Community Health (HLTH)

Strategies to become more familiar with types of writing required as public health students or public health professionals; strengthens and increases general writing skills; establishes a foundation for continued development in writing. Familiarization with the writing style required for public health; instruction in writing styles and narrative techniques to increase and strengthen writing abilities in public health disciplines such as environmental and occupational health, health promotion and community health sciences, health policy and management, epidemiology and biostatistics. Must be taken for credit only (i.e., CR/NC grading). TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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This course emphasizes students’ development of the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in health education and health promotion, and covers such topics as epidemiology, community organizing, program planning, minority health, mental health, environmental health, drug use and abuse, safety, and occupational health. The course also includes World Health Organization goals and COVID-related activities as well as recent Health and Human Services (HHS) priorities and critical Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activities. Emphasis is placed upon preventive strategies appropriate for contemporary public health concerns. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, and Math

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Research Experience in Community Health is aimed at providing an introductory research experience with a Community Health faculty member. Through this experience the student will gain an understanding of how research is conducted outside of a classroom and how the scientific method is actively applied in the specific discipline of the faculty research interests. Students will work on a specified topic with the intent of promoting independent reading, research and study; supplement existing course offerings or subjects not presently covered. Students will become part of the research team and will participate in laboratory or field activities as well as meetings/discussions. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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This course describes two distinct U.S. systems – the health care system (organized around an individual and medical services model) and the public health system (built around prevention and education for healthy population). The course also introduces a systems perspective for analyzing and understanding health care and public health systems. Students will be exposed to contrasting international models of health care and public health systems, especially different health care financing models. Students are also introduced to various public health settings, specific careers in public health, and public health certifications. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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This course examines the environment and its relationship to population health status. The physical, chemical, biological, and behavioral/sociological factors that constitute humans’ environment will be discussed. Areas of emphasis include air, water and land pollution, food protection, hazardous wastes, and noise and radiation hazards. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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This course focuses on theories, methods, and applications of health disparities research and practice. Using a multicultural perspective, students will examine the historical, ethical, and legal issues that influence health disparities and health equity. Through an examination of the biological, socio-cultural, economic and environmental influences on health outcomes, students develop insights into the community-based participatory research and strategies of health promotion to reduce health inequities. Students will read and critically analyze primary literature throughout the course to facilitate discussion and provide examples of methodologies in the field. The course will examine relevant theories and empirical data, emphasizing critical analysis and application of knowledge. Students will gain a better understanding of research on health disparities and interventions to promote health equity. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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This is an interactive, hands-on course that familiarizes students with using freely-available CDC software for managing, analyzing and assessing population health data. These tools allow use by public health professionals to conduct outbreak investigations, manage databases for public health surveillance, and other tasks. They enable physicians, epidemiologists, and other public health and community health officials to rapidly develop a questionnaire or form, customize data entry processes, and to analyze data. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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Theoretical and historical foundations of health behavior research: emphasis placed on understanding and predicting behavior, as well as facilitating behavior change programs through health education. This course focuses on the presentation and critical analysis of the role of theory in health promotion, the description of different theories being used in health promotion research and interventions, and the application of these theories to intervention and research. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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Directed Study in Community Health is aimed at providing an introductory research experience with a Community Health faculty member. Through this experience the student will gain an understanding of how research is conducted outside of a classroom and how the scientific method is actively applied in the specific discipline of the faculty research interests. Students will work on a specified topic with the intent of promoting independent reading, research and study; supplement existing course offerings or subjects not presently covered. Students will become part of the research team and will participate in laboratory or field activities as well as meetings/discussions. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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Lectures, literature investigation and research in selected topics. . TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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This course provides an overview of the most critical issues in global health, including ethical priority setting, health disparities, quality, and universal access to care. The course includes coverage of global issues including climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging and reemerging infectious diseases. This course uses an epidemiological and medical-anthropological lens to study the causes and distribution of health outcomes and events. Includes in-depth discussion and analyses of real-life proven, large scale successes in global public health. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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Introduction to basic principles and concepts in epidemiology, including sources of public health data and data presentation, descriptive epidemiology, epidemiological measurements used to describe disease occurrence, association and causation, basic experimental and analytic study designs in public health, and examples of applied epidemiological methods in social, behavioral and clinical science. This course will offer an introduction to Epidemiology of diseases with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. Community outreach programs, services, disease prevention strategies, research and policies that affect and impact health in the United States will also be reviewed and examined. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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This course provides students of public health, medicine, nursing, public policy, and health administration with an introduction to a broad range of seminal issues in U.S. health policy and law, analytic frameworks for studying these complex issues, and an understanding of the ways in which health policies and laws are formulated, implemented, and applied. It explores the key health policy and legal changes brought about by government. Students will also learn the art and skill of advocacy. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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Designed to prepare students with the practical and theoretical skills needed to plan, implement, and evaluate health promotion programs in a variety of settings, including community, health care, school, and worksites. This course provides students with the skills necessary to carry out the full process of health promotion program execution, while also offering direct preparation for Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) licensing exams. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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The course provides an analysis of the players involved; coordination with governmental emergency management; legal requirements; employee disaster awareness and preparedness; disaster mitigation response; business resumption considerations and public policy considerations and community outreach. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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Health Program Evaluation & Research is designed to introduce students to the core concepts and methods of evidence-based public health education program/intervention planning, implementation, and evaluation. Students will develop skills for assessing community needs for health promotion; preparing written measurable health promotion program objectives; developing associated theory-based methods and strategies for achieving those objectives; designing a program action plan that includes an implementation plan; and applying evaluation methods for measuring health program process and outcome effectiveness. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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Supervised internship at selected community, public or private health agencies. On the job training in the area of public health studies industry; development of objectives and goals; evaluation by supervisor required. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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Internship in Community Health is aimed at providing a professional working experience in the field of community health. Local sites will be involved and may be affiliated with the government, military, private foundations, or local health entities. Students will be required to be model employees and exemplary ambassadors of Texas A&M University – San Antonio. They will be supervised by a site manager and by a faculty member, and evaluated on work performance and reflection papers that describe their experience. TSI Restriction(s): Reading, Writing, Math

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