Syllabus
UNE Summer Session
PUB 200: Foundations of Public Health – 6 Weeks
Credits - 3
Description
This course will examine public health principles and concepts. It will provide a broad framework for understanding public health’s role in community health, prevention, and medicine. Using the five core public health knowledge areas and the ten essential public health services as a foundation, students will explore public health infrastructure, surveillance, social determinants of health, policy, environmental factors, and emerging issues.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Week 1: Introduction to Public Health
- Define public health and its core functions (assessment, policy development, assurance).
- Describe the history and evolution of public health.
- Identify key public health disciplines and their roles in improving community health.
Week 2: Determinants of Health
- Explain the social determinants of health and their impact on population health.
- Analyze the interplay between environmental, social, biological, and behavioral factors in shaping health outcomes.
- Recognize health disparities and their implications for equity in health.
Week 3: Public Health Systems and Policy
- Describe the structure and function of public health systems at local, state, national, and global levels.
- Discuss the role of policy in promoting public health and addressing health disparities.
- Evaluate the impact of healthcare systems and public health interventions on population health outcomes.
Week 4: Epidemiology and Data in Public Health
- Explain the basic principles of epidemiology and its role in public health.
- Interpret basic epidemiological measures such as incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates.
- Use data to identify public health problems and assess the effectiveness of interventions.
Week 5: Public Health Programs and Intervention
- Identify principles of designing, implementing, and evaluating public health programs.
- Describe evidence-based approaches to addressing public health challenges.
- Develop a plan for a small-scale public health intervention, considering ethical and cultural factors.
Week 6: Contemporary Challenges and the Future of Public Health
- Discuss emerging public health issues, including climate change, pandemics, and chronic diseases.
- Explore strategies to enhance community resilience in the face of public health challenges.
- Reflect on the role of public health professionals in addressing current and future health challenges.
Assignments
Week 1: Introduction to Public Health
Assignment: Reflection Paper
Write a 2-page paper on a historical public health event (e.g., cholera outbreak, eradication of smallpox) and discuss how the core functions of public health were applied.
Tied Outcomes: 1, 2, 3
Week 2: Determinants of Health
Assignment: Health Disparity Case Study
Analyze a real-world case study of a health disparity (e.g., maternal mortality rates among racial groups). Identify the social determinants contributing to the disparity and propose interventions.
Tied Outcomes: 4, 5, 6
Week 3: Public Health Systems and Policy
Assignment: Policy Brief
Develop a 1-2 page policy brief addressing a public health issue (e.g., tobacco use, access to clean water). Include recommendations based on evidence and discuss how the public health system could implement these solutions.
Tied Outcomes: 7, 8, 9
Week 4: Epidemiology and Data in Public Health
Assignment: Data Interpretation Exercise
Analyze a provided dataset (e.g., COVID-19 case trends, obesity rates by state) to calculate incidence, prevalence, and other epidemiological measures. Write a summary interpreting the data and identifying potential public health concerns.
Tied Outcomes: 10, 11, 12
Week 5: Public Health Programs and Interventions
Assignment: Program Design Proposal
Design a small-scale public health intervention to address a local health issue (e.g., childhood vaccination rates, food insecurity). Submit a 3-4 page proposal including objectives, strategies, evaluation methods, and ethical considerations.
Tied Outcomes: 13, 14, 15
Week 6: Contemporary Challenges and the Future of Public Health
Assignment: Group Presentation on Emerging Challenges
Work in small groups to research and present on a contemporary public health challenge (e.g., climate change and health, antimicrobial resistance). Discuss potential strategies for addressing the challenge and the role of public health professionals.
Tied Outcomes: 16, 17, 18
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 |
Student Resources
Summer Session 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? Email: summersessiononline@une.edu.
Instructor and Support Contact Information
Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.
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.
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
Further Assistance
Your student support specialist monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.
To request an accommodation a student needs to go through the process with our UNE office. If the student has a current/already established accommodation in place with UNE it is the responsibility of the student to notify the program at summersessiononline@une.edu to ensure it is applied properly.
If you need to inquire about a possible accommodation, please reach out to the Student Access Center by calling 207-221-4418 or send an email to pcstudentaccess@une.edu.
Policies
Summer Session & Academic Engagement Policy
Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm EDT of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion by 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday of the first week, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the Student Summer Session Manual for full details.
Proctored Examinations
Your course may have proctored exams. Please see the course for the exact exam requirements, test-taker guidance, proctoring format, and allowances (such as calculators or whiteboards, as indicated in the course).
Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements.
Course Length
A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus.
Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 12 weeks.
- Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar.
- Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.
Withdrawal and Refund Policies
Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact summersessiononline@une.edu with any questions.
Grade Policy
Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course.
Transcripts
Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.
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.
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 submission 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 College. 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.