GSPH has responded to this new era of health reform by, among other things, creating new academic programs to train students to meet the needs for both specialists and generalists who want to practice in public health or in community-based settings where data-based concepts, preventive medicine, and public health practice are essential. These programs include those listed below, and a number of others are in the planning stages or awaiting final approval by the University.
Multidisciplinary MPH Program (MMPH)
Master of Health Promotion and Education Program (MHPE)
Certificate in Management for Health Professionals
Law and Public Health (JD/MPH)
Dual-degree Program in Health Services Administration and Theology
MD/PhD Program
PUBHLT 2000 SPECIAL TOPICS: 2 credits; (To be announced)
PUBHLT 2001 INTEGRATIVE COURSE: 1 credit; Spring Term
PUBHLT 2002 ESSAY-MMPH: Variable credits; hours to be arranged
PUBHLT 2003 THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN PENNSYLVANIA: 1 credit; Fall Term
PUBHLT 2004 BUILDING INTERDISCIPLINARY PARTNERSHIPS: 3 credits; Fall Term or Spring Term
Special Programs
As GSPH approaches its 50th anniversary, the School remains committed to its founding principle: "that the School must operate in the world . . . and in adjustment to the political, economic, and social framework of our civilization." Today, public health faces unique changes, opportunities, and challenges. Both health care institutions and professionals are seeking to make health care resources more cost effective, and there is a renewed interest in public health as a means to help assure people's health.
This program provides doctoral-level health professionals with advanced training to perform in the roles of public health generalists and in public health leadership positions.
The Graduate School of Public Health and the School of Education jointly offer a program that will prepare individuals to enter diverse organizational settings (from Schools to the workplace) and assess, develop, research, implement, and evaluate effective health promotion, health communication, and health education programs.
The Graduate School of Public Health and the School of Nursing offer a certificate program for health professionals working in contemporary settings under managed care who would benefit from an interdisciplinary approach to health service management.
A dual-degree program offered with the School of Law leads to the Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees and prepares students for roles in health care regulation, policy, or the practice of law with a health care focus.
This new program will prepare students expecting to enter the ministry while providing services in health care institutions to meet the challenges of the new business-oriented health care environment.
The departments of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Human Genetics are participants in a program established by the University in 1983 to offer exceptionally talented individuals the opportunity to undertake a physician-scientist training program tailored to their research interests. Following the second year of medical school, the MD/PhD student enters a full-time PhD program. Students resume their clinical studies (medical school year three) following the defense of their dissertation.
A number of GSPH courses are given as school-wide rather than departmental courses. They are of general interest to students of any department.
Areas of current public health interest are presented.
This integrated interdepartmental problem-solving course enhances the perception of the multidisciplinary nature of public health and complements the school core courses. The course employs an integrated approach to (1) identify major health problems; (2) demonstrate the multiplicity of etiologic factors which contribute to the conditions; and (3) resolve public health problems.
The essay is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to integrate the major components of the public health learning experience.
Introductory course will explores the politics of public health in Pennsylvania. It provides an overview of the political process including the structure of state government, state governmental process, development of political agendas, the use of this structure and the process to meet public health goals. Detailed attention is directed toward the identification of specific public health issues of interest to legislators and the development of position papers on those issues by students participating in the class.
Provides a forum for exploring the possibilities of multidisciplinary education and service provision. Students will learn how their professional frames of reference influence their perspectives on community issues and on collaboration with other service providers, and how to bridge professional frames of reference.