Criterion 2

Instructional Programs

University of Massachusetts Amherst

School of Public Health and Health Sciences

Final Self-Study Report


2.0 Instructional Programs

2.1 Master of Public Health Degree

2.1.a. An instructional matrix presenting all of the school’s degree programs and areas of specialization, including undergraduate degrees, if any.

Table 2.1.a. presents a summary of all the degree programs offered by

SPHHS in matrix form. SPHHS offers eight MPH degree options. The MPH degree delivered on the Amherst campus allows students to receive specialized training in one of the five public health core areas or nutrition. The MPH degree (general MPH) delivered off-site at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine (UMMS) in Worcester provides experienced students who are currently employed in public health and health service positions with a broad educational experience in public health research and practice. The program is also associated with the preventive medicine residency program at the medical school. The online MPH degree program (Public Health Practice) is designed to improve the public's health by providing public health and other health care professionals with a fully accredited MPH through distance learning. The MPH program in Public Health Practice (PHP) meets this goal by offering a fully online‚ broad-based‚ comprehensive‚ graduate level public health curriculum designed for health professionals currently working in the field.

Table 2.1.a Instructional Matrix – Degree/Specialization
Academic / Professional
Bachelor’s Degree
Degree Conferred – Specialization
Public Healtha / BS
Nutrition / BS
Kinesiology / BS
Communication Disorders / BS
Master’s Degree
Degree Conferred – Specialization
Biostatistics / MS / MPH
Epidemiology / MS / MPH
Community Health Education / MS / MPH
Health Policy and Management / MS / MPH
Environmental Health Sciences / MS / MPH
General Public Health (Worcester MPH) / MPH
Public Health Practice (distance education degree) / MPH
Nutritionb / MS / MPH
Kinesiology / MS
Communication Disorders / MA
Table 2.1.a Continued. Instructional Matrix – Degree/Specialization
Doctoral Degrees
Degree Conferred – Specialization
Public Health
Biostatistics / PhD
Epidemiology / PhD
Community Health Education / PhD
Health Policy and Management / PhD
Environmental Health Sciences / PhD
Nutritionc / PhD
Kinesiology / PhD
Communication Disorders / PhD / Au.D.
Joint Degrees
Public Health Nursing Leadership MS/MPH in Public Health Practice (distance education) / MS/MPH
BS (Mt Holyoke College) and MS (Biostatistics) / BS/MPH

aFirst students enrolled in September 2006.

bThe Department of Nutrition offers an MS in Nutrition with two options: Community Nutrition and Nutrition Science.

cThe Department of Nutrition offers a Ph.D. in Public Health (nutrition).

b. The school bulletin.

A copy of the school bulletin which describes all curricula offered by the school for all degree programs is available in the Resource File. Curriculum changes ensuring that all options within the MPH require 42 or more credits were approved by the Faculty Senate in September 2006, and will be implemented in September 2007. Details of these revised curriculum requirements for each MPH specialization are presented in

Appendix B.

c. Assessment of the extent to which this criterion is met.


2.2 Program Length.

a. Definition of a credit with regard to classroom/contact hours.

The official university definition of a credit with regard to classroom/contact hours is: “One semester hour of credit represents weekly lecture/recitation of 50 minutes or laboratory exercise of about 110-170 minutes, for the 14-week semester."

b. Information about the minimum degree requirements for all professional degree curricula shown in the instructional matrix.

Beginning September 2007, all eight of the MPH degree options in SPHHS will require a minimum of 42 credits (semester hours) for awarding the degree. The 42 credit requirement for the awarding of the MPH degree was accepted by a vote of the SPHHS Faculty Assembly on February 10, 2006. The new requirement was approved in order to standardize the credit requirements across all of the school’s MPH degree options and to ensure that all degree programs meet the new CEPH accreditation requirements. The Faculty Senate approved the new curricula on September 21, 2006 and the new requirements apply to all entering students as of September 2007.

c. Information about the number of MPH degrees awarded for less than 42 semester credit units, or equivalent, over each of the last three years. .

Table 2.2.c shows the MPH degree credit requirements over the past three years as well as the number of MPH degrees awarded for less than 42 credits. Please note that in 2005-2007, the number of MPH degrees awarded for less than 42 credits is equivalent to the number of students graduating for those years, as none of the degree programs required 42 credits at that time. In 2007-2008, the number of MPH degrees awarded for less than 42 credits will be zero. All MPH degree offerings in SPHHS will require a minimum of 42 credits by Fall 2007. The Faculty Assembly approved the new curricula on September 21, 2006 and the new requirements apply to all entering students as of September 2007.

Table 2.2.c.: MPH Degree Credit Requirements over the Past Three Years
2005-2006 / 2006-2007* / 2007-2008
Biostatistics / 39 / 39 / 43
Epidemiology / 39 / 39 / 42
Community Health Education / 39-41 / 39-41 / 42
Health Policy and Management / 42 / 42 / 42
Environmental Health Sciences / 39 / 39 / 42
Nutrition / 41 / 44 / 44
Public Health Practice (online) / 36 / 36 / 42
General Public Health (Worcester MPH) / 42 / 42 / 42

*Graduation data from May, 2007 not available at this time.

d. Assessment of the extent to which this criterion is met.

This criterion is met. The new criteria for 42 credits were released by CEPH in June 2005. The minimum 42 credit requirement for the MPH degree was accepted by the SPHHS Faculty Assembly on February 10, 2006, and approved by the University Faculty Senate on September 21, 2006. The new requirements will apply to all students entering the various program options as of September 2007.


2.3 Public Health Core Knowledge.

a. Identification of the means by which the school assures that all professional degree students have a broad understanding of the areas of knowledge basic to public health.

All MPH students are required to complete the 15-hour curriculum comprised of one 3-hour course in each of the five core areas: epidemiology, biostatistics, community health education, health policy and management, and environmental health. Syllabi for these courses are available in the Resource File, and the associated competencies and their evaluation are discussed in Sections 2.6 and 2.7

Table 2.3a: MPH Degree Core Curriculum
PUBHLTH630 / Principles of Epidemiology
PUBHLTH540 / Introduction to Biostatistics
PUBHLTH601 / Social and Behavioral Theories in Public Health Intervention
PUBHLTH620 / Principles of Public Health Practice
PUBHLTH565 / Environmental Health Practices

b. Assessment of the extent to which this criterion is met.

This criterion is met. Core courses in all five public health core knowledge areas are required of all MPH degree students.


2.4 Practical Skills.

a. Description of the school’s policies and procedures regarding practice experiences.

Revised policy and procedures regarding practicum experiences for the MPH degree were approved by the University Faculty Senate on September 21, 2006 and will be effective in September 2007. The policy and procedures have been standardized across the MPH degree in each of the five core areas and in the specialization areas (nutrition, public health practice1, and general MPH1). These procedures are identical to those currently in place, but now include 1) the assignment of a grade and course credit to the practicum experience (item #6 below), 2) a standardized number of hours, 3) waivers, except in the case of exceptional circumstances, are no longer granted.

MPH students in each of the five core areas, and three additional specializations (nutrition, public health practice1, general MPH1) will be required to complete a three credit practice experience (200 hours) as part of their degree requirements. The practice experience is meant to represent a meaningful public health experience. This includes activities such as study design and/or data collection and analysis, involvement in the development of planning and policy documents, planning and executing public health prevention programs, and laboratory and field studies. Agencies and organizations provide both paid and unpaid practice experience opportunities. Although many students complete the practicum during the summer months, completion of the requirement during other periods of time is permissible with the approval of the faculty advisor. Agencies and organizations provide both paid and unpaid practice experience opportunities. If a student can do a placement only in his/her regular place of employment, the assignment must extend beyond her regular work duties and allow application of knowledge and skills being learned through the MPH course of study. Practice experiences are designed to promote professional development and afford the student the opportunity to:

·  Carry out a project useful to the organization as well as provide an opportunity to refine professional skills.

·  Meet regularly with a field supervisor trained in a public health discipline who guides the experience and serves as a role model.

·  Attend appropriate agency or institutional meetings and training sessions that provide the student with an opportunity to learn more about the organization and its public health mission.

·  Apply classroom knowledge to practical problems in public health.

·  Discover additional skills to be developed and strengthened.

·  Recognize the political context within which health activities are conducted.

·  Acquire job references from health professionals who can speak to the student’s abilities in a practical context.

The following procedures have been developed to allow for adequate supervision of students, and to ensure placement in appropriate settings, and assignment of appropriate projects engaging in practica:

1.  All MPH students are required to participate in a practicum orientation conducted at the division/department level. Following the orientation meeting, the student should complete and submit the Practice Experience Planning Form (Resource File) to the practicum coordinator with a copy to the faculty advisor.

2.  Placements are arranged in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and the practicum coordinator in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS). Although the faculty advisor and practicum coordinator provide the student with appropriate guidance, the ultimate responsibility for obtaining a suitable practicum rests with the student. Students who are interested in going on to complete an MPH Project (Capstone) are encouraged to link and to build on their Field Practice Experience in order to complete a more extensive and successful MPH Project.

3.  Following completion of the practice experience, the field supervisor evaluates the student's performance and returns a Practice Experience Supervisor Report Form (Resource File) to the practicum coordinator with a copy to the student’s faculty advisor.

4.  The student is required to submit a Practice Experience Student Assessment Form (Resource File) to the faculty advisor and to attach a copy of any work produced for the organization. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that a Practice Experience Supervisor’s Report Form and a Practice Experience Student Assessment Form are signed by the faculty advisor and filed in his/her Public Health academic folder.

5.  Using guidelines prepared by the individual department or concentration, each student prepares an oral presentation and/or a written report concerning the practicum experience. Students are also encouraged to utilize their experiences to prepare a poster for inclusion in the student Research Day, which takes place each April.

6.  Based on the report from the practicum supervisor and the student’s oral presentation and/or written report, the faculty advisor will assign a passing or failing grade. The faculty advisor’s signature on the student’s Practice Experience Student Assessment form signifies successful completion of the requirement.

In the past, the practice experience was waived either due a student’s prior public health experience or low faculty resources. Beginning in September 2007, all entering MPH students will be required to complete a practice experience except under exceptional circumstances (e.g., extensive public health experience such as serving as head of a local department of public health without holding an MPH). Each student seeking a waiver will be evaluated individually.

Previously, the practice experience has been waived for Public Health Practice students because entrance into the program required three years professional health care or public health experience. Beginning in September 2007, all entering students to the Public Health Practice MPH degree will be required to complete a practice experience.

Students in the General Track program also were exempted from the practice experience, because that program required a six credit MPH project. Beginning in September 2007, all entering students to the General MPH program will be required to complete a 3-credit practice experience and a 3-credit MPH project, in line with requirements for other MPH degrees granted at SPHHS.

1 pending Faculty Senate approval.

b. Identification of agencies and preceptors used for practice experiences for students, by program area, for the last two academic years.

The practice experience is also required for the M.S. students in each of the core areas, and this table includes both practice experiences for both the MS and MPH degrees.

Table 2.4.b. Practice Experience Agencies and Preceptors by Program Area, 2005-2007
Agency / Preceptor / Semester
Community Health Education
Mt. Holyoke College Health Services / Karen Jacobus / 2004-2005
Amherst Health Department / Epi Bodhi / 2005-2006
Baystate Health Systems Partners for a
Healthier Community / Frank Robinson / 2005-2006
Baystate Medical Center D’Amour Center for
Cancer Care / Wilson Mertens / 2005-2006
Caring Health Center / Anna Awad / 2005-2006
Concilio Latino / Irene Lagos / 2005-2006
Holyoke Community College Health Services / Mitch Pysznick / 2005-2006
Holyoke Health Center / Jay Breines / 2005-2006
Institute for Community Research / Margaret Weeks / 2005-2006
Mariposa / Luz Thomas / 2005-2006
Mass DPH Epi/Immunization / Bill Elliott / 2005-2006
Mass Public Health Association / AJ Juanz / 2005-2006
Springfield Dept. of Hlth/Hum Services / Helen Culta / 2005-2006
UMass Extension Nutrition Ed Program / Patricia Culrose / 2005-2006
UMass Student Health Services / Sally Linowski / 2005-2006
Tapestry / Leslie Laurie / 2005-2006
Mass DPH Lead Prevention / Xanthi Scringear / 2005-2006
HOPE / Haner Hernandez / 2005-2006
Health Policy and Management
Mass DPH / Xanthi Srimgeour / 2005-2006
Narh-Bita Hospital, Ghana / Aaron Ami-Narh / 2005-2006
Epidemiology
Visiting Nurses Assn of Berkshire County / Suzanne Hatch / 2004-2005
Berkshire Medical Center / Janice Shirley / 2004-2005
Boston Collab. Drug Research Program / James A. Kay / 2004-2005
Liberty Mutual Research Institute / Gordon Smith / 2004-2005
Mass Department of Public Health / Charlie Kaniecki / 2004-2005
Department of Social Services / Patricia E. Scibak / 2004-2005
Food and Drug Administration / Susan Zhou / 2004-2005
Breast Cancer Surveillance Program / Berta Geller / 2004-2005
Liberty Mutual Disability/Injury Research
Center / David Lombardi / 2004-2005
Nurses’ Health Study/Harvard / Alberto Ascherio / 2004-2005
University of Munster, Germany / Ulrich Veil / 2004-2005
University of Ulm, Germany / Stepan Weiland / 2004-2005
NCI Division of Cancer Epi/Genetics / Kris Kiser / 2004-2005
Table 2.4.b. Continued.
UMass Medical School/Worcester / Rob Goldberg / 2004-2005
Social Sectors Development Strategies / Paul Amoroso / 2005-2006
UMass Medical School/Worcester / Robert Weinstein / 2005-2006
Marshfield Clinic / Staff / 2005-2006
Mass DPH Lead Prevention / Xanthi Scrimgeur / 2005-2006
NIH Dept. of MCH / Germaine Louis / 2005-2006
UMass Office of Academic Plan/Assess / Jennifer Goodspeed / 2004-2005
Biostatistics
Mass General Hospital / Joel Weissman / 2004-2005
Hudson Public Schools / Anita Kite / 2004-2005
UMass SPHHS / Penny Pekow / 2004-2005
Children’s Hospital, Denver CO / Eric AF Simoes / 2004-2005
Wistar Institute / Luis Montaner / 2004-2005
New England Research Institute / Anne Stoddard / 2004-2005
Baystate Medical Center / Penny Pekow / 2004-2005
Mass General Hospital / Ravi Thadhani / 2004-2005
Millenium Pharmaceuticals / Paul Bukowiec / 2004-2005
Environmental Health Sciences
Friendly House, Worcester / Gordon Hargrove / 2005-2006
Town of Amherst / Julie Federman / 2005-2006
Town of Southwick / Tom Fitzgerald / 2005-2006
Environmental Health and Safety UMass / Phuong Morgan / 2005-2006
Environmental Health and Safety UMass / Phuong Morgan / 2005-2006
ENVIRON / Corey Briggs / 2005-2006
Nutrition
UNICEF / Vandana Agarwal / 2004-2005


c. Data on the number of students receiving a waiver of the practice experience for each of the last three years.