Public Health

Overview

The Public Health program of the University at Buffalo consists of coursework both from Public Health (PUB) and from other departments across the university. The public health courses are delivered in person in a classroom setting. Our faculty use a variety of high quality, learner centered teaching techniques in their courses, including projects, in class and out of class activities, and field trips in addition to lecture. Classes range from large, introductory courses at the first and second year level to smaller, more specialized courses at the third and fourth year level.

The core faculty for the undergraduate program in public health come from multiple departments in the School of Public Health and Health Professions. Each faculty member has training in one of the core areas of public health or in a discipline that contributes to the interdisciplinary basis of public health. All of the faculty teaching core courses in the major (PUB prefix courses) have a doctoral degree or equivalent professional degree, or appropriate credentials. No PUB core courses are currently taught by teaching assistants.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Public Health -Explain the history and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society.

• Role and Importance of Data in Public Health -Explain and utilize the basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, use, and analysis and explain why evidence-based approaches are an essential part of public health practice.

• Identify and Address Population Health Challenges -Identify and design plans to address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations using the basic processes, approaches, and interventions of population health.

• Human Health -Describe how the underlying science of human health and disease is necessary to provide opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course.

• Determinants of Health -Explain the relevance of the socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, cultural, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities and utilize those elements to explain and design plans to address public health problems.

• Project Implementation -Demonstrate use of the fundamental concepts and features of project implementation, including planning, assessment, and evaluation to conduct public health interventions.

• Health Systems -Explain the fundamental characteristics and organizational structures of the U.S. health system as well as the similarities and differences in systems of other countries.

• Health Policy, Law, Ethics and Economics - Explain basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy, including applying those concepts to public health issues. Explain the roles, influences, and responsibilities of the different agencies and branches of government.

• Health Communication -Demonstrate proficiency in the basic concepts of public health-specific communication, including technical and professional writing and the use of mass media and electronic technology.