Public Health Foundations Graduate Certificate

Contact Information

Kristen Clements-Nolle, PhD, mPH
Director, Graduate Programs
Mail Stop 0275
(775) 682-7097
clements@unr.edu 

Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

The goal of this certificate program is to povide students with foundational public health knowledge to be effective public health professionals. Public health professionals work in a variety of organizations and agencies to contribute to the common aim of promoting and protecting health in human populations.

Student Learning Outcomes for the Public Foundations Graduate Certificate are as follows:

1. apply epidemiological methods to settings and situations in public health practice.
2. analyze quantitative and qualitative data using informatics.
3. interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.
4. analyze quantitative data using biostatistics.
5. interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.
6. apply specific biostatistical methodologies in the context of a broader public health research framework.
7. discuss means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and systemic levels.
8. assess population need, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.
9. apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health polocies or programs.
10. design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
11. describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.
12. apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative.
13. discuss the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
14. propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes. describe the legal and ethical bases for public health and health services.
15. advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
16. evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
17. communicate audience-appropriate (i.e., non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.

Admission Requirements

This certificate program serves post-baccalaurete students who are working in public health, or post-baccalaureate students who wish to add public health competencies to their body of knowledge. Students must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university to be accepted into the graduate certificate program.

Application is made directly to the Graduate School of the University of Nevada, Reno.

I. Program Requirements

The Public Health Foundations Graduate Certificate addresses core public health competencies in epidemiology, biostatistics, social and behavioral health, and health policy.  This certificate program provides a foundation for public health practice and further public health education. 

Specific courses include the following:

• CHS 712 - Epidemiology in Public Health (3 units)
• CHS 780 - Biostatistics in Public Health (3 units)
• CHS 701 - Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Health (3 units)
• CHS 755 - Health Policy (3 units)

II. Total Units (12 units)