Syllabus
Graduate Programs in Public Health
GPH 744 Integrative Learning Experience – Fall 2018
Credits - 1
Description
The Integrative Learning Experience is a required one-credit hour course during which the MPH student will create a high quality written product that synthesizes public health ideas reflecting program competencies. This course assesses students’ application of knowledge as well as written communication skills, and is to be taken in the student’s final semester in the program. Planning for this course will start while the student is enrolled in the Applied Practice Experience course (GPH 743).
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
By the end of this course you will have shown yourself able to:
- Synthesize at least five competencies, at least two program and two foundational, in a high quality written product
Master of Public Health Program Competencies
- Synthesize and incorporate scientific evidence into professional writing
- Search databases and critically analyze peer reviewed literature
- Develop strategies for qualitative and quantitative data management.
- Evaluate the use of financial resources and management techniques by public health programs to achieve goals and sustainability.
- Describe the use of technological applications in health interventions
Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH) Foundational Competencies
Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health
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Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice
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Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health
context
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Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based
programming and software, as appropriate
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Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice
Public Health & Health Care Systems
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Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings
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Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels
Planning & Management to Promote Health
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Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health
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Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health
policies or programs
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Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention
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Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
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Select methods to evaluate public health programs
Policy in Public Health
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Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
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Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
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Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
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Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity
Leadership
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Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making
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Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges
Communication
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Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
-
Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral
presentation
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Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content
Interprofessional Practice
21. Perform effectively on interprofessional teams
Systems Thinking
22. Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue
Assignments
Discussion Boards:
Each student is expected to post at least three times for each discussion board. One post should be an original contribution to the discussion. The following two should be in response to classmates’s posts.
Week 3 Assignment, All Tracks: Objectives
Research Paper: List and explain the specific objectives or research question that your paper sets out to answer. Provide a detailed description of your methods.
Program Evaluation: Discuss the specific purpose of your program evaluation paper including identification of stakeholders. List the evaluation questions that govern this evaluation. Provide a detailed description of your data collection and analysis methods. Provide a logic model.
Policy Analysis: Define your policy research/analysis objective. Describe your analytic framework. Submit an outline of the paper that tracks the basic components of the paper and contains sub-topics that track your analytic framework.
Week 4 Assignment, All Tracks: Introduction and Background
Research Paper: Write an introduction/background for your research paper. This section of the paper should be a summary of the public health issue of interest including the magnitude of the problem, risk factors, populations affected, and the public health significance of the topic.
Program Evaluation: Provide a background for your public health program you plan to evaluate. Include the specific objectives as well as the justification as to why an evaluation needs to be conducted. The Introduction section of your paper should provide a description of the program’s history, the work they do, the public health essential services they provide, and the public health significance of their work
Policy Analysis: By now you will have researched the public health problem that has or will be addressed by the relevant policy(ies) and identified the key stakeholders involved. You may also have identified particular policy alternatives, or alternative policy approaches to address the public health problem. Write the Introduction and background context for your paper, describing the problem; the geographic regions involved; the most relevant stakeholders, including government(s), populations, and agencies or organizations; the policy(ies) you examined, including any alternative approaches.
Week 6 Check In, Policy Analysis
Policy Analysis: Expand the outline you submitted in Week 2, incorporating any feedback you received on your assignment, with additional subtopics that track your approach. Refer to the sample policy paper for some ideas on the appropriate and helpful use of headings and subheadings.
Week 9 Assignment, All Tracks: First Draft
Research Paper: Submit the results of the data you analyzed using the methods described in an earlier assignment. Present your findings in a logical sequence without any bias.
Program Evaluation: Write a first draft of your final program evaluation report.
Policy Analysis: Write the 1st draft of the entire body of your paper. Incorporate any feedback that you received on the expanded outline submitted in Week 6.
Week 10 Assignment, All Tracks: Preparing for the Final Presentation – Oral Presentation
Submit a 7-minute video of your presentation using the information that you have so far. Two classmates will watch this and critique your presentation using the provided form.
Note that you will be graded on your ability to satisfactorily critique the video recording of your classmates, not on your own recording. The critique will be anonymous and can come from students other tracks than yours. You will not know which students reviewed your presentation.
Week 11 Assignment, All Tracks: Oral Presentation Critique
The peer review process is a common practice in public health. Regardless of the ILE track you are in, you are evaluating someone else’s work. As a public health professional, learning to give and receive feedback from your peers fosters collaboration and enhances your ability to work as part of a team. Download the fillable form attached to this assignment and use it to evaluate the 2 videos assigned to you.
Week 13 Assignment, All Tracks: Final Paper
Research Paper: Combine your previous assignments and incorporate any feedback from the instructor to produce a final paper that is coherent and thoroughly proofread. The paper (which should be a minimum of 15 – 20 pages long excluding the cover letter, abstract, and references) will include all required sections.
Program Evaluation: Incorporate any feedback from the instructor to produce a final paper that is coherent and thoroughly proofread.
Policy Analysis: Submit your final paper that incorporates all feedback from the instructor and has been fully proofread for logical flow, appropriate formatting, correct sentence structure and grammar. Your final paper should be between 25-40 pages (excluding references and appendices) and include all required components.
Week 14 & 15 Assignment, All Tracks: Oral Presentations
During the last two weeks of class, complete a 45-minute (35 minutes for presentation + 10 minutes for questions) oral presentation via GoToMeeting. Check with your instructor or Student Support Specialist for the presentation schedule. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the presentation begins to get set up. Submit the PowerPoint file via blackboard at least 24 hours before the presentation.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assignment | Points |
|---|---|
| 4 Discussion Boards, 6 Points Each | 24 points |
| Week 3 Assignment, All Tracks: Objectives | 12 Points |
| Week 4 Assignment, All Tracks: Introduction and Background | 10 Points |
| Week 6 Check In, Policy Analysis | 0 Points |
| Week 9 Assignment, All Tracks: First Draft | 12 Points |
| Week 10 Assignment, All Tracks: Preparing for the Final Presentation - Oral Presentation | 6 Points |
| Week 11 Assignment, All Tracks: Oral Presentation Critique | 6 Points |
| Week 13 Assignment, All Tracks: Final Paper | 15 Points |
| Week 14 & 15 Assignment, All Tracks: Oral Presentations | 15 Points |
| Total | 100 points |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Course Schedule:
Each week opens on Wednesday at 12:01 AM Eastern Time. Each week closes on Wednesday at 11:59 pm ET, with the exception of Week 16, which ends on Sunday.
- Week 01: Aug 29 – Sept 5
- Week 02: Sept 5 – Sept 12
- Week 03: Sept 12 – Sept 19
- Week 04: Sept 19 – Sept 26
- Week 05: Sept 26 – Oct 3
- Week 06: Oct 3 – Oct 10
- Week 07: Oct 10 – Oct 17
- Week 08: Oct 17 – Oct 24
- Week 09: Oct 24 – Oct 31
- Week 10: Oct 31 – Nov 7
- Week 11: Nov 7 – Nov 14
- Week 12: Nov 14 – Nov 21
- Week 13: Nov 21 – Nov 28
- Week 14: Nov 28 – Dec 5
- Week 15: Dec 5 – Dec 12
- Week 16: Dec 12 – Dec 16
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Public Health page
UNE Libraries:
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Public Health Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/public-health/
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
UNE Student Academic Success Center
UNE's Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of free online services to support your academic achievement. Writing support, ESOL support, study strategy and learning style consultations, as well as downloadable resources, are available to all matriculating students. The SASC also offers tutoring for GPH 712 Epidemiology, GPH 716 Biostatistics, GPH 717 Applied Epidemiology, GPH 718 Biostatistics II, and GPH 719 Research Methods. To make an appointment for any of these services, go to une.tutortrac.com. For more information and to view and download writing and studying resources, please visit:
Information Technology Services (ITS)
- ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Accommodations
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.
Career Ready Program
The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
Policies
AMA Writing Style Statement
The American Medical Association Manual (AMA) of Style, 11th edition is the required writing format for this course. Additional support for academic writing and AMA format is provided throughout the coursework as well as at the UNE Portal for Online Students.
Online resources: AMA Style Guide
Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Course Evaluation Policy
Course surveys are one of the most important tools that University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.
Late Policy
Students are responsible for submitting work by the date indicated in Brightspace.
Quizzes and Tests: Quizzes and tests must be completed by the due date. They will not be accepted after the due date.
Assignments: Unless otherwise specified, assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
UNE Course Withdrawal
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit https://www.une.edu/studentlife/plagiarism.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.