Syllabus

Schedule

Course Weeks

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 8, which ends on Sunday.

Week 1	Sept 2 – Sept 9
Week 2	Sept 9 ­- Sept 16
Week 3	Sept 16 ­- Sept 23
Week 4	Sept 23 -­ Sept 30
Week 5	Sept 30 -­ Oct 7
Week 6	Oct 7 – ­ Oct 14
Week 7	Oct 14 – ­ Oct 21
Week 8	Oct 21 – ­ Oct 25 (Sunday)

Specific due dates can be found within the Blackboard Calendar feature in your Global Navigation.  For more information, review the following article:

https://help.blackboard.com/en-us/Learn/9.1_SP_12_and_SP_13/Student/110_Nav_My_Blackboard

Week 1

Week 1 Topics: Course introductions; define public health; basic history of public health; core functions; 10 Essential Public Health Services

Learning Objectives:

• Define public health.
• Identify key events and people in the history of public health.
• List and describe the  core public health knowledge areas and 10 essential public health services.
• Learn essential skills pertaining to writing research papers and referencing in AMA format.

Readings:

• Textbook Chapters 1, 2
• A Day in the Life of Public Health
• Issac SL, Shroeder SA.  Where the public good prevailed.  The American Prospect, June 4, 2001:26-30.
• CDC website for ten essential services www.cdc.gov/od/ocphp/nphpsp/EssentialPHServices.htm
• Review the core functions, ten essential services, and background information  www.health.gov/phfunctions/public.htm
• Watch Video: Healthiest Nation in One Generation
• Watch Videos: http://www.thisispublichealth.org/video.html
  • This is Public Health
  • Cause and Effect
• ASPPH Core Competencies (attached document)

Lecture:

• Introduction to Public Health (Gunderman)

Workshop:

• See link on the course page for the writing workshops for Week 1.

Discussion Board Question 1:

Post original contribution by 11:59PM Sunday.

• Post a short autobiography on the discussion board labeled INTRODUCTIONS.  Tell us a little about yourself.  What is your name?  Where do you live/work?  A favorite hobby? Something interesting about yourself?

Discussion Board Question 2:

Post original contribution by 11:59PM Sunday and post second by 11:59PM Wednesday.

• After watching the “This is Public Health” video, create your own red sign. Place/stick/tape your “This is Public Health” sign on something you see as public health. Take a picture. On the discussion board, attach your picture, and describe why it is an example of public health. Respond to another student’s post.

Week 2

Week 2 Topics: Connection between public health, healthcare, and medicine; public health systems; infrastructure

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the differences as well as linkages between public health and medicine/healthcare.
• Summarize the infrastructure through which public health is administered at federal, state, and local levels.
• Learn and apply essential elements of writing research papers at a graduate level.

Readings:

• Textbook Chapters 3, 26, 27
• NACCHO reporting local health departments: See PDF
• View an example of infrastructure in Maine: http://health.fireflyhost.org/
• State public health assessment instrument: www.cdc.gov/nphpsp/documents/state/state.bookletA.pdf
• Local public health assessment instrument: www.cdc.gov/nphpsp/documents/local/Local.BookletA.pdf

Lectures:

• The Public Health System (Gunderman)
• Primary Care + Public Health, Institute of Medicine: http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2012/Primary-Care-and-Public-Health/Video.aspx   

Discussion Board Question:

Post original contribution by 11:59PM Sunday and post second by 11:59PM Wednesday.

• For Assignment 1 you interviewed someone in a governmental public health agency or someone working in healthcare (clinician, hospital administrator, etc). Post 1 thing you learned from your interview with someone working in public health or healthcare on the discussion board. 

Choose your topic (worth 0 points, but still must submit):

Pick a public health topic that interests you. You will be researching and exploring this topic for the remainder of the course.  For the purpose of this assignment, a good topic is one that there is plentiful information on from reliable sources (CDC, NIH, etc.).  One way to determine a topic is to go to CDC’s list of health topics.  A topic could be a health issue (food security) or a specific disease (MRSA).  Submit via Blackboard your chosen topic and 3 sentences to describe the reasons you chose it. Submit the assignment via Blackboard by 11:59PM Wednesday.

Written Assignment #1:

Interview someone in a governmental public health agency or someone working in healthcare (clinician, hospital administrator, etc). Summarize your interview. Include challenges, strengths, and other information you found important/interesting.  See the template for guidance. Submit the assignment via Blackboard by 11:59PM Wednesday. This assignment is not due until week 2, but you are being informed of it in week 1 in order to have time to schedule the interview.

Week 3

Week 3 Topics: Social and behavioral health introduction; ecological model; determinants of health

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how social and behavioral factors influence health.
• Recognize the ecological model.
• Describe social determinants of health.

Readings:

• Textbook Chapters 13, 14, 18
• Fielding JE, Teutsch S, Breslow L. A framework for public health in the United States. Public Health Reviews 2010; 32:174-189

Lectures:

• Putting Social and Behavioral Health into Practice (Polacsek)

Discussion Board Question:

Post original contribution by 11:59PM Sunday and post second by 11:59PM Wednesday.

• What is an example of a health inequality that you have observed in your community? As a public health professional what is 1 recommendation to address the inequity?

Written Assignment #2:

Apply the Ecological Model to your chosen health topic. Use the template to complete this assignment.  Submit the assignment via Blackboard by 11:59PM Wednesday.

Week 4

Week 4 Topics: Public health data; surveillance; epidemiology; biostatistics

Learning Objectives:

• Identify examples of public health data and describe how it is used.
• Identify concepts and terms used in epidemiology and biostatistics.

Readings:

• Textbook Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8
• Go to: http://www.cdc.gov/datastatistics/. Pick one topic and read about its statistics.
• Go to: http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/. Read about the county where you live. If you live outside of the United States, pick any county.

Lectures:

• Public Health Data: An Introduction (Gunderman)
• Working with Public Health Data (Kinner)

Discussion Board Question:

Post original contribution by 11:59PM Sunday and post second by 11:59PM Wednesday.

• Watch “The Miniature Earth” at http://www.miniature-earth.com/

Why is this data important in public health? If you could add 1 public health related statistic to the video what would it be? Why?

Written Assignment #3:

Research data about your public health issue.  Use the template to complete this assignment.  Submit the assignment by 11:59PM Wednesday.

Week 5

Week 5 Topic: Environmental health

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how the environment impacts health.

Readings:

• Textbook Chapters 20, 21, 22, 25

Lectures:

• Environmental Health Across the Globe (Gunderman)
• What Do People Working in Environmental Health Do? (Most)

Discussion Board Question:

Post original contribution by 11:59PM Sunday and post second by 11:59PM Wednesday.

• What do you think is the most pressing environmental health issue in your community? Why? Please use data and other reliable information to support your perspective.

Quiz:

Complete the quiz. You will be asked questions pertaining to the materials in weeks 1-5. It must be completed by Wednesday at 11:59PM.

Voluntary Live Chat Session with faculty.  This is an opportunity to review material, discuss public health issues, and engage with students and instructors. This is not mandatory and participation does not count towards your final grade. The link to join the live session will be posted in a Blackboard announcement.

Week 6

Week 6 Topics: Public health policy and management overview

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how policy influences health.

Readings:

• Textbook Chapters 15, 24

Lectures:

• Public Health Policy: An Introduction (Gunderman)
• Public Health Law Center, an example: http://publichealthlawcenter.org/webinar/public-health-law-center-helping-kansas-communities

Discussion Board Question:

Post original contribution by 11:59PM Sunday and post second by 11:59PM Wednesday.

• Identify a public health policy in your state or local community that addresses a public health issue.  Explain if you think it has been effective and why.

Written Assignment #4:

Research policies that affect your public health issue. Make recommendations for policy that would create positive environmental change. Use the template to complete the assignment. Submit the assignment by 11:59PM Wednesday.

Week 7

Week 7 Topics: Setting priorities in public health; emerging public health issues

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how policy influences health.

Readings:

• Explore Healthy People 2020 website: http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/default.aspx
• Read about US Winnable Battles: http://www.cdc.gov/winnablebattles/
• Read about Millennium Develop Goals: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
• Read about 1 example of priority setting: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45361/

Lectures:

• How Do We Set Priorities in Public Health? (Gunderman)
• Help Stop the Next Pandemic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNhiHf84P9c
• Emerging Issue in Public Health: TBD

Discussion Board Question:

Post original contribution by 11:59PM Sunday and post second by 11:59PM Wednesday.

• What do you see as the challenges and opportunities for setting public health priorities?

Written Assignment #5:

You are applying for a $100,000 grant to implement a strategy focused on your chosen topic.  See the template for responding to this grant. Submit the assignment by 11:59PM Wednesday.

Week 8

Week 8 Topic: Future of public health

Learning Objectives:

• Identify an opportunity for improving public health as it moves into the future.

Reading:

• Textbook Chapter 31

Lecture:

• Final Thoughts (Gunderman)

Discussion Board Question:

Post once by 11:59PM Sunday.

• See the lecture and slides for this week. Post how you would complete this sentence: “You know if you are a public health nerd if you…” 

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:

• UNE Student Academic Success Center

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.