Public Health

Overview

The Public Health major comprises the following concentrations:

• The Biostatistics concentration prepares students in the quantitative science of health data collection, storage, retrieval, analysis and interpretation. Graduates are equipped to use statistical methods to design and analyze health-related surveys and experiments for the purpose of improving health. 

• The Environmental Health Sciences concentration is designed to help students understand how environmental factors including biological, physical and chemical factors affect the health of a population; and gain knowledge and skills to develop practical strategies for mitigating the effects of harmful environmental hazards. 

• The Epidemiology concentration prepares students to analyze the distribution and determinants of disease, disabilities and death in populations. Graduates are able to apply quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate disease outbreaks, determine causal relationships between environmental and biological factors, and conduct studies to project health trends in populations. 

• The Health Policy and Management concentration prepares students to address public health risks and develop effective health services delivery models. It is an interdisciplinary program that incorporates health services research, health policy analysis and health care planning and management. 

• The Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration provides students with an interdisciplinary understanding of the theoretical basis of health behavior in populations across the life course and how to apply theoretical principles to design effective health behavior management strategies.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this Public Health program offered at Kent State University will be able to:

• Explain public health history, philosophy and values

• Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health

• List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the US or other community relevant to the school or program

• Discuss the science of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc.

• Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge

• Explain effects of environmental factors on a population’s health

• Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population’s health

• Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population’s health

• Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities

• Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease

• Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health and ecosystem health (eg, One Health)

• Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice

• Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context

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

• Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice

• Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings

• Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels

• Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health

• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs

• Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention

• Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management

• Select methods to evaluate public health programs

• Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence

• Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes

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

• Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity

• Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making

• Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges

• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors

• Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation

• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content

• Perform effectively on interprofessional teams

• Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue