Academics

Emergency Preparedness-Infectious Outbreaks and Surveillance Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

*Launching in Summer 2024*

This certificate introduces students to:

• Principles of public health preparedness and disaster management
• Natural and manmade environmental hazards
• Risk assessment and management
• Emergency risk and crisis communication
• Key epidemiological measurements and study designs
• Surveillance and epidemiological investigation
• Medical surge and emergency healthcare management

Students will also discuss the legal and ethical issues in public health preparedness and disaster management; the development of leadership skills; and plans for community preparedness, response and recovery.

Admission

Applicants with a bachelor's degree who are interested in emergency preparedness are eligible to apply for this certificate program. The application deadline is January 15. All application materials should be submitted to the Graduate School.

Program of Study 

• PBHE 462 Special Topics in Public Health-Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Management: This course introduces definitions/principles of public health preparedness and emergency management; threats from both natural and man-made disasters; public health infrastructure and workforce building; legislation, regulations and policies in public health preparedness; surveillance and epidemiological investigation; community preparedness, response, and recovery; emergency risk and crisis communication; emergency healthcare management; and leadership development. Prerequisite: None.
• PBHE 530 Epidemiology: This course introduces the epidemiological measurements and surveillance to disease control and prevention; utilizes epidemiological studies to identify causal relationships between exposures and health outcomes; and applies epidemiology to development, implementation and evaluation of health policies. Prerequisite: None.
• PBHE 570 Environmental Health: This course addresses core principles and concepts of environmental health, analyze the impacts of human health and the role of global leadership to control environmental hazards. Students learn what kind of evidence is used to assess the health consequences of these exposures, including toxicology, epidemiology and risk assessment, and identifies issues related to conflicting agendas and social justice in environmental issues. Prerequisite: None.
• PBHE 580 Public Health Interventions: This course is an overview of theories for program planning/implementation in public health. Using logic models, community organizing, evaluation/assessment, social marketing and advocacy for leading public health programs/organizations. Prerequisite: None.

Program Format

The certificate may be completed in one summer semester. All classes will be online (synchronous or asynchronous).

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete and pass 12 required credit hours.

Enrollment in this program does not qualify for federal financial aid.