Curriculum
The MPH degree with concentrations in Biostatistics, Community Health and Health Equity, Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology, Global Health, or Health Systems and Policy is a 63- or 64-unit degree program taken over five to six quarters. Seven courses must be taken by all students. In addition, students take at least six additional courses in their concentration and either 8 or 12 units of elective courses, depending on the concentration. All courses required for the MPH except MPH seminar and capstone courses must be taken for a letter grade; only grades of B or better represent satisfactory scholarship, as per Irvine Division Senate Regulation 420.
Please note that degree requirements are subject to change. For the most accurate and up-to-date list of requirements, current students should consult with their academic advisor.
Introductory course:
PUBHLTH 200
Foundations of Public Health
4 UNITS
Explores public health research and practices fundamentals from a multidisciplinary view. Gain core skills for crosscutting approaches essential in public health.
Restriction: Graduate students only. Public Health Majors only. College of Health Sciences students only. Master of Public Health Degree students only. Program in Public Health students only.
Core competency courses:
PUBHLTH 264
Introduction to Environmental Health Science
4 UNITS
Explores environmental health’s role in disease prevention. Studies human-environment interaction, focusing on chemical, physical, and biological agents in community and occupational settings. Covers climate change, environmental justice, children’s health, exposure assessment, and policy for public health improvement.
Same as EPIDEM 264, EHS 264.
Restriction: Graduate students only. Environ Health Sci and Policy Majors only. Environmental Health Sciences Majors only. Epidemiology Majors only. Public Health Majors only.
PUBHLTH 206A
Principles of Epidemiology
4 UNITS
Fundamental principles of epidemiology, biostatistics, and epidemiological research. Topics include research methods of measuring health problems in populations, disease control and prevention in populations, how epidemiology contributes to knowledge of disease etiology, and biostatistical analysis and interpretation of epidemiologic data.
Same as EPIDEM 200A.
Restriction: Graduate students only.
PUBHLTH 222A
Health Policy and Management
4 UNITS
Multidisciplinary inquiry into theory and practice concerned with delivery, quantity, costs of health care for individuals and populations. Explores managerial and policy concerns regarding structure, process, outcomes of health services including the costs, financing, organization, outcomes, and accessibility of care.
Same as UPPP 243.
Restriction: Graduate students only. Public Health Majors have first consideration for enrollment. Urban and Regional Planning Majors have first consideration for enrollment. Master of Public Health Degree students have first consideration for enrollment. Master of Public Policy Degree students have first consideration for enrollment.
PUBHLTH 253
Introduction to Community Health
4 UNITS
Explores community health roles, applications, and impacts in public health practice. Introduces community organizing, health advocacy, interventions, and strategies for addressing health inequities.
Restriction: Graduate students only.
MPH Seminar (Complete 2 courses):
PUBHLTH 291A
Advances and Challenges in Public Health
2 UNITS
Forum for exploring recent advances and challenges in all disciplines of public health research and practice. Features case studies exemplifying the integration of core competencies with cross-cutting interdisciplinary themes of public health.
Grading Option: Satisfactory/unsatisfactory only.
Repeatability: May be repeated for credit unlimited times.
Restriction: Graduate students only.
Concurrent with PUBHLTH 191A.
PUBHLTH 291B
Advances and Challenges in Public Health
2 UNITS
Forum for exploring recent advances and challenges in all disciplines of public health research and practice. Features case studies exemplifying the integration of core competencies with cross-cutting interdisciplinary themes of public health.
Grading Option: Satisfactory/unsatisfactory only.
Repeatability: May be repeated for credit unlimited times.
Restriction: Graduate students only.
Concurrent with PUBHLTH 191B.
PUBHLTH 291C
Advances and Challenges in Public Health
2 UNITS
Forum for exploring recent advances and challenges in all disciplines of public health research and practice. Features case studies exemplifying the integration of core competencies with cross-cutting interdisciplinary themes of public health.
Grading Option: Satisfactory/unsatisfactory only.
Repeatability: May be repeated for credit unlimited times.
Restriction: Graduate students only.
Concurrent with PUBHLTH 191C.
Capstone course:
PUBHLTH 295
Graduate Practicum and Culminating Experience in Public Health
8 UNITS
Provides opportunities for hands-on experience for graduate students at agencies or organizations engaged in public health practice. Students are matched with placement sites based on academic preparation and students’ career goals. The practicum report is integrated into the culminating experience.
Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 200 and PUBHLTH 244 and PUBHLTH 222 and PUBHLTH 264 and PUBHLTH 207A. PUBHLTH 200 with a grade of B or better. PUBHLTH 244 with a grade of B or better. PUBHLTH 222 with a grade of B or better. PUBHLTH 264 with a grade of B or better. PUBHLTH 207A with a grade of B or better
Grading Option: Satisfactory/unsatisfactory only.
Restriction: Graduate students only. Public Health Majors only.
Epidemiology Concentration Courses:
EPIDEM 200B
Intermediate Epidemiology
4 UNITS
Learn to design and conduct epidemiologic studies using common designs. Determine why bias and measurement error arise in observational studies, and how they influence effect estimates. Perform and interpret epidemiologic data analyses using statistical software.
Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 206A. PUBHLTH 206A with a grade of B or better
Same as PUBHLTH 206B.
Restriction: College of Health Sciences students only. Program in Public Health students only. Master of Public Health Degree students only. Graduate students only. Epidemiology Majors only.
EPIDEM 200C
Advanced Epidemiologic Methods
4 UNITS
Advanced topics in the design and statistical analysis of epidemiologic studies. Topics include simulation methods, counter-matching and multiphase study designs, missing data, and Bayesian analysis. Published simulation studies are discussed and replicated using the R software package.
Prerequisite: EPIDEM 200A and EPIDEM 200B. EPIDEM 200A with a grade of B or better. EPIDEM 200B with a grade of B or better
Same as PUBHLTH 206C.
EPIDEM 204A
Biostatistics I: Introduction to Statistical Methods
4 UNITS
Designed to help students develop an appreciation for statistician’s view of the research process, emphasizing biomedical research. Instills an understanding of how statistical models are used to yield insights about data that form evidence-based understanding of the world around us.
Same as PUBHLTH 204.
Restriction: Graduate students only.
EPIDEM 204B
Biostatistics II: Intermediate Statistical Methods
4 UNITS
Intended for graduate students in epidemiology, public health, and clinical research fields. Covers common regression-modeling techniques frequently used in biologic and medical applications.
Prerequisite: EPIDEM 204. EPIDEM 204 with a grade of B or better
Repeatability: May be taken for credit 2 times.
Same as PUBHLTH 204B.
Restriction: Graduate students only.
EPIDEM 204C
Biostatistics III: Advanced Statistical Methods
4 UNITS
Intended for graduate students in epidemiology, public health, and related fields. Introduces statistical methods for analyzing survival and longitudinal/clustered data, and techniques to resolve missing data.
Prerequisite: EPIDEM 204B. EPIDEM 204B with a grade of B or better
Repeatability: May be taken for credit 2 times.
Same as PUBHLTH 204C.
Restriction: Graduate students only.
EPIDEM 220A
Data Management I
2 UNITS
Learn SAS basics, Base SAS, DATA step essentials, and PROCs for data exploration and analysis. Topics include data reading, variable creation, sorting, merging, and common functions.
EPIDEM 220B
Data Management II
2 UNITS
Develop SAS proficiency in epidemiology/public health research. Goals include expanding SAS knowledge, enhancing self-sufficiency via online resources, and understanding program outcomes. Reinforce study design and data analysis basics while emphasizing SAS as a tool for data management.
Elective Courses (must complete a minimum of 8 units):
Most graduate level courses (200 series) in public health are approved electives for the MPH Students may petition to meet the elective requirement by substituting other relevant course(s) for any of those on this list. If a course is taken to satisfy another requirement for the MPH, it cannot be counted as an elective concurrently:
| Course # | Course Name |
| EHS 201 | Case Studies in Environmental Toxicology |
| EHS 202 | Principles of Environmental Toxicology |
| EHS 203 | Occupational Epidemiology |
| EHS 204 | Neurotoxicology |
| EHS 207 | Experimental Design and Interpretation of Toxicology Studies |
| EHS 212 | Inhalation Toxicology |
| EHS 290 | Independent Study in Environmental Toxicology |
| EHS 297 | Advanced Topics in Occupational Toxicology |
| EHS 298 | Seminar in Environmental Health Sciences |
| EHS 299 | Research Problems |
| EPIDEM 200B | Intermediate Epidemiology |
| EPIDEM 200C | Advanced Epidemiologic Methods |
| EPIDEM 201 | Cancer Epidemiology |
| EPIDEM 204C | Biostatistics III. Advanced Statistical Methods |
| EPIDEM 205 | Environmental Epidemiology |
| EPIDEM 212 | Methods for Design and Implementation of Epidemiologic Research |
| EPIDEM 215 | Introduction to Statistical Genetics |
| EPIDEM 232 | Chronic Disease Epidemiology & Prevention |
| EPIDEM 244 | Toxic Chemicals in Environment |
| EPIDEM 275 | Special Topics in Epidemiology |
| EPIDEM 298 | Directed Study in Epidemiology |
| EPIDEM 299 | Independent Study in Epidemiology |
| PUBHLTH 208 | Advances in Social Epidemiology |
| PUBHLTH 209 | Methods of Demographic Analysis |
| PUBHLTH 210 | Theory-Driven Secondary Data Analysis |
| PUBHLTH 213 | Epidemiology in Global Health |
| PUBHLTH 213 | Epidemiology in Global Health |
| PUBHLTH 223 | Risk Communication |
| PUBHLTH 223 | Risk Communication |
| PUBHLTH 242 | Theories of Health Communication |
| PUBHLTH 244 | Health Behavior Theory |
| PUBHLTH 245 | Health Promotion Planning |
| PUBHLTH 246 | Social Research Methods |
| PUBHLTH 246 | Social Research Methods |
| PUBHLTH 247 | Program Evaluation |
| PUBHLTH 248 | Fundamentals of Maternal and Child Health – Programs, Problems, and Policy |
| PUBHLTH 251 | Models of Practice and Intervention at the Community Level |
| PUBHLTH 269 | Air Pollution, Climate, and Health |
| PUBHLTH 275 | Environmental Modeling and Risk Management |
| PUBHLTH 277A | Target Organ Toxicology I |
| PUBHLTH 277B | Target Organ Toxicology II |
| PUBHLTH 278 | Industrial Toxicology |
| PUBHLTH 279 | Special Topics in Environmental & Occupational Health |
| PUBHLTH 280 | Global Burden of Disease |
| PUBHLTH 281 | Infectious Disease Epidemiology |
| PUBHLTH 282 | Climate Change and Global Health |
| PUBHLTH 283 | Geographic Information Systems for Public Health |
| PUBHLTH 286 | Advanced Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Epidemiology |
| PUBHLTH 287 | Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health |
| PUBHLTH 289 | Special Topics in Global Health and Disease Prevention |
| PUBHLTH 290 | Special Topics in Public Health |
| PUBHLTH 291A | Seminar: Advances and Challenges in Public Health |
| PUBHLTH 291B | Seminar: Advances and Challenges in Public Health |
| PUBHLTH 291C | Seminar: Advances and Challenges in Public Health |
| PUBHLTH 292 | Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in Public Health |
| PUBHLTH 293 | Foundations of Clinical and Translational Science |
| PUBHLTH 294 | Research Communication in Public Health |
| PUBHLTH 297 | Research Design and Proposal Writing |
| PUBHLTH 298 | Directed Studies in Public Health |
| PUBHLTH 299 | Independent Study in Public Health |
