Courses in Community Health Sciences

Course listings on the School of Public Health website are updated each semester.  This page is meant to be used as a guide for academic planning.  For official course listings, always consult the UIC Course Catalog.

CHSC 411. Nutrition for Public Health Professionals. 3 hours.

Foundation course to introduce nutrition principles and their application to public health populations and problems. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 421. Community Health 1: Assessing, Promoting and Improving Community Health. 4 hours.

Provides an introduction to theory and methods for community health assessment, promotion, and improvement. Course Information: Credit is not given for CHSC 421 if the student has credit in CHSC 431 or CHSC 480. Field work required. Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent registration in IPHS 401 and credit or concurrent registration in IPHS 402. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture-Discussion and one Practice.

CHSC 422. Community Health 2: Evidence-Informed Community Health Interventions. 4 hours.

Provides an introduction to quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods which are applied in planning, implementing, and evaluating evidence-informed community health interventions and policies. Course Information: Credit is not given for CHSC 422 if the student has credit for 433 or CHSC 446. Field work required. Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and Credit or concurrent registration in IPHS 403. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture-Discussion and one Practice.

CHSC 423. Community Health 3: Professional Development for Public Health Practice. 4 hours.

Emphasizes critical thinking, communication and professional development skills for public health practice and prepares students to complete an integrative individual capstone project. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and CHSC 422.

CHSC 430. Public Health Policy and Advocacy. 3 hours.
Frameworks and tools for understanding, developing and analyzing public health policy issues and processes. Course Information: Credit is not given for CHSC 430 if the student has credit for HPA 432. Prerequisite(s): IPHS 401; and graduate standing; or approval of the department. MPH and Certificate students in Community Health Sciences will have priority in registration.

CHSC 433. Public Health Planning and Evaluation. 3 hours.

Planning, implementation and evaluation of community health programs, including proposal development and evaluation and considerations for community/consumer involvement throughout the process. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent registration in BSTT 400 and Credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 431 and Credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 480; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department. MPH and Certificate students in Community Health Sciences will have priority in registration.

CHSC 434. Introduction to Qualitative Methods in Public Health. 3 hours.

Introduction to major methods and techniques used in qualitative research (observation, participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus groups); includes field and in-class exercises, and introduces computer-assisted qualitative data analysis. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 446. Research Methods in Community Health. 3 hours.

Principles and techniques for scientific investigation of problems in public health research and practice. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 447. Survey Planning and Design. 3 hours.

Theory and applications of sample survey planning and design for conducting research in health sciences and related fields. Addresses three major topics: survey design and planning, sampling, and data collection procedures. Course Information: Same as PA 447. Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 460. Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response. 3 hours.

Provides an overview of and introduction to public health emergency preparedness concepts and practice. Course Information: Same as EOHS 406. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing.

CHSC 461. Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Assessment Methods. 4 hours.

Focuses on analytic skills and assessment tools used in public health emergency preparedness and response activities.

CHSC 462. Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Management. 4 hours.

Focuses on the management of public health emergency preparedness and response activities.

CHSC 464. Survey of Developmental Disabilities. 3 hours.

Survey of the developmental disabilities field, including basic definitions, history of DD services, relevant public policies and legislation, service delivery systems, and research. Course Information: Same as DHD 464. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 485. Communications, Mass Media and Public Health. 3 hours.

Examines the development, theoretical basis, and applications of mass media strategies in public health. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 494. Special Topics in Community Health Sciences. 1-4 hours.

Study of topics in maternal and child health, gerontology, behavioral science of health and illness, international health, community health and public health practice. Course Information: May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Topics vary by semester. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Restricted to graduate or professional standing, or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 510. MCH Inequities and Responses I. 4 hours.

Using an ecological and life-course perspective, this course addresses women’s, pregnant/postpartum persons’, and fetal/infant well-being; the systems, services, interventions, and policies to address the needs of these populations are examined. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department. Recommended background: Enrollment in the MPH or other graduate or professional program at UIC.

CHSC 511. Maternal and Child Health Inequities and Responses Part II. 4 hours.

Provides an in-depth review and analysis of protective and risk factors, health inequities, and interventions for children, adolescents, including children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN), and their families. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 510 and CHSC 421 and credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department. Recommended background: Enrollment in the Master of Public Health or other graduate program.

CHSC 512. Translating Evidence for MCH Practice. 3 hours.

Using a life span approach within an ecological framework, examines evidence and its translation in maternal and child health (MCH) in terms of underlying theories, program and policy implementation, evaluation, and advocacy. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or consent of the instructor. Recommended Background: CHSC 510 and CHSC 511 and CHSC 543.

CHSC 518. The Epidemiology of Pediatric Diseases. 3 hours.

Provides students with experience in pediatric epi through review of seminal studies and available child health data. Condition-specific lectures include discussions of study design and methodological considerations specific to studying children. Course Information: Same as EPID 518. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): EPID 404 and EPID 406 and BSTT 401; and graduate or professional standing; or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: EPID 501.

CHSC 524. Health and Aging. 3 hours.

Examines aging at individual and population levels from public health and life course perspectives, and provides an overview of formal and informal care systems for older adults in the US, taking global perspectives. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 526. Family Perspectives on Disability. 3 hours.

Examines trends, theories and research methods, policies, and family centered intervention approaches for families of persons with disabilities. Course Information: Same as DHD 526. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

CHSC 527. Critical Issues in Long Term Care Policy. 3 hours.

Examines the policy process and policy implications affecting the organization, financing, delivery, and utilization of long-term care services. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 528. Societal Analysis of Aging, Health and the Life Course. 3 hours.

Analysis of health, aging and health care issues from life course perspectives, including the application of concepts, theories and methods from both sociology and public health. Course Information: Same as SOC 528. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 534. Management and Analysis of Qualitative Data. 3 hours.

Emphasizes conceptual and technical skills for organizing and analyzing qualitative (textual) data from focus groups, in-depth interviews and other sources, using specialized text-analysis computer software. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Fieldwork required. Prerequisite(s): CHSC 434; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 543. MCH Policy and Advocacy. 3 hours.

Examines the social, economic and political dynamics which influence the development and implementation of maternal and child health (MCH) policy and US health policy in general. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 544. Public Health Approaches with Adolescents and Young Adults. 3 hours.

Health and social development of the adolescent and young adult populations and special subgroups (e.g. parenting, homeless) are reviewed from a critical pedagogy and public health science perspective. Course Information: Same as SOCW 546. Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and Credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department. Recommended background: Research, policy and/or practice and interest in adolescence and youth and in community development and intervention studies; ethnic/minority studies; education; health and social/human service professions.

CHSC 545. Reproductive and Perinatal Health. 3 hours.

Examines the epidemiology of key reproductive and perinatal health outcomes and cutting edge research issues. Course Information: Same as EPID 545. Prerequisite(s): IPHS 402; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 547. Public Health Approaches to Maternal and Child Nutrition. 2 hours.

Advanced seminar course integrating roles and applications of nutrition for maternal and child populations. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 511; and graduate or professional standing; or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 548. Readings in Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology. 3 hours.

Advanced seminar in reproductive/perinatal epidemiology with particular emphasis on methodological issues. Course Information: Same as EPID 548. Prerequisite(s): CHSC 511 and EPID 402 and EPID 404; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.Recommended background: Maternal and child health and epidemiology.

CHSC 549. Advanced Applied Methods in MCH Epidemiology. 3 hours.

Gives conceptual and technical understanding of statistical and epidemiological methods, builds skills/proficiency in applying these. Attention is given to data handling tasks and to statistical/epidemiologic strategies for analysis and presentation. Course Information: Same as EPID 549. Prerequisite(s): EPID 402 or EPID 404; and BSTT 401 and EPID 406; or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Credit or concurrent registration in EPID 501.

CHSC 550. Advanced Theories and Topics in Community Health Sciences. 3 hours.

This is a required course in the CHS doctoral program. The course critically examines theories and topics central to research and practice in community health sciences. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Open only to Ph.D. degree students; or approval of the department.

CHSC 551. Advanced Research Methods for Community Health Sciences. 3 hours.

Examines advanced methods for conducting quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research in the area of community health, including study design, sampling, measurement, and report writing. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 550. Open only to Ph.D. degree students; or approval of the department.

CHSC 552. Advanced Analytic Methods for Community Health Sciences. 3 hours.

Examines advanced methods for conducting quantitative and qualitative research in the area of community health, including research question-driven data analysis and report writing. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 550 and CHSC 551. Open only to Ph.D. degree students; or approval of the department.

CHSC 553. Family Planning: Policies and Practices. 2 hours.

Overview and analysis of family planning concepts, including contraceptive and abortion methods, and the policies that affect their implementation. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 511 and BSTT 400; and graduate or professional standing; or consent of the instructor.

CHSC 554. International Women’s Health: Current and Emerging Issues. 3 hours.

Examines current and emerging women’s health issues globally with an emphasis on studying social and cultural factors affecting women’s physical and psychosocial health. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 567. Queer Public Health: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Sexual Minorities’ Health. 3 hours.

Examines the health of sexual minorities – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) populations, including psycho-social, political, and health system forces that shape the health experience and needs of this population. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and Credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 577. Survey Questionnaire Design. 3 hours.

Concepts and strategies for developing survey questionnaires for various modes of survey data collection. Course Information: Same as PA 577. Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 584. Community Organizing for Health. 3 hours.

Focuses on facilitating community organizing processes in public health practice including theories, field work tools, feminist and international perspectives. Course Information: Field work required. Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421and credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 586. Health Behavior Interventions. 3 hours.

Examines advanced concepts and strategies for the development, implementation, and evaluation of health promotion interventions designed to change health behaviors and includes a focus on use of emerging technologies. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and credit or concurrent registration in CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 587. Theories of Health Behavior. 3 hours.

An advanced course in theories of health behavior with an emphasis on integrative applications of health behavior theories to specific populations, settings, and areas of health. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 588. Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis. 3 hours.

Examines recent developments in research synthesis in the behavioral, social, and medical sciences. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHSC 421 and CHSC 422; and graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.

CHSC 593. Doctoral Laboratory in Community Health Sciences Research Development. 1 hour.

Addresses the research development process in accord with the research trajectory of doctoral students, facilitating the development of skills needed for success in the preliminary examination, dissertation proposal, and dissertation defense. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Open only to Ph.D. degree students; and approval of the department.

CHSC 594. Advanced Special Topics in Community Health Sciences. 1-4 hours.

Advanced study of topics in community health, including maternal and child health, gerontology, behavioral science of health and illness, international health, community health, and public health practice. Course Information: May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Topics vary by semester. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department. Recommended background: Advanced placement in graduate program.

CHSC 595. Seminar in Community Health Sciences. 1-3 hours.

Seminar course addressing contemporary issues in community health sciences research and approaches to professional development. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Topics vary by seminar. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department. Recommended background: Advanced placement in graduate program.