At present the institute offers a minor in public health at Morehouse College. Students majoring in any discipline may obtain a minor in public health. The minor in public health requires the completion of 15 credit hours of course work. Twelve credit hours in the public health science curriculum are required consisting of Introduction to Public Health (Bio 240), Biostatistics (Bio 340), Introduction to Epidemiology (Bio 330), and a Public Health Sciences Practicum (Bio 450). One additional three hours elective course is also required and may be taken at any AUC college.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH - This course is designed to give students a strong foundation in the administration and practice of public health; to provide an understanding of the technical, social, and political parameters surrounding public health research and practice. The course includes a lecture series; field trips to local, state, and federal agencies and services; and a research project.

INTRODUCTION TO EPIDEMIOLOGY - Epidemiology is a branch of medical science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of diseases in a population. This course is a study of the distributions and determinants of health related states and events in populations with a view toward identifying the etiology (the study of the causes and origin of diseases) of diseases. It includes fundamental strategies for epidemiological research; the framework for assessing valid statistical associations and making judgments of causality; measures of disease frequency and association; detailed discussions of the various types of study designs, analysis, and interpretation of epidemiological data; and methods of the evaluation and control of chance, bias, and confounding in assessing the presence of a valid statistical association. (Electives from any of the AUC schools that have a similar course description may substitute for this course.)

BIOSTATISTICS - This course is designed for applications of statistics in the biomedical and health sciences. It introduces parametric and non-parametric statistical methodology, including descriptive measures, elementary probability, estimation and hypothesis testing, correlation, regression and single factor analysis of variance. Underlying theory is empirically demonstrated utilizing biomedical applications. Computer-based statistical analysis is used throughout the course. (Electives from any of the AUC schools that have a similar course description may substitute for this course)

PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES SEMINARY & PRACTICUM - This course is designed to provide students with a forum for discussion and critical analysis of contemporary health care issues while providing practical experience in a health service agency.