Program and Curriculum

HLTP 110. Introduction to Public Health. This course explores the multidimensional aspects of public health in the United States, with a particular emphasis on social and economic factors that affect morbidity and mortality. Current practices and policies designed to improve population health will be discussed. Public health professional practice is diverse due to multiple cultures, environments, and health care delivery systems in the 21st century United States. Students will gain an understanding of the many fields, disciplines and issues that are public health. Prerequisite: none.

HLTP 185. Service in Public Health. Partnering with the Moravian University Center for Career and Civic Engagement, students will contribute to the health and well-being of individuals and populations by serving community-based organizations and initiatives. As an integral part of service learning, students will reflect and present on their experiences and share ideas for capacity building and service improvements. Prerequisite: Approval of the public health program director.

HLTP 189 Biostatistics. This course introduces students to the key statistical concepts and methods used in public health and health sciences. The curriculum focuses on the following biostatistical topics: measurement, descriptive and graphical analysis, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, correlation, analysis of variance, regression analysis, and writing and interpreting statistics. A major component of the course includes learning how to manage, analyze, interpret, and communicate quantitative health findings. Another major component of the course includes learning how to utilize SPSS, which is one of the leading statistical software packages for public health. This course prepares students to be a good consumer of health research. Students will apply ethical principles to data collection and recognize the importance of limitations based on study design. Prerequisite: none.

HLTP 192. Maternal and Child Health. This course introduces students to the health conditions impacting pregnant women, children, and their families from a life course perspective. The curriculum focuses on the history of maternal and child health, the global burden of disease, and current policies and programs that seek to promote health for this population. Students will explore maternal and child health data from developing and developed countries and apply epidemiological methods. Prerequisites: none.

HLTP 193. Health and Housing. This course examines the relationship between housing and health with a focus on housing affordability as well as quality. Housing as a social justice issue will be explored through the examination of populations affected and policies that impede or improve access to affordable, livable housing. Students will critically examine the current housing crisis and factors that led to the rise of homelessness in the United States. Students will apply their knowledge to develop potential solutions to housing insecurity and its impact on individual and population health. Prerequisites: none.

HLTP 194. Health Without Borders. This course introduces students to key public health concepts related to immigrant and refugee health. The curriculum focuses on the following global health topics: definitions for immigrant populations, causes of conflict, surveillance of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, mental health, vaccination and food aid programs, cultural competence, health policy and advocacy, and coordination of social services. The course examines important health challenges for immigrants and refugees as well as potential strategies towards improving health outcomes. Prerequisites: none.

HLTP 230. Epidemiology. This course introduces students to the key concepts and methods used in epidemiology, the study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease within a defined population. The curriculum focuses on the following epidemiological topics: historical and contemporary applications; measures of morbidity and mortality; descriptive epidemiology; study design; interpreting and visualizing data; surveillance and outbreak investigation. This course examines the biological, behavioral, sociocultural and environmental factors associated with the etiology and distribution of health and disease. Prerequisites: none.

HLTP 231. Nutrition. (also IDIS 231) Food is essential not only for our health and wellbeing, but also for our basic survival. How we obtain, preserve, and prepare our food has changed over the course of time. Today, concerns about food safety, poor diets, and obesity dominate the U.S. headlines, and we are bombarded with all sorts of conflicting dietary claims in the media or via the internet. This course will focus on the science of nutrition: the macro and micro nutrients, the linkages between energy balance and body composition, disordered eating, and food safety. Credible sources of information will be used to study nutrition, diet plans, dietary supplements, and food safety.

HLTP 240. Essentials of Health Behavior. This course is an introduction to the philosophies, settings, theories, and models of health promotion and behavior. The course explores how behaviors are influenced by individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, policy, and societal factors. Health promotion integrates theories and models from diverse disciplines to improve our understanding of health behaviors and conditions. Applicable health promotion theories and models are applied to predict, explain, and transform health behavior, and examples of health behavior/promotion projects and initiatives will be reviewed and analyzed.

HLTP 289. Social Determinants of Health. This course reviews the association between social factors and health from an individual, community, and systems perspectives. Key social determinants of health covered during the course include income, wealth, education, food insecurity, housing, empowerment, and social exclusion. Social and economic conditions are the best predictors of health outcomes. Students will learn why a person’s zip code is a better predictor of health than genetic code. Students are introduced to emerging research on the social determinants of health. Prerequisite: none.

HLTP 295. Storytelling in Health and Medicine. Graphic narrative, fotonovela, and digital storytelling are ways that students, health professionals, patients, and the community can develop an understanding of complex health and social issues. Through this course students will develop skills in using these mediums to communicate complex health messages. Prerequisites: none.

HLTP 315. Health Policy. This course explores health policy from the perspectives of health care delivery and public health. It provides students with an overview of policy making and law, the United States healthcare system, and the role of law in optimizing health. Individual rights, paternalism, health economics, health care reform, health quality, and social justice issues will be discussed. Prerequisites: HLTP 110 or Instructor's permission.

HLTP 321. Global Health. (also NURS 321) This course introduces students to key global health concepts and the critical links between health, disease, and socio-economic development. The curriculum focuses on the following global health topics: goals, measurements, and health disparities; maternal and child health; communicable and noncommunicable diseases; refugee health; environmental health; complex humanitarian emergencies; political and cultural influences on health; and careers in global health. The course examines important global health challenges and potential strategies towards improving health outcomes. Prerequisites: HLTP 110 or Instructor's permission.

HLTP 330. Environmental Health. (also Environmental Studies 330) This course addresses key areas of environmental health. Environmental epidemiology, environmental toxicology, and environmental policy and regulation are discussed as tools necessary to understand and promote environmental health. Specific agents of environmental diseases are analyzed. Applications of environmental health are explored, including water and air quality, food safety, waste disposal, occupational health, and unintentional injuries and death. Prerequisites: HLTP 110 or ENVR 110 or 112.

HLTP 340. Health Program Planning and Evaluation. (also Nursing 340) This course introduces students to the theory and application of public health program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The curriculum focuses on community needs assessment, partnership building, designing clear objectives, developing a strategic plan, implementing culturally competent interventions, formative and summative evaluation, and sustainability of programs. Students will design their own public health program and evaluation plan using a logic model and public health planning models. Prerequisites: HLTP 110 or Nursing 115.

HLTP 386/387. Internship in Public Health. During the course, students apply their public health skills by completing an internship. This seminar consists of weekly discussions and assignments developed for students to think about their internship, career goals, and professional development. Fitting internship, graduate school, and/or career opportunities are identified. Elevator pitch, public speaking, community engagement, resume writing, and interview skills are developed and evaluated. Prerequisites: HLTP 110, 218, 230, 240, or instructor’s approval.