Order of Classes for Certificate of Public Health

[TexasPrincess]

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What order do y'all suggest I take the following classes. Any I should avoid during the summer? I plan to take them all online.

PH 2610 Introduction to Epidemiology
3 credits
This course introduces students to principles and concepts in epidemiology through lectures, discussion groups, assigned readings, and exercises. Students are given the opportunity to acquire an understanding of these principles and concepts, the vocabulary of epidemiology, methods of epidemiologic investigation, and the design, interpretation, and evaluation of epidemiologic research.
PH1610 Introduction to Biostatistics
4 credits
Designed for students with little or no previous coursework in mathematics or statistics. Topics include research ethics, study design, data description, elements of probability, distribution of random variables, applications of the binomial and normal distributions, estimation and confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, contingency tables, regression, and analysis of variance. Additional topics include introduction to statistical computing and data management, distribution free statistical methods, demographic measures, and life tables.
PH 2120 Man’s Impact on the Environment
3 credits
This course is designed as an introductory course for students undertaking a graduate program in public health. The major course goals are to develop a general awareness of how the man-made and natural ecosystem interact to affect health and the quality of life, review relevant principles from the natural sciences, and discuss issues influencing the solutions to environmental health problems. This will be accomplished through lectures, videos, class discussions, group activities, written assignments, and examinations.
PH 3715 Introduction to Management and Policy Sciences
3 credits
This course surveys theory and practice in the management and policy sciences applied to the field of public health. Topics include: public health in the US health system/ legal bases of public health; public policy institutions and decision-making processes; methods of policy analysis, public sector institutions, management and decision-making; and private sector health care institutions, management and decision making.
PH 1110 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Community Health
3 credits
This course focuses on health problems and health issues having a major social or behavioral component and is intended for the student with little or no background in the behavioral sciences. The problems considered in this course will vary from year to year, but include topics such as the misuse of alcohol and other drugs, accidental and intentional injuries, and barriers to the utilization and availability of medical care because these are particularly related to attitudes, behavior and life styles. The implications of the various conceptual approaches for policy formulation, measurement, monitoring, and control strategies are explored.

 

[rbnsafsadgf]

Why are you taking them? How and where are you taking them? It looks like you are pre-med. There are many threads on how a MPH is not great prep for an application to med school, yet it is a good skill set to have.

It is hard to give advice without some context.

 

[TexasPrincess]

I am reapplying and I have a free year since I finished my post-bacc (GPA 4.00). I was thinking about doing a MD/MPH anyways, so it makes sense for me to take the classes up front. UTH (my first choice med school, and the school I am on the waitlist for) offers a certificate program where you get to take the 5 classes that I mentioned. All 5 classes count towards an MPH. What is really nice is that I can take all the classes online instead of having to drive into the medical center for classes. I am a big picture thinker who is also interested in sociology, psychology, and education, so an MPH makes sense. I also have a strong Math background (BS in Physics, BA in Astronomy with a minor in Math in 3 years), so I am not intimidated by the statistics. What class order do you suggest?

Undergrad GPA: 3.51
Sci GPA: 3.48
Overall: 3.45 (low grad gpa from astronomy coursework)
MCAT: 32R (BS: 10 V:10 PS: 12)
Non-trad: 29 yr old single mom with a 3 yr old

Why are you taking them? How and where are you taking them? It looks like you are pre-med. There are many threads on how a MPH is not great prep for an application to med school, yet it is a good skill set to have.

It is hard to give advice without some context.

 

[Stories]

Order doesn't matter. There's no real overlap in material in the 1st level classes, anyway.

 

[BETHANYP12]

What is really nice is that I can take all the classes online instead of having to drive into the medical center for classes.

I am not sure if you plan on taking these classes this fall, but I know alot of the online classes have already filled up. I am taking the Man's Impact on the Environment class and it was full a couple of days after enrollment began

 

[TexasPrincess]

Wow, thanks for the heads up. I was just accepted to the cert program a week ago, and I am still at the start of the to do list. Hopefully, I will get in to a class for the fall. What classes have you taken so far Bethany? What do you plan to take this fall? It is nice to meet someone who is taking classes at UTH SPH.

Smiles!

 

[rbnsafsadgf]

It sounds like you know what you are getting into and you have a genuine interest in public health. The order of survey classes doesn't matter, but probably Epi and Stats are the most fundamental courses.

I would make sure you are making the best use of your time and perhaps post your re-app story in the Re-App pre-med forum, if you haven't already yet.

Good luck.

-- a former re-applicant with a MPH

 

[BETHANYP12]

Wow, thanks for the heads up. I was just accepted to the cert program a week ago, and I am still at the start of the to do list. Hopefully, I will get in to a class for the fall. What classes have you taken so far Bethany? What do you plan to take this fall? It is nice to meet someone who is taking classes at UTH SPH.

Smiles!

I am actually just starting my MPH in the fall, but at the Dallas campus (UT Southwestern). I got them to remove my holds (for orientation) so I could enroll with general enrollment. The secretary in Dallas said that the internet classes fill up early, so that is why I did that. I heard they are a lot more work too, so I am only taking one and 2 other classes (EPI and Topics in Infection Disease) in person.

 

[Jetdry]

If you have a decent background in math, I would suggest taking Intermediate Biostatistics (PH 1700) right off the bat because Intro to Biostatistics (PH 1690) is fairly basic. Also, the concepts/skills you learn in Intermediate Biostatistics will be most applicable to real-world research, and you will need to take that class if you continue on with an MPH degree and major in either Epi or Biostats.

Another thing...Man's Impact (PH 2120) is a fairly demanding course. It requires a lot of reading and participation, granted you will learn a lot, but you may want to consider another environmental class (i.e. Overview of Env. Hlth 2110) if you won't have ample time to spend getting through the lecture/reading material.

Anyway, that was just my two cents. I wish you all the best in your programs at UTSPH, you'll be glad you did it!