This course explores the historical context of the public health field, reviews the public health infrastructure and workforce, and examines evidence-based practices to address current public health issues. Students will gain an understanding of key principles in public health, including wider social and environmental influences on health and illness, approaches to prevention, population health research findings, and economic and ethical aspects of healthcare. The course will examine health disparities, quality, and accessibility and will focus on strategies to promote health equity and healthy lifestyles. Students will be able to apply them to their specialized areas of study.

CILO-1: Describe the history, philosophy, and core values of public health, and explain its functions in society and across the globe. CILO-2: Critically discuss the nature and principles of the public health approach, and distinguish different approaches to managing public health problems. CILO-3: Explain the influence of social and environmental factors on health and disease, and identify strategies to address them. CILO-4: Apply basic processes, approaches, and interventions that identify and address major health-related needs and concerns of populations. CILO-5: Calculate measures of population impact, and understand their strengths and limitations. CILO-6: Evaluate proposed early detection or screening programs against appropriate criteria. CILO-7: Analyze the core influences on public health and healthcare policy, and their ethical implications. CILO-8: Define basic concepts of public health investigation, population health data, and health behavior theory models and their application to evidence-based practice in public health.