Graduate Program Courses

Below is a sampling of graduate program courses in Health Promotion Sciences including courses in both Health Promotion and Research/Professional Development. For a full listing of courses in Allied Health Sciences and in other departments across the University, including any required prerequisites, please visit the UConn Graduate Catalog.

Health Promotion Courses

AH 5200 – Design and Methodology of Behavioral Trials (3 credits)
This course will cover methodological issues pertinent to randomized trials of behavioral interventions including pilot feasibility trials, efficacy trials, effectiveness trials, implementation trials, and dissemination trials. Methodological issues discussed include randomization, control group selection, internal and external validity, treatment receipt and fidelity, adherence, recruitment, intent to treat, and blinding. Students will learn how to design scientifically sound behavioral intervention trials as well as how to critically evaluate randomized controlled trials published in the literature.

AH 5309 – Health and Aging (3 credits)
Examination of the theoretical and applied issues in optimizing health for older adults. Focus is on the bio-psycho-social aspects of health; application of current research; and leadership skill building for program development.

AH 5319 – Health Education and Behavioral Interventions for At-Risk Populations (3 credits)
The study and application of current learning theories, models, and strategies used by experienced health professionals to become effective interventionists within didactic, clinical, and community settings.

AH 5366 – Environmental Health (3 credits)
Focuses on the environmental health consequences of exposure to toxic chemicals, food contaminants, and radiation. Basic principles of environmental health are discussed, followed by lectures on specific topics such as: cancer and reproductive risks, occupational hazards, radiation, genetic biomonitoring, risk assessment techniques, risk/benefit analysis, social/legal aspects of regulating toxic chemicals, and other related topics.

AH 5501 – International Health (3 credits)
Examines international health challenges. Through case studies, other appropriate readings, and individual research students will gain a comprehensive understanding of global health-related challenges (medical, economic, cultural), including children’s health, women’s health, communicable diseases, and non-communicable diseases.

AH 5502 – Complex Humanitarian Emergencies Seminar (3 credits)
In-depth examination of both theoretical and applied aspects of complex humanitarian emergencies. It provides students with a comprehensive, multi-dimensional understanding of the needs of displaced persons and the systems and practices currently in place to meet these needs.

AH 5503 – Poverty and Public Health (3 credits)
Social determinants of health and poverty. Health impact assessments. Improving the social determinants of health and poverty, including countries in conflict.

AH 5504 – Nutrition During Human Emergencies (3 credits)
Examines the cycle of malnutrition and disease, and major food and nutrition challenges faced by refugee and displaced populations. Covers types of feeding and nutrition supplementation programs in emergencies and nutritional assessment as a tool to design, target, and evaluate feeding and supplementation programs in emergencies. Addresses feeding of special populations such as infants, pregnant and lactating women, and the elderly during emergencies; international agencies, non-governmental organizations, and government programs involved with food aid and relief; and food as a human right.

AH 5505 – Principles of Sustainability (3 credits)
Provides students with an understanding of the basic principles of environmental, social, and economic sustainability and will assist students to develop the ability to apply these principles to current issues of sustainability.

AH 5700 – Ethical Considerations in Genetic Testing & Research (3 credits)
Conceptual and philosophical analysis of ethical issues specific and special to genetic testing and research. Presentations, case studies, and readings will provide responsible conduct in research training and allow for analysis of World Wide Web genomics, access to genetic information, privacy and confidentiality, ownership, personal and societal perceptions, reproduction, utility and limitations of genetic data, education of physicians and patients, treatment vs. enhancement, regulation and reimbursement, and other time-relevant issues.

AH 5710 – Genetics and Genomics of Health (3 credits)
Interaction of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors in the predisposition to disease, onset of disease, response to treatment, and maintenance of health. Genetics and genomics in health promotion and disease prevention will be examined through seminars and literature review.

AH 5720 – Theory and Practice of Clinical Genomics (1-3 credits; may be repeated)
Theory and practice of diagnostic laboratory methodologies and genomic data analyses for the clinical scientist. Sections are taught in a series of modules and include clinical case scenarios and analyses.

AH 6094 – Health Promotion, Disease and Disability Prevention Research Seminar (3 credits)
Inquiry into the theory and nature of research in health promotion, disease and disability prevention. Students are encouraged to meet regularly with their major advisors.

AH 6181 – Experiential Learning in Health Promotion Research (1-6 credits; may be repeated)
Mentored research experiences on and/or off campus to increase doctoral students’ breadth and depth of knowledge, skills, and competence in health promotion science.

AH 6305 – Program Planning and Evaluation for Health Professionals (3 credits)
A theoretical and practical introduction to program evaluation for health professionals who deliver healthcare services, manage departments and personnel, or provide training and continuing educational opportunities. Students apply the practical program evaluation framework for health-related intervention programs and document the impact of interventions within health promotion and disease and disability prevention programs. Skill development is facilitated.

AH 6324 – Critical Issues in Health Promotion, Disease, and Disability Prevention (3 credits)
An in-depth study of health promotion, disease, and disability prevention policies, programs, and strategies.

AH 6405 – Exercise Intervention for Health Promotion in Persons with Chronic Disease and Disability (3 credits)
In-depth information for determining functional capacity and developing appropriate exercise programming for optimizing functional capacity of persons with chronic disease and/or disabilities. Understanding the effects of exercise on the disease process as well as the effects of disease on the exercise responses in chronic disease and disability are explored.

AH 6423 – Advanced Topics in Stress & Health Promotion (3 credits)
Selected topics in assessing and treating stress related disorders in health care delivery are examined. Emphasis on diagnosis, treatment, and prevention interventions are examined. Current measures used in assessment along with self-management skills for patients are the focus of this course.

Research & Professional Development Courses

AH 5005 – Biostatistics for Health Professions (3 credits)
Basic statistical methods in a broad range of medical or public health programs. Emphasizes the use of these methods and the interpretation of results using biomedical and health sciences applications.

AH 6005 – Multilevel Mediation-Moderation Modeling for Health Sciences (3 credits)
Presents advanced multi-variate statistical methods focusing on statistical techniques commonly used in empirical research under a latent-variable approach. Teaches students multi-level mediation-moderation techniques in order to analyze complex of multi-level databases. At the end of the course, students will understand how to analyze multi-variate data using multi-level mediation-moderation concepts to test a variety of health-related research hypotheses. Knowledge of linear models is needed for participants enrolling in this course.

AH 6015 – Use of Large Population-Based Datasets for Health Promotion (3 credits)
Methods for using large population-based health-related datasets for health promotion research. Topics include procedures for accessing data, strengths and limitations of these data for health promotion research, complex sampling and weighted statistical analyses, and interpretation and communication of findings.

AH 6184 – Graduate Seminar in Health Promotion Research (1 credit; may be repeated)
In a small learning environment under the direction of one or more faculty, students develop their research and academic abilities in health promotion sciences. Activities include: individual goal setting and implementing learning plans, attending scientific seminars, preparing and delivering research presentations, research writing, college-level teaching, grant and compliance administration, and applying for post-graduate employment.

AH 6306 – Research Methods in Allied Health (3 credits)
An inquiry into the nature of research with emphasis on the spirit, logic, and components of the scientific method. Health-related research literature is used to aid the student in learning to read, understand, and critically analyze published materials. The preparation of research proposals and reports is emphasized.

AH 6422 – Writing Successful Grant Proposals (0 credits)
Designed for advanced graduate students in a health field to obtain experience writing a scientific research proposal. Students will be expected to enter the course with both a fairly well developed research topic and an actual Request for Proposal in hand. The final outcome from this class will be a grant proposal that is suitable for submission to a funding agency.