Online Bachelor of Science in Public Health

Professionalism and Public Health Pathways

This mid-curricular professional development course is designed for students majoring in public health to explore professional pathways aligned with their goals and develop skills and resources necessary to pursue graduate training opportunities. While students build a professional portfolio (resume, cover letter/personal statement, networking profiles), they will also engage in self-exploration exercises rooted in reflection to further explore their sense of purpose and to connect major, career, and self with corresponding career interests. In this unique course, students will discover pathways to professional schools and learn what it takes to be successful. Students will analyze and discuss the social and ethical dimensions of the workplace to better understand their relationship with and development of professionalism. Through active exploration of career goals and the professional world that waits to meet students, this course will assist students in closing the gap between the academic application of career-readiness concepts and their pragmatic utilization in the workplace while also revealing the purpose that is driving their professional development.

Technical and Scientific Writing

This course readies students for the kinds and purposes of professional writing they will do in their professional careers in technology, science,and engineering. Writing in these fields supports design processes, research studies, problem solving, and business transactions. In studying the theory and practice of writing in specialized environments, students will develop strategies for adjusting content, style, design, and delivery method to different rhetorical contexts. This course often operates as a writing intensive workshop where student participation is necessary and vital. This course is not a review of basic composition or grammar skills, although students will learn techniques for successful revising and editing.

Community Health and Minorities: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

This course is designed to provide students with theoretical foundations, methods, and skills essential to professional community health education practice in minority populations. Through field observations, students determine the ways in which health providers, community leaders,and community residents view health problems in underserved communities, and compare these views with more objective data as a means to develop health intervention strategies.

Introduction to Public/Community Health

This course will examine the public health system in the United States. Emphasis will be placed on how public health data is collected; the various roles and responsibilities of public health departments; principles of population health; evidence based public health practice; current public health issues and trends; preventing disease, disability and death; and public health across the lifespan. Topics will address elements of society and culture and how they impact the population health approach. Students should gain an appreciation for public health and develop an understanding of various public health career options.

Communicating About Health, Environment and Science

This course surveys theoretical and applied dimensions of communication issues pertaining to environmental, health, and science issues facing contemporary society. Students will learn about the symbolic and material dimensions of environment and health issues, ways in which risk is evaluated and communicated in a variety of contexts, and about the parameters of scientific argument in various technical and political arenas.

Health Politics & Policy in the U.S.

This course will give a provide an overview of domestic health policy in the United States and the politics that contribute the development of health policy outcomes. As such, it will combine public policy and political science approaches. The course will begin with a review of the institutions involved crafting health policy (e.g., Congress, state government, the courts, and the bureaucracy) and their roles in the policymaking process. Case studies such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Patient Protection and the Affordable Care Act will be discussed. In addition to understanding the institutions and policy process, the course will also engage public opinion, elections, and interest group activity. Students investigate the formation of health care policy preferences, exploring data from national surveys, as well as assess efforts to mobilize health politics in national and state contexts.

Program Planning, Implementation and Evaluation

This course provides students with the skills to plan, implement and evaluate evidenced-based public health programs in order to address the most important health issues affecting communities. Students will be provided with the skills to conduct needs assessments, develop goals and SMART objectives, administer programs and conduct evaluation.

Health Issues of Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations

This course provides students with the opportunity to examine the interplay between vulnerability, health status, and healthcare access and quality through an overarching framework of the social determinants of health. Physical, psychological, demographic, environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural issues influencing the health status of and health care delivery to vulnerable populations are examined. Students will develop essential skills needed for self-care, resilience, and working effectively as members of interprofessional teams promoting the health of diverse populations. and Students will identify approaches to improve the quality of healthcare delivery and health outcomes for vulnerable and marginalized groups through cultural humility, cultural competence, and empathy.

Global Health

This course is an introduction to global health and global health systems. The student will examine the impact of cultural, economic and political factors on health and health care in other countries. The focus on health disparities, the global burden of disease, access to care, social justice, and health as a human right will be explored. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will guide the students learning about a variety of global health issues.

Research Methods in Health Sciences

In this course, students will learn skills that are the foundation of evidence-based practice. These skills include identifying major study design approaches, formulating research questions that align with specific study designs, and interpreting the most common statistical methods used in clinical and population health research. Students will also learn about ethical research conduct and about community engagement to build trust with research participants and strengthen research equity and impact. Through interprofessional collaboration, students will learn how to locate peer-reviewed research articles, how to navigate through the different sections of a research article, summarize its key elements, and critically appraise its strengths and weaknesses. Students will also learn how evidence-based practice guidelines are derived from systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health

Students will be introduced to major social and behavioral science theories which inform and influence the health and wellness of individuals, groups, and populations. The importance of evidence-based community and public health programs will be discussed, and students will have an opportunity to apply theories to public health practice and interventions.

Evidence-Based Public Health

This course will include an orientation to the US public health system, current concepts and issues,and major contemporary public health problems. A second content theme will include a brief overview of the development of the quality improvement movement in medicine, resulting in the evidence-based public health movement. These two segments will be integrated as students learn to apply the principles of an evidence-based approach to current public health problems in the greater Cincinnati area. A seminar style of teaching, employing small-group discussion of cases will be employed.

Internship in Public Health

This course is to provide students the opportunity to place into practice the theory and skills obtained through their public health studies.

Global Health Dynamics 

This introductory course equips undergraduates with a comprehensive understanding of fundamental concepts, challenges, and methodologies in global health practice. Through insightful case studies, students delve into the intricate web of factors influencing disease patterns, health equity, and healthcare access among vulnerable populations worldwide. Exploring topics such as the global burden of disease, community health needs assessment, context-appropriate interventions, and global health policies, students gain a holistic perspective on the dynamic landscape of global health.

Determinants of Global Health 

This course critically examines the multifaceted determinants shaping health outcomes across global populations. Employing an interdisciplinary lens, students analyze the intricate interplay of socioeconomics, culture, governance, environment, globalization, conflict, and urbanization in influencing disease patterns, mortality, and health disparities. Students actively contribute to the discourse on promoting health equity by evaluating policies and interventions through engaging case studies. The course facilitates a deep understanding of the interconnected factors that impact health locally and globally.

Climate, Pandemics, Population, & Ecology of Human Health 

This interdisciplinary course explores the complex intersections of climate, race, culture, pandemics, population dynamics, and ecology as they relate to human health on a global scale. Emphasizing a critical and analytical approach, students will examine how environmental factors, including climate change and ecological shifts, impact health outcomes across racial and cultural groups. The course will also delve into the historical and contemporary contexts of pandemics, exploring their causes, impacts on populations, and strategies for prevention and control.

Global Health Policy and Ethics

This course explores the intersection of global health policy and ethical principles, equipping undergraduates with the tools to critically analyze health policies and their impacts on global health equity. Students use case studies, frameworks, and discussions to examine how health policies are designed, implemented, and evaluated across diverse contexts. Ethical dimensions of decision-making, human rights, and justice are integrated to foster a holistic understanding of global health governance. Topics include universal health coverage, international health regulations, and the ethical implications of resource allocation and priority-setting in global health.

Global Health Systems 

This course complements foundational courses by acquainting undergraduates with significant global health challenges and the organization of health systems nationally and worldwide. It uniquely incorporates a systems thinking perspective, introducing students to global health systems worldwide. The course also incorporates an in-built journal club, providing a platform for collaborative exploration and discussion of relevant research articles.

Leadership and Diplomacy in Global Health 

This course explores the dynamic intersection of global health and international diplomacy through the framework of Global Health Diplomacy (GHD) and leadership. By integrating public policy, international relations, and global health strategies, GHD seeks to address health challenges arising from conflicts, humanitarian crises, epidemics, and natural disasters. Through real-world case studies, students will analyze how health crises disrupt systems, trigger emergencies, and require coordinated responses using legal, ethical, and policy tools. Emphasizing the role of leadership, the course highlights how collaboration between diplomats, health practitioners, and leaders can drive effective solutions and promote health equity worldwide.

Introduction to Health Care Economics 

This course introduces students to core economic principles and their application to the U.S. health care system. Students will explore how economic tools help explain decisions related to health care delivery, pricing, and access. Emphasis is placed on real-world applications and the role of public policy in shaping health outcomes. Designed for students with no prior background in economics.

Introduction to Healthcare Law and Ethics 

Introduction to Healthcare Law and Ethics is a survey course designed to provide students with an overview of contemporary legal and ethical issues facing the U.S. healthcare industry. Students will explore various topics including the structure of healthcare organizations from a legal perspective, fiduciary and ethical obligations of healthcare organizations, and will examine several key legal and ethical decisions that have shaped the current U.S. healthcare landscape.

Health Information Systems 

In this course, students will compare and contrastvarious clinical, administrative, and specialty service applications commonly used in healthcare organizations. Students will explore the concepts of database architecture to perform queries and apply data mining techniques. 

Healthcare Delivery Systems

Includes history of and orientation to the healthcare delivery system, healthcare planning, dynamics of the healthcare team, and future implications.

Quality Improvement in Health Care

This foundational course introduces students to the principles, methods, and applications of quality improvement (QI) in health care. Students will explore how health care systems measure, monitor, and improve the quality and safety of care delivery. The course examines key concepts such as patient-centered care, systems thinking, performance measurement, and the use of data to drive improvement. By the end of the course, students will have foundational skills to participate in quality improvement initiatives and an understanding of the role QI plays in transforming health care systems.

Principles of Leadership for Health Professions Students 

This course will address the current health care organization and the HCO of the future as it applies to health care teams, organizations, institutions and systems. This course will focus on the future role of the leader in the emerging society of health care while drawing on lessons learned from the past, both in theory and practice. Students will learn from first-hand accounts of health care leaders' experiences and the different challenges facing private, public and non-profit health care organizations today. Management skills and leadership skills will be differentiated and defined. Strategies for balancing and developing each skill set will be reviewed.

Financial Management in Healthcare 

This course is designed to examine the financial aspects of healthcare and accounting principles. 

Principles and Foundations of Health Promotion and Education

This course will provide an introduction and overview to the health education profession. Included in the course will be information on the history, philosophy, theory, ethics, and literature of health education. A strong focus will be placed on the roles, responsibilities, competencies and sub-competencies of a health educator as established by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). Career opportunities within health education will be explored, and several local health education professional will speak about their jobs and provide insight to working in the profession. Students will be introduced to various health education related professional associations and the advantages of professional membership. The future of public health and the health education profession will be discussed.

Emerging Health Issues

This course will review and openly discuss and debate controversial issues in health, health care, and health promotion and education. Students will actively participate in class discussions around various health topics and analyze their own ethical standards, values, and cultural beliefs and practices, in addition to those of other cultural groups, in order to better understand the social influence on decision-making and overall health outcomes. Students are encouraged and guided to examine differing perspectives of health issues and to participate in civil debate drawing on reputable sources to defend positions.

Health Across the Lifespan I: Adolescent and Child 

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the various health programs and services designed for youth and the role such programs play in typical development and behavior choices. This course will offer much information related to the health status and health promotion of children and adolescents and will explore the relationship between child and adolescent development and engagement in health behaviors. Students will examine child and adolescent development from an individual and social perspective.

Health Across the Lifespan II: Adult and Aging

This course will examine demographic trends, the aging process and associated health challenges, the impact of an aging population on society, and how these factors will impact health education program planning decisions.

Health Education Methods & Materials 

This course is designed to present students with the relationship between program planning and a variety of contemporary health education instructional strategies. The purpose is to engage in the “doing” of health education.  Students will participate in skill-building activities to select, tailor, and implement appropriate methodologies, as well as create their own programming materials for a specific audience.  Additionally, students will become familiar with an array of resources, instructional techniques, and practice facilitating interactive health education lessons for various learning styles. 

Risk Reduction & Disease Prevention in Public Health Education 

This course will provide an overview of the basic epidemiological principles of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Emphasis will be on disease prevention and the role of health education in reducing risk factors and improving health.