Course Descriptions
Below is a list of some of the courses within the NDSU Master of Public Health program. For more information on these courses, click the course name.
Public Health (PH)
PH 700, Preventing and Managing Chronic Illness
3 credits
This course will explore the effects of chronic health issues on individuals, families, and lay caregivers from a pharmacy and public health care perspective. Psychosocial, cultural, behavioral, and health care system factors influencing chronic health issues will be examined as well as the role pharmacists can play. MPH students only.
PH 704, Public Health Management and Policy
3 credits
A pragmatic study of the issues, constituents, processes, and tools of public health leadership and management.
This course is restricted to MPH majors or MPH certificate participants only.
PH 705, Global Health
3 credits
This course will survey the health of populations globally and introduce strategies, programs and health systems designed to improve the health of those populations. Prereq: Admission to MPH program.
PH 710, Healthcare Delivery in the United States
3 credits
Introduction to health professions, health care delivery systems, financing, health promotion, and behavioral issues.
This course is restricted to MPH majors or MPH certificate participants only.
PH 712, Health Outcomes Research
This course provides MPH students enrolled in the public health in clinical systems track with the skills and tools necessary to assess studies and conduct basic assessment in a variety of health care settings.
Admission into the MPH program. Successful completion of the MPH courses in statistics and epidemiology.
PH 725, Promoting Health through Policy, System and Environment
3 credits
This course will focus on health promotion at community, state, and national levels through policy, system, and environmental (PSE) changes by examining laws, system changes, changes to economic, social, or physical environments.
PH 731, Biostatistics
3 credits
This core course introduces the selection, use and interpretation of basic statistical tests and concepts that may be used in addressing, analyzing and solving problems in public health, biomedical and health care research.
This course is restricted to MPH majors or MPH certificate participants only.
PH 735, Principles of Infectious Disease Management I
3 credits
The course is the first part of a two-part series that will provide a foundational overview of the major infectious diseases that have a significant impact on public health.
This course is restricted to MPH majors or MPH certificate participants only.
PH 736, Principles of Infectious Disease Management II
3 credits
The course will build on PH 735, Principles of Infectious Disease Management I and focus on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, treatment, and control of the major communicable diseases. Prereq: PH 735.
This course is restricted to MPH majors or MPH certificate participants only.
PH 741, Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health
3 credits
Foundation knowledge and competencies in applying social and behavioral sciences theories and methods to public health problems.
This course is restricted to MPH majors or MPH certificate participants only.
PH 745, Community Health Leadership
3 credits
This course will focus on developing leadership and collaboration skills required by public health leaders to work with community leaders and organizations.
PH 751, Essentials in Epidemiology
3 credits
Emphasis on application of the principles of epidemiology as applied to the investigation and prevention of individual and population health problems.
This course is restricted to MPH majors or MPH certificate participants only.
PH 752, Advanced Topics in Epidemiology
3 credits
Distribution and dynamics of disease in populations, and factors contributing to the costs of foodborne illness and its prevention. Three lectures. Prereq: SAFE 674. Cross-listed with SAFE 750.
PH 755, Integrating Primary Care and Public Health
3 credits
This course explores the intersections of public health and primary care and their roles in addressing personal and population health issues.
PH 765, Cultural Competence in Health Professions
3 credits
The purpose of this course is to provide education and skill building that will enable students to effectively utilize cultural and linguistic competence as a key tool to improve health outcomes and understanding of communication for diverse populations.
PH 771, American Indian Health Policy
3 credits
The course will provide a detailed overview of the unique policy issues that form the legal basis for provision of public health and healthcare services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Prereq: Admission to the MPH program.
This course is restricted to MPH majors or MPH certificate participants only.
Emergency Management (EMGT)
EMGT 614, Spatial Analysis in Emergency Management
3 credits
This course is designed to provide emergency management students with specific disaster related applications of spatial analysis techniques in state of the art GIS software. {Also offered for undergraduate credit - see EMGT 414.}
EMGT 620, Hazard, Risk, and Vulnerability Assessments
3 credits
Educates students in the preparation of hazard, risk, and vulnerability assessments. Prereq: EMGT 614. {Also offered for undergraduate credit - see EMGT 420.}
English (ENGL)
ENGL 751, Tools for Academic Writing - Clarity and Style
1 credit
Eight-week course: This course’s goal is to help students to write clear, correct, and audience-appropriate academic documents. Students will learn and implement specific writing strategies to meet this goal. In addition, they will investigate writing expectations and analyze academic writing in their own discipline. Grading: satisfactory/unsatisfactory.
ENGL 752, Tools for Academic Writing: Writing Your Manuscript
1 credit
Semester-long intensive academic writing with extensive individualized feedback. Students develop a writing plan, obtain approval from their advisors, and write intensively, receiving regular individualized assistance from a graduate writing consultant. S/U grading.
Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science (HNES)
HNES 652, Nutrition, Health and Aging
3 credits
Physiological changes with aging and their relationship to food habits and nutritional need. Common nutritional health problems with emphasis on prevention and treatment. 3 lectures. {Also offered for undergraduate credit - see HNES 452.}
HNES 724, Nutrition Education
3 credits
Principles and practices of teaching individuals and groups to translate nutrition knowledge into action. Emphasis on research in evaluation of nutrition education.
HNES 727, Physical Activity Epidemiology
3 credits
Review of the evidence on the associations between physical activity and chronic diseases, and effects of physical activity on health. Understanding and discussion regarding how the methods of epidemiology are being used to scientifically confirm that physical inactivity is a burden on public health and what can be done about it.
HNES 777, Scholarly Writing and Presenting in HNES
3 credits
This course is designed for students pursuing their Master or Doctorate degree who are currently writing a proposal or a chapter of their thesis or dissertation. Class sessions cover the conventions for each chapter of the thesis/dissertation, analytical reading of research articles in the areas of HNES, and effective methods of presenting research.
Microbiology (MICR)
MICR 663, Clinical Parasitology
2 credits
A study of protozoan and helminthic parasites of humans, with an emphasis on clinical identification, life histories, and control. {Also offered for undergraduate credit - see MICR 463.}
MICR 675, Animal Virology
3 credits
The biology of animal viruses with emphasis on virus replication and pathogenesis. {Also offered for undergraduate credit - see MICR 475.}
MICR 752, Advanced Food Microbiology
3 credits
Molecular methods for detection and subtyping of foodbourne pathogens and spoilage organisms.
MICR 781, Advanced Bacterial Physiology
3 credits
In-depth consideration of various topics in bacterial physiology such as autotrophy, bacterial growth and growth yields, energy-yielding metabolism, and regulation of catabolic pathways. Prereq: MICR 680.
Nursing (NURS)
NURS 715, Advanced Community Assessment
3 credits
Epidemiologic techniques, reporting, and research will be presented. Emphasis is placed on disease prevention and control. Health problems of national and international significance will be examined and strategies for solutions and/or management will be proposed. Prereq: an inferential statistics course.
