This course provides an overview of the history, content, scope, and processes of public health administration. Emphasis is placed on administration, public health structure and framework, organizational culture, management functions and roles, leadership, motivation, and performance management. Modern public health administration such as accreditation and quality improvement issues are explored.
This course is facilitated through Blackboard, UNE’s online learning management system. The course will be delivered in 8 weekly online modules, with each module beginning on Wednesday at 12:01 am and ending the following Wednesday at 11:59 pm, except for the last week (Week 8), which will begin on Wednesday and end on Sunday. Students will watch online lectures produced by the course instructor and field experts, engage in readings and other media provided by instructors, and will learn from one another through the discussion board and written assignments. Each section of this course will be facilitated by an instructor with significant professional and academic expertise in the area of study. Individual meetings with the course instructor will be up to the student to schedule.
This course will meet the following public health competencies based on the model developed by the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice.
Course learning objectives are mapped to each of these competencies. Achievement of competencies and learning objectives will be assessed through relevant learning activities including discussion board posts, assignments leading up to a final research project, quizzes and exams.
Competency |
Course Learning Objectives |
2A3. Describes organizational strategic plan (e.g., includes measurable objectives and targets; relationship to community health improvement plan, workforce development plan, quality improvement plan, and other plans) |
• Define strategic planning. • Identify methods for organizational change, alignment, and renewal. • Describe models for understanding population health issues and developing population-focused health programs. |
3A8. Describes the roles of governmental public health, health care, and other partners in improving the health of a community |
• Describe and analyze health care systems using a conceptual model with a focus on public health systems. • Describe and analyze the leadership and management roles and functions within public health organizations. |
4A3. Describes the ways diversity may influence policies, programs, services, and the health of a community |
• Describe how leaders and managers develop an organizational culture that is based upon ethical standards. • Articulate the foundational values and ethics of public health. |
6A6. Describes evidence used in developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services |
• Describe the logic associated with the problem- solving approach. • Use the problem solving approach. • Demonstrate understanding of effective approaches for the motivation of people within organizations. |
7A8. Describes financial analysis methods used in making decisions about policies, programs, and services (e.g., cost- effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost- utility analysis, return on investment) |
• Describe trends in the organization, delivery, and financing of public health and health care services. • Demonstrate understanding of effective approaches to change management and conflict resolution within organizations |
8A9. Describes ways to improve individual and program performance |
• Describe human resource needs for effective organizations. • Identify the manager’s role in motivating staff. • Develop a personal philosophy of leadership and management. • Describe organizational processes for identifying key values and shared vision. |
Students are expected to complete all course requirements outlined below. Each course is worth 100 points, and student work is evaluated based on achievement of learning objectives as measured by criteria outlined in the respective scoring rubrics for assignments and discussion boards.
Course Requirements |
Points / Percent of Grade |
Weekly Forum Discussion/Response (8 weeks x 3 postings per week) |
24 |
Readings and Written Assignments Attached to Each Module (4 x 4 pts) |
16 |
Library Research (3 articles x 5 pts each) |
15 |
Proposal for Paper |
20 |
Final Paper |
25 |
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 |
Week 1: June 29 – July 6
Public Health Management and Leadership
Student Learning Objectives:
Lecture:
Defining Management and Leadership
Readings:
562-568. Available online through the UNE library: http://www.une.edu/library/ eresources/ftjournals.cfm.
Discussion:
Introductions:
Write a brief bio or update your current bio and post it to the roster. Pictures are welcome, but not required. Include your interests, background, public health activities, goals, and reason for taking public health courses. What do you hope to gain from this course? Due Sunday by 11:59 PM
Week 1 Discussion Question:
General Guidelines for discussion questions:
Use the information that you have learned this week, combined with your own knowledge and compose your answer- between 100 and 200 words. These questions do not have right or wrong answers, but are here to encourage dialogue among classmates and to hear views other than the instructor’s. This class has a wealth of expertise and you are encouraged you to share valuable resources openly with each other.
Written Assignment #1:
OR
Due Wednesday, end of Week 1, by 11:59 PM ET
Week 2: July 6 – 13
Public Health Structure: Public Health Administration and Practice Frameworks
Student Learning Objectives:
Lecture:
Public Health Administration, Structure, and Practice
Readings:
Video Assignment:
For full report see www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/en
Week 2 Discussion Question:
Written Assignment:
Why isn’t the system’s thinking approach to health more successful within the United States? By Wednesday at 11:59 PM
Week 3: July 13 – 20
The Organization of Governmental Public Health
Student Learning Objectives:
Lecture:
Government’s Role in Assuring the Health of the Public
Readings:
Library Assignment:
Week 3 Discussion Question:
Week 4: July 2o – 27
Community-Based Public Health Organizations
Student Learning Objectives:
Lecture:
Communities, Organizations and Citizens Action in Public Health
Readings:
Library Assignment:
Week 4 Discussion Question:
Week 5: July 27 – August 3
Strategic planning- a key part of administration?
Student Learning Objectives:
Lectures:
Readings:
Week 5 Discussion Question:
Written Assignment (Proposal):
Week 6: August 3 – 10
Performance Management in Public Health: Public Health Quality Improvement and Current Issues in Accreditation
Student Learning Objectives:
Lecture:
The Value of Quality Improvement and Accreditation
Readings:
Video Assignment:
Library Assignment:
Week 6 Discussion Question:
Week 7: August 10 – 17
The Public Health Workforce and Financing Public Health
Student Learning Objectives:
Lecture:
Public Health Workforce and Financing Public Health
Readings:
Written Assignment:
Final paper is due- a follow-up on the proposal. Include the following: statement of the problem or issue; review of the literature including a discussion of at least five authors indicating their position/view on the topic; your position; and the rationale for your position. Typed, Times Roman, Size 12 font, Double-spaced; Five page minimum; 7 page maximum. By Sunday at 11:59 PM.
Week 7 Discussion Question:
Week 8: August 17 – 21 (SUNDAY)
Harnessing the change process is critical in your organization: Are you ready for the next century in public health? What is in store for public health leaders?
Student Learning Objectives:
Lecture:
Organizational Change, Cultural Competency, and Diversity; Emerging Issues; The Future of Public Health; Vision, Values, and Risks
Readings:
Video Assignment:
Inspired by the 2012 American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently talked with a range of national thought leaders to discuss what’s needed—and what works—to achieve better health. Watch video interviews with Adewale Troutman, MD, MPH, CPH, President-elect of the APHA. Troutman spoke about how looking back on his own personal story—how far he’s come to get where he is today—makes him hopeful for the future. He also discussed how working with non-traditional partners can help public health departments address social determinants of health such as housing, education, urban blight, and crime. This leads to fairer, healthier communities.
Week 8 Discussion Question:
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'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:
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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.
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.
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
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.
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.