https://publichealth.ouhsc.edu/Current-Students Parent Page: Current Students id: 31160 Active Page: Competenciesid:25795

Competencies

The Hudson College of Public Health has developed sets of competencies for each of its degree programs that describe the knowledge, skills and abilities that graduates will achieve. The development of the competencies was informed by national consensus models such as the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) Core Competency models. The competencies are periodically reviewed by each department as part of an ongoing continuous improvement process. The College has assigned a unique identifier to each competency to facilitate tracking.

MPH Program Competencies

Foundational Competencies (all MPH students must meet)

Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health

FC 1: Apply epidemiological methods to settings and situations in public health practice.

FC 2: Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.

FC 3: Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as appropriate.

FC 4: Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.

Public Health & Health Care Systems       

FC 5: Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings.

FC 6: Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and systemic levels.

Planning & Management to Promote Health

FC 7: Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ health.

FC 8: Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs.

FC 9: Design a population-based policy, program, project, or intervention.

FC 10: Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.

FC 11: Select methods to evaluate public health programs.

Policy in Public Health

FC 12: Discuss the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.

FC 13: Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.

FC 14: Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.

FC 15: Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.

Leadership

FC 16: Apply leadership and/or management principles to address a relevant issue.

FC 17: Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.

Communication

FC 18: Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.

FC 19: Communicate audience-appropriate (i.e., non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.

FC 20: Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.

Interprofessional Practice

FC 21: Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health.

Systems Thinking

FC 22: Apply a system’s thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative.

MPH in Biostatistics

BIOSTAT 1: Identify and evaluate epidemiologic study designs applied to public health and clinical research questions. 

BIOSTAT 2: Apply appropriate statistical methods for estimation and inference according to the type of study design for answering a particular research question.

BIOSTAT 3: Evaluate the strengths and limitations of statistical analyses in public health and biomedical studies.

BIOSTAT 4: Apply concepts of probability, random variation and statistical probability distributions commonly used in public health practice and biomedical research.

BIOSTAT 5: Perform power and sample size calculations to assist in the design of clinical or observational studies.

BIOSTAT 6: Develop written reports on statistical analyses for peers, collaborators, and public health and biomedical research audiences.

MPH in Environmental Health

EH 1: Interpret environmental regulations and guidelines applicable to a given scenario.

EH 2: Prescribe measures for control of pathogens in environmental media.

EH 3: Design programs to manage environmental hazards.

EH 4: Assess exposure to hazardous chemical and biological agents in the environment.

EH 5: Access and synthesize information on the toxic effects of chemicals.

EH 6: Predict the generation and transport of pollutants in the environment based on physicochemical processes and properties.

EH 7: Apply risk communication principles to inform the public about environmental issues.

MPH in Epidemiology

EPI 1: Evaluate the strengths, limitations, differences and similarities of common epidemiologic study designs used in epidemiologic research.

EPI 2: Identify threats to study validity and approaches to minimize systematic error in epidemiologic studies.

EPI 3: Critically evaluate the scientific evidence for a specific epidemiologic research question.

EPI 4: Use infectious disease epidemiology concepts and transmission dynamics to evaluate and recommend best practices for prevention and control.

EPI 5: Apply methods for evaluating confounding and effect measure modification and interpret results.

EPI 6: Develop, implement and interpret an appropriate analysis plan to analyze data to answer a specific epidemiologic research question.  

MPH in Health Administration and Policy

HAP 1: Develop and analyze financial statements including key ratios and indicators.

HAP 2: Apply principles of quality improvement including differentiating the relative advantages/disadvantages of measuring structure, process, and outcomes.

HAP 3: Evaluate stakeholder and market responses to economic incentives and government policies.

HAP 4: Interpret federal, state, and local regulations/laws and evaluate public policy matters and legislative/advocacy processes.

HAP 5: Critique organizational structures and culture and design enhanced systems and practices to enable high performance and engagement at various levels within organizational settings.

MPH in Population and Community Health

PCH 1: Critically evaluate the scientific evidence for a specific epidemiologic research question. (same EPI 3)

PCH 2: Use infectious disease epidemiology concepts and transmission dynamics to evaluate and recommend best practices for prevention and control. (same as EPI 4)

PCH 3: Interpret federal, state, and local regulations/laws and evaluate public policy matters and legislative/advocacy processes (same as HAP 4)

PCH 4: Create a research question and analyze, interpret, and present the results using publicly available data.

PCH 5: Create goals, measurable objectives, related activities, and expected outcomes for a defined public health program. (same as HPS 4)

MPH in Health Promotion Sciences

HPS 1: Demonstrate ethical decision-making in the application of health promotion sciences.

HPS 2: Differentiate the suitability of different theories for a defined health behavior.

HPS 3: Implement core principles of community-based participatory research to improve health in diverse communities.

HPS 4: Create goals, measurable objectives, related activities, and expected outcomes for a defined public health program.

HPS 5: Demonstrate formative, process, and outcome evaluation skills for a defined health program.

Health Promotion Sciences MPH and Social Work MSW

HPS 1: Demonstrate ethical decision-making in the application of health promotion sciences.

HPS 2: Differentiate the suitability of different theories for a defined health behavior.

HPS 3: Implement core principles of community-based participatory research to improve health in diverse communities.

HPS 4: Create goals, measurable objectives, related activities, and expected outcomes for a defined public health program.

HPS 5: Demonstrate formative, process, and outcome evaluation skills for a defined health program.

Interdisciplinary MPH

IPH 1: Critically evaluate the scientific evidence for a specific epidemiologic research question. (same EPI 3)

IPH 2: Use infectious disease epidemiology concepts and transmission dynamics to evaluate and recommend best practices for prevention and control. (same as EPI 4)

IPH 3: Interpret federal, state, and local regulations/laws and evaluate public policy matters and legislative/advocacy processes (same as HAP 4)

IPH 4: Create a research question and analyze, interpret, and present the results using publicly available data.

IPH 5: Create goals, measurable objectives, related activities, and expected outcomes for a defined public health program. (same as HPS 4)

MHA Program Competencies

MHA A: Communication and Interpersonal Relations

Communication and Interpersonal Relations

MHA 1: Communication skills: Uses effective verbal and written communication strategies in formal and informal situations, speaking and writing clearly and persuasively

MHA 2: Relationship management: Develops & maintains collaborative relationships, supports inclusive environments

MHA 3: Facilitation and negotiation: Facilitates group dynamics and creates/leads teams

 

 

MHA B: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

MHA 4: Analytical thinking: Develops complex plans or analyses using systems thinking approaches

MHA 5: Project management: Develops and manages projects effectively, prepares a detailed project plan

MHA 6: Process & quality improvement: Evaluates organization structure and design, analyzes and designs processes to improve care quality and patient experience

MHA 7: Performance measurement: Analyzes quantitative/qualitative clinical and non-clinical performance measures and uses these measures in administrative decision-making

MHA 8: Change leadership: Promotes & manages change, promotes continuous organizational learning

MHA C: Business Skills & Knowledge

Business Skills & Knowledge

MHA 9: Financial skills: Understands and evaluates financial and accounting information, develops and manages budgets

MHA 10: Health information management: Recognizes the potential of information systems in process & service improvement, champions information system implementation

MHA 11: Strategic planning & marketing: Conducts environmental scanning, develops strategic plans for the organization

MHA 12: Reimbursement and funding for health care services: Understands and evaluates reimbursement principles and techniques, funding, and payment systems and management

MHA 13: Economic analysis and application: Interprets and applies economic theory and concepts to administrative decision-making

MHA D: Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment

Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment

MHA 14: Organizational awareness: Understands the formal and informal decision-making structures, culture, and power relationships in organizations

MHA 15: Human resources management: Understands employment management principles, policies, and laws in relation to hiring, promotion, and dismissal

MHA 16: Health law and policy: Interprets the impacts of legal, regulatory, and political environments on healthcare organizations

MHA 17: Population health management: Understands and applies the frameworks and tools to measure and manage population health to improve the health outcomes of the population

MHA E: Professionalism and Ethics

Professionalism and Ethics

MHA 18:    Personal & social responsibility  Acts honestly and ethically, ensures organizational integrity

MHA 19:    Personal & professional development     Pursues lifelong learning participating in continuing education and conducting regular self-assessments

MHA 20:    Contributions to the community and profession Demonstrates service leadership participating in community services and supporting/mentoring others

Master of Science (MS) Program Competencies

MS in Biostatistics

BIOSTAT MS 1: Explain the theoretical foundations of commonly used descriptive and inferential methods in statistics.

BIOSTAT MS 2: Determine and implement the most appropriate method of statistical analysis reflecting a given question of interest, the study design and the available data, and interpret results.

BIOSTAT MS 3: Use computer software and/or programming languages for the application of existing statistical methods in novel ways and for processing, summarizing, analyzing and displaying complex public health or biomedical data and research results.

BIOSTAT MS 4: Evaluate the strengths, limitations, differences and similarities of common epidemiologic study designs used in epidemiologic research. (same as EPI 1)

BIOSTAT MS 5: Critically evaluate the ethical conduct of research practices. (same as EPI MS 4)

BS/MS in Biostatistics

BIOSTAT MS 1: Explain the theoretical foundations of commonly used descriptive and inferential methods in statistics.

BIOSTAT MS 2: Determine and implement the most appropriate method of statistical analysis reflecting a given question of interest, the study design and the available data, and interpret results.

BIOSTAT MS 3: Use computer software and/or programming languages for the application of existing statistical methods in novel ways and for processing, summarizing, analyzing and displaying complex public health or biomedical data and research results.

BIOSTAT MS 4: Evaluate the strengths, limitations, differences and similarities of common epidemiologic study designs used in epidemiologic research. (same as EPI 1)

BIOSTAT MS 5: Critically evaluate the ethical conduct of research practices. (same as EPI MS 4)

MS in Epidemiology

EPI MS 1: Apply knowledge of the strengths, limitations including biases, differences and similarities of common epidemiologic study designs to address a research question.

EPI MS 2: Conduct descriptive and analytic statistical analyses, including strategies to assess confounding and effect modification, to make statistical inferences.

EPI MS 3: Demonstrate effective written and oral skills for communicating epidemiologic research.

EPI MS 4: Critically evaluate the ethical conduct of research practices. (same as BIOSTAT MS 5)

MS in Health Promotion Sciences

HPS MS 1: Understand and implement qualitative research techniques including methodological conceptualization, computer assisted coding, and selected techniques such as focus group research, social marketing, complex participant-observation, and rapid appraisal methods.

HPS MS 2: Understand and implement quantitative research techniques including use of computer assisted statistical packages, statistical method selection and selected statistical methods such as chi-square, t-tests, and analysis of variance.

HPS MS 3: Apply knowledge of a significant public health problem in a substantive content area germane to research related to areas such as minority, adolescent, aging, maternal and child, international, and gender health.

MS in Industrial Hygiene & Environmental Health Sciences

IH 1: Describe patterns and mechanisms of occupational/environmental diseases based upon interpretation of epidemiologic evidence and knowledge of toxicological/physiological interaction of hazardous agents with the human body.

IH 2r: Recognize and identify sources of chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic stressors, and predict qualitative and quantitative aspects of the generation of these stressors.

IH 3r: Design programs or procedures to reduce or eliminate occupational and environmental hazards, including the recommendation and evaluation of controls in accordance with the hierarchy of controls.

IH 4: Select and use appropriate strategies and methods for quantitative and qualitative exposure assessment, and apply statistical principles to the collection and interpretation of industrial hygiene, safety, and environmental data.

IH 5: Communicate effectively with all levels of an organization, with the public, and with professional peers concerning health and safety.

IH 6: Interpret and apply relevant occupational and environmental regulations and standards.

IH 7: Understand ethical responsibilities and the impacts of professional practice in the organizational, societal, and global contexts of public health.

IH 8r: Make a business case for occupational/environmental health and safety programs, and promote teamwork, management systems, and workplace culture to develop and sustain such programs.

IH 9: Demonstrate research and critical thinking skills necessary to maintain and enhance one’s professional competence throughout one’s career.

IH 10: Identify vulnerable populations at disparate risk of adverse occupational and/or environmental health outcomes based upon societal inequalities.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program Competencies

PhD in Biostatistics

BIOSTAT PHD 1: Demonstrate the knowledge and application of theories in a broad class of statistical methodologies. 

BIOSTAT PHD 2: Develop new methods and/or compare existing methods for application in the public health and/or biomedical sciences, based on evaluation of an area of biostatistical methodology.

BIOSTAT PHD 3: Use computer software and/or programming languages for data simulation to evaluate the properties of statistical methods.

BIOSTAT PHD 4: Determine and implement the most appropriate method of statistical analysis reflecting a given question of interest, the study design and the available data, and interpret results across a broad range of complex studies.

BIOSTAT PHD 5: Apply knowledge of the strengths, limitations including biases, differences and similarities of common epidemiologic study designs to address a research question. (same as EPI MS 1)

BIOSTAT PHD 6: Critically evaluate and apply ethical conduct of research practices. (same as EPI PHD 5)

PhD in Epidemiology

EPI PHD 1: Demonstrate depth of knowledge in an area of specialization related to epidemiology.

EPI PHD 2: Develop a rigorous and reproducible research proposal that demonstrates an original and independent contribution that advances knowledge.

EPI PHD 3: Apply advanced epidemiological methods to address a critical and/or emerging epidemiologic research question.

EPI PHD 4: Conduct advanced statistical analyses to answer a specific epidemiologic research question.

EPI PHD 5: Critically evaluate and apply ethical conduct of research practices.

(same as BIOSTAT PHD 6)

PhD in Health Promotion Sciences

HPS PHD 1: Critique and apply the theoretical foundations of health promotion sciences from the perspective of all levels of the ecological model including individuals, small groups, communities, organizations, government, and social policy.

HPS PHD 2: Apply the array of health promotion intervention strategies from the most current research, theoretical, methodological, and practice models.

HPS PHD 3: Understand and implement qualitative research techniques including methodological conceptualization, technique selection, analysis types, limits of techniques, computer assisted coding, and selected techniques such as focus group research, social marketing, complex participant-observation, and rapid appraisal methods.

HPS PHD 4: Understand and apply appropriate study designs, sampling techniques, measures, analysis techniques, and interpretation for answering research questions.

HPS PHD 5: Understand and implement program evaluation types and strategies, selection criteria for use of specific evaluation types, advanced principles of program evaluation implementation, and methods associated with each program evaluation type.

HPS PHD 6: Apply the principles of social and behavioral science disciplines relevant to public health, such as anthropology, communication, political science, psychology, sociology, and social work.

HPS PHD 7: Apply knowledge of a significant public health problem in a substantive content area germane to research related to areas such as, minority, adolescent, aging, maternal and child, international, and gender health.

PhD in Occupational and Environmental Health

OEH PHD 1: Exhaustively search and critically review the scientific literature in a chosen area of occupational and environmental health.

OEH PHD 2: Formulate scientific hypotheses in a chosen area of occupational and environmental health and design studies to test those hypotheses.

OEH PHD 3: Use and, if appropriate, develop valid tools to collect and interpret data in the chosen area of specialization.

OEH PHD 4: Understand federal norms for the responsible conduct of research and apply principles of scientific integrity that pertain to their own research activities and communications.

OEH PHD 5: Convey broad knowledge of occupational and environmental health in an educational setting.