First year graduate students may find it challenging to determine what electives to add to their curriculum. An area of focus is highly individual to the student however, below are recommended elective courses listed by common specializations in the field of public health and their descriptions.

 

• Disease Prevention and Education
• Epidemiology
• Family/Child Health
• General Wellness Education and Promotion
• Geriatric/Elderly Health and Aging
• International/Global Health
• Mental Health and Disabilities
• Nutrition
• Physical & Exercise Education/Science
• Policy
• Rural and Underserved Communities
• Sexual Health Education and Promotion
• Sustainability and Food Security

For the most up-to-date and complete list of course offerings, view the current year’s University Course Catalog.

Disease Prevention and Education

• HCA 5173* Emerging Global Infectious Diseases.

  Develops a realistic approach to addressing emerging global infectious diseases, emphasizing global health implications in the areas of prevention, surveillance, and control.

• HLTH 5133* Environmental Health.

  Examination of health issues, etiology of disease, and control and prevention of major environmental health problems in industrialized and developing countries. Previously offered as HHP 5133.

• HLTH 5983* Implementation and Evaluation of Public Health Programs.

  Application of program implementation and evaluation, including evaluation design. Same course as MPH 5983. Previously offered as HHP 5983.

• MICR 5273* Advanced Principles of Microbial Pathogenesis.

  Advanced study of the pathogenic mechanisms used by microbial pathogens to cause disease. Principles of pathogen and pathogen-host interactions that lead to disease pathology.

• MPH 5413* Food Safety and Public Health.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of instructor. Introduction to public health and diseases transmissible to humans. Potential human health hazards in foods of animal origin and principles of safe food production, processing, handling and inspection, including pathogen reduction and HACCP regulations. Same course as VBSC 5413*.

• NSCI 5053* Functional Foods for Chronic Disease Prevention.

  Prerequisite(s): Admission to Great Plains IDEA MS in Dietetics or consent of instructor. Integrate and evaluate the regulatory principles, food science, nutrient science and nutritional metabolism for the development of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements for chronic disease prevention. Web-based instruction.

• NSCI 5313* Dietary and Herbal Supplements.

  Prerequisite(s): Human Physiology or consent of instructor. Explore the safety and efficacy of botanical/herbal and dietary supplements in health applications including dietary supplementation in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease. Web-based Instruction

• NSCI 5543* Obesity Across the Life Span.

  Prerequisite(s): Admission to Great Plains IDEA MS in Dietetics or consent of instructor. Obesity in the population from childhood to the adult age groups. Examination of the impact of obese conditions on disease development throughout the life span. Critical analysis of interventions used in the behavioral and clinical management of overweight and obese individuals in community and clinical settings. Web-based instruction.

• NSCI 6243* Nutrition and Cancer.

  Examination of basic cancer biology and methodology used to study nutrition and cancer relationships. The role of nutrition in specific cancers, cancer prevention and cancer treatment will be explored

• SOC 4153 Sociology of Health and Illness.

  Critically analyzes the social production of disease and illness in modern society from a sociological perspective. Examines the social organization of Medicare care, including critical issues affecting healthcare and health insurance in the United States. Focuses on the meanings and experiences of illness, as well as on contemporary critical debates such as environmental and health, bioengineering, and bioethics.

 

Epidemiology

• BIOM 5013* Biomedical Statistics.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing. Fundamentals of biostatistics, including parametric and non-parametric statistical methods with applications to biomedical research, clinical epidemiology and clinical medicine.

• MICR 5273* Advanced Principles of Microbial Pathogenesis.

  Advanced study of the pathogenic mechanisms used by microbial pathogens to cause disease. Principles of pathogen and pathogen-host interactions that lead to disease pathology.

• MPH 5221* Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of instructor. Principles and uses of evidence-based practice of veterinary medicine; comprehension and utilization of scientific research; interpretation of basic concepts of observational study of disease. Same course as VMED 5221* and VMED 7221*

• RES 5023* Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology.

  This course covers causation, epidemiological research designs, measures of disease frequency and association, detection of confounders and interaction, ethics and issues pertaining to the validity and applicability of research in medicine.

• SOC 5553* Seminar in Medical Sociology.

  Advanced study in the sociology of medicine, including the doctor-patient relationship, the social meanings of health and illness, epidemiology, health care delivery, and the medicalization of American society. Analysis of the sociology of organic illness and mental illness using readings from both classical and contemporary sources

 

Family/Child Health

• HDFS 4373* Early Childhood Health & Well-being.

  Prerequisite(s): 2113. Examination of issues in early childhood health and well-being, including physical health; infant and early childhood mental health; nutrition, exercise, and childhood obesity; safety; resilience; and exposure to biological and psychosocial risks that impact health. Exploration of policies and programs related to children’s health and well-being, as well as identification of practical implications for promoting children’s health and well-being.

• HDFS 5153* Policy in Human Development and Family Science.

  Critical analysis of approaches to and models of policy in Human Development and Family Science. Examination of policy analysis and evaluation, development, advocacy, and implementation of state and federal policy and legislation.

• HDFS 5233* Infant Mental Health.

  Foundations of infant mental health theory, research, and practice. Includes the familial context of children’s early development and the importance of infant-caregiver relationships, early intervention, assessment, and reflective practice. Emphasis is placed on the application of infant mental health principles across settings and disciplines focused on early childhood and families.

• HDFS 5243* Infant and Early Childhood Development and Attachment.

  Survey of research and theory pertaining to infant and early childhood development and attachment. Content includes cognition and learning, social and emotional development, and assessment. An emphasis is placed on attachment and implications for practitioners working with young children and families.

• HDFS 5273* Parent Education.

  Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor. Parent-child relations, parenting strategies, and other major components of empirically validated parent education programs that lead to certification. Supervised practice.

• HDFS 5283* Developmental Disabilities.

  Recent practices, policy, theory, and research related to individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members

• HDFS 5343* Developmental Assessment and Interventions.

  Applications of qualitative and quantitative approaches to observation and developmental assessment and intervention strategies for students preparing to become specialists or practitioners working with children and families, including early childhood educators, child and parenting practitioners, and human service practitioners.

• HDFS 5353* Diversity in Early Childhood.

  Exploration and critical review of the state of early childhood programming with emphasis on research, theory, and policy making that bear on current diversity and multicultural issues in practice.

• HDFS 5363* Early Childhood Development and Education.

  The interaction of biology, family, culture, and extended environment on children’s emotional, social, and cognitive development during the early childhood years. The implications of regularities and diversity in development for teaching and learning and on principles of educational practice to enhance development.

• HDFS 5373* Early Childhood Administration.

  Examination of the administration, management, and supervision of programs for young children. Legal, social, and economic conditions affecting programs.

• HDFS 5493* Aging and Families.

  Theories and research related to individual and family adjustments in later life affecting older persons and their intergenerational relationships. Critical issues include marriage, divorce and remarriage, adult children and their parents, grandparenting, and alternative family forms.

• HDFS 5513* Issues in Family Science.

  Current and classic literature in family studies. Consideration of philosophical bases and current research issues relevant to the family as a field of study.

• HDFS 5523* Family Theory.

  Theoretical frameworks and processes in family science. Overview of the interface between theory, research, and application in family science.

• HDFS 5543* Coping with Family Crises.

  Strategies for helping families deal with various family crises including illness, death and divorce. Focus on dealing with these from a family systems approach

• HDFS 5563* Community and Family.

  Prerequisite(s): Admission to the HDFS Graduate Program. Examination of current research and theory in the interactions of families and communities. Emphasis on empirical strategies for intervention to address community and family-based problems.

• HDFS 5573* Adolescent in Family Context.

  Physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of adolescents within the context of family relationships. Exploration of research and theory as it relates to adolescent development and parent-adolescent relationships

• HDFS 5643* Child and Adolescent Treatment in Marriage and Family Therapy.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of instructor. An overview of the issues surrounding children and adolescents in marriage and family therapy including child abuse and neglect, drug abuse, oppositional behaviors, ADHD, and family structures and hierarchies. Assessment and treatment methods. Strategies for engaging families.

• HS 5553* Insurance Planning for Families.

  Study of risk management concepts, tools, and strategies for individuals and families, including life insurance; property and casualty insurance; liability insurance; accident, disability, health, and long-term care insurance; and government-subsidized programs. Current and emerging issues and ethical considerations. Relationships between investment options and employee/employer benefit plan choices. Web-based instruction.

• NSCI 5363* Maternal and Infant Nutrition.

  Prerequisite(s): 2114 or equivalent. Nutritional needs and dietary concerns during pregnancy, lactation and the first year of life. Implications for nutrition intervention, education and policy.

• NSCI 5373* Childhood Nutrition.

  Prerequisite(s): 2114 or consent of instructor. Normal nutritional needs of children, preschool through grade 12. Dietary implications for child care programs, school food service and parent education.

 

General Wellness Education and Promotion

• HLTH 5113* Psychological Aspects of Health.

  Examination of the interactions of biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors as they impact human health and disease. Previously offered as HHP 5113.

• MPH 5413* Food Safety and Public Health.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of instructor. Introduction to public health and diseases transmissible to humans. Potential human health hazards in foods of animal origin and principles of safe food production, processing, handling and inspection, including pathogen reduction and HACCP regulations. Same course as VBSC 5413*.

• NSCI 5203* Nutrition in Wellness.

  Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Great Plains IDEA online MS in Dietetics or consent of instructor. Wellness promotion through nutrition. Nutritional risk and protective factors will be examined as they relate to public health and individual nutrition. Web-based instruction.

• NSCI 5713* Advanced Community Nutrition.

  Prerequisite(s): 2114, 3223 and 4733 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Current issues in community nutrition with emphasis on program development and evaluation of community nutrition programs. Analysis of the impact of economic, political, legislative and cultural diversity factors in the field of community nutrition.

 

Geriatric/Elderly Health and Aging

• HDFS 5403* Perspectives in Gerontology.

  An overview of current aging issues including current focus of gerontology theory and research; critical social and political issues in aging, the interdisciplinary focus of gerontology, current career opportunities, and aging in the future. Web-based instruction.

• HDFS 5411* Ethics and Aging.

  Analysis of ethical issues for the aging population. Critical examination of various ethical issues from legal, psychological, social, and financial perspectives. Enrollment requires attendance of the one-day, Oklahoma Ethics and Aging Conference.

• HDFS 5413* Adult Development and Aging.

  The biological, psychological and social factors associated with aging. Special emphasis on developmental adaptation in late and very late life.

• HDFS 5423* Research Perspectives in Gerontology.

  Critical review of gerontological literature. Special emphasis on current knowledge related to research methodologies, measurement applications, and clinical interventions used to study age-related processes and outcomes.

• HDFS 5433* Theories of Aging.

  Addresses the historical, contemporary and interdisciplinary basis of aging theory. Biological, psychological, sociological and human developmental conceptualizations of aging are critically assessed. Emphasis is placed on conceptual models, as well as theoretical development and application within gerontological research and the field of aging

• HDFS 5453* Aging in the Medical Context.

  Orients students to the unique issues related to health and the health system for individuals in later life. A particular focus is placed on health programs, the role of medical personnel and tasks of family members as older persons face health issues and decisions.

• HDFS 5493* Aging and Families.

  Theories and research related to individual and family adjustments in later life affecting older persons and their intergenerational relationships. Critical issues include marriage, divorce and remarriage, adult children and their parents, grandparenting, and alternative family forms.

• HLTH 4783* Health Issues in Gerontology.

  Prerequisite(s): HLTH 2603. An in-depth study of physiological aspects, special health concerns, chronic illnesses and services as applied to gerontology. Previously offered as HHP 4783.

• HS 5543* Environments and Aging.

  Special needs of older people and attributes of physical environments that support these needs including attention to the “meaning of and attachment to home.” Application of knowledge to design and management of housing, institutional settings, neighborhoods and communities. Environment-person fit; aging-in-place, assisted living and long-term care; and therapeutic environments. Web-based instruction.

• HS 5543* Environments and Aging.

  Special needs of older people and attributes of physical environments that support these needs including attention to the “meaning of and attachment to home.” Application of knowledge to design and management of housing, institutional

• HS 5553* Insurance Planning for Families.

  Study of risk management concepts, tools, and strategies for individuals and families, including life insurance; property and casualty insurance; liability insurance; accident, disability, health, and long-term care insurance; and government-subsidized programs. Current and emerging issues and ethical considerations. Relationships between investment options and employee/employer benefit plan choices. Web-based instruction.

• HS 5633* Program Evaluation and Research Methods in Gerontology.

  Overview of program evaluation, research methods and grant writing in gerontology. Application of quantitative and qualitative methods in professional settings. Web-based instruction

• NSCI 5323* Nutrition and Physical Activity in Aging.

  Basic physiological changes during aging and their impact in health and disease. Successful aging with emphasis on physical activity and nutrition. Practical application to community settings. Web-based instruction.

• NSCI 5393* Nutrition and Aging.

  Prerequisite(s): 2114 or equivalent. Nutritional needs, and dietary concerns of the elderly. Implications for food and nutrition programs, policies, research and education. settings, neighborhoods and communities. Environment-person fit; aging-in-place, assisted living and long-term care; and therapeutic environments. Web-based instruction.

 

International/Global Health

• AGEC 5343* International Agricultural Markets and Trade.

  Contemporary international agricultural trade theory and applications. Broaden students’ understanding of contemporary cultural and economic issues outside the U.S. that affect global demand. Gains from trade and the theory of comparative advantage. No credit for students with credit in AGEC 4343.

• AGEC 5733* International Agricultural Policy and Development.

  Global welfare analysis of national food and agricultural trade and development policies of developed and developing countries. Analysis of import demand systems using real world data and incorporating economic and demographic variables.

• AGIN 5312* Applied Issues in International Agriculture and Natural Resources.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Applied global issues in international agriculture and natural resource development, including sustainability, food security, trade, project evaluation, and international agricultural institutions. Written and oral reports and discussion of selected topics.

• CIED 5623* Multicultural and Diversity Issues in Curriculum.

  Understanding of the historical and contemporary perspectives toward cultural diversity. Development of an awareness of diverse culture and language communities; understanding of critical issues of race, class, gender, and ethnicity in education; perennial issues of multiculturalism in public education and in global society; a comprehensive overview of principles and current research on bilingual and multicultural education.

• GEOG 5243* Geography of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of instructor. A regional survey of indigenous assertions of cultural, political and economic self-determination outside the United States. Native land claims, impact of regional development and environmental issues upon indigenous communities, and their efforts to establish geopolitical autonomy.

• HCA 5133* Health Care Informatics.

  Focuses on healthcare informatics for the entire spectrum within the medical community. Covers local and community applications to broad global initiatives.

• HCA 5143* Relief and Development in Global Health.

  Explores the roles and interaction of intergovernmental and governmental agencies and NGOs involved in global health

• HCA 5153* International Health Systems.

  Provides an overview of the differences in global health care systems using a historical and sociopolitical context making extensive use of country case studies.

• HCA 5173* Emerging Global Infectious Diseases.

  Develops a realistic approach to addressing emerging global infectious diseases, emphasizing global health implications in the areas of prevention, surveillance, and control.

• HCA 5183* Global Environmental and Occupational Health.

  Examines environmental health concerns in the context of public health, and the social, economic and other factors that mitigate the effects of environmental hazards or otherwise influence the population.

• HCS 5103* Intro to Global Health.

  Highlights the chronic, emerging and re-emerging global health issues and examines possible measures to address them.

• HLTH 5133* Environmental Health.

  Examination of health issues, etiology of disease, and control and prevention of major environmental health problems in industrialized and developing countries. Previously offered as HHP 5133.

• MPH 5413* Food Safety and Public Health.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of instructor. Introduction to public health and diseases transmissible to humans. Potential human health hazards in foods of animal origin and principles of safe food production, processing, handling and inspection, including pathogen reduction and HACCP regulations. Same course as VBSC 5413*.

• NSCI 5453* Nutrition and Health Disparities.**

  Prerequisite(s): Admission to Great Plains IDEA MS in Dietetics or consent of instructor. Examination of nutrition and health disparities in the U.S. Identification of sociocultural determinants of health and their influence on nutrition and health outcomes. Exploration of interdisciplinary strategies to reduce nutrition and health disparities. Web-based instruction.

• NSCI 5553* Global Nutrition and Food Security.

  Advanced study of the magnitude, causes, and nature of hunger and under-nutrition in low income countries; emphasis on programs, policies and planning directed toward alleviating hunger and malnutrition

• NSCI 5713* Advanced Community Nutrition.

  Prerequisite(s): 2114, 3223 and 4733 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Current issues in community nutrition with emphasis on program development and evaluation of community nutrition programs. Analysis of the impact of economic, political, legislative and cultural diversity factors in the field of community nutrition.

• SOC 5333* Global Population and Social Problems.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing. Study in world, regional and national population characteristics, changes and associated problems and cultural influences.

 

Mental Health and Disabilities

• HDFS 5283* Developmental Disabilities.

  Recent practices, policy, theory, and research related to individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members.

• HDFS 5653* Systemic Approaches to Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Overview of major mental disorders and other conditions that maybe the focus of clinical mental health treatment. Treatment issues and an introduction to psychopharmacology.

• HLTH 5113* Psychological Aspects of Health.

  Examination of the interactions of biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors as they impact human health and disease. Previously offered as HHP 5113.

• LEIS 5493* Therapeutic Recreation in Mental Health and Mental Retardation.

  Prerequisite(s): 3483 or consent of instructor. Role of therapeutic recreation in mental health with emphasis upon client prognosis and methodologies of treatment programs.

• PSYC 4283* Health Psychology.

  Prerequisite(s): PSYC 1113. This course will explore the interplay between psychology and health, including the psychological impact of illness, psychological contributions to illness and wellness, health behaviors, and psychological interventions to improve health and healthcare.

 

Nutrition

• MPH 5413* Food Safety and Public Health.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of instructor. Introduction to public health and diseases transmissible to humans. Potential human health hazards in foods of animal origin and principles of safe food production, processing, handling and inspection, including pathogen reduction and HACCP regulations. Same course as VBSC 5413*.

• NSCI 5012* Public Policy Development in Food, Nutrition and Related Programs.

  Rationale underlying governmental programs in food and nutrition and human sciences and assessment of the effectiveness of the programs.

• NSCI 5053* Functional Foods for Chronic Disease Prevention.

  Prerequisite(s): Admission to Great Plains IDEA MS in Dietetics or consent of instructor. Integrate and evaluate the regulatory principles, food science, nutrient science and nutritional metabolism for the development of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements for chronic disease prevention. Web-based instruction.

• NSCI 5133* Advanced Nutrition for Exercise and Sport.

  Prerequisite(s): Intro nutrition and biochemistry or consent of instructor. Advanced study of nutrition and metabolism relating to physical activity, sports and health.

• NSCI 5203* Nutrition in Wellness.

  Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Great Plains IDEA online MS in Dietetics or consent of instructor. Wellness promotion through nutrition. Nutritional risk and protective factors will be examined as they relate to public health and individual nutrition. Web-based instruction.

• NSCI 5303* Human Nutrition and Metabolism I.

  Prerequisite(s): Introductory nutrition, organic chemistry, physiology or consent of instructor. Examine the chemical characteristics and functions of macronutrients; digestion, absorption, transport and metabolism of macronutrients; control of intermediary metabolism and metabolic pathways. No credit for students with degree credit in NSCI 4123.

• NSCI 5313* Dietary and Herbal Supplements.

  Prerequisite(s): Human Physiology or consent of instructor. Explore the safety and efficacy of botanical/herbal and dietary supplements in health applications including dietary supplementation in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease. Web-based Instruction

• NSCI 5323* Nutrition and Physical Activity in Aging.

  Basic physiological changes during aging and their impact in health and disease. Successful aging with emphasis on physical activity and nutrition. Practical application to community settings. Web-based instruction.

   

• NSCI 5453: Nutrition & Health Disparities**

  Prerequisite(s): Admission to Great Plains IDEA MS in Dietetics or consent of instructor. Examination of nutrition and health disparities in the U.S. Identification of sociocultural determinants of health and their influence on nutrition and health outcomes. Exploration of interdisciplinary strategies to reduce nutrition and health disparities. Web-based instruction.

• NSCI 5553* Global Nutrition and Food Security.

  Advanced study of the magnitude, causes, and nature of hunger and under-nutrition in low income countries; emphasis on programs, policies and planning directed toward alleviating hunger and malnutrition

• NSCI 5713* Advanced Community Nutrition.

  Prerequisite(s): 2114, 3223 and 4733 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Current issues in community nutrition with emphasis on program development and evaluation of community nutrition programs. Analysis of the impact of economic, political, legislative and cultural diversity factors in the field of community nutrition.

• NSCI 5753* Health Care Administration.

  Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor. Overview of U.S. and international health care systems. Administrative roles of health care professionals and how they affect patient health and health care delivery in various settings.

• NSCI 5870* Problems in Nutritional Sciences.

  1-4 credits, max 6. Analysis of emerging problems and trends in nutritional sciences.

• NSCI 6243* Nutrition and Cancer.

  Examination of basic cancer biology and methodology used to study nutrition and cancer relationships. The role of nutrition in specific cancers, cancer prevention and cancer treatment will be explored.

 

Physical & Exercise Education/Science

• HHP 5603* Principles of Performance Enhancement.

  Prerequisite(s): 2654, 3114, ZOOL 3204. Theoretical foundation of specific tenets of exercise and performance enhancement. Upon successful course completion students will be eligible to sit for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) examination for NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist certification.

• HHP 5703* Principles of Corrective Exercise.

  A scientific approach to corrective exercise program design and implementation.

• HHP 5853* Clinical Exercise Testing and Prescription.

  Prerequisite(s): HHP 3114. An in-depth study of the principles and application of clinical exercise testing including submaximal and maximal tests, oxygen consumption, and electrocardiography. Guidelines to prescribing individualized exercise plans will also be covered. Special attention will be paid to clinical variables and special populations.

• NSCI 5133* Advanced Nutrition for Exercise and Sport.

  Prerequisite(s): Intro nutrition and biochemistry or consent of instructor. Advanced study of nutrition and metabolism relating to physical activity, sports and health.

 

Policy

• AGEC 5703* Economics of Agriculture and Food Policy.

  Prerequisite(s): 4703 and 5103. Application of welfare criteria and economic analysis to agricultural, food, and rural development problems and policies.

• AGEC 5713* Rural Regional Analysis.

  Prerequisite(s): 5103. Concepts of market and nonmarket based rural welfare; theories of regional growth as applied to rural areas; methods of regional analysis including computable general equilibrium; analysis of policies and programs for improving welfare of rural population groups.

• AGEC 5733* International Agricultural Policy and Development.

  Global welfare analysis of national food and agricultural trade and development policies of developed and developing countries. Analysis of import demand systems using real world data and incorporating economic and demographic variables.

• ECON 5053* Impact Evaluation of Public Policies.

  Prerequisite(s): Introductory econometrics or instructor consent. The primary goal of this course is to familiarize students with evaluation methodology and tools commonly used to assess publicly funded policies. Students will become familiar with the concepts, methods and applications of impact evaluation; learn how to read evaluation research critically; understand how to use evaluation results to anticipate or improve public policies; and be able to propose an appropriate evaluation plan to assess the implementation and effectiveness of a public policy.

• HCA 5043* Organizational Leadership and Development in Health Care.

  Teaches leadership development theories, perspectives and skills found within health care organizations. Provides insight on leadership styles, team development, coaching and fostering growth. Prepares leaders for embracing change including globalization, knowledge management and sustainability.

• HCA 5133* Health Care Informatics.

  Focuses on healthcare informatics for the entire spectrum within the medical community. Covers local and community applications to broad global initiatives.

• HCA 5203* Health Impact Assessment.

  Evaluates the connection between community design and public health by applying evidence to inform decision-making for new policies and plans.

• HDFS 5153* Policy in Human Development and Family Science.

  Critical analysis of approaches to and models of policy in Human Development and Family Science. Examination of policy analysis and evaluation, development, advocacy, and implementation of state and federal policy and legislation.

• HLTH 5983* Implementation and Evaluation of Public Health Programs.

  Application of program implementation and evaluation, including evaluation design. Same course as MPH 5983. Previously offered as HHP 5983.

• NSCI 5012* Public Policy Development in Food, Nutrition and Related Programs.

  Rationale underlying governmental programs in food and nutrition and human sciences and assessment of the effectiveness of the programs.

• NSCI 5553* Global Nutrition and Food Security.

  Advanced study of the magnitude, causes, and nature of hunger and under-nutrition in low income countries; emphasis on programs, policies and planning directed toward alleviating hunger and malnutrition

• NSCI 5713* Advanced Community Nutrition.

  Prerequisite(s): 2114, 3223 and 4733 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Current issues in community nutrition with emphasis on program development and evaluation of community nutrition programs. Analysis of the impact of economic, political, legislative and cultural diversity factors in the field of community nutrition.

• NSCI 5753* Health Care Administration.

  Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor. Overview of U.S. and international health care systems. Administrative roles of health care professionals and how they affect patient health and health care delivery in various settings.

• MPH 5413* Food Safety and Public Health.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of instructor. Introduction to public health and diseases transmissible to humans. Potential human health hazards in foods of animal origin and principles of safe food production, processing, handling and inspection, including pathogen reduction and HACCP regulations. Same course as VBSC 5413*.

• POLS 3493* Public Policy.

  Prerequisite(s): Any one of 1013, 2033, 2113, ECON 1113, 2123, SOC 1113, PHIL 2113. Identification of policy options open to policy makers and examination of measurements and rationales underlying governmental programs.

• POLS 5613* Public Policy Analysis.

  Analytical methods for evaluating public policies and examination of the public process including policy design, implementation and evaluation.

 

Rural and Underserved Communities

• AGEC 5703* Economics of Agriculture and Food Policy.

  Prerequisite(s): 4703 and 5103. Application of welfare criteria and economic analysis to agricultural, food, and rural development problems and policies.

• AGEC 5713* Rural Regional Analysis.

  Prerequisite(s): 5103. Concepts of market and nonmarket based rural welfare; theories of regional growth as applied to rural areas; methods of regional analysis including computable general equilibrium; analysis of policies and programs for improving welfare of rural population groups.

• CIED 5623* Multicultural and Diversity Issues in Curriculum.

  Understanding of the historical and contemporary perspectives toward cultural diversity. Development of an awareness of diverse culture and language communities; understanding of critical issues of race, class, gender, and ethnicity in education; perennial issues of multiculturalism in public education and in global society; a comprehensive overview of principles and current research on bilingual and multicultural education.

• HDFS 5563* Community and Family.

  Prerequisite(s): Admission to the HDFS Graduate Program. Examination of current research and theory in the interactions of families and communities. Emphasis on empirical strategies for intervention to address community and family-based problems.

• HLTH 5133* Environmental Health.

  Examination of health issues, etiology of disease, and control and prevention of major environmental health problems in industrialized and developing countries. Previously offered as HHP 5133.

• HLTH 5983* Implementation and Evaluation of Public Health Programs.

  Application of program implementation and evaluation, including evaluation design. Same course as MPH 5983. Previously offered as HHP 5983.

• NSCI 5453* Nutrition and Health Disparities.**

  Prerequisite(s): Admission to Great Plains IDEA MS in Dietetics or consent of instructor. Examination of nutrition and health disparities in the U.S. Identification of sociocultural determinants of health and their influence on nutrition and health outcomes. Exploration of interdisciplinary strategies to reduce nutrition and health disparities. Web-based instruction.

• NSCI 5553* Global Nutrition and Food Security.

  Advanced study of the magnitude, causes, and nature of hunger and under-nutrition in low income countries; emphasis on programs, policies and planning directed toward alleviating hunger and malnutrition

• NSCI 5713* Advanced Community Nutrition.

  Prerequisite(s): 2114, 3223 and 4733 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Current issues in community nutrition with emphasis on program development and evaluation of community nutrition programs. Analysis of the impact of economic, political, legislative and cultural diversity factors in the field of community nutrition.

• SOC 5493* Seminar in Environmental Justice.

  Considers racial, class and equity implications of environmental degradation and regulation. Includes discussion of controversies over the siting of hazardous facilities in urban and rural areas, the extraction of resources from native lands, national and transnational export of toxic waste to the South and the development of a distinct environmental justice movement.

 

Sexual Health Education and Promotion

• ART 5693* Gender and Visual Culture.

  Explores themes and issues surrounding gender in relation to art history and visual culture more broadly. Topics may include artists and creators, sexuality, the body, eroticism, historicizing gender, feminism and feminist theory, etc. No credit for students with credit in 4693.

• CPSY 5663* Counseling and Sexuality.

  Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Current trends in counseling clients with sexual problems, as well as clients with varying sexual orientations and identities.

• HDFS 5583* Human Sexuality.

  Multiple aspects of human sexuality including physiological and psychosexual development and response, sexual relationships, and sexual dysfunction.

• HLTH 5233* Sexuality and Health.

  The study of human sexuality as it relates to the health and well-being of individuals in the community, college, school, and worksite settings. Particular emphasis will be on examining, developing, or modifying new programming related to sexuality and health. Previously offered as HHP 5233.

 

Sustainability and Food Security

• AGEC 5343* International Agricultural Markets and Trade.

  Contemporary international agricultural trade theory and applications. Broaden students’ understanding of contemporary cultural and economic issues outside the U.S. that affect global demand. Gains from trade and the theory of comparative advantage. No credit for students with credit in AGEC 4343.

• AGEC 5703* Economics of Agriculture and Food Policy.

  Prerequisite(s): 4703 and 5103. Application of welfare criteria and economic analysis to agricultural, food, and rural development problems and policies.

• AGEC 5733* International Agricultural Policy and Development.

  Global welfare analysis of national food and agricultural trade and development policies of developed and developing countries. Analysis of import demand systems using real world data and incorporating economic and demographic variables.

• AGED 6223* Program Evaluation in Agriculture and Extension.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing. Program evaluation theory and methodology (quantitative and qualitative) presented through a service learning framework. Problem-based approach having students submit a proposal that addresses an evaluation need presented by a community-based program.

• AGIN 5312* Applied Issues in International Agriculture and Natural Resources.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of instructor. Applied global issues in international agriculture and natural resource development, including sustainability, food security, trade, project evaluation, and international agricultural institutions. Written and oral reports and discussion of selected topics.

• ENVR 5303* Issues in Environmental Sustainability.

  The course reviews human-nature relationships and how they affect the ability of future generations to sustainably improve their quality of life. The course also considers methods of environmental stewardship that can contribute to sustainability. In-class and/ or online discussions of issues, guest presentations by outside experts, and reports on selected topics are included.

• MPH 5413* Food Safety and Public Health.

  Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of instructor. Introduction to public health and diseases transmissible to humans. Potential human health hazards in foods of animal origin and principles of safe food production, processing, handling and inspection, including pathogen reduction and HACCP regulations. Same course as VBSC 5413*.

• NSCI 5012* Public Policy Development in Food, Nutrition and Related Programs.

  Rationale underlying governmental programs in food and nutrition and human sciences and assessment of the effectiveness of the programs.

• NSCI 5553* Global Nutrition and Food Security.

  Advanced study of the magnitude, causes, and nature of hunger and under-nutrition in low income countries; emphasis on programs, policies and planning directed toward alleviating hunger and malnutrition