The MPH program started in year 1996. In the beginning it was a general master in public health. Afterwards, the master had five tracks in epidemiology, health management, mental health, environmental health, and family and population health. These tracks were the base of other master programs; i.e. master in health policy and health management and the master of community mental health. The program grants the graduating students a masters degree in Public Health (MPH) based on either thesis or non thesis options.
Mission
Our mission is to provide the public health students with the knowledge, models, methods, competencies and skills that will qualify them to become educators, leaders and researchers in the different tracks of public and community health.
At the end of the MPH program, the students will be able:
- To acquire a comprehensive understanding of the public health paradigm for health promotion and disease prevention.
- To be able to conceptualize, implement, and evaluate public health interventions.
- To foster the skill acquisition and competency in key areas of public health practice, both current and emerging.
- To facilitate interschool and interdisciplinary collaboration designed to promote public health research planning and implementation.
- To demonstrate and apply the principles and methods of public health research.
- To advocate for public health through stimulating interactions and collaborations with local community agencies and national public health academic and professional communities.
- To acquire a comprehensive understanding of the public health paradigm for health promotion and disease prevention.
- To be able to conceptualize, implement, and evaluate public health interventions.
- To foster the skill acquisition and competency in key areas of public health practice, both urrent and emerging.
- To facilitate interschool and interdisciplinary collaboration designed to promote public health research planning and implementation.
- To demonstrate and apply the principles and methods of public health research.
- To advocate for public health through stimulating interactions and collaborations with local community agencies and national public health academic and professional communities.
- A holder of a Baccalaureate degree with an average of not less than 70%.
- At least 2 years of working experience in health.
- Competence in English language.
- Passing a personal interview.
Students in the masters program come from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds. Most are mid-career professionals who have considerable experience as providers, or administrators. The graduate of this program are eligible to work at middle and senior management levels in health organizations (primary health care sector, hospitals management, quality management units….etc.). Moreover, they can carry out health research, strategic planning, health education and promotion, and projects management.
Master of Public Health tracks:
The program has several tracks. The following two tracks are implementing
- Epidemiology track
- Health promotion track
Courses for the master program
The program is 37 credit hours. The program has two educational tracks: Thesis or non-thesis track
- Core courses: A total of 14 credit hours, these are the courses that are obligatory for all students regardless of the track.
- Obligatory course: A total of 11 hours
- Elective courses: 6 hours for thesis track and 10 hours non-thesis track
- Track thesis: 6 hours thesis
- Non-thesis track: 2 hours seminar project.
The Core courses (14 Credit Hours, CR) for all track requirements
These are the courses that are obligatory for all students regardless of the track.
| Course name |
Credit Hours |
Course number |
| Core course for thesis and non-thesis track | ||
| Introduction to Public Health | 2 | 8081510 |
| Biostatistics & SPSS | 3 | 8081512 |
| Epidemiology | 2 | 8081523 |
| Health Management & Economics | 2 | 8081511 |
| Research methodology | 2 | 8081513 |
| Residency | 3 | 8081665 |
| Total |
14 hours |
|
| Thesis track | ||
| Thesis 1 | 3 | 8081660 |
| Thesis 2 | 3 | 8081662 |
| Total thesis | 6 hours | |
| Non-thesis track * | ||
| Seminar project | 2 | 8081612 |
| Non-thesis evaluation | 0 | 8081777 |
| Total non-thesis | 2 hours | |
| All total | 20 hours | |
* the non-thesis track students has to take 4 additional elective courses to substitute for the thesis (6 hours) in addition to the seminar project.
Master of Public Health tracks:
The program has several tracks. The following two tracks are implementing
- Epidemiology track
- Health promotion track
Courses for the master program
The program is 37 credit hours. The program has two educational tracks: Thesis or non-thesis track
- Core courses: A total of 14 credit hours, these are the courses that are obligatory for all students regardless of the track.
- Obligatory course: A total of 11 hours
- Elective courses: 6 hours for thesis track and 10 hours non-thesis track
- Track thesis: 6 hours thesis
- Non-thesis track: 2 hours seminar project.
Epidemiology track
Objectives
The objective of this track is to provide students with the epidemiologic and biostatistical skills that will enable them to undertake clinical and epidemiologic research. The course of study prepares students to participate both in public health activities such as health planning, disease control, and community health education and in research into the causation of disease.
Obligatory courses for the epidemiology track
Specific objectives At the end of the program, the students will be able:
- To acquire methodological skills and knowledge and the practical experience oriented to the public health setting.
- To understand the public health data and methods and their utilization in assessment of disease burden in the community.
- To conduct epidemiological research methods and use the proper tools in public health.
- To apply the evaluation methods to assess the need and outcome of programs and interventions in the community.
- To perform and use the epidemiological concepts and applications in the public health department and healthcare settings.
Obligatory courses
These are the courses that are obligatory for all students in the track of Health Promotion. In total the student should take the five courses (10 Credit hours), in addition to the seminar (1 Credit hour) which will enable the students to apply the knowledge acquired in the theoretical courses.
| Course name |
Credit hours |
Course number |
| Management Health Information system |
2 |
8081514 |
| Advanced Statistics and Epidemiology * |
2 |
8081610 |
| Communicable & non- communicable diseases ** |
2 |
8081515 |
| Social and behavioral dimensions of health |
2 |
8081516 |
| Principles of occupational and environmental health |
2 |
8085518 |
| Seminar in epidemiology *** |
1 |
8081666 |
| Total |
11 |
|
Implementation plan
The distribution and sequence of course as well as the course instructors are shown in the following tables:
Master of Public Health, Track epidemiology
|
Course type |
Credit hours (CRs) |
Course name |
Course number |
|
First semester: Total : 9 CRs |
|||
|
Core |
2 |
Introduction to Public Health |
8081 510 |
|
Core |
2 |
Health managements& health economics |
8081 511 |
|
Core |
2 |
Epidemiology |
8081 503 |
|
Core |
3 |
Biostatistics & statistical packages |
8081 512 |
|
Second semester : Total 10 CRs |
|||
|
Core |
2 |
Research methodology |
8081 513 |
|
Obligatory |
2 |
Management health information system |
8081 514 |
|
Obligatory |
2 |
Principles of occupational and environmental health |
8081 510 |
|
Obligatory |
2 |
Social and behavioral dimensions of health |
8081 516 |
|
All tracks |
2 |
Elective course |
|
|
Third semester : Thesis track: 11 CRs / Non Thesis : 10 CRs |
|||
|
Obligatory |
2 |
Advanced statistics and epidemiology |
8081 610 |
|
Obligatory |
2 |
Communicable and non communicable diseases |
8081 515 |
|
All tracks |
2 |
Elective course |
|
|
All tracks |
2 |
Elective course |
|
|
Core (thesis track) |
3 |
Thesis 1 |
8081 660 |
|
Core (Non-thesis track) |
2 |
Seminar project |
8081 612 |
|
Fourth semester: Thesis : 7 CRs / Non Thesis: 8 CRs |
|||
|
Core |
3 |
Residency |
8081 665 |
|
Obligatory |
1 |
Seminar in epidemiology |
8081 666 |
|
Non-thesis |
2 |
Elective course |
|
|
Non-thesis |
2 |
Elective course |
|
|
Core (thesis track) |
3 |
Thesis 2 |
8081 660 |
Health promotion track
General Objective:
he ultimate objective is to promote the health status of Palestinians through graduating competent public health professionals who are able to plan, develop, and implement health promotion programs and interventions that enhance health and protect individuals and community health by addressing and preventing causes of illnesses, along with reinforcing factors that promote health and wellbeing, including the provision of treatment.
The Specific Objectives are:
- Strengthenstudents’ knowledge in health promotionpolicies and programs, disease prevention, and behaviour change
- Help participants evolve positive attitudes and perspectives about health promotion polices, practices and programmes
- Enhance students’ skills in assessing, designing, implementing, and evaluating health promotion interventions that aim to promote health of individuals and communities
- Increasestudents’ ability to disseminate and use health promotion approaches at individual and community levels
- Improve students’ abilities in assessing the impact of social determinants on individual, community, and population health and the uptake of that to set effective health promotion programs
- Develop participants’ abilities to use participatory approaches in the design, implementation, and evaluation of health promotion programs.
Obligatory Courses
These are the courses that are obligatory for all students in the track of Health Promotion. In total the student should take the five courses (10 Credit hours), in addition to the seminar (1 Credit hour) which will enable the students to apply the knowledge acquired in the theoretical courses.
|
Course number |
Credit hours |
Course title |
|
8181650 |
2 |
Social marketing and communication* |
|
8181651 |
2 |
Motivating healthy behaviour* |
|
8081516 |
2 |
Social and behavioral dimensions of health |
|
8081515 |
2 |
Communicable and non-Communicable diseases |
|
8081521 |
2 |
Health promotion and education |
|
8181666 |
1 |
Seminar in Health Promotion* |
|
|
11 |
Total |
Implementation plan Master of Public Health, Track Health promotion
|
Course type |
Credit hours (CRs) |
Course name |
Course number |
|
First semester: Total : 9 CRs |
|||
|
Core |
2 |
Introduction to Public Health |
8081 510 |
|
Core |
2 |
Health managements& health economics |
8081 511 |
|
Core |
2 |
Epidemiology |
8081 503 |
|
Core |
3 |
Biostatistics & statistical packages |
8081 512 |
|
Second semester : Total 10 CRs |
|||
|
Core |
2 |
Research methodology |
8081 513 |
|
Obligatory |
2 |
Health promotion and education |
8081521 |
|
Obligatory |
2 |
Motivating health behavior |
8181651 |
|
Obligatory |
2 |
Social and behavioral dimensions of health |
8081 516 |
|
All tracks |
2 |
Elective course |
|
|
Third semester : Thesis track: 11 CRs / Non Thesis : 10 CRs |
|||
|
Obligatory |
2 |
Social marketing and communication |
8181 650 |
|
Obligatory |
2 |
Communicable and non communicable diseases |
8081 515 |
|
All tracks |
2 |
Elective course |
|
|
All tracks |
2 |
Elective course |
|
|
Core (thesis track) |
3 |
Thesis 1 |
8081 660 |
|
Core (Non-thesis track) |
2 |
Seminar project |
8081 612 |
|
Fourth semester: Thesis : 7 CRs / Non Thesis: 8 CRs |
|||
|
Core |
3 |
Residency |
8081 665 |
|
Obligatory |
1 |
Seminar in health promotion |
8081 666 |
|
Non-thesis |
2 |
Elective course |
|
|
Non-thesis |
2 |
Elective course |
|
|
Core (thesis track) |
3 |
Thesis 2 |
8081 660 |
|
C.H, |
Course description |
Course title |
|
2 |
The course introduces students to the various disciplines of public health. Topics covered by the course include: history of public health, the modern public health, core functions of public health, measurements of health, principles of communicable and non-communicable disease control,introduction to the Palestinian health care system, social determinants of health, mental health, environmental and occupational health, ethics of health, and other hot topics of public health. |
Introduction to Public Health 8081510 |
|
3 |
This course focuses on the statistical description of data and inference with applications to research in public health. Topics covered: descriptive statistics, graphical displays of data, introduction to probability, expectations and variance of random variables, confidence intervals and tests for means, differences of means, proportions, differences of proportions, chi-square tests for categorical variables, hypothesis testing, an introduction to analysis of variance, regression and multiple regression. Statistical software will be used to supplement hand calculation. |
Biostatistics & SPSS 8081512 |
|
2
|
This course provides an introduction to the basic principles and methods of epidemiology. This unique branch of science is necessary to give the student an understanding of disease present in the community in the past and present, it will allow the student to conceptualize, analyze, and evaluate an epidemiological study relevant to the community. Topics covered: measures of disease frequency & associations, study designs used in epidemiological research, concepts of confounding and bias, screening & diagnostic tests, causation concepts, and epidemiology and health services. |
Epidemiology 8081523 |
|
2
|
The course consists of two parts and introduction to health management and to health economics. The health management focuses on the managerial functions, processes and managerial roles. Enhancing students’ managerial skills to advance their capacity as decision makers both at the macro and micro levels is also among the aims of the course. The health economics aims part at providing students with basic knowledge of health economics and the application of economic theory to health care context. This includes the market concept and market failure in health care, methods of financing health care, analysis of health care financing in Palestine, cost analysis and the tools used for economic evaluation for health programs are also discussed. |
Health Management & Economics 8081511 |
|
2
|
The course focuses on practical issues in the conduction of epidemiological, and health services research studies with an emphasis on survey research methods. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of research will be covered. Topics will cover conceptual phase of the research process including research ethics, formulating studies, aims, objectives, quantitative and qualitative research designs, validity and reliability, quantitative and qualitative sampling strategies, hypothesis formulation and testing, measurement types, the implementation phase of the research process, data collection methods and criteria, the analysis & interpretation phase of the research process and dissemination, proposal development phases, and research critique. |
Research methodology 8081513 |
|
3
|
In this course the student takes a position in a health care or public health institution such as a hospital, a PHC, a government or non-governmental agency, or any other health care institution. Students will have to spend one full-time working day each week during the academic semester (around 14 working days) at the institution chosen to do their residency. The residency requires students to apply and test the theories, skills and knowledge acquired in the academic setting. Practical application of skills and knowledge is an essential part of professional degree programs, offering learning opportunities not available in classrooms. The residency is a planned and supervised learning experience gained through first-hand observations and operational responsibilities in a health services organization. It is coordinated with the target institutions and mentors within the institutions will guide the students. However, the students will be supervised and monitored by the course instructor at the School of Public Health. In addition to gaining some breadth of experience within the host |
Residency*** 8081665 |
|
6 |
Thesis 1 aims at providing the students with an opportunity to apply research knowledge in designing a workable research proposal. At the end of thesis 1, students are required to present their research proposal for approval by the faculty before starting in (Thesis 2). Thesis 2 consists of implementing the approved research work plan. Each thesis student will have one supervisor. The supervisor can be one of the program faculty members or another person from inside the university from a relevant field and who have the qualification required by the Deanship of Graduate Studies. |
Thesis 1* 8081660 & Thesis 2* 8081662 |
|
2
|
This course aims at providing the students with opportunity to apply research knowledge in designing a workable research proposal as a first step in the process of conducting research. At the end of the course the student is required to present his/her research proposal for approval by the faculty. |
Seminar project ** 8081612 |
| ** Comprehensive exam 8081777 | ||
* For thesis track.
**For non-thesis track.
*** Pre-requisite: All core & obligatory courses except thesis & seminars (21 CH)
Track epidemiology obligatory courses description:
The objective of this track is to provide students with the epidemiologic and biostatistical skills that will enable them to undertake clinical and epidemiologic research. The course of study prepares students to participate both in public health activities such as health planning, disease control, and community health education and in research into the causation of disease.
Obligatory courses for the epidemiology track
|
C.H. |
Course description |
Course title |
|
2
|
The course provides an introduction to health information systems e.g. structure and components of the system, and to the information technology. It concentrates on the health information systems and subsystems, data resources, and common problems related to health information systems. It explores the information needs and the selection of proper indicator and ways to enhance their use in decision-making and planning. It also examines routine and non-routine data collection methods. The course also introduces the geographical information system and finally the advantages of available software possibilities to support management activities. |
Management Health Information system 8081514 |
|
2
|
The course provides in-depth use of inferential statistical procedures which will include ANOVA, applied regression analysis, nonparametric statistical measures, and other applications to health and health related issues. Topics presented include measures of disease effect: cross sectional analysis, cohort analysis; case-control studies, diagnostic testing and evaluation, bias, interaction and adjustment. Course application will include major types of applied epidemiological studies. |
Advanced Statistics and Epidemiology * 8081610 |
|
2
|
The course examines the proper strategies for surveillance, outbreak investigation for communicable diseases of importance for the Palestinian population. It also deals with the public health consequences of different non-communicable diseases including malnutrition, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, arthritis, mental and behavioral disorders concerns. The major epidemiological methods for investigating and assessing strategies for surveillance should be explained to identify groups at risk and preventive measures for each of these diseases. |
Communicable & non- communicable diseases ** 8081515 |
|
2
|
The course discusses health-illness social behavior, its cause and relationship with disease manifestations, distribution and management. Levels of prevention, health promotion and health education are three important paradigms that are going to be emphasized throughout the course. Throughout the course the psych-social-cultural and political characteristics and influences on Palestinian society is integrated. The ecological model is the main conceptual framework of this course. |
Social and behavioral dimensions of health 8081516 |
|
2
|
Principles and concepts underlying environments and human health comprise the major focus of this course. The nature of a variety of agents, including chemical, physical, biological, ergonomic and radiation hazards, how these agents are dispersed and transformed in the environment, the pathways of human exposure to these agents, and characterization of the health effects resulting from exposure are reviewed. Issues of risk assessment, risk management and perception, communication, and policies are also topics that are introduced. |
Principles of occupational and environmental health 8085518 |
|
1 |
The seminar provides the opportunity for in-depth analysis and discussion of important current epidemiological studies and issues, particularly in Palestine. Topics will be identified in the beginning of the course and students will be supported and supervised by the course instructor to tackle these issues with in-depth and breadth. |
Seminar in epidemiology *** 8081666 |
* Prerequisites: Biostatistics & statistical packages, Epidemiology
** Prerequisites: Epidemiology
*** Prerequisites: Communicable & non- communicable diseases
Obligatory courses for the health promotion track
|
C.H. |
Course description | Course title |
|
1 |
Communication and social marketing utilize knowledge and power to create conditions that support social and behavioral changes that increase the well-being and quality of life for individuals, families and societies around the world. Social marketing is determinants of health and social problems and to address these causes with appropriate interventions. This course involves planning and implementation of programs to create social modification using concepts and practices from commercial marketing. In addition, it allows students to acquire practical knowledge and skills in health communication planning and implementation. This course also focuses on the application of communication and marketing principles to public health, and environmental problems. |
Social marketing and communication 8181650 |
|
2 |
This course is intended to provide students with key concepts and skills to promote health and prevent unhealthy risky behavior. The course is designed to help students develop advanced knowledge regarding human behavior, including analyzing behavior, behavioral concepts and processes that promote health and influence health status and outcomes. It also helps students to develop, design, and implement public health interventions that aim to promote individual health and community health, as well. The course is designed to make students capable of analyzing the main health problems that could be averted by motivatinghealth behavior. Finally, the course focuses on important social factors and specific behaviors, with an emphasis on the science of primary and secondary prevention.
|
Motivating healthy behavior 8181651 |
|
3 |
The course discusses health-illness social behavior, its cause and relationship with disease manifestations, distribution and management. Levels of prevention, health promotion and health education are three important paradigms that are going to be emphasized throughout the course. Throughout the course the psych-social-cultural and political characteristics and influences on Palestinian society is integrated. The ecological model is the main conceptual framework of this course. |
Social and behavioral dimensions of health 8081516 |
|
4 |
The course examines the proper strategies for surveillance, outbreak investigation for communicable diseases of importance for the Palestinian population. It also deals with the public health consequences of different non-communicable diseases including malnutrition, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, arthritis, mental and behavioral disorders concerns. The major epidemiological methods for investigating and assessing strategies for surveillance should be explained to identify groups at risk and preventive measures for each of these diseases. |
Communicable and non-Communicable diseases |
|
5 |
This course introduces students to the concepts and applications of health promotion and education. Topics include: concepts of positive health, principles of health promotion and education, health promotion strategies at the individual,community and society levels, practical aspects of health promotion programs, social concept of health education, in addition to methods of planning for health promotion and health education programs. |
Health promotion and education 8081521 |
|
6 |
This course introduces a variety of topics important to the profession of health education and health promotion, including both historical and current issues. The course is designed to increase student’s knowledge and skills related to health promotion and education topics. However, the course is given in a creative learning strategy that adopts adult learning philosophy and considers work relevant issues. Therefore, participants will be given the opportunity to select certain topics in consultation with the tutuor and to organize a seminar about the selected topic. The course will stimulate creative thinking; empower student’s ability to present and discuss issues and also to manage a learning situation.
|
Seminar in Health Promotion 8181666 |