Course Descriptions

Functions of the Public Health System

Public health at the community, state, and national levels. The course addresses the philosophy, purpose, history, organization, functions, activities and impact of public health practice. Discussion questions and case studies, integrated into the course, serve to stimulate student participation in gaining in-depth knowledge about real world public health issues and practice. Three hours lecture.

Clinical Microbiology

For health science professionals, covering the biology, virulence mechanisms and identification of infectious agents important in human disease and host-defense mechanisms. Clinical applications are emphasized. Three hours lecture.

Biochemistry

(2 semesters)
(I) Chemistry and function of amino acids, proteins, and enzymes; enzyme kinetics; membranes; chemistry, function, and metabolism of carbohydrates; citric acid cycle; electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation.
(II) Chemistry, function, and metabolism of lipids; nitrogen metabolism; metabolic regulation; nucleic acid and protein biosynthesis; molecular biology. Three hours lecture.

Environmental Chemistry

Chemical principles applied to the environment and environmental problems. Chemical kinetic, thermodynamic and equilibrium concepts as they relate to the atmosphere, water and soil will be discussed to include current problems of pollutants, pollutant evaluation and pollutant remediation. Discussion of methods for the chemical analysis of environmental samples will also be included. Three hours lecture.

Immunology Lecture

Scientific basis of natural and acquired immunity. antigens, antibodies, and antigen-antibody reactions in vitro and in vivo. Three hours lecture.

Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses Lecture

Genetic mechanisms, mutation, transformation, recombination, transduction, lysogeny, phenotypic mixing and reactivation phenomena. Three hours lecture.

Basis of Public Health Laboratory Practice

The scientific basis of current laboratory practice of public health science in the areas of microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, molecular biology and environmental chemistry. (to accompany Public Health Laboratory Training). Three hours lecture.

Public Health Laboratory Training

(2 semesters)
A sequence of two courses involving 36 hours/week of training in a functioning public health laboratory. The courses provide in-depth experience in the use of analytical methods and standard operating procedures that are unique to public health laboratories. The courses are designed to train individuals for entry into the practice of public health laboratory sciences: microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, molecular biology, environmental chemistry, and the associated analytical methods and instrumentation. Credit hours: 6 - 9 per semester.