PH 7170: Public Health Policy Syllabus Page 1
ER Wright / Fall 2014
PH 7170: PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY
(CRN: 89225)
Eric R. Wright, Ph.D.
Division of Health Management & Policy
Fall 2014
Course Basics / Class Day/Time: / Tuesday, 4:30-7:00pClass Location: / Aderhold Learning Center 205
Prerequisite(s): / No prerequisites are required for this course.Prior completion of PH7160: Introduction to the Healthcare System is recommended.
Required Course Materials / James A. Morone and Daniel C. Ehlke. 2013. Health Politics and Policy, Fifth Edition. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning ISBN: 978-1-111-64415-4.
Faculty Accessibility / Instructor(s) of Record: / Eric R. Wright, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology & Public Health
Office Location: / Langdale Hall 1041
Phone Number(s): / (404) 413-6527
Email: /
Office Hours/Availability: / Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:30-3:45p; Wednesdays 4:30-5:30p; and by appointment
Additional Information: None.
- Course Description:
This course examines the relationship between research and policymaking. Complex health policy problems facing federal, state, and local policymakers today will be discussed.
Specifically, this course examines public health and healthcare policy from a public health perspective. Over the course of the semester, we will discuss federal, state, and local health policies in order to improve our understanding of how and why policies were and are developed and how research, politics, and other social factors inform the health policymaking process. Many of the contemporary health policy problems facing federal, state, and local policymakers today will be researched and discussed. Students will explore theories of and methods for analyzing health policymaking, with particular emphasis on the unique aspects of health policy formulation, implementation, and modification.
- Course Objectives / Competency / Assessment of Student Learning:
Students in the Master of Public Health program with a concentration in Health Management and Policy will be expected to demonstrate competence in the following areas after completion of this course, as indicated in the GSU School of Public Health Graduate Student Handbook (see MPH Competencies):
Course Objectives / Program Competency / Assessment Method(s)Describe the major perspectives and methods used to analyze public health and healthcare policy; /
- Demonstrate the skills of effective communication (HMGP Program Competency1).
Discuss and critique health policy problems and health policy-related research; /
- Apply commonly used frameworks for policy analysis to prominent, contemporary public health issues (HMGP Program Competency 8).
Apply and utilize analytical methods, empirical data, commonly used policy frameworks, and policy theory in the analysis of a contemporary health policy issue or challenge; and /
- Utilize theories of policymaking to develop policy proposals that address public health challenges (HMGP Program Competency 9).
Identify how research, politics, and other social factors affect public health and healthcare policy formulation and implementation and articulate emerging areas in need of further research. /
- Demonstrate the skills of effective communication (HMGP Program Competency1).
- Apply commonly used frameworks for policy analysis to prominent, contemporary public health issues (HMGP Program Competency 8).
In addition, this course is designed to reinforce students learning in the following 2 GSU School of Public Health MPH Core Competencies:
- Identify and critically discuss the organization and financing of the health services and public health systems in the United States, with emphasis on the consequences for vulnerable populations (MPH Core Competency 10)
- Apply evidence-based principles to critically evaluate current policies and practices in healthcare delivery and in public health systems including present and future healthcare reform proposals to address the quality, accessibility, and cost of our health systems (MPH Core Competency 11)
- Course Assignments and Requirements
Desire2Learn (D2L). D2L is Georgia State University’s online learning and course management system. We will begin using D2L immediately, so it is critically important that you access this system as soon as possible and regularly throughout the semester. As a general rule, I strive to maintain careful records of all course-related correspondence, so please send any course-related email through D2L. In addition, all course assignments must be submitted through D2L in addition to turning in a paper copy in class on or before the assignment is due.
Readings. The seminar will be organized around a set of assigned readings from a central text as well as supplemental readings listed in the course schedule and made available online or distributed in class. The core text for the semester is:
- James A. Morone and Daniel C. Ehlke. 2013. Health Politics and Policy, Fifth Edition. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning ISBN: 978-1-111-64415-4.
IMPORTANT: All reading assignments should be completed by the date listed in the course schedule and prior to coming to class.
Discussion Forums. Beginningwith the second week through the end of the semester, you will be required to submit an original forum post or entry each week prior to coming to class. Each entry should reflect on the posted question and integrate your thoughts about the week’s assigned readings and current events in health policy and politics at the state, local, and/or federal levels. Ideally, your post should synthesize what you’re learning in the readings and what you’re observing in the real world. Your entries also should demonstrate that you have read and thought about the weekly reading assignments. Each entry should be posted in the D2L “Discussion Forum” area prior to coming to class. In addition to your original weekly post, you are required to post at least one “response” to another student’s entry each week. Responses are due before the end of the following week and before the next class (and topic). You are welcome to post more than one weekly response; however, only one will be evaluated and eligible for points. Please note that comments like “I agree” or “great point” will not be considered sufficient for this assignment. You are welcome (and encouraged) to disagree with each other; however, critical comments should be professional and well-articulated. Offensive or derogatory language will not be permitted, and repeat offenses may be treated as disruptive classroom behavior (see below). The exact format of your original post and your weekly response(s) are up to you; however, as a general guideline, good forum comments should be between 150 and 300 words (i.e., approximately one paragraph). There will be a total of 12 forums and 24 graded entries (i.e., 1 post and 1 response per week). Each entry will be evaluated on the following scale: plus (outstanding=5 points); check-plus (very good=4 points); check (good=3 points); check-minus (adequate, but weak=2 points); minus (poor=1 point); not completed (N/A=0 points/F). Your final letter grade for the forum assignment will be assigned based on the percentage of total possible points earned from the 24 entries submitted and represent 25% of your final course grade.
Public Health Policy Challenge Presentation and Discussion Leadership. Each student will be responsible (individually or in teams of two students depending on the final class size) for presenting a formal case study of a significant public health policy challenge one time during the semester. The course schedule outlines a preliminary list of possible “cases” that we will examine. I am open to incorporating (or substituting) other topics, provided that we consult well in advance of the date of your presentation. You will be asked to sign up and commit to take responsibility for leading one of the discussions by the end of the second week. Together, each case study presentation and seminar discussion will last for about half of a single class meeting (i.e., one hour and fifteen minutes). The presentations should summarize the major background issues and literature, provide critical data and policy analyses, and outline the major theoretical and/or political perspectives relevant to the assigned public health policy question or challenge. In most cases, the first portion will involve a formal presentation of approximately 30 minutes; however, presenters should end with two to five critical questions for the participants and be prepared to lead the subsequent seminar discussion. Presenters also may ask that materials be distributed for the class to review prior to their presentation; however, any recommended readings or other materials should be chosen in consultation with the instructor and should be presented and approved at least two weeks prior to the date of the presentation. You also may include as an assigned reading a draft of your policy brief (see below) for the class to stimulate discussion and to provide some initial feedback on your paper (although this is not a requirement for this assignment). The presentation and discussion leadership will constitute 25% of your final course grade.
Public Health Policy Brief. For the final assignment, you should prepare a formal policy brief on your assigned public health challenge or issue (see above). If you would like to focus your policy brief on a different topic, you may do so, but only after consulting with the instructor. Your policy brief should clearly describe the problem/challenge (including empirical evidence that documents the scope and nature of the problem), analyzes the policy landscape and potential solutions, and makes a recommendation for policy action. Your policy brief should be a minimum of eight (8) to twelve (12) double-spaced pages with one inch margins and utilize at least an 11 point font. It should include references formatted in accordance with the American Psychological Association (APA) or American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) style guides and should include a title page with your name, date, and title of your brief. References, tables, figures, and appendices should be included at the end of your paper and are not included in the page count requirement noted above.
- Grading Policy
Students will be assigned course grades based on their performance on the required assignments. Your performance on each assignment will be assigned a letter grade which will be converted to a number value as follows:
Letter Grade / Numeric ValueA+ / 13
A / 12
A- / 11
B+ / 10
B / 9
B- / 8
C+ / 7
C / 6
C- / 5
D+ / 4
D / 3
D- / 2
F / 1
Not Completed / 0
You will receive a final letter grade for the course based on the weighted average of theabove numeric values for each letter grade you earn on the major assignments as described in the table below:
COURSE REQUIREMENTS / PERCENT OFFINAL GRADE
Seminar Participation / 25%
Discussion Forums / 25%
Public Health Policy Challenge Presentation and Discussion / 25%
Public Health Challenge Policy Brief / 25%
Grades of "incomplete" will be given ONLY in the most extenuating circumstances and NEVER in lieu of a failing grade.
Withdrawals: A student who withdrawals at any time up to the mid-point of the quarter will be assigned a W or WF depending upon whether he/she is doing satisfactory work at the time of withdrawal. An average grade of D or F at the time of withdrawal will be assigned a grade of WF. After the mid-point of the quarter, the Registrar’s Office will assign an automatic WF to any student who withdraws from the course without a hardship withdrawal. If a student receives permission to withdraw under hardship, the Instructor will assign a W or WF grade depending upon the student’s work up to the point of time that the student withdrew.
- Attendance and Class Participation Policy
This course is organized as a graduate seminar. In this regard, the instructor and students will share responsibility for each other’s learning. Consequently, students are expected to participate actively in class and in the learning process. At a minimum, active participation requires completion of the assigned readings and attention to emerging research, health policy news, and world events. Thoughtful participation in class discussion and debate also is important. I will evaluate the quality of each student's participation at the end of the 7th and 14th weeks of the semester. Together, these grades will be used to assign an overall participation grade that will represent 25% of your final course grade. If you are unable to attend a class session, YOU are responsible for making arrangements with another student to get the notes. While I will make my PowerPoint slides and other handouts available online, I will not make my personal notes available to students.
- Late Assignments and Make-up Examination Policy
Late assignments will be accepted; however, penalties will apply as follows:
- For the discussion forums, students who fail to submit an original post prior to coming to class or a response within one week of original response class due date will be penalized one third of a grade (e.g., a check would be reduced to a check minus).
- Failure to complete your Public Health Policy Challenge and Discussion Leadership on the assigned day will result in an automatic “F” on the assignment, unless prior notification and/or arrangements to reschedule to presentation have been made with the instructor.
- Your final grade on the Public Health Policy Brief will be lowered by one third of a letter grade (e.g., A- would be reduced to B+) for each day it is late up to one full letter grade. Papers submitted later than one week after the posted deadline in the schedule will not be accepted.
- Syllabus Deviation Policy
The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.
- Student Code of Conduct and Policy on Academic Honesty
All students at this University are expected to engage in academic pursuits on their won with complete honesty and integrity. Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of academic work will be subject to disciplinary action. The complete Academic Honesty policy is located in the GSU Graduate Catalog, Section 1350: Students and faculty are expected to review and conform to the university’s policy on academic honesty. Information on the Student Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures are available at:
Special attention should be paid to the sections on plagiarism and multiple submissions:
Plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as, “appropriating and putting forth as one’s own the ideas, language, or designs of another” (The Living Webster, 1975) – and it is strictly forbidden. Written and oral presentations must be a student’s own work. Students plagiarizing or cheating in any form will face disciplinary action which could result in an “F” in this course and suspension or expulsion from the University. Copying from written materials, presentations, websites, etc. without source acknowledgement and referencing is plagiarism. Read it, appreciate it, learn from it, and make sure you source it – and then reflect it with your own thoughts and words! If you are uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism, please contact the instructor.
Multiple Submissions.It is a violation of academic honesty to submit substantial portions of the same work for credit more than once without the explicit consent of the faculty member(s) to whom the material is submitted for additional credit. In cases in which there is a natural development of research or knowledge in a sequence of courses, use of prior work may be desirable, even required; however, the student is responsible for indicating in writing, as a part of such use, that the current work submitted for credit is cumulative in nature.
- Disability Accommodations Policy
Students who wish to request accommodation for a disability may do so by registering with the GSU Office of Disability Services. Students may only be accommodated upon issuance by the Office of Disability Services of a signed Accommodation Plan and are responsible for providing a copy of that plan to instructors of all classes in which an accommodation is sought. The Office of Disability Services is located in the GSU Student Center, Suite 230 and online here:
- Course Evaluations Statement
Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shaping education at Georgia State. Upon completing this course, please take time to fill out the online course evaluation.
- Career Services
The School of Public Health provides career services & student leadership opportunities (student clubs & organizations) to all current SPH students and alumni. SPH Career Services can help students with resume writing, interviewing, job searching, internship development, and professional networking. Students are invited to attend our career events and workshops, and individualized career counseling appointments can be arranged. To see what career panels, career fairs, and events are available this semester, please visit: The SPH Career Services office is co-located with the Office of Academic Assistance in room 640 at One Park Place.
- Additional Instructor Policies
Communication
PH 7170 is a graduate level course, and student behavior is to be in keeping with that expected of graduate students and professionals. Students are expected to show courtesy and respect for classmates and faculty. Cell phones are to be silenced prior to the beginning of class.
Copyright Policy
“For the purpose of copyright, students must adhere to the following rules:
1) Materials in the course reserves may only be accessed by a passcode or password by students enrolled in that course, and only for the semester of course enrollment
2) Students may not distribute copies of course reserves materials to other students
Grade Point Average Requirements
An overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better must be earned to receive the MPH degree. All core courses must be completed with a grade of B or better, and no more than six semester hours of grades less than B will be accepted for the degree. No grade below a C will be accepted toward the degree. Please refer to the School’s academic standing policy on Academic Warning and Suspension described in the School of Public Health section of the Graduate Catalog: