data of their choosing, and explain their methodology, results, and the implications thereof. Details are provided below.

BIOS 6485 MPH Biostats & Data Management

This course will introduce the foundation of statistical theory and methods for summarization and elementary analysis of public health related data. Students will be able to carry out most statistical analyses discussed in the course with R. Topics include study design, data description, elements of probability, distribution of random variables, application of the binomial and normal distribution, estimation and confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, contingency tables, regression, and analysis of variance.

Epidemiology Course Descriptions

EPI 6330 Intro to Epidemiology

This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of epidemiology, the study of the distribution and determinants of health in populations and the application of this study to control and improve health outcomes.  Concepts that will be covered include: historical foundations of epidemiologic research, measures of disease frequency, standardization, study design, measures of effect, screening, and causality.  The student will gain insight into the strengths and limitations of population-based research, acquire skills to critically evaluate epidemiologic research, understand the basis of causal inference regarding health and disease, and appreciate the scope of epidemiology and its uses in the areas of public health and clinical care.

EPI 6395 Applied Epidemiology

This course is designed as an introduction to epidemiologic and public health aspects of infectious disease, chronic disease, and injury prevention and control. The course will provide epidemiologic frameworks for understanding, prioritizing, preventing, and/or controlling these issues, with specific topics emphasized. Course materials, readings, discussions, and a semester-long project will provide an overview of these topics as well as an opportunity to select a specific topic to design an epidemiologic study.

Global Health & Emerging Diseases Course Descriptions

GHED 6303 Global Health Governance & Diplomacy

The course aims to build capacity for achieving the health-related sustainable development goals by cultivating a better understanding of the governance structures for health, the challenges of program implementation, and the application of a health diplomacy framework. The course will also discuss the challenges facing health systems during the time of pandemic, focusing on the role of governance structure and stewardship in shaping the pandemic response. Grades are based on submitting and presenting weekly homework assignments, active participation and engagement in group work and professionalism.

GHED 6304 Global Health & International Development

This course will introduce fundamental concepts and explore the field of global health from multiple critical perspectives, including economics, political science, sociology, anthropology, human rights, and public health. Students will learn about the key frameworks, actors, systems, and practices that define global health in the modern era. They will engage in critical self-reflection while developing the ability to apply a health equity lens to evaluate emergent global public health challenges within their historic, structural, and political contexts. In so doing, the course will equip students with knowledge, attitudes, and approaches that apply to public health practice at regional, national, and international levels.

Population Health & Health Disparities Course Descriptions

PHHD 6304 Proposal Development

Students will be guided in writing a research proposal. Students will develop their own research projects, following a standard professional format for a dissertation proposal or small federal or foundation grant.  Each section will be considered in detail.  One focus will be on presenting a clear and logical argument with a rationale for the proposed work with appropriate supporting references.  A second focus will be on the writing itself and how to develop productive writing skills.  Students will share in critiquing one another’s writing in order to learn how to write clearly. Students will set weekly goals and keep a log of writing activities and progress. The semester’s project is a complete proposal. 

School of Public and Population Health Course Descriptions

SPPH 6011 Rotation

This course allows the student, under faculty guidance, to engage in a limited research project unrelated to his or her thesis or dissertation, but concerned with their area of study (Population Health Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Rehabilitation Sciences, or Public Health). Credit and hours to be arranged. Course grade will be based on satisfactory performance and accomplishments in the chosen research area.

SPPH 6016 Integrative Learning Experience

The Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) is a requirement of all MPH students. The ILE is a culminating project that allows students to integrate the knowledge and skills they have gained throughout their MPH coursework and practice experience. It is intended to provide students with the opportunity to explore a public health area of interest in greater depth, produce a high-quality written product that aligns with their educational and professional goals, and demonstrate the synthesis of competencies attained during the MPH program.

SPPH 6070 Applied Practice Experience

This course involves the completion of the Applied Practice Experience (APE) requirement described by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The APE allows students to gain experience and develop skills towards the application of public health knowledge to address public health problems. Students are able to gain applied experience in a variety of settings, including governmental, non-governmental, non-profit, and for-profit agencies. The activities that are completed through this course should be mutually beneficial to both the student and the selected site.

SPPH 6097 Research

This course is designed to afford the student the opportunity to develop a thesis or dissertation proposal under faculty guidance. The proposal development may involve a literature search, preliminary experimentation, or a pilot field study. The research will be preliminary but relevant to the thesis or dissertation. Credit and hours to be arranged. Teaching technique is tutorial in nature.

Prerequisites: None
Terms offered: I, II, III
Year offered: Annually
Hours per week: Variable

SPPH 6098 Thesis

Once admitted to candidacy, it is required for students pursuing a Master of Science or Master of Arts degree to enroll in this course. This course is for the formal research and writing leading to the preparation and completion of the thesis for the Master of Science or Master of Arts degree while under the direction of the student's supervisory committee. The student will pursue the proposed research and present a progress report and/or agreed upon objectives to the mentor and/or supervisory committee for approval and recommendations. Grading will be based upon the student's level of performance as reported by the chairperson of the student's supervisory committee and will be assigned as Satisfactory (S), Needs Improvement (N), or Unsatisfactory (U).

Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy
Terms offered: I, II, III 
Year Offered: Annually 
Hours per week: Variable 3-9

SPPH 6099 Dissertation

Once admitted to candidacy, it is required for students pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy degree to enroll in this course.  This course is for the formal research and writing leading to the preparation and completion of the dissertation for the Doctor of Philosophy degree while under the direction of the student’s supervisory committee. The student will pursue the proposed research and present a progress report and/or agreed upon objectives to the mentor and/or supervisory committee for approval and recommendations. Grading will be based upon the student's level of performance as reported by the chairperson of the student's supervisory committee and will be assigned as Satisfactory (S), Needs Improvement (N), or Unsatisfactory (U).

Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy 

SPPH 6147 In the Phield (2024)

This course is designed to introduce MPH students in the Public Health Practice concentration to different careers in the public health field (PHield). Each week, a guest speaker will be brought into share about their career path, their current organization/agency, as well as the duties/responsibilities of their position. There will be time for students to dialogue with each speaker. In addition to the speakers, students will also be expected to complete personal professional development activities like job searching/identification, as well as cover letter and resume/CV writing.

SPPH 6159 Prevention Science

The levels of prevention—primary, secondary, and tertiary—are important concepts in both clinical and public health interventions. To address individual and population health improvement and to reduce health inequities, practitioners need to understand how to prevent the onset and progression of disease and how to promote recovery and rehabilitation. Using case studies, students will practice identifying preventive interventions in health care and public health along with potential opportunities to build partnerships across the fields of practice. The prevention and population health model depicted will be used to guide discussion and activities.

SPPH 6161 Evidence-based Practice

Preventive interventions in clinical medicine and public health should be evidence- based and adopt a systematic approach to identifying, integrating, and applying the available evidence. Evidence-based decision-making should incorporate findings from formal research studies, but also data on patient and population preferences and values, and information on available resources. In this course a general framework for evidence-based decision-making will be presented and its application to different practice settings considered. This course is designed to align with topics in Gastrointestinal/Nutrition (GIN), which you are concurrently taking in JSSOM.

SPPH 6195 Professional Development

This course allows students to increase their knowledge and skills around current issues in public health, programs, and research in various areas, including public health, preventive medicine, health policy, advocacy, and community engagement. The course also offers an opportunity for practical knowledge exchange and application of skills to help students become well-rounded practitioners in the field of public health.

SPPH 6201 Approaches to Academic & Professional Writing

This course is an introduction to scholarly writing. The course emphasizes skills used in research (e.g., manuscripts, research proposals), but students will also learn aspects of writing style, clarity, and structure that are valuable in all professional settings. Students will develop knowledge and skills through selected readings and class discussions. Students will choose between writing a brief scientific manuscript or an NIH-style specific aims page as their final project. Students will submit sections of their manuscript or specific aims page during the semester for feedback and submit a full draft in the last week of the semester.  

SPPH 6296 T.I.E.R.

Novel and innovative research agendas can extend beyond the search for new discoveries.  Examining how and why these new discoveries make their way into broader use in research and practice is an emerging field of study. This course introduces students to translation, implementation, and evaluation research (TIER) approaches, all of which are employed as the dissemination of discoveries are studied. 

Models of Translational Research describe a process of translating: (1) basic science findings to clinical applications, (2) effective clinical applications to broader clinical practice, and (3) practice changes to improved population health.  Efficacy and Effectiveness Research evaluates the impacts certain practices, interventions, policies, or other innovations have in practice under controlled (efficacy) and real-world (effectiveness) situations. Dissemination research evaluates planned approaches to communicate evidence-based interventions to target audiences. Implementation research evaluates efforts to move evidence-based clinical or public health interventions into routine care. Outcomes of interest in both types of research are typically measured at the organizational, community, or policy levels and include:  more effective health services, better prevention, reduction in health disparities, or, in non-health settings, impact on the underlying root causes of population health (Brownson, Colditz,& Proctor, 2012).

This course provides a survey of these various arenas of research, including the historical context of these fields, their unique methodologies, and examples of their use in practice.  This course also attempts to integrate realistic experiences into its content and activities.  In practice, group work is heavily involved, as the field of translational science is built upon the understanding that individual silos, in part, are a barrier to scientific discovery and innovation. However, there will be several individual assignments to ensure you are understanding, incorporating, and able to apply the materials being covered in class.  Central to the success of this course are preparation (i.e., ensuring that readings have been completed prior to class), collegiality, professionalism, and the giving and receiving of constructive feedback.

SPPH 6303 ASM I

This course will teach residents the fundamental principles and physiologic changes of aerospace environments as they pertain to a variety of human body systems. It will introduce concepts for spaceflight and compare and contrast different models (government vs. private). It will also introduce topics of systems engineering, vehicle design, and requirements writing.

SPPH 6324 Assessment, Planning & Evaluation

Public Health Assessment, Planning, and Evaluation is designed to facilitate the integration and application of a variety of public health topics, issues, and skills. In particular, students will gain greater understanding of community assessment, program planning, and program evaluation. This course is designed to provide students with different perspectives and approaches, as well as a greater familiarity of a range of methods, essential to public health practice. Topics will be framed around the application of public health practice skills.

SPPH 6384 Health Policy & Management

This course is designed to provide an overview of the U.S. health care delivery system and policies. We will compare the U.S. system with that of other industrialized and developing countries. Detailed examination of the structure of the U.S. health insurance market and the Affordable Care Act will be undertaken. You will learn the theory and practice of policy evaluation. You will also develop an understanding of the current problems and issues in health care delivery.

SPPH 6390 Intro to Rehabilitation

This interdisciplinary course provides an overview of the integrated fields of disability, rehabilitation science, and engineering. Weekly didactic lectures will be complimented by presentations by and interactive discussions with investigators in the three research focus areas of the UTMB Rehabilitation Sciences program.

SPPH 6403 Analytical Methods

This course is designed to provide an overview of analytical methods in public health, both quantitative and qualitative. Students will learn basics of epidemiological study design, basic quantitative and qualitative analysis, data collection, and interpretation.

SPPH 6410 Public Health Practice I

This course is designed to provide students in the Public Health Practice concentration of the MPH program with a strong foundation in the systems and structures that address and impact public health. Students will be acquainted with concepts and performance of public health practice as well as the core functions of various public health agencies and organizations. Current public health topics will be discussed and representatives from programs/agencies that serve public health functions will participate in course activities.

SPPH 6484 Applied Public Health Leadership

This course is designed to provide Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health (MD/MPH) students with knowledge and skills around leadership in a public health context, communication, and stakeholder engagement in public health.

SPPH 6485 Policy & Equity

The Policy and Equity course will enable students to evaluate and recommend policies for a selected issue, apply advocacy products or plans for the selected issue, and apply the policy-making process for the issue. Students will compare and contrast health systems’ models at the global level, including how values and culture affect these systems and the policies that create or change these systems. Students will identify historical and present-day factors (e.g., social, systemic, organizational, community) that contribute to health inequities and obstruct achieving health equity, and develop a systems map identifying multi-level causes, including structural bias, social inequities, and racism, for the public health or health-related issue.