Criterion 2. Instructional Programs
2.1 Degree Offerings
The program shall offer instructional programs reflecting its stated mission and goals, leading to the Master of Public Health (MPH) or equivalent professional master’s degree. The program may offer a generalist MPH degree and/or an MPH with areas of specialization. The program, depending on how it defines the unit of accreditation, may offer other degrees, if consistent with its mission and resources.
2.1.a An instructional matrix presenting all of the program’s degree programs and areas of specialization, including bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees, as appropriate. If multiple areas of specialization are available, these should be included. The matrix should distinguish between professional and academic degrees for all graduate degrees offered and should identify any programs that are offered in distance learning or other formats. Non-degree programs, such as certificates or continuing
education, should not be included in the matrix. See CEPH Data Template 2.1.1.
The Department of Public Health Sciences presents two professional degree programs for CEPH accreditation as a Public Health Program: the MSPH and the BSPH. These programs currently offer a single concentration in Community Health Practice (that aligns with the social and behavioral health sciences core area) and qualifies graduates to sit for the CHES.
We also present for advance consideration our planned PhD (academic degree) in Public Health Sciences, which, building on our master’s program, will have, an initial concentration in the behavioral sciences.
All three programs are structured to allow the addition of additional concentrations in the future, but are currently offered as single concentrations only in community health practice (social and behavioral sciences core area) reflecting the department’s origins in health promotion. The MSPH is explicitly structured to add additional concentrations.
The BSPH is structured such that the community health practice focus will be a
foundation to any future concentration with the additional concentration content allocated from restructured elective requirements. Neither degree program is available in a
distance-learning or executive format, although a limited selection of courses is delivered online.
We are in the process of formalizing several dual degree configurations of the MSPH program. These plans ensure that students complete the requisite core and specialty content expected of any of our MSPH graduates and conform to our Graduate School requirement that –at most – 25% of a program’s credits may be double-counted toward both degrees, that is, a student must earn at least 75% of the total credits required if the programs were pursued sequentially. The dual JD-MSPH with the Charlotte School of Law was approved in August 2013 for Fall 2014 implementation. The second proposal is for a dual MSPH-PSM with a professional science master’s in health informatics. This latter program is itself a joint offering between our college (CHHS) and the College of
Computing and Informatics (CCI). We expect the latter proposal will be approved during 2013-2014, with first enrollment no earlier than Fall 2014.
The future program offerings are highlighted in gray background in Table 2.1.a.1 below.
Table 2.1.a.1 Instructional Matrix – Degrees & Specializations
Academic Professional Bachelor’s Degrees
Specialization/Concentration/Focus Area Degree*
Specialization: Community Health Practice (social &
behavioral health sciences)
BSPH (professional) Master’s Degrees
Specialization/Concentration/Focus Area Degree*
Community Health Practice (social & behavioral health sciences)
MSPH Doctoral Degrees
Specialization/Concentration/Focus Area Degree*
Behavioral Sciences PhD
Joint Degrees
2nd (non-public health) area Degree*
Law (with the Charlotte School of Law): JD MSPH
Health Informatics: PSM MSPH
*The shading above indicates planned offerings to commence in 2014/15
2.1.b The bulletin or other official publication, which describes all degree programs listed in the instructional matrix, including a list of required courses and their course descriptions. The bulletin or other official publication may be online, with appropriate links noted.
Copies of the current and archival copies of the most recent Graduate and Undergraduate Catalogs are available in PDF and HTML form at
http://catalog.uncc.edu/. The catalogs are available in a single document or in discrete
‘chapters.’ Descriptions of our public health programs are found within the sections under the College of Health and Human Services and then under Public Health Sciences within the respective undergraduate and graduate catalogs.
The MSPH and BSPH programs are related programs with complementary but distinct core/required curricula. The core/required graduate and undergraduate courses are neither cross-listed nor allowed to serve as a substitute for one another. This practice facilitates the articulation of students from the BSPH program into the MSPH program.
The information provided below reflects the current (Fall 2013) requirements for the MSPH and BSPH programs. Information on the planned PhD in Public Health Sciences is found in Criterion 2.10 and its related appendices.
MSPH Curriculum Requirements [45 credits]
Core (21 credits)
HLTH 6201 Social and Behavioral Foundations of PH (3) HLTH 6202 Community Epidemiology (3)
HLTH 6203 Public Health Data Analysis (3) HLTH 6204 Public Health Research Methods (3) HLTH 6205 Environmental Health (3)
HLTH 6206 Health Services Administration (3)
HLTH 6207 Community Health Planning and Evaluation (3) Additional Requirements (24 credits)
HLTH 6471 Internship (3)
HLTH 6900 Research and Thesis in Public Health (6) OR HLTH 6901 Public Health Project (3)
Specialty Area (9 credits, see below)*
Electives (6-9 credits) Specialty areas*
Community Health Practice (9 credits)**
HLTH 6220 Health Behavior Change (3) HLTH 6221 Community Health (3)
HLTH 6222 Methods in Community Health (3)
*Based on student interest, course availability, and program goals, the Graduate Coordinator may approve (in advance) another set of related courses to fulfill the specialty area requirement.
**Completing this specialty area as part of the MSPH currently qualifies a graduate to sit for the CHES exam.
MSPH Course Descriptions
HLTH 6201. Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health. (3) Introduction to concepts and theories from the social and behavioral sciences relevant to public health practice and research. Effects of selected social and psychological factors including demographic, socioeconomic and life style indicators on health.
HLTH 6202. Community Epidemiology. (3). Principles and methods of epidemiology including definitions and models of health, illness and disease; modes of transmission of clinically important infectious agents; risk factors and chronic diseases; and insights into existing studies and paradigms of health promotion and disease prevention.
HLTH 6203. Public Health Data Analysis. (3) A foundations graduate course designed to develop understanding and skill in data analysis and interpretation in research related to public health. Students will have opportunities to develop basic skills in data analysis, computer use, data interpretation, and the presentation/communication of results.
HLTH 6204. Public Health Research Methods. (3) An introductory graduate course designed to expose students to the processes and techniques necessary to conduct relevant social and behavioral science research in public health. The course explores the fundamental concepts of research design, sampling, data collection, and data analysis. Students will develop understanding and proficiency in commonly used public health measurement procedures and techniques, and how to estimate the adequacy of those procedures for communities and populations.
HLTH 6205. Environmental Health. (3) Contemporary environmental factors including biological, physical, and chemical factors which affect the health of a community.
Traditional elements of environmental health, including the control of infectious diseases, toxicology, and environmental health policy and practices at local, state, and federal levels.
HLTH 6206. Health Services Administration. (3) Introduction to organizational theory with applications to health care systems, including organizational design and inter-organizational networks and alliances. Examination of communication and leadership skills development, including conflict, labor and dispute management.
HTLH 6207 Community Health Planning and Evaluation. (3) The use of community and behavioral analysis as a basis for establishing program goals and objectives, for
determining appropriate methods to study health-related interventions, for carrying out planned intervention programs, and for evaluating behavioral change outcomes.
HLTH 6220. Health Behavior Change. (3). Assessment of psychosocial, cultural and situational factors in the voluntary behavior change process; theories of health behavior.
HLTH 6221. Community Health. (3) The nature of communities as social systems.
Principles and practices relevant to community health.
HLTH 6222. Methods in Community Health. (3) Prerequisite: HLTH 6221. Methods based on the ecological model of health for planning community health interventions including strategies directed at policy, community, institutional, inter- and intra-personal levels.
HLTH 6471. Internship. (3) Prerequisites: Completion of 18 or more graduate credit hours and permission of the Graduate Coordinator. Intensive, supervised experience in the practice of public health in community settings. Pass/No Credit or IP grading only.
HLTH 6900. Research and Thesis. (1-6) Prerequisite: Completion of at least 21 hours of graduate program HLTH 6201 through HLTH 6207) or permission. A capstone
synthesis course in which the candidate demonstrates independent learning thorough application of public health research skills to solve a problem or hypothesis. The thesis is of the student’s own design conducted under the supervision of an advisor and graduate committee. Pass/No Credit or IP grading only.
HLTH 6901. Project. (1-3) Prerequisite: Completion of at least 21 hours of graduate program (HLTH 6201through HLTH 6207) or permission. A capstone synthesis course in which the candidate demonstrates independent learning thorough application of public health research skills to a problem or opportunity in a community health setting with a target population. The project is of the student’s own design conducted under the supervision of an advisor and graduate committee. Pass/No Credit or IP grading only.
BSPH Curriculum Requirements [120-125 credits]
PRE-PUBLIC HEALTH MAJOR COURSES (70-75 credits) English (3 or 6 hrs). ENGL 1101 & ENGL 1102 OR ENGL 1103 Math (6 hrs). MATH 1100 & STAT 1222
Sciences (7 hrs). Choose from list in the undergraduate catalog
Social Sciences (3 hrs). Choose from list in the undergraduate catalog Liberal Studies (12 hrs). Choose from list in the undergraduate catalog Prerequisite Core Courses (9 hrs).
COMM 1101 Public Speaking (3) HLTH 2101 Healthy Lifestyles (3)
HLTH 3101 Foundations of Public Health (3)
Health-Related Communication (choose 6 hrs from the following) COMM 2100 Introduction to Communication Theory (3)
COMM 2105 Small Group Communication (3) COMM 2107 Interpersonal Communication (3) COMM 3115 Health Communication (3)
COMM 3130 Communication & Public Advocacy (3)
COMM 3135 Leadership, Communication, & Group Dynamics (3) COMM 3141 Organizational Communication (3)
Declare a Minor (15-26 hrs). Choose any minor on campus except Public Health Electives (as many needed for 70-75 hrs total)
PUBLIC HEALTH MAJOR COURSES (50 credits) Core Courses (32 hrs)
HLTH 3102 Comparative Healthcare Systems (3) HLTH 3103 Behavior Change Theories & Practice (3) HLTH 3104 Research & Statistics in Health (3)
HLTH 3104L Research & Statistics in Health LAB (1) HLTH 3105 Public Health Education and Promotion (3) HLTH 4400 Internship (3)
HLTH 4102 Healthcare Administration (3) HLTH 4103 Environmental Health (3) HLTH 4104 Epidemiology (3)
HLTH 4105 Program Planning & Evaluation (3) HLTH 4105L Program Planning & Evaluation LAB (1) HLTH 4600 Capstone (3)
Culture & Health Courses (choose 6 hrs) ANTH 3122 Culture, Health, & Disease (3) NURS/WMST 4191 Women’s Health Issues (3)
HLTH/GRNT/WMST 3115 Health & the Aging Process (3) HLTH/GRNT/WMST 4260 Women: Middle Age & Beyond (3) Health-Related Electives (choose 12 hrs)
COMM 3115 Health Communication (3) ECON 3141 Health Economics (3)
EXER 3260 Nutrition & Health Fitness (3)
EXER 4130 Applied Nutrition for Today’s Consumer (3) Any HLTH 3000-level or 4000-level course (3)
POLS 3125 Health Care Policy (3)
PHIL 3228 Healthcare Ethics (3)
SOCY 4130 Sociology of Health & Illness (3)
SOCY 4168 Sociology of Mental Health & Illness (3) Any upper level health-related study abroad course (3) BSPH Course Descriptions
HLTH 2101 Healthy Lifestyles.(3). Overview of issues related to personal health, including healthy behaviors, lifestyles, and outcomes.
HLTH 3101 Foundations of Public Health. (3). Introduction to the field of public health, including its history, content areas, scope, and paradigms of professional practice.
HLTH 3102 Comparative Healthcare Systems. (3). Prerequisite: majors only.
Examination of organizations, structures, and relationships in national and international healthcare systems and the associated financial, legal, and policy issues.
HLTH 3103 Behavior Change Theories and Practice. (3). Overview of theoretical approaches to health behavior adherence and compliance, including increasing health enhancing behaviors and sustaining healthy behaviors over time.
HLTH 3104 Research and Statistics in Health. (3). Prerequisite: majors only;
Corequisite: HLTH 3104L. Examination of the use of research methods and statistics in public health, including issues related to research design, measurement, sampling, and the application and interpretation of statistical methods.
HLTH 3104L Research and Statistics in Health LAB. (1). Prerequisite: majors only;
Corequisite: HLTH 3104. Activities designed to complement HLTH 3104. Meets once a week for 1.5 hours.
HLTH 3105 Public Health Education and Promotion. (3). Prerequisite: majors only.
Overview of principles and strategies for health education in public health practice settings.
HLTH 4102 Healthcare Administration. (3). Prerequisite: HTLTH 3102 and majors only.
Overview of basic concepts and issues within the administration, financing, and policy of healthcare systems.
HLTH 4103 Environmental Health: A Global Perspective.(3). Introduction to
environmental and occupational health issues and their implications for individual and population health.
HLTH 4104 Epidemiology. (3). Introduction to basic principles and methods used in epidemiology to detect and control disease in populations.
HLTH 4105 Program Planning and Evaluation. (3). Prerequisite: HLTH 3105;
Corequisite: HLTH 4105L. Use of program planning and behavior change models to design and evaluate theory-based public health promotion and education initiatives.
HLTH 4105L Program Planning and Evaluation LAB. (1). Prerequisite: HLTH 3105 and majors only; Corequisite: HLTH 4105. Activities designed to complement HLTH 4105.
Meets once a week for 1.5 hours.
HLTH 4400 Internship. (3) (W). Prerequisite: Majors only and consent of the instructor.
Practical experience in a public health setting that complements students’ academic and professional goals. Arranged with Coordinator.
HLTH 4600 Capstone. (3) (W). Prerequisite: Majors only and consent of the instructor.
A culminating project or experience encompassing the five areas of public health: health behavior, environmental health, biostatistics, epidemiology, and health administration, that complements students’ academic and professional goals. Arranged with
Coordinator.
Note: Descriptions of the proposed new programs (the PhD and the MSPH dual degree offerings) are provided in Appendix 2.1.1. This appendix contains the catalog text
proposed for the programs. Once approved, this text will appear in the 2014-15 catalog.
In our dual-degree proposals, the areas of overlap (double-counting of courses taken outside the public health program) include the allowed electives (6-9 credits, depending on thesis versus project track) and an internship/practicum and/or capstone project that meets the needs/requirements of both degree programs (ensured through shared oversight of those efforts). Students in these programs complete all core course requirements and fulfill the same competency framework as other MSPH students.
2.1.c Assessment of the extent to which this criterion is met and an
analysis of the program’s strengths, weaknesses and plans relating to this criterion.
This Criterion is met.
Strengths
The professional MSPH and BSPH Programs curricula are designed to prepare competently trained graduates for both evidence-based professional practice and for further professional and/or graduate education.
The Public Health Programs are their curricula are detailed in the University’s graduate and undergraduate catalogs, among other venues.
Both programs currently have a single focus/concentration designed to prepare students to sit for the CHES credentialing exam. The MSPH Program also is designed to prepare students to sit for the CPH credentialing exam. The programs are overseen by a
dedicated coordinator supported by a faculty and student program committee. The curricula are reviewed and revised/updated on a regular basis.
As detailed in Criterion 2.10, the planned PhD program in public health sciences (academic degree) is similarly designed to prepare competently trained graduates for evidence-based practice, albeit with the aim of preparing future academics and leaders.
The curriculum design of our public health degree programs facilitate the inclusion of additional concentrations as community need and faculty and other resources permit.
The proposed dual MSPH degrees will meet defined student/workforce needs while ensuring students complete their public health training with competencies and academic experiences comparable to their peers.
Weaknesses None
Plans
Prepare for the roll out of the PhD in public health sciences and its formal inclusion in the unit of accreditation at the earliest opportunity. (Responsibility: PhD Program Director, PhD Program Advisory Committee, PHPGC)
Prepare for roll-out of formalized dual MSPH degree options as student interest, faculty, and other resources permit. (Responsibility: MSPH Coordinator, PHPGC, Department Chair, Advisory Board)
Plan for roll-out of additional formalized tracks/concentrations within all programs as student interest, faculty, and other resources permit, with priority given to epidemiology and health administration. (Responsibility: School of Public Health Planning Committee, PHPGC, Department Chair, Advisory Board)