Electives for Undergraduate Students Majoring and Minoring in Public Health

Food tells a unique story about people, places and perspectives. By understanding what drives people to eat the foods they do, we can gain insight into the broader factors that influence nutrition and health outcomes of populations around the world. The overarching aim of this course is to provide students with a deeper understanding of the cultural, social, environmental, political and economic determinants that affect the food choices, nutrition and health of populations globally. Students will learn cultural concepts that relate to food and body shape preferences, they will examine how different farming and food systems influence the foods that populations have access to, and they will learn about the diverse dietary patterns from around the globe, and how they might influence health outcomes.

The course is divided into three modules: 

1. Cultural aspects of food choice
2. Food system typologies; and
3. Global dietary patterns

Offered: Fall

RU-NB Cross-Listed Course Number: 75:832:677

Prerequisite Course for Bloustein Students: Students must have completed 10:832:240 Global Health Perspectives 

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues in public health of the 21st century. As such, public health professionals need to be equipped with the latest tools and knowledge to tackle this unprecedented challenge. This course is a comprehensive overview of the multiple impacts of climate change on human health. It discusses the principles by which a change in climate results in a myriad of extreme weather patterns, and how each of these are related to human health risks. It focuses on the consequences to the general population while paying special attention to groups that are disproportionally affected due to their socioeconomic context.

The course also analyzes different solution frameworks at local, regional, and global scales, through the lens of climate and environmental justice. The course is intended for graduate students interested in contributing to a solutions-based approach to climate change through public health.

Offered: Fall

RU-NB Cross-Listed Course Number: 75:832:629

Prerequisite Course for Bloustein Students: Students must have completed 10:832:240 Global Health Perspectives 

The pursuit of sustainability is essential to the health of the planet upon which the health and wellbeing of people depends. Rooted in equity and social justice, sustainability relies upon understanding the intersections and dependencies of environmental, social, and economic domains at a systems level and the trade-offs and dilemmas that need to be navigated to effect a just transition. Planetary perturbations, such as climate change, are an evident threat multiplier that exacerbate disparities in our society and create risk. Sustainability is positioned as a strategic driver to drive fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to advance sustainable development in creating a world that leaves no one behind.
This course presents frameworks and insights, illustrated by case studies, focused on the pursuit of sustainability illustrating the connections between planetary and human health. Students will be encouraged to recognize technical, organizational, economic and political barriers to scaling sustainability solutions so that they might navigate them more successfully. Sustainability is considered beyond immediate operational impacts to explore the broader systems, leadership practices, and business model for the 21st century and beyond.

Offered: Fall

RU-NB Cross-Listed Course Number: 75:832:628

Develops skills for evaluating exposures causing occupational health problems in the industrial workplace. Emphasis will be placed on mathematical techniques to estimate exposures to chemicals, physical agents, and ergonomic hazards facing employees. Air sampling and monitoring techniques will also be introduced. Principles of Industrial Hygiene provides a rigorous introduction to the field of industrial hygiene. The class introduces concepts, vocabulary, and methodology in the practice of industrial hygiene and identifies resource materials.

Students will learn and apply various approaches to anticipating, recognizing, evaluating and controlling occupational hazards in various industries and settings. An emphasis will be placed on the basics of: air sampling, physical hazards, industrial noise monitoring techniques and controls for workplace hazards, as well as basic quantitative analysis.

Offered: Fall

RU-NB Cross-Listed Course Number: 75:832:623

This course is designed as an introduction and overview of current knowledge regarding adult psychopathology, including mental disorders, symptoms of mental disorders, psychological distress, substance use, and related behaviors (e.g., suicide). It will address foundational topics such as definitions of mental disorders, psychological distress, substance use, and related behaviors; standard approaches to diagnosis and assessment; key causal mechanisms; epidemiology; course; and risk and protective factors. Scientific understanding of psychopathology is rapidly changing, and the study of psychopathology is extremely broad. One cannot reasonably expect a single course to provide adequate coverage of all of these topics. In fact, any one of them represents more than sufficient material for a course in itself. This course, therefore, should be considered foundational or introductory. Although much of the course will feature a lifespan development approach to understanding mental health, the primary focus of the class will be on adult populations. Specialized courses are available on older adults [HBSP 0603 – Mental Health & Aging (SPH)] and children [18:820:563:01 – Child Psychopathology (GSAPP)].

In this course, we frequently discuss material of a sensitive nature (e.g., suicide, trauma), and an expected sequela of the course will be the practice of talking about sensitive topics in a straightforward and non-stigmatizing manner. This is an important component of combating mental health stigma. Respect of any potential emotional response or sharing of personal information by a classmate (should it occur) is mandatory. 

Offered: Spring

RU-NB Cross-Listed Course Number: 75:832:668

This course addresses suicide as a global public health scourge. Students are provided with an overview of contemporary knowledge regarding suicide risk, prevention, and intervention. It will address foundational topics such as definitions, terminology, history,
theories, epidemiology, risk assessment methods, and prediction models. Prevention and intervention are considered from both individual- and population-level perspectives. Suicide risk, prevention, and intervention are discussed with respect to diverse identities (e.g., racial and ethnic minoritized groups) and community memberships (e.g., military and veteran populations). Throughout the course, an emphasis is placed on communicating about suicide in ways that combat stigma, dispel common myths, and promote mental health literacy and empathy.

Due to the course focus, we frequently discuss material of a sensitive nature. Respect of any potential emotional response or sharing of personal information by a classmate (should it occur– although it is not necessary or required) is mandatory. Although course materials,
requirements, and assignments are standard across all students and won’t be modified, students have the right to exercise autonomy around their engagement with specific materials in order to support their own self-care.

Offered: Fall

RU-NB Cross-Listed Course Number: 75:832:659

Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy undergraduate students can take up to two graduate-level electives at the Rutgers School of Public Health.

With permission from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, students interested in taking graduate courses at Rutgers School of Public Health must meet the following requirements:

• Majoring or minoring in Public Health;
• Have taken at least 90 Credits toward their undergraduate degree; and
• Have at least an overall 3.2 GPA.

If you want to register for a graduate-level elective course, please submit a completed cross-registration form and your unofficial transcripts to the Rutgers School of Public Health's Office of the Registrar at sphregistrar@sph.rutgers.edu. The cross-registration form must be approved and signed by your undergraduate advisor prior to submission.