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 the 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.
Global Health Concentration Courses:
Select one: PUBHLTH 207A, PUBHLTH 204A or EPIDEM 204A.
PUBHLTH 207A
Probability and Statistics in Public Health
4 UNITS
An introduction to probability and statistical methods, using examples in public health. Topics include descriptive statistics, laws of probability, discrete and continuous probability distributions, estimation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and power calculations for one- and two-sample comparisons.
Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 206A. PUBHLTH 206A with a grade of B or better
Restriction: Program in Public Health students only. Master of Public Health Degree students only. Graduate students only. Public Health Majors only.
PUBHLTH 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 EPIDEM 204A.
Restriction: Graduate students only.
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.
Select one: PUBHLTH 207B, PUBHLTH 204B or EPIDEM 204B
PUBHLTH 207B
Analysis of Public Health Data Using Statistical Software
4 UNITS
Overview of common statistical methods in public health and how to implement them in R. Topics include linear regression, ANOVA, the Kruskal-Wallis test, logistic regression, missing data and censoring, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log-rank tests, and Cox regression.
Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 207A. PUBHLTH 207A with a grade of B or better
Restriction: Program in Public Health students only. Master of Public Health Degree students only. Graduate students only. Public Health Majors only.
PUBHLTH 204B
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 EPIDEM 204A.
Restriction: Graduate students only.
EPIDEM 204B
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.
Complete the following four (4) courses:
PUBHLTH 213
Epidemiology in Global Health
4 UNITS
Examines major topics in epidemiology and global health. Research topics within these two disciplines are focused on resource-poor communities, with an application to the global world.
Restriction: Graduate students only. Environmental Health Sciences Majors only. Epidemiology Majors only. Public Health Majors only.
PUBHLTH 280
Global Burden of Disease
4 UNITS
Introduces composite measures of disease burden, including Disability Adjusted Life Years and their use in prioritizing disease burden at local, regional, and global levels. Focuses on WHO’s landmark assessments and introduces DISMOD software for specific analyses.
Restriction: Graduate students only.
PUBHLTH 281
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
4 UNITS
Geographical distribution of infectious diseases and the health and disease risk in diverse human populations. Introduces basic methods for infectious disease epidemiology and case studies of important diseases. Includes surveillance, outbreak investigation, emerging pathogens, traditional and molecular epidemiology.
Restriction: Graduate students only.
PUBHLTH 282
Climate Change and Global Health
4 UNITS
Designed for students to examine major topics in climate change and global health. Draws heavily on the literature in order to develop an understanding of micro- and macro-level impacts and drivers with regard to climate change and health.
Restriction: Graduate students only. Environmental Health Sciences Majors only. Epidemiology Majors only. Public Health Majors only.
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 |
