PH 1000 - Introduction to Personal Health
This course introduces students to and familiarizes them with the determinants of various health outcomes, including physical, psychological, social and interpersonal, and environmental health. The course emphasizes personal responsibility, decision-making, and understanding the active ingredients for a long, happy, and healthy life.
Credit: 3
PH 1200 - Introduction to Public Health
This course explores how the historical development of human societies led to the creation and evolution of the public health field and how this has altered the course of human history. Students will explore the philosophical and scientific underpinnings of public health and the factors that have shaped the development of modern public health services. The evolution of modern public health structures and functions will be examined within the context of society structure, historical events, and scientific understanding. Concepts of population health, disease control/prevention, disability, and premature death will be examined through discussion of contemporary and historical case studies.
Credit: 3
PH 2010 - Drugs and Society
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course or HON 1000.
Students will critically analyze the history, trends, future outlook, and issues regarding drugs and drug use and misuse, as well as the attitudes, values, policies, and practices of diverse groups, communities, and populations. This course takes a multidisciplinary approach to study the effects of drug use and misuse (e.g., over-the-counter drugs, illicit drugs, tobacco, and alcohol) on human physiology and society. Community and population health promotion are emphasized in this course.
Credit: 3
PH 2020 - Human Diseases and Conditions
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course; may be taken concurrently)
An overview of normal human anatomy and physiology by body system; the impacts of internal or external factors that can lead to disease, injury, or disability; and the role of public health interventions to prevent and mitigate negative health outcomes.
Credit: 3
PH 2060 - Comparative Healthcare Systems
This course will compare and contrast the provision, funding, and governance of healthcare programs across a variety of healthcare systems around the world. Students will examine the advantages and disadvantages of the different major healthcare systems such as national health services, social insurance, and private insurance. Primary care, curative medicine, and chronic care will also be explored. This course will study healthcare systems from several countries (e.g., United States, Australia, Singapore, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Taiwan, Britain, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada, Russia, Korea, India, Nigeria, Mexico, and the Philippines).
Credit: 3
PH 3015 - Culture and Health
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course or HON 1000.
This course explores the relationships and dynamics among various components of culture, health, and illness. Focus is placed on understanding the impact of culture on health, health beliefs, and health practices, with emphasis on different multicultural populations. The impacts of societal norms, legal/political factors, and ethical considerations influencing health education, health promotion, program planning/implementation/evaluation, healthcare policies, service delivery, and health disparities are addressed.
Credit: 3
PH 3020 - Epidemiology
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course or HON 1000.
This course introduces the basic principles and methods of epidemiology, the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states and events in populations and the application of this study to the control of health problems. Critical thinking, analytic skills, and application to public health practice are emphasized as students engage in active learning bio individual and group activities, project, case studies, discussions, and critical review and analysis of scientific literature. Topics covered include data collection, measurement, presentation, analysis, and interpretation; disease occurrence; descriptive and analytic epidemiology; association and causation; screening; outbreak investigations; epidemiology in policy-making; and special epidemiologic applications.
Credit: 3
PH 3025 - Sexuality in Health & Society
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course or HON 1000.
This course explores advanced understandings of human sexuality through a multi-disciplinary approach combining pedagogies, students, and faculty from different departments in the College of Heath and Society. Concentrations will include: 1) bio-medical sexuality: sexual and reproductive health and disease, anatomy, and physiology; 2) psychosexual development: relationships, marriage, and family systems; sexual dysfunction; and trauma; 3) sexuality education and other organizational efforts that impact sexual behavior and health; and 4) sociopolitical issues: sexuality education; historical, legal, political, social, and ethical issues impacting sexuality.
Credit: 3
PH 3030 - Health Behavior Theory and Program Planning
Prerequisite: Any WC & IL II course or HON 1000.
Students will learn the theories and models commonly used by researchers to unravel the complex web of factors that influence how people think, decide, and behave in terms of their health and quality of life. The implications of these theories are then used by public health professionals to develop effective programs designed to promote health and prevent disease or disability wherever we live, learn, work, and play. During this course, students will plan and evaluate their own intervention programs that they will implement in real-world public settings.
Credit: 3
PH 3050 - Global Health
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course or HON 1000.
An overview of the burdens of disease and their underlying determinants in a worldwide context with a focus on the actions that may be taken to achieve universal health equity. Topics include large scale concepts such as health and human rights as well as specific health issues such as high-burden infectious diseases and maternal and child health.
Credit: 3
PH 3065 - Environmental Health
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course or HON 1000.
An overview of the linkages between the natural and built environment and human health. Topics include specific environmental agents, such as pesticides and mosquito-borne pathogens, as well as important public health arenas, such as water and air quality, waste, and climate change.
Credit: 3
PH 3090 - Public Health Communication
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course or HON 1000.
This course examines theory and promotes practice in communication issues and skills needed for the successful public health professional. Students in this course explore, practice, and produce different public health communications: a) scientific and professional written communication; b) social marketing and the use of social media; c) graphic displays of qualitative, descriptive, and continuous data; and d) oral communication for a variety of public health audiences. Various communication theories, as they apply to public health issues and audiences, will be explored with special attention to cultural competency and health literacy among diverse communities.
Credit: 3
PH 3999 - Special Topics in Public Health
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course or HON 1000.
This course will focus on different special topics in public health depending on current issues, faculty expertise, and perceived interest in topics among undergraduate public health students. All topics will include content on related historical, political economic, and sociodemographic factors through the lens of scientific inquiry, public health theory, public health workforce, infrastructure, resources, and responses.
Credit: 3
PH 4010 - Health Policy Analysis
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course; may be taken concurrently
An overview of the health care system in the United States and its challenges and instruction in the core elements of health policy and analysis including problem definition; background; political, economic, and social landscape; and development of policy options and recommendations. Emphasis will be on major health policy institutions and important issues that intersect these institutions. The key components include the major insurers, Medicare, Medicaid, Congress, and state legislatures. In addition, special focus will be given to the uninsured, quality of care, and long-term care.
Credit: 3
PH 4030 - Pre-Practicum
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course or HON 1000, PH 1200.
PH 4030 is the first course in the two-course undergraduate Practicum series and focuses on orienting students to field-based internships, identifying opportunities tailored to individual students interests and needs, preparing the students for internship application procedures (including drafting and revising resumes, cover letters, and introductory emails and practicing interview skills), and contextualizing the internship program as part of a larger career development framework. This course includes guest lectures from local public health professionals on selected topics like networking, community member participation in panel presentations, reviewing student resumes, and mock interviews.
Credit: 3
PH 4040 - Public Health Research Methods
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course or HON 1000.
Students will learn the purposes of and the processes involved in evidence-based public health research from start to finish. Students will work in teams to identify their own research questions, find and critique existing scientific literature, develop research methods, collect and analyze data, and present their research findings.
Credit: 3
PH 4600 - Grant writing in the Health Professions
Prerequisite: PH 1000.
This course covers the foundations for grant writing in the health professions and covers assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the grant writing process. It also examines skill development in matching community/ school need with grant-funding sources.
Credit: 3
PH 4910 - Practicum
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course or HON 1000, PH 4030; Co-requisite: PH 4920.
PH 4910 is the second course in the two-course undergraduate practicum series and gives students the opportunity to integrate, synthesize, and apply the knowledge and skills gained in PH 4030 via experiential internship activities. These internships are carried out under direct supervision by professionals at local agencies engaging in public health work that have been formally oriented to the Hawai’i Pacific University Public Health undergraduate internship process.
Credit: 3
PH 4920 - Public Health Capstone Seminar
Prerequisite: Any WC&IL II course or HON 1000, PH 1200, PH 4030.
This capstone course for Public Health majors is designed to provide a framework for students to integrate health-related topics and issues into a culminating experience. Students will analyze and reflect on individual and sociocultural health issues and problems involving the promotion and maintenance of psychological, social, and physical states of health and well-being based on relevant physical and social sciences, skills, and knowledge of health education as they apply to diverse and vulnerable populations. Critical thinking, project planning and management, communication, and analytic skills are integrated.
Corequisite: PH 4910.
Credit: 3
PH 6100 - Foundations of Public Health
The overarching philosophy, frameworks, and scientific basis for the field of public health, including an overview of past, current, and future challenges and successes. This 0-credit, self-guided course is required for students entering HPU’s MPH program without an undergraduate degree in public health from a CEPH-accredited program or coursework that demonstrates competency in these foundational principles (to be determined by the Public Health Graduate Advisor).
Credit: 0
PH 6120 - Biostatistics
This course provides an introduction to selected important topics in biostatistical concepts and reasoning essential for use in the understanding of epidemiology, research methods, and program evaluation. Students will analyze current statistical techniques, construct tables and figures, and interpret statistical results.
Credit: 3
PH 6140 - Epidemiology
This course focuses on the application of epidemiology, the basic science of public health and the cornerstone of effective public health practice. Presentations, discussions, individual and group activities, interactive case studies, and online simulations covering the following topics are included: epidemiologic principles, basic statistical analysis, surveillance, outbreak investigations, surveys and sampling, and epidemiologic aspects of current public health problems. Activities and exercises draw from real-world data and investigations to illustrate concepts and allow students to apply the principles and methods of epidemiology. Training on Epi Info, a software program used in the field, is included in the course.
Credit: 3
PH 6160 - Social Determinants of Health
This course will provide an in-depth exploration of the social determinants of health including historical and current racism, sexism, socioeconomic status, education, culture, community and organizational norms; health care; and the built environment. Students will explore personal and others’ experiences of these determinants and gain appreciation for their complexity and power. Students will apply these understandings towards public health solutions.
Credit: 3
PH 6200 - Human Diseases and Conditions
The genetic and biological aspects of health and disease with the aim of better understanding their role as risk factors, how they post challenges for clinical and public health professionals, and how we can incorporate these factors into effective public health interventions.
Credit: 3
PH 6250 - Contemporary Issues in Public Health
Course Restrictions: Restricted to Graduate Students.
This course will examine various contemporary issues from across the globe in public health. It includes social, economic, political, and community problems in the provision of health services, workforce development, and health care compensation.
Credit: 3
PH 6220 - Health Behavior Change Theory
This course explores behavior change theories as well as current theories and models for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating individual and community health programs. Students will design and analyze health education and health promotion programs.
Credit: 3
PH 6260 - Environmental Health
This course focuses on contemporary issues at the environment-human interface. Topics include how our choices in producing energy and food, managing our waste, and building our cities are influenced by the environment and impact our health and the health of our planet.
Credit: 3
PH 6300 - Public Health Research Methods
This course investigates quantitative and qualitative methods used in public health research and program evaluation. Students will apply scientific reasoning, research methods, and evaluation and planning applicable to public health practice; critically analyze research in public health literature; and develop appropriate research questions with relevant qualitative and quantitative methods.
Credit: 3
PH 6400 - Health Policy, Law, and Advocacy
This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to translate data and research into effective public health policies and practices. Students compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings; evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity; and discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the accurate interpretation and use of evidence to inform public health policy and the role of ethics. Through interactive activities, students also gain experience performing on interprofessional teams and applying negotiation and mediation skills to address public health challenges.
Credit: 3
PH 6460 - Public Health Program Planning
This course examines the models and methods used by health professionals, educators, and community leaders for planning, implementing, and evaluating various programs and interventions to address different types of public health problems. Being application-focused, this course will require students to identify a health problem and target a population of their interest, then the majority of the course term will be dedicated to students planning their own public health programs with direct supervision and mentorship from the course instructor.
Credit: 3
PH 6500 - Public Health Field Training
Prerequisite: Approval of faculty advisor.
This course fulfills the applied practice experience requirement for the Master of Public Health (MPH) program. In this course, MPH students demonstrate graduate public health competency attainment through applied practice experiences. Student work in coordination with the course instructor to identify and apply for Field Training placement with an agency or program engaged in public health-related activities. Students will then be responsible for creating a minimum of two Original Field Training Products that benefit the host site and demonstrate the student’s mastery of at least five MPH competencies (as defined and outlines by the Council on Education for Public Health). Repeatable for up to 6 credits.
Credit: 1 to 6
PH6600 - Public Health Communication and Marketing
Course Restrictions: Restricted to Graduate Students.
This course examines theory and promotes practice in communications issues and skills needed for the successful public health professional. Students in this course explore, practice, and produce different public health communications: a) scientific and professional written communication; b) social marketing and the use of social media; c) graphic displays of qualitative, descriptive, and continuous data; and d) oral communication for a variety of public health audiences. Various communication theories, as they apply to public health issues and audiences, will be explored with special attention to cultural competency and health literacy among diverse communities.
Credit: 3
PH 6610 - Public Health Media Advocacy
Course Restrictions: Restricted to Graduate Students.
This course is an examination of the importance of advocacy for the individual, community, and public health professionals. Special emphasis will be placed on developing advocacy-based skills to effectively advocate at the micro and macro levels. In addition, students will participate in advocacy efforts external to the university to gain experience that enriches the student's training.
Credit: 3
PH 6999 - Special Topics in Public Health
This course will focus on different special topics in public health depending on current issues, faculty expertise, and perceived interest in topics among MPH students.
Credit: 3
PH 7000 - Public Health Capstone
Prerequisite: PH 6500; Approval of faculty advisor.
Developing a Capstone project is the culminating activity for the MPH degree. Students apply the knowledge and skills acquired through their coursework and Field Training to produce an in-depth original written work with the guidance of a Faculty Advisor. The work is then presented to the larger HPU/public health community. Repeatable for up to 6 credits.
Credit: 1-6