M.A. in Public Health Biology

The Master of Arts in Public Health Biology is an interdisciplinary online degree.

Students will complete a minimum of 48.5 term credits to graduate. The program is designed to be completed within 8 academic terms of 8 weeks each – a total of two academic years (Sept-May), but students have up to four years to complete the degree. In addition to the coursework, students must complete a literature-based thesis, where newly acquired knowledge is employed in order to demonstrate critical synthesis and integration of existing primary literature.

Required Courses (16.5 credits):

• 550.630.81 Public Health Biology (3 credits)
• 550.631.81 Biological Basis of Public Health (3 credits)
• 550.855.81 MA Public Health Biology Thesis (5-6 credits)
• 552.601.81 Foundational Principles of Public Health (.5 credits)
• 552.602.81 The Role of Quantitative Methods in Public Health (.5 credits)
• 552.603.81 The Role of Qualitative Methods and Science in Describing and Assessing a Population's Health (.5 credits)
• 552.604.81 Causes and Trends in Morbidity and Mortality (.5 credits)
• 552.605.81 The Science of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Prevention in Population Health (.5 credits)
• 552.606.81 The Critical Importance of Evidence in Advancing Public Health Knowledge (.5 credits)
• 552.607.81 Essentials of Environmental Health (.5 credits)
• 552.609.81 Psychological and Behavioral Factors that Affect a Population's Health (.5 credits)
• 552.610.81 Health Inequities: The Role of Social, Political, and Economic Determinants (.5 credits)
• 552.611.81 The Impact of Globalization on Global Burdens of Disease (.5 credits)
• 552.612.81 Essentials of One Health (.5 credits)

Optional Foundation Courses (11 credits):

• 140.6181 Statistical Reasoning in Public Health I (3 credits)
• 140.6181 Statistical Reasoning in Public Health II (3 credits)
• 340.721.81 Epidemiologic Inference I (5 credits)

Required Course, Environmental Health Sciences:
Choose at least one of the following

• 180.6081 Environmental Health (5 credits)
• 187.610.81 Public Health Toxicology (4 credits)
• 187.632.81 Molecular Toxicology (4 credits)
• 183.631.81 Fundamentals of Human Physiology (4 credits)

Required Course, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology:
Choose at least one of the following

• 120.620.81 Fundamentals of Reproductive Biology (3 credits)
• 120.610.81 Introduction to Biochemistry: Protein Structure and Enzyme Catalysis (3 credits)
• 120.627.81 Stem Cells and the Biology of Aging and Disease (3 credits)
• 120.602.81 Concepts of Molecular Biology (4 credits)
• 120.6281 Introduction to Cancer Biology (3 credits)

Required Course, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology:
Choose at least one of the following

• 260.6181 Principles of Immunology I (4 credits)
• 260.656.81 Malariology (4 credits)
• 260.600.81 Intro to Biomedical Sciences (4 credits)

Competencies

By the end of the program, students should be able to:

• Describe the molecular, cellular, immunological, and physiological bases of selected human diseases and conditions.
• Describe the biological principles that underlie the development of disease and its prevention, control, and management.
• Critically evaluate data described in scientific papers and integrate data from multiple papers into coherent theories about the regulation of complex biological processes and diseases.
• Apply statistical principles to the analysis of biological data and apply findings to the understanding and treatment of human disease.
• Compose, explain and defend a 20-30 page scholarly thesis that demonstrates a deep understanding of how biological principles and methods are used to understand, treat and/or prevent a particular condition of importance in the public health arena.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the MA in Public Health Biology program, students will be able to:

1. Describe the molecular, cellular, immunological, and physiological bases of selected human diseases and conditions;
2. Describe biological principles that underlie the development of disease and its prevention, control and management;
3. Critically evaluate data described in scientific papers and integrate data from multiple papers into coherent theories about the regulation of complex biological processes and diseases;
4. Apply statistical principles to the analysis of biological data and apply findings to the understanding and treatment of human disease;
5. Compose, explain and defend a 20-30 page scholarly thesis that demonstrates a deep understanding of how biological principles and methods are used to understand, treat and/or prevent a particular condition of importance in the public health arena;
6. Communicate effectively with the general public, professionals and other stakeholders on issues related to immunology, biochemistry, molecular biology, environmental health sciences and public health.

• Laboratory Manager
• Natural Resources Biologist
• Life and Physical Science Technician
• Biological Science Laboratory Technician
• Research Biologist
• Healthcare Administration
• Project Manager
• Biology Educator
• College Instructor