Courses

Determinants of Population Health

This two semester first year course provides an introduction to the multiple determinants of health, including biology, genetics, structure and financing of health care, socioeconomic status, the physical environment, individual behavior and the interaction of these factors. Students are expected to demonstrate basic knowledge and skills in course topics through exams and papers. The course has a faculty leader and is team taught by various faculty of the program and guest lecturers.
Catalog Number: CTS601A, CTS 601B
Course Coordinator: Carole Upshur
Semster Offered: Fall, Spring
Last Taught: Taught every fall and spring

Advanced Epidemiology & Research Methods

Building on basic skills in epidemiology and scientific research methods, this two-semester course covers research design, sampling, hypothesis development and testing. Students develop skills in use of clinical and epidemiological databases and national health surveys. In addition, methodological strengths of various quantitative and qualitative techniques and designs are explored. Students receive problem sets to complete, in addition to assignments to develop original research approaches to specific scientific and clinical questions. The course has a faculty leader, with guest lectures from various faculty in the program.
Catalog Number: CTS602A, CTS602B
Course Coordinator: Terry Field
Semster Offered: Fall, Spring
Last Taught: Taught every fall and spring

Advanced Statistical Methods for Clinical Research

This first year two semester course provides an overview of multivariate analysis and advanced analytical strategies for clinical and population health research. It assumes competency in basic statistical techniques. Emphasis is on developing an understanding of multivariable modeling in the context of linear, logistic and Poisson regression, ANOVA factorial designs, survival analysis, and repeated measures and longitudinal methods such as random effects models, GEE models and Hierarchical Linear Modeling. The course requires completion of computational lab assignments and a final project. The course is taught by the program’s biostatistician, with guest lectures by various program faculty.
Catalog Number: CTS603A, CTS603B
Course Coordinator: Sharina Person
Semster Offered: Fall, Spring
Last Taught: Taught every fall and spring

Comprehensive Project

This course will provide structure and support for students to complete an independent research project using a secondary data set provided by the instructors. Students will develop, write up, and present their research study, including sections on background, study hypotheses, study methods, results, conclusions, study limitations, and recommended further research. Students will conduct their own data analysis and will be evaluated on summative competencies expected to be achieved by the end of their first year of CPHR core coursework and research rotations.
Catalog Number: CTS604
Course Coordinator: Kate Lapane
Semester Offered: Summer
Last Taught: Taught every summer

Scientific Writing for Clinical Research

This course prepares students to complete their qualifying paper and work on their dissertation proposal. Individual writing assignments addressing different aspects of scientific writing, will be covered. Students learn how to organize and coherently deliver research papers, and the various rules and conventions of manuscript production.
Catalog Number: CTS701
Course Coordinator: Elizabeth Dugan
Semester Offered: Fall
Last Taught: Taught every fall

Research Ethics for Clinical Research

This course covers basic human subjects research issues, including NIH guidelines, required certification, and Institutional Review Board processes and procedures. In addition, topics include general research and data ethics. Students complete papers on specific ethical dilemmas and a final project relevant to their area of dissertation research.
Catalog Number: CTS702
Course Coordinator: Charles Lidz
Semester Offered: Fall
Last Taught: Spring 2013

Advanced Topics in Determinants of Population Health

This course will cover an advanced topic in the biological or social determinants of health (including environment, behavior, and medical services). Sample topics are: new developments in population genetics; pharmaceutical-genotype interactions; specific behavioral correlates of health outcomes; environmental risk; health care quality measurement; or health access and disparities. Each semester the course is offered, a specific set of topics and resources will be outlined.
Catalog Number: CTS710
Course Coordinator: Carole Upshur
Semster Offered: Summer
Last Taught: Summer 2012

Advanced Topics in Epidemiology

This course will cover a focused set of issues in advanced epidemiology such as conducting community-based surveillance systems, designing prospective, case control or case cross-over studies, or setting up a community-based randomized controlled trial. Skills will be developed in the practical and scientific issues as well as analysis plans and presentation of results.
Catalog Number: CTS711
Course Coordinator: Carole Upshur
Semester Offered: Summer
Last Taught: Has not been taught within past 2 years

Advanced Topics in Biostatistics

This course will cover an advanced topic in Biostatistics (for example, Longitudinal Data Analysis, Survival Analysis, Graphical Information Systems and Spatial statistics). The purpose of the course is to provide students an emersion in one particular area of biostatistics, providing the theoretical background necessary and the practical "hands-on" data analytic experience.
Catalog Number: CTS712
Course Coordinator: Carole Upshur
Semester Offered: Summer
Last Taught: Has not been taught within past 2 years

Advanced Research Methods in Pediatrics

The goal of the course objective is to provide students with necessary background and hands-on experience in understanding pediatric translational, implementation and dissemination research and the analytical methods and processes relative to these various phases of translational research. The focus of the course will be on practical clinical applications as they evolve from findings from basic research to the active dissemination and implementation of these innovations into clinical care that define the breadth of translational research.
Catalog Number: CTS713
Course Coordinator: Carole Upshur
Semester Offered: Summer
Last Taught: Has not been taught within past 2 years

Biostatistical Applications Using SAS®

SAS is one of the more comprehensive software packages available today for statistical analysis. It is used in both government and industry, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. The primary objectives of the course are to acquire proficiency in: (1) the use of a standard statistical software package - SAS, (2) interpretation of output, and (3) preparation of reports for clinical and epidemiological studies.
Prerequisites: CTS 603A & CTS 603B or permission of instructor
Catalog Number: CTS714
Course Coordinator: Carole Upshur
Semester Offered: Summer
Last Taught: Has not been taught within past 2 years

Principles and Practice of Clinical Research

This clinical research course will focus on intervention studies (drug, device) and the regulations and resources needed to support their safe and efficient conduct. The shared responsibilities of sponsors (biotech, drug and device), investigative sites, physician investigators and professional research staff will be analyzed within the current regulatory climate. Through case studies and contemporary media, this course will also weave the topics of public trust, patient perceptions and research integrity as a common thread throughout the semester.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor
Catalog Number: CTS715
Course Coordinator: Carole Upshur
Semester Offered: Summer
Last Taught: Has not been taught within past 2 years

Advanced Analytical Methods for Health Outcomes Research

This advanced methods course is focused on learning methods for addressing confounding and bias. The goals for this course are: 1) to become comfortable recognizing and discussing bias and confounding; 2) to gain experience in using a variety of techniques that help in identifying and minimizing bias and confounding; and 3) to be able to assess the potential impact of residual bias and confounding on study results. This course is organized as topic lectures followed by applications of the topic in a STATA lab. The data to be used in the STATA lab comes from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The HRS is a nationally-representative, longitudinal survey of individuals over the age of 50. The goals of the HRS are to provide an emerging portrait of the physical and mental health of America’s aging population.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor
Catalog Number: CTS716
Course Coordinator: Becky Briesacher
Semester Offered: Summer
Last Taught: Fall 2012

Randomized Clinical Trials in Behavioral Medicine Research

The purpose of this course is to provide opportunities for the student to understand the foundations of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in behavioral medicine research. Topics related to theory, design, implementation, and evaluation of behavioral randomized clinical trials will be discussed. Students will develop a research project where concepts can be applied and practice reviewing behavioral RCTs in the published literature.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor
Catalog Number: CTS717
Course Coordinator: Sherry Pagoto
Semester Offered: Summer
Last Taught: Summer 2010

Designing and Conducting Health Surveys

This course introduces students to the foundations of survey methods. The course is designed to introduce students to the use of surveys in public health. Self-reported data, collected using various survey methods, are used to estimate behavioral risks, disease prevalence, access to medical care, health literacy, and physical activity. For example, the CDC sponsors The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a telephone survey conducted by U.S. state health departments. The BRFSS provides state-specific information about issues such as asthma, diabetes, health care access, alcohol use, hypertension, obesity, cancer screening, nutrition and physical activity, tobacco use, and more.
Catalog Number: CTS719
Course Coordinator: Carole Upshur
Semester Offered: Summer
Last Taught: Summer 2011

Independent Study for CPHR

The purpose of an independent study elective is to gain in depth knowledge of a specific topic by working closely with a faculty member with expertise in that area. Typically independent studies cover areas not addressed in the core curriculum and advanced topics or other electives. However, the level of effort and objectives for an independent study must be equivalent to a regular 3-credit course.
The student and sponsoring faculty member must propose a framework and outcome for the independent study, in the semester prior to the semester in which the student will be enrolled, to the Program Director for prior approval.
Catalog Number: CTS799
Course Coordinator: Carole Upshur
Semester Offered: Summer
Last Taught: Spring 2013

Research Rotation

Research/project rotations are defined periods of research experience under the direction of a faculty member. Three different rotations are required. They are intended to familiarize the student with the theory, background, concepts and techniques in several areas of research and to assist the student in evaluating projects and areas that might be developed into a dissertation project. The student will participate in an ongoing research project, gain familiarity with a field of study, acquire a working knowledge of techniques used in the research, and write a report and make an oral presentation on the results of their work.
Catalog Number: CTS850

TRAC Meeting

Annual meeting with Thesis Research Advisory Committee.
Catalog Number: CTS865

Qualifying Paper Preparation

Students select a mentor and project in the first semester of their second year on which to focus their original research. The first step in this process is to complete a publishable paper on an aspect of the project’s research which should also become the basis for the student’s dissertation research. Students are expected to complete this paper by the end of the fall semester. The paper is defended to a faculty Qualifying Review Committee appointed by the program faculty.
Catalog Number: CTS860

Proposal Development Seminar

The purpose of this course is to allow students to develop their dissertation proposals in a systematic fashion under faculty guidance. The dissertation proposal will be in the format of an NIH R03 grant proposal, and at the end of the semester the student is expected to have completed the dissertation proposal. As such, the course is designed to walk the student through each of the NIH grant proposal requirements and expectations. The course will include detailed reviews of the grant process, participation in a mock proposal review session and the completion of each of the written grant components. It is expected that students will involve their mentor and 3-member Thesis Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) in making decisions regarding their proposal and receive their input throughout the semester, so that the student will be prepared to defend the proposal soon after the semester is completed. The course will also be useful as an introduction to NIH proposal writing for students outside of the CPHR program.
Catalog Number: CTS875
Course Coordinator: Stephenie Lemon
Semster Offered: Spring
Last Taught: Taught every spring

Pre-thesis Research

Once a student has completed and defended their Qualifying Paper, they are expected to complete a dissertation proposal. The preparation work and writing of the thesis proposal normally takes place in the spring semester or summer of the second year of study. Students are expected to defend their thesis proposal by the end of the summer of their second year of study and to initiate their dissertation research by the fall of their third year. Students work under the guidance of their mentor and in their chosen lab/project site to complete their thesis proposal.
Catalog Number: CTS880