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Syllabus

Graduate Programs in Public Health

GPH 001: Orientation

Credits - 0

Description

This self-paced orientation is designed to prepare you for success in the Graduate Programs in Public Health (GPPH) at UNE. This orientation provides an introduction and overview to the University of New England and GPPH. Activities in the orientation prepare you to navigate the online learning environment, locate and access program resources, and learn about the tools and strategies that ensure a meaningful and collaborative learning experience throughout the program. Successful completion of the orientation is a prerequisite for the GPPH foundation courses.

Format

This orientation is delivered completely online in Blackboard, UNE’s learning management system. Course participation is asynchronous. The content is presented using the standard format for GPPH courses. Students will work through 7 learning modules consisting of lectures, readings, discussions, assignments and quizzes. Each module concludes with an assessment activity. Completion of the assessment activity activity allows you to move onto the next module.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this orientation, students will:

  • Explain the role that the program’s mission, values, and objectives play in the development of public health practitioners.
  • Analyze scholarly, personal, and technological preparedness for success in graduate education.
  • Identify success strategies for graduate-level coursework.
  • Use tools and resources in the learning management system.
  • Explain the purpose, policies, and support provided by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Assignments

Completion of the following assignments is required in order to progress through the modules. In each of the activities, you must earn a score of 100%. Don’t let that scare you! You are allowed multiple attempts and you can use all the materials available to you while completing the activities. When you are finished with all the activities in the modules, you will earn an Orientation Completion badge signaling that you are ready to begin your course work.

Module 1: Getting Started

In this module you will learn how to get started in your online courses and practice navigating through Blackboard, UNE’s learning management system. You will also review the the technical requirements for online students, and learn how access technical support for the program.

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Navigate through a course in Blackboard
  • Locate and view Blackboard tutorials
  • Ensure your computer is ready for online course work
  • Identify methods of accessing support for technical issues related to the online learning environment

Learning Activities

Watch:

Access:

Perform:

  • System Check

Locate:

  • Methods of contact for technical support

Engage:

  • Module 1 Checklist

Module 2: Welcome and Overview

In this module, you will be introduced to the UNE community and the MPH program.

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to: 

  • Describe characteristics of UNE, the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and the Masters of Public Health program
  • Identify key contacts in the MPH program
  • Locate and review the MPH program mission and values

Learning Activities

Read:

  • Welcome Letter, Martha Valerie-Wilson, PhD, Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies

Watch:

Review:

Engage:

  • Introduce yourself! Using the discussion board prompt, introduce yourself to your classmates. Include a bit of information about where you live and what you currently do or hope to do in the field of public health. You might choose to include some interesting facts about yourself and your hobbies and interests. Read over your classmates posts and feel free to respond. This is an ungraded activity that provides you a way to get familiar with your classmates. Learn more about how to post to the discussion board. 
  • Who’s Who in GPPH – Quiz

Module 3: Student Resources and Policies

This module provides you with access to important resources that will support you throughout your graduate studies.

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Identify and access support resources
  • Locate important policies in the student handbook

Learning Activities:

Watch:

Access and Review:

Engage:

  • Student Resources and Policies Quiz

Module 4: Funding Your Education

This module provides important information about funding your education, accessing financial aid resources, and adhering to financial responsibilities related to your program of study.

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • List funding and financial aid responsibilities
  • Access financial aid resources 

Learning Activities

Review:

  • Financial Aid Overview (PDF)

Engage:

  • Take Financial Aid Quiz

Module 5: Succeeding as an Online Learner in Public Health

This module provides tips, resources and other pointers that will support you in your online graduate education.

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Define factors that contribute to success in graduate school and be able to access resources
  • Create a time management plan
  • Develop a plan for consistent access to your online learning environment
  • Submit an assignment in Blackboard

Learning Activities

Access Library eBook:

Watch:

Access and Review:

Engage:

  • Blackboard Assignment: Technology Backup Plan
  • Quiz: Habits of the Successful Online Student

Module 6: Scientific Writing and Academic Integrity

This modules introduces you to the expectations of being a scholar and writing in the sciences.

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Use research tools to cite information using the AMA style
  • Define plagiarism and the actions that constitute plagiarism
  • Define the parameters for researching and writing in the sciences as a contributing member in the field
  • Reflect on your own levels of comfort with the different aspects of academic integrity and science writing
  • Communicate professionally in an online academic environment

Learning Activities

Watch: 

Refer to:

  • Academic Integrity and Writing Resource List 
  • Professional Communication and Email Management Resources

Engage:

  • Setting up and Using RefWorks
  • Writing Sample
  • Self Assessment Survey – Academic Writing and Integrity

Module 7: Wrap Up

In this module you will complete a brief survey about the Orientation. After you complete the survey, you will earn an Orientation Completion Badge and be able to begin your first course in online Graduate Programs in Public Health!

Learning Activities

Engage:

  • Take the wrap-up evaluation survey

Earn:

  • Orientation Completion Badge

Grading Policy

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

Grade Breakdown

ModuleActivityPoints (Percent of Grade)
1Getting Started Checklist12
2Discussion Board Introductions/ Quiz: Who's Who in GPPH0 / 10
3Quiz: Student Resources and Policies20
4Quiz: Things to Remember About Financial Aid15
5Time Management and Tech Plan/Quiz: Habits of the Successful Online StudentComplete-Incomplete / 18
6Setting up and Using RefWorks / Writing Sample / Self Assessment Survey10 / 10 / 11
7Orientation Survey0 but required

Schedule

This is a self-paced course. 

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.