Foundational Public Health Knowledge and Competencies
MPH student Rebecca Hammett surveying for ticks with a local health department.
Foundational MPH courses give you the knowledge and skills that are expected by public health employers and essential for public health leaders of the future.
Public health knowledge addressed by foundational coursework
- Explain public health history, philosophy and values (EEH530 Introduction to Health Care Organization; EEH590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
- Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 essential services (CHB507 Public Health Professionalism and Teamwork; EEH590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
- Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health (EEH500 Introduction to Epidemiology or EEH501 Principles of Epidemiology; CHB590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
- List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the US (EEH500 Introduction to Epidemiology or EEH501 Principles of Epidemiology)
- Discuss the science of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc. (CHB501 Study of Health Behavior; EEH500 Introduction to Epidemiology or EEH501 Principles of Epidemiology)
- Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge (EEH500 Introduction to Epidemiology or EEH501 Principles of Epidemiology; EEH530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- Explain effects of environmental factors on a population's health (EEH550 Environmental Health)
- Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population's health (EEH520 Biological Basis of Public Health or an equivalent course; EEH550 Environmental Health)
- Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population's health (CHB501 Study of Health Behavior)
- Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population and health inequities (CHB501 Study of Health Behavior; EEH530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease (EEH590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health; CHB507 Public Health Professionalism and Teamwork; CHB590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
- Explain the ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health and ecosystem health (eg, One Health) (EEH550 Environmental Health)
Foundational Competencies
- Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice (EEH500 Introduction to Epidemiology, EEH501 Principles of Epidemiology)
- Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context (EEH500 Introduction to Epidemiology, EEH501 Principles of Epidemiology, CHB590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate (STA503 Introduction to Applied Biostatistics I, STA504 Introduction to Applied Biostatistics II, STA527 Statistical Analysis I, CHB590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
- Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice (EEH500 Introduction to Epidemiology, EEH501 Principles of Epidemiology, STA503 Introduction to Applied Biostatistics I, STA504 Introduction to Applied Biostatistics II, STA527 Statistical Analysis I)
- Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings (EEH530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- 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 (CHB501 Study of Health Behavior, EEH550 Environmental Health)
- Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities' health (CHB501 Study of Health Behavior)
- Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs (CHB501 Study of Health Behavior)
- Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention (CHB501 Study of Health Behavior)
- Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management (EEH530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- Select methods to evaluate public health programs (EEH530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence (EEH530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes (EEH590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
- Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations (CHB501 Study of Health Behavior)
- Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity (EEH550 Environmental Health)
- Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making (EEH590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
- Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges (EEH590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
- Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors (EEH550 Environmental Health)
- Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation (EEH530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content (CHB507 Public Health Professionalism and Teamwork)
- Perform effectively on interprofessional teams (CHB507 Public Health Professionalism and Teamwork, CHB590 & EEH590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
- Apply systems thinking tools to the public health issue (EEH550 Environmental Health, EEH590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
We prepare graduates to address the most critical public health issues our world faces. Essential skills in addressing health disparities are the ability to work with diverse populations; understand issues of equity; recognize and appreciate cultural values; and improve health communication, advocacy and policy making. Applying these skills can help to mitigate health inequities.
We strongly recommend that you address at least one diversity-related foundational competency from the list above as one of the three foundational competencies addressed in your culminating project (XXX 630), which is your final project in the MPH program:
- #6 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.
- #8 Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
- #14 Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
- #15 Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
- #20 Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.