Public Health - Public Health (PHPH)

Subject-area course lists indicate courses currently active for offering at the University of Louisville. Not all courses are scheduled in any given academic term. For class offerings in a specific semester, refer to the Schedule of Classes.

500-level courses generally are included in both the undergraduate- and graduate-level course listings; however, specific course/section offerings may vary between semesters. Students are responsible for ensuring that they enroll in courses that are applicable to their particular academic programs.

Course Fees

Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.


PHPH 523. Public Health in the United States3 Units

Grading Basis: Pass/Fail

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate program in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences, other than the MPH.

Description: This course is designed to introduce new students in academic public health programs (MS and PhD) to the field of Public Health in the United States. It provides a broad overview of the field of public health, a focused look at the core areas of epidemiology and biostatistics, health promotion, environmental health, and health care administration.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 550. Special Topics in Public Health Sciences1-3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.

Description: In-depth exploration of public health sciences topics to advance students' knowledge in aspects of field not covered at same depth in existing courses.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 551. Public Health Study Abroad1-6 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Prerequisite(s): Instructor permission.

Description: Students who are interested in a global learning experience may engage in independent coursework related to their travel. Students pursue a topic of special interest that is not covered in regular course offerings under the mentorship of a faculty member.Should be listed twice in the catalog, one for undergrad credit and one for grad credit.

Note: We are offering this course both to undergrads for undergrad credit and to graduate students for graduate credit.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 601. Evaluating Health Care Literature1 Unit

Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MS in Biostatics program or the MSc or Certificate in Clinical Investigation Sciences program.

Description: A review of formal methods for evaluating the medical literature including those of the University of Rochester Clinical Pharmacology Group; and the Evidence Based-Medicine Group. Meta-Analysis: sources of information, using medical informatics, selection of trails, pooling of data, analyzing pooled data and interpreting results, problems and limitations of meta analysis will be covered.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 610. New Drug & Device Development2 Units

Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MS in Biostatics program or the MSc or Certificate in Clinical Investigation Sciences program.

Description: This course introduces the rationale for, practical aspects of, and new issues in drug and device development as well as the relevant industry and government policies and regulations.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 630. Geographic Information Systems in Public Health3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.

Description: This course provides public health students with "hands-on" GIS experience, using Environmental Systems Research Institute's (ESRI's) ArcGIS software and other software packages. Topics covered include an introduction to geographic information systems, management and use of health, census and spatial data, mapping health information, spatial clustering of health events, analysis of environmental hazards, risk and spread of infectious and vector-borne diseases, and location of health services and access to care.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 631. Clinical Research Management2 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Odd Years

Prerequisite(s): Introductory Biostatistical Methods (PHST-500 or equivalent).

Description: May be taken concurrently with PHST-500 with permission of instructor. This course covers the practical and regulatory aspects of managing clinical trials. Focus will be placed on analysis of resources, implementation, and project management. Practical tools for analysis and management as well as focus on current trends in the industry will be key components of the course. Topics include human resources, project management, budget development and management, databases, case report forms, data acquisition, quality assurance and quality control, monitoring and auditing, regulations, good clinical practice (GCP), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and working with industry sponsors.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 632. Ethical Conduct of Health Care Research2 Units

Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MS in Biostatics program or the MSc or Certificate in Clinical Investigation Sciences program.

Description: This course focuses on key aspects of research ethics, such as codes of ethical conduct, federal regulations, and institutional review boards. Key principles explored include informed consent, privacy, and conflicts of interest. The course also considers special populations, such as cognitively impaired individuals and children; and specialized forms of research, such as genetic research and research utilizing repositories of stored tissue.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 675. Independent Study in Clinical Research1-3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MSc or Certificate in Clinical Investigation Sciences program.

Description: Course allows students to pursue advanced study with faculty guidance on a topic related to clinical research.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 677. Public Health Practice Experience 11 Unit

Grading Basis: Pass/Fail

Term Typically Offered: Spring Only

Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MPH program in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.

Description: The Public Health Practice Experience (PHPE) is designed to bridge the gap between academia and public health practice by providing field experience at a public health-related worksite. Each MPH student identifies a practice site, develops a learning agreement in consultation with the practice site mentor and faculty mentor, works at the site to apply specific public health foundational and concentration competencies, gains experience within the organization, and prepares written and oral reports describing the practice experience.

Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 678. Public Health Practice Experience 21 Unit

Grading Basis: Pass/Fail

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MPH program in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences and completion of or concurrent enrollment in PHPH 677.

Description: The Public Health Practice Experience (PHPE) is designed to bridge the gap between academia and public health practice by providing field experience at a public health-related worksite. Each MPH student identifies a practice site, develops a learning agreement in consultation with the practice site mentor and faculty mentor, works at the site to apply specific public health foundational and concentration competencies, gains experience within the organization, and prepares written and oral reports describing the practice experience.

Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 679. Public Health Practicum Experience 32 Units

Term Typically Offered: Spring Only

Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MPH in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences and completion of or concurrent enrollment in PHPH 678.

Description: The practicum experience is designed to bridge the gap between academia and public health practice by providing field experience at a public health worksite. Each MPH student identifies a practice site, develops a learning agreement in consultation with the practice site mentor and faculty mentor, works at the site to address the components of the learning agreement and to gain experience within the organization, prepares a written characterization of the practice site, and prepares written and oral reports describing the practicum experience.

Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 696. Issues in Public Health2 Units

Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.

Description: This course provides students with several broad topical concepts encountered within the field of public health. It serves as an introductory course, providing a framework upon which to build all other subsequent core courses. It also serves as a venue to introduce students to the five core areas of public health (epidemiology, biostatics, health management and policy, health knowledge, and environmental health) through various presentations and activities.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 698. Public Health Integrative Learning Experience2 Units

Term Typically Offered: Spring Only

Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in MPH.

Description: The Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) is designed to identify specific MPH foundational and concentration competencies that address a student's educational and professional goals and requires the student to complete a culminating experience that demonstrates the synthesis of the identified competencies through specific learning experiences.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 699. Mentored Research1-3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MSc or Certificate in Clinical Investigation Sciences program.

Description: Independent research in order to complete the professional paper requirement for the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation Sciences program.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

PHPH 701. Directed Reading for Qualifying Examinations1-9 Units

Grading Basis: Pass/Fail

Prerequisite(s): Graduate student in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences who has completed required coursework in a doctoral degree program and is preparing for comprehensive examinations.

Description: The course allows doctoral students to prepare for qualifying examinations with faculty guidance on topics and readings. This course may be repeated.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes