Appendix C: College of Public Health competencies

All graduates of the MHA, MPH, MS and PhD degree programs will be prepared to:

Profession and science of public health

1. Explain public health history, philosophy and values
2. Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 essential services
3. Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health
4. List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the United States or other community relevant to the school or program
5. Discuss the science of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc.
6. Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge

Factors related to human health

7. Explain effects of environmental factors on a population’s health
8. Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population’s health
9. Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population’s health
10. Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities
11. Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease
12. Explain the ecological perspective on the connections among human, animal and ecosystem health (e.g., One Health)

All graduates of the MPH degree programs will be prepared to:

Evidence-based approaches to public health

1. Apply epidemiological methods to settings and situations in public health practice
2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context
3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate
4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice

Public health and health care systems

5. Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings
6. Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and systemic levels

Planning and management to promote health

7. Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health
8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs
9. Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention
10. Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
11. Select methods to evaluate public health programs

Policy in public health

12. Discuss the policymaking process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
13. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
14. Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
15. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity

Leadership

16. Apply leadership and/or management principles to address a relevant issue
17. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges

Communication

18. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
19. Communicate audience-appropriate (i.e. non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
20. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content

Interprofessional and/or intersectoral practice

21. Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health

Systems thinking

22. Apply systems thinking tools to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative

Upon graduation, a successful student with an MPH degree specialization in biomedical informatics will be able to:

1. Access data sources (e.g., databases) commonly used for biomedical informatics
2. Discuss core biomedical informatics theories, methods and practice areas from individual and population-based perspectives
3. Identify and interpret applicable research article in the field
4. Apply principles of ethics for professional practice and responsible conduct of research
5. Apply biomedical informatics methods to biomedical datasets to address challenges in public health and health care

Upon graduation, a successful student with an MPH degree specialization in biostatistics will be able to:

1. Address problems arising in public health and medicine through appropriate statements of hypotheses, study design, data collection, data management, statistical analysis and interpretation of results
2. Recognize strengths and weaknesses of study designs and data sources commonly encountered in public health
3. Identify strengths and weaknesses of standard analytic methods
4. Describe basic concepts of probability, random variation and commonly used statistical probability distributions
5. Use computational methods to effectively analyze complex public health and medical data

Upon graduation, a successful student with an MPH degree specialization in clinical translational science will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate a clinical investigation, including the definition of study aims and objectives and the creation of an appropriate study design
2. Prepare a letter of intent for a translational/team science RFA
3. Use decision analysis and relevant evaluation methods to examine issues of appropriate implementation of treatments or technologies
4. Recognize ethical issues likely to arise in clinical investigations and the procedures for handling them appropriately
5. Demonstrate understanding of the approach to and elements of writing a scientific manuscript
6. Communicate scientific research and ideas to diverse audiences and through different modalities
7. Demonstrate understanding of the difference between clinical science and translational science, and demonstrate understanding of the different domains of translational science

Upon graduation, a successful student with an MPH degree specialization in environmental health sciences will be able to:

1. Explain the significance of the community and workplace environment to public health
2. Outline the health challenges that natural and anthropogenic contaminants in the environment can pose to population health
3. Explain the physiological factors that influence human exposure and the uptake of chemical and biological environmental agents
4. Identify and explain individual (e.g., genetic, physiologic and psychosocial) and community (e.g., social, built, economic, race) susceptibility factors that heighten the risk for populations for adverse health outcomes from environmental hazards
5. Apply various risk assessment, risk management and risk communication approaches for environmental hazards
6. Explain exposure and the underlying mechanisms of toxicity and infectivity resulting from chemical, biological and physical agents
7. Describe federal and state regulatory programs, guidelines and authorities relevant to environmental and occupational health
8. Access state, federal, and local resources for assessing environmental and occupational health

Upon graduation, a successful student with an MPH degree specialization in epidemiology will be able to:

1. Design a survey to examine a public health problem or for use in an epidemiologic investigation
2. Choose the correct analysis for data obtained from an epidemiologic investigation, including data from surveys, matched and unmatched case-control studies, cohort studies and clinical trials
3. Analyze and interpret data obtained from an epidemiologic investigation, including data from surveys, matched and unmatched case-control studies, cohort studies and clinical trials
4. Assess confounding and effect modification in data from an epidemiologic investigation
5. Demonstrate familiarity with the basic content and issues in at least two substantive areas of application in epidemiology (e.g., cardiovascular epidemiology, cancer epidemiology, chronic disease epidemiology, infectious disease epidemiology, injury epidemiology)
6. Identify the natural histories of major types of disease and their relevance to epidemiologic investigations
7. Use appropriate computer software for the management and analysis of epidemiologic data

Upon graduation, a successful student with an MPH degree specialization in health behavior and health promotion will be able to:

1. Explain the history, scope, and philosophical basis of public health education
2. Critically assess the evidence linking behavioral and psychosocial factors to health and illness
3. Apply behavioral and social science theory to the development and implementation of health promotion and disease prevention programs at multiple targets and different levels of intervention (intrapersonal, interpersonal and community)
4. Critically assess the scientific literature describing health promotion interventions
5. Identify mechanisms to secure funding, manage and administer health promotion and disease prevention programs so as to ensure optimal program delivery
6. Design and carry out process evaluation for the improvement of health promotion programs
7. Collaboratively design and carry out outcome evaluations of health promotion programs
8. Apply ethical principles to the planning and evaluation of social and behavioral change efforts
9. Demonstrate cultural competency when planning health promotion and disease prevention activities
10. Recognize the importance of health literacy in creating and/or evaluating health promotion and disease prevention materials
11. Explain how health promotion efforts enable communities to influence their own well-being
12. Anticipate challenges and opportunities in working collaboratively with communities

Upon graduation, a successful student with an MPH degree concentration in population health management and leadership will be able to:

1. Explain important issues in public health and health care, including circumstances causing major changes and reform in U.S. health care delivery
2. Analyze and apply economic theory and concepts for decision-making
3. Identify and use data within organizations to improve performance
4. Perform environmental, market and community needs analyses, develop strategic alternatives, formulate strategic goals, and develop programs, business plans, and implementation strategies to support goal achievement
5. Design, plan, implement, and assess projects, and develop appropriate timelines related to performance, structure and outcomes
6. Evaluate a situation, issue or idea by understanding and challenging assumptions, considering competing points of view, and anticipating potential effects within and across health care and public health systems
7. Use multiple methods and sources to seek comprehensive information, generate creative new solutions — or adapt previous solutions — and apply structured decision-making techniques and tools to address public health and health care questions

Upon graduation, a successful student with an MPH degree specialization in veterinary public health will be able to:

1. Describe common zoonotic and foodborne infectious diseases, with respect to their etiology and epidemiology especially those classified as reportable, bioterrorism threats, or have a major impact on public health and/or agriculture
2. Identify the major pathways for transmission of zoonotic agents and foodborne hazards to humans, as well as the reservoirs for many common pathogens
4. Identify methods and programs utilized to prevent, control and/or eradicate zoonotic and foodborne diseases, including pre- and post-harvest interventions
5. Evaluate the integrity of emergency preparedness programs, including biosecurity, biocontainment and natural disaster response plans
6. Review and apply methods for planning, initiating and conducting case and outbreak investigations of zoonotic and foodborne diseases
7. Recognize applicable regulations and laws governing zoonotic diseases, food safety and security, or foreign animal diseases, and the agencies with authority to enforce these laws
8. Define the role of epidemiology in maintaining human and animal health, and identify strategies in the design and conduct of surveillance, monitoring and epidemiological studies that assess the prevalence and distribution of zoonotic and foodborne diseases
9. Analyze approaches for assessing and controlling environmental and biological agents and strategies for reducing risks to human and animal health, especially in agricultural settings
10. Conduct comprehensive literature reviews of the scientific evidence related to a veterinary public health issue, concern or intervention.
11. Use individual, team and organizational learning opportunities for personal and professional development

Upon graduation, a successful student with an MHA degree specialization in health administration will be able to do the following:

Management Functions

1. Organizational management - Assess opportunities to improve health services organizations through application of organizational theories and organization development principles
2. Organizational structure and governance - Analyze how organizational and environmental factors shape the structure of health care organizations and the roles, responsibilities and influence of governing bodies
3. Workforce and organizational development - Apply methods and techniques for organizational, employee and professional staff development that ensure a diverse and high-performing workforce
4. Operations assessment and improvement - Use systems-thinking and analytic methods to assess operations performance and improve organizational processes
5. Clinical quality assessment and improvement - Apply principles of quality improvement in the context of clinical performance
6. Information technology management and assessment - Analyze the value, risks and opportunities of information technology and associated data for improving performance of health organizations and the broader health system
7. Strategic and business planning. Perform environmental, market and community needs analyses, develop strategic alternatives, formulate strategic goals, and develop programs, business plans, and implementation strategies to support goal achievement
8. Financial management. Explain financial and accounting information, prepare and manage budgets, and evaluate investment decisions

Health Systems and Policy

1. Economic analysis - Analyze and apply economic theory and concepts for decision-making
2. Health care issues and trends - Explain important issues in health care, including circumstances causing major changes and reform in U.S. health care delivery
3. Health policy - Describe policymaking processes relevant to governments and health care organizations, with an emphasis on how politics, power and resources influence rules, regulations, practices and laws. Develop the skills to apply policy analysis tools to health problems and actively engage in health policy discussions
4. Health care legal principles - Recognize legal issues that may arise in health care delivery and business settings and respond appropriately
5. Population health - Use epidemiological, market, patient outcome and organizational performance data to improve quality, and manage financial and other risks associated with defined populations

Leadership and Professionalism

1. Leadership and change management - Develop effective leadership approaches to communicate a vision, motivate stakeholders, build consensus and lead organizational change efforts
2. Impact and influence - Shape opinions, processes or outcomes through example, persuasive communication or use of informal power
3. Professional development - Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement through reflection, goal setting, self-assessment and the cultivation of professional networks
4. Collaboration and working in teams. Work cooperatively with others, create, participate on and lead teams, including inter-professional
5. Personal and professional ethics - Apply ethical principles, social and professional values to analyze managerial, organizational and policy situations. Demonstrate professional values and ethics
6. Critical thinking - Evaluate a situation, issue or idea by understanding and challenging assumptions, considering competing points of view, and anticipating potential effects within and beyond the health care system

Business and Analytical Skills

1. Written communication - Write in a clear, logical manner and prepare effective business communications
2. Verbal communication - Demonstrate effective oral communication and presentation skills
3. Quantitative skills - Analyze data and interpret quantitative information for organization decision making
4. Project management - Design, plan, implement, and assess projects and develop appropriate timelines related to performance, structure and outcomes
5. Performance measurement - Identify and use data within organizations to improve performance
6. Problem-solving and decision-making - Use multiple methods and sources to seek comprehensive information, generate creative new solutions — or adapt previous solutions — and apply structured decision-making techniques and tools to address health care questions

Upon graduation, a successful student with a MS degree specialization in biomedical informatics will be able to:

1. Synthesize literature in student’s area of specialization relative to their thesis topic and its importance for public health
2. Summarize relevant theories and conceptual models that inform their research
3. Conduct a research project using appropriate research methods and ethical approaches
4. Prepare a thesis summarizing the research project and interpreting the results
5. Communicate in writing and orally a research project’s methods, results, limitations, conclusions and public health relevance
6. Utilize existing knowledge sources (e.g. databases) commonly used for biomedical informatics research and applications
7. Discuss core biomedical informatics concepts, methods and practice areas from individual and population-based perspectives
8. Apply biomedical informatics methods to address challenges in the field of public health

Upon graduation, a successful student with a MS degree specialization in biostatistics will be able to:

1. Synthesize literature in student’s area of specialization relative to their thesis topic and its importance for public health
2. Summarize relevant theories and conceptual models that inform their research
3. Conduct a research project using appropriate research methods and ethical approaches
4. Prepare a thesis summarizing the research project and interpreting the results
5. Communicate in writing and orally a research project’s methods, results, limitations, conclusions and public health relevance
6. Address problems arising in public health and medicine through appropriate statements of hypotheses, study design, data collection, data management, statistical analysis and interpretation of results
7. Recognize strengths and weaknesses of study designs, data sources and analytic methods
8. Explain core concepts of probability, random variation and commonly used statistical probability distributions and how they relate to statistical inference
9. Use computational methods to effectively analyze complex public health and medical data

Upon graduation, a successful student with a MS in environmental science with specialization in environmental public health will be able to:

1. Synthesize literature in student’s area of specialization relative to their thesis topic and its importance for public health
2. Summarize relevant theories and conceptual models that inform their research
3. Conduct a research project using appropriate research methods and ethical approaches
4. Prepare a thesis summarizing the research project and interpreting the results
5. Communicate in writing and orally a research project’s methods, results, limitations, conclusions and public health relevance
6. Explain individual and community susceptibility and vulnerability factors that heighten the risk for populations for adverse health outcomes from environmental hazards
7. Apply the environmental health paradigm (i.e., EHS model) to characterizing hazardous physical, chemical and biological agents relative to sources, categories, exposure matrices/pathways, distribution, human exposures, responses, societal/regulatory actions and technological controls
8. Work with various stakeholders and other professions to proactively and reactively address environmental and occupational regulatory, policy and human health issues and concerns

Upon graduation, a successful student with a MS degree specialization in epidemiology will be able to:

1. Synthesize literature in student’s area of specialization relative to their thesis topic and its importance for public health
2. Summarize relevant theories and conceptual models that inform their research
3. Conduct a research project using appropriate research methods and ethical approaches
4. Prepare a thesis summarizing the research project and interpreting the results
5. Communicate in writing and orally a research project’s methods, results, limitations, conclusions and public health relevance
6. Identify and understand the impact of potential sources of bias, including selection bias, measurement error, and confounding, in epidemiological studies
7. Demonstrate familiarity with the content and issues in at least one substantive epidemiological topic

Upon graduation, successful students with a PhD in Biostatistics specializing in public health are expected to be able to:

1. Understand the theoretical foundations of statistical methods
2. Critique general scientific research articles and assess the appropriateness of the statistical applications and methodology involved
3. Work effectively and collaboratively in a team on a biological or health-related scientific questions
4. Design biological or health-related research studies and construct and implement statistical analysis plans   
   appropriate for such studies
5. Effectively communicate the results of statistical analyses to statistical and non-statistical audiences
6. Review and critique existing literature in students’ general area of specialization and identify gaps in   
   that literature
7. Make a contribution to biostatistical methodology and/or practice

Upon graduation, a successful student with a PhD in Environmental Science with specialization in Environmental Public Health will be able to:

1. Explain how the core public health concepts of biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health behavior/health promotion and health administration relate to the student’s area of specialization
2. Synthesize and critique existing literature in student’s area of specialization to identify gaps in the evidence base and justify their importance for public health
3. Apply relevant theories and conceptual models to inform and ground research design and interpretation
4. Formulate hypotheses, plan and conduct a research study using appropriate research methods and ethical approaches
5. Analyze data and prepare an original manuscript, suitable for publication, summarizing the results and interpreting the findings from a research study
6. Communicate in writing and orally a research study’s purpose, methods, results, limitations, conclusions and public health relevance to both informed and lay audiences
7. Quantify individual and community susceptibility and vulnerability factors that heighten the risk for populations for adverse health outcomes from environmental hazards
8. Apply the environmental health paradigm (i.e., EHS model) to characterizing hazardous physical, chemical and biological agents relative to sources, categories, exposure matrices/pathways, distribution, human exposures, responses, societal/regulatory actions and technological controls
9. Work with various stakeholders and other professions to proactively and reactively address environmental and occupational regulatory, policy and human health issues and concerns

Upon graduation, a successful student with a PhD degree in Epidemiology will be able to:

1. Explain how the core public health concepts of biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health behavior/health promotion and health administration relate to the student’s area of specialization
2. Synthesize and critique existing literature in student’s area of specialization to identify gaps in the evidence base and justify their importance for public health
3. Apply relevant theories and conceptual models to inform and ground research design and interpretation
4. Formulate hypotheses, plan and conduct a research study using appropriate research methods and ethical approaches
5. Analyze data and prepare an original manuscript, suitable for publication, summarizing the results and interpreting the findings from a research study
6. Communicate in writing and orally a research study’s purpose, methods, results, limitations, conclusions and public health relevance to both informed and lay audiences
7. Identify and address potential sources of bias, including selection bias, measurement error, and confounding, in both the design and analysis phases of epidemiological studies
8. Demonstrate familiarity with the content and issues in at least one specific substantive area of epidemiology

Upon graduation, a successful student with a PhD degree specialization in health behavior and health promotion will be able to:

1. Explain how the core public health concepts of biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health behavior/health promotion and health administration relate to the student’s area of specialization
2. Synthesize and critique existing literature in student’s area of specialization to identify gaps in the evidence base and justify their importance for public health
3. Apply relevant theories and conceptual models to inform and ground research design and interpretation
4. Formulate hypotheses, plan and conduct a research study using appropriate research methods and ethical approaches
5. Analyze data and prepare an original manuscript, suitable for publication, summarizing the results and interpreting the findings from a research study
6. Communicate in writing and orally a research study’s purpose, methods, results, limitations, conclusions and public health relevance to both informed and lay audiences
7. Critically assess methods for involving diverse communities in research
8. Apply principles of behavioral science to the design of public health interventions
9. Critically assess strengths and limitations of theories used in public health behavior change interventions

Upon graduation, a successful student with a PhD degree specialization in health services management and policy will be able to:

1. Explain how the core public health concepts of biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health behavior/health promotion and health administration relate to the student’s area of specialization
2. Synthesize and critique existing literature in student’s area of specialization to identify gaps in the evidence base and justify their importance for public health
3. Apply relevant theories and conceptual models to inform and ground research design and interpretation
4. Formulate hypotheses, plan and conduct a research study using appropriate research methods and ethical approaches
5. Analyze data and prepare an original manuscript, suitable for publication, summarizing the results and interpreting the findings from a research study
6. Communicate in writing and orally a research study’s purpose, methods, results, limitations, conclusions and public health relevance to both informed and lay audiences
7. Critically assess the key institutions and system relationships within the U.S. health system
8. Critically assess relevant health management and policy theories and concepts as applied in health systems research
9. Apply appropriate statistical techniques to enhance causal inference and to address the problems that arise in health systems research relying on observational data