Public Health, Management Systems Sciences (PHMS)
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.
PHMS 301. Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare Delivery Systems3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: This course explores the many different aspects of health care delivery in the United States within a system of systems, the bases and processes of health care financing, and professional considerations for serving, managing, and leading in different types of health service organizations. Emphasis is placed on the role of health professionals working in different types of health service organizations.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHMS 410. Public Health Law and Ethics3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the critical issues relating to law, ethics and public health. The course examines the legal foundations of the American public health system and resulting ethical dilemmas of the private interests versus public good.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHMS 430. Elements of Data Mining3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): PHST 302.
Description: This course will train students with the necessary skills for data mining/big data analytics that will be used in employment after graduation. It covers the collection of techniques used in practice to analyze huge data sets. The course focuses on building essential abilities: 1) formulating an analytic approach to the problem, 2) application of the techniques, 3) interpretation of results, and 4) presentation of results: oral and written communication.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHMS 501. Introduction to Public Health Practice and Administration3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
Description: This course emphasizes the practical application of the principles of health care organizations to public health at the national, state and local levels.
Note: Taught only at the graduate level.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHMS 505. Governance and Management of Healthcare Organizations3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MS in Health Administration or the undergraduate Minor in Healthcare Management program in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
Description: This course seeks to provide the student with an understanding of organizations and leadership from dominant ways of thinking about them to ways informed by a complexity perspective. Course participants will read about and discuss a broad range of perspective about what constitutes an organization and leadership of it. Particular attention will be given to the organizational experiences of the student and the experience of the class in being together. Course is held on the Health Sciences Campus and is co-scheduled with the graduate credit section of this course.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHMS 509. Health Finance and Financial Management3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MS in Health Administration or the undergraduate Minor in Healthcare Management program in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
Description: This course is designed to provide an overview of health finance and financial management, including context of health finance and the approaches and processes involved in managing the health enterprise. Course is held on the Health Sciences Campus and is co-scheduled with the graduate credit section of this course.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHMS 520. Foundations of Public Health in Health Management3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in the MS in Health Management program in the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
Description: This course is designed to introduce new students in the Masters of Science in Health Administration (MSHA) to the field of Public Health in the United States. It provides a broad overview of the field of public health. With a population health focus, we look at protecting and promoting the health needs of a community using the tools of public health like the community needs assessment, and including core areas of epidemiology, biostatistics, health promotion, environmental health, and health care administration as well as introducing students to the Foundational Public Health Knowledge Competencies as prescribed by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PHMS 530. Comparative Health Systems3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: This course examines health delivery and public health systems from a global perspective. The course focuses on teaching students to describe elements of these systems, the environment in which the systems exist, and the internal and external forces through which systems change. Although the structure of different health systems vary, most also have substantial similarities especially in the areas of improving access and quality, while minimizing costs. The course focuses on health systems, using examples of health systems in different countries to demonstrate system similarities and differences. The course will provide a framework for analyzing different models of organizing health care and public health in settings around the world. The course will engage students in examining health systems outside the United States, focusing specifically on how a country's history, geography, government, and economy influence the delivery of health services.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
