Syllabus

GPH 751: Advanced Policy Analysis – Spring 2025

Credits - 3

Description

As partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MPH degree, Advanced Policy Analysis offers the opportunity for students to develop and complete their own analysis of a public health issue that intersects with government actions. All students must create a high-quality written product, synthesizing public health competencies. Based on their selected topic, students will use practical and theoretical tools to analyze data related to a real-world problem and present their findings in an ILE project report. This is an iterative course, designed to facilitate successful progress towards completion of a high-quality written policy analysis, which may be considered for publishing with UNE’s public-facing repository of outstanding student work.

Pre-Requisites

Applied Practice Experience (APE)
GPH 731 or

GPH 743

GPH 744 Integrative Learning Experience Foundation Course

GPH 702 An Interprofessional Approach to Policy and Advocacy

GPH 706 Public Health Administration & Leadership

GPH 712 Principles of Epidemiology

GPH 714 Principles of Public Health

GPH 716 Biostatistics

GPH 719 Research Methods

GPH 722 Introduction to Environmental Health

GPH 726 Social and Behavioral Health

GPH 738 Program Planning & Evaluation

Materials

Required

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

 

Course Objectives

  • Demonstrate a deep understanding of health equity and the social determinants of health within the context of public health policy.
  • Critically analyze public health policies and their impact on health equity.
  • Develop and apply a comprehensive framework for policy analysis, including problem identification, policy options, and evaluation methodologies.
  • Conduct a thorough literature review to gather relevant evidence and inform your policy analysis.
  • Effectively communicate your policy analysis findings through written and oral presentations.
  • Advocate for evidence-based policy solutions to address health disparities and promote health equity.
  • Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs

CEPH Foundational Competencies

FC 1: Apply epidemiological methods to settings and situations in public health practice.

FC 2: Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context

FC 3: Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as appropriate

FC 4: Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice

FC 8: Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs

FC 12: Discuss the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence

FC 14: Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations

FC 15: Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity

FC 19: Communicate audience-appropriate (i.e. non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation

Assignments

Assignment and discussion descriptions mentioned below are summaries. Review full assignment prompts in the course

Discussions

Discussion forums are an essential part of the online course experience. Discussion prompts build on readings, lectures, and course content, allowing students to contribute to the learning experience by collaborating with the instructor and peers. Read the prompts carefully and use the rubrics to confirm how discussions will be graded.

Unless otherwise specified in the course, initial discussion posts are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM ET and any response posts are due by Wednesday at 11:59 PM ET.

If the initial post and response are not submitted within the discussion week you will be given a zero. Posts submitted after the discussion week will not be graded.

Policy Analysis

Throughout the course, you will complete various assignments leading to your final Policy Analysis, including a Literature Review, Stakeholder Interview Guide, Background Section, Methodology Section, Discussion Section, Abstract, Conclusion and Presentation.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

AssignmentsPoints
Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement 1
Week 1 Discussion: Introductions2
Week 1 Assignment: CDC Course - Introduction to Policy Analysis in Public Health2
Week 1 Assignment: Schedule 1:1 meetings with Instructor0
Week 2 Assignment2
Week 2: 1:1 with Instructor0
Week 3 Assignment: Literature Review6
Week 4 Assignment: Learning Journal 14
Week 5 Assignment: Stakeholder Interview Guide4
Week 6: Background Section Outline6
Week 6: 1:1 with Instructor0
Week 7 Methodology Section (Draft)6
Week 8 Assignment: Learning Journal 24
Week 9 Assignment: Background Section6
Week 10 Assignment: Learning Journal 34
Week 10: 1:1 with Instructor0
Week 11 Assignment: Discussion Section6
Week 12 Assignment: Abstract5
Week 12 Assignment: Conclusion6
Week 13 Assignment: Policy Analysis (Draft)8
Week 14 Assignment: Presentation5
Week 14: 1:1 with Instructor0
Week 15: Policy Analysis Submission (Final Draft)17
Week 16: Learning Journal 44
Week 16 Discussion: Journal Selection Tools2
Total Points100

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 Dates

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 1: Jan 15 – Jan 22
Week 2: Jan 22 – Jan 29
Week 3: Jan 29 – Feb 5
Week 4: Feb 5 – Feb 12
Week 5: Feb 12 – Feb 19
Week 6: Feb 19 – Feb 26
Week 7: Feb 26 – Mar 5
Week 8: Mar 5 – Mar 9

Week 9: Oct 30 – Nov 6
Week 10: Nov 6 – Nov 13
Week 11: Nov 13 – Nov 20
Week 12: Nov 20 – Nov 27
Week 13: Nov 27 – Dec 4
Week 14: Dec 4 – Dec 11
Week 15: Dec 11 – Dec 18
Week 16: Dec 18 – Dec 22

The assignment/discussion descriptions mentioned below are summaries. Please make sure to review the full assignment prompts in the course.  There may be additional readings/videos that are not mentioned in this weekly summary, make sure to carefully review the modules in the course. 

Week 1: Introduction and CDC Policy Analysis Training

Learning Activities

Week 1 Discussion: Introduction

Week 1: Assignment 1 – CDC Course

Week 1: Assignment 2 – Schedule 1:1 Meetings with Instructor

Week 2: Policy Process Theory

Learning Activities

Week 2 Assignment

Week 2: 1:1 With Your Instructor

Week 3: Literature Review

Learning Activities

Week 3 Assignment: Literature Review

Week 4: Identify Key Stakeholders

Learning Activities

Week 4 Assignment: Learning Journal 1

Week 5: Stakeholder Interview Guide

Learning Activities

Week 5 Assignment: Stakeholder Interview Guide

Week 6: Exploring the Policy Landscape

Learning Activities

Week 6 Assignment: Background Section Outline

Week 6: 1-1 With Your Instructor

Week 7: Key Stakeholder Interviews & Methodology

Learning Activities

Week 7 Assignment: Methodology Section – Draft

Week 8: Key Stakeholder Interviews: Data Analysis

Learning Activities

Week 8 Assignment: Learning Journal 2

Week 9: Background Section

Learning Activities

Week 9 Assignment: Background Section

Week 10: Policy Implications & Recommendations

Learning Activities

Week 10 Assignment: Learning Journal 3

Week 10: 1:1 With your Instructor

Week 11: Discussion Section

Learning Activities

Week 11 Assignment: Discussion Section Draft

Week 12: Abstract and Conclusion

Learning Activities

Week 12 Assignment: Abstract

Week 12 Assignment: Conclusion

Week 13: Policy Analysis: Full Draft

Learning Activities

Week 13 Assignment: Policy Analysis: Full Draft

Week 14: Presentation Slides

Learning Activities

Week 14: Presentation Slides

Week 14: 1:1 With your Instructor

Week 15: Final Policy Analysis Submission

Learning Activities

Week 15 Assignment: Policy Analysis Submission (Final Draft)

Week 16: Getting your work out there

Learning Activities

Week 16 Assignment: Learning Journal 4

Week 16 Discussion: Journal Selection Tools

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:

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.

Student 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:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. 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.

Attendance Policy

8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.

UNE Online Student 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 UNE Plagiarism Policies.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. 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.