College of Public Health Competencies

Complete Listing of Foundational and Concentration Competencies

Professional Programs

  1. MPH Program Competencies
    1. Foundational Competencies (all MPH students must meet)
    2. Biostatistics
    3. Environmental Health
    4. Epidemiology
    5. Health Administration and Policy
    6. Health Promotion Sciences
    7. Health Promotion Sciences and Social Work
    8. Interdisciplinary
  2. MHA Program Competencies

Graduate Programs

  1. Master of Science Program Competencies
    1. Biostatistics
    2. BS/MS in Biostatistics
    3. Epidemiology
    4. Health Promotion Sciences
    5. Industrial Hygiene/Environmental Health Sciences
  2. Doctor of Philosophy Program Competencies
    1. Biostatistics
    2. Epidemiology
    3. Health Promotion Sciences
    4. Occupational and Environmental Health

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.

Biostatistics MPH

  • 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.

Occupational and Environmental Health MPH

  • 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.

Epidemiology MPH

  • 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.

Health Administration and Policy MPH

  • 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.

Health Promotion Sciences MPH

  • 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

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

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

Business Skills and 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

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

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

Biostatistics MS

  • 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)

Epidemiology MS

  • 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)

Health Promotion Sciences MS

  • 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.

Industrial Hygiene & Environmental Health Sciences MS

  • 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

Biostatistics PhD

  • 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)

Epidemiology PhD

  • 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)

Health Promotion Sciences PhD

  • 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.

Occupational and Environmental Health PhD

  • 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.

OUHSC Policies, Procedures, and Requirements

The OUHSC Hudson College of Public Health follows guidelines of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Complete policies can be found in the OUHSC Faculty Handbook online at https://provost.ouhsc.edu/Portals/1037/assets/documents/FacultyHandbookOUHSC.pdf?ver=2 0 18-10-30-111311-860,

  • Academic Appeals Policy and Procedures
    See Faculty Handbook, Appendix C
  • Academic Integrity Policy
    See Faculty Handbook, Section 4.17
  • Academic Misconduct Code
    See Faculty Handbook, Appendix C
  • Completion of Academic Work for Others
    See Faculty Handbook, Section 4.19
  • Student Rights and Responsibilities Code and Procedures
    See Faculty Handbook, Appendix C
  • Student Professional Behavior in an Academic Program Policy
    See Faculty Handbook, Appendix C
  • Criminal Background Checks Policy for Current Students and Conditionally Accepted Students – Health Sciences Center
    See Faculty Handbook, Appendix C
  • Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination and Harassment Policy
    See Faculty Handbook, Appendix H
  • Consensual Sexual Relationship Policy
    See Faculty Handbook, Appendix I
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
    See Faculty Handbook, Appendix J
  • Equal Opportunity Policy
    See Faculty Handbook, Section 5.1
  • Reasonable Accommodation Policy
    See Faculty Handbook, Section 5.3
  • Ethics in Research Policy
    See Faculty Handbook, Section 3.25
  • Prevention of Alcohol Abuse and Drug Use on Campus and in the Workplace
    See Faculty Handbook, Section 5.11
  • Tobacco-Free Policy
    See Faculty Handbook, Section 5.10
  • HIPAA Compliance
    The University of Oklahoma complies with all federal and state laws related to the confidentiality of patient and research participant medical information, including the Privacy and Security Regulations issued pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/ Students are required to comply with these laws and related University policies and procedures, including the HIPAA Privacy and Security policies http://ouhsc.edu/hipaa. Students are required to complete the University’s mandatory annual HIPAA training available through https://customapps.ou.edu/studio/OnPoint/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2fstudio%2fonpoint. Students must also comply with the related policies and procedures of their departments and any facilities in which they rotate.
  • Distance Learning Notification
    In a Distance Learning Classroom (DLC), a student’s voice, physical presence, materials, and participation in classroom activities may be transmitted to distance learning sites and videotaped or digitally captured. DLC video/digital archives are used internally by the University for educational and informational purposes.

OUHSC Student Handbook

The Hudson College of Public Health also follows the policies of the OUHSC Student Handbook available online at https://studenthandbook.ouhsc.edu/. Some of these policies include:

The OU Hudson College of Public Health also adheres to the OUHSC policies below:

Requirements for maintaining enrollment include but not limited to:

  • Complete yearly online HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) training
  • Complete yearly Title IX (Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination and Harassment) training
  • Remain current on all University and departmental trainings
  • Purchase or upload proof of health insurance coverage each semester
  • Complete initial criminal background check prior to the first enrollment and provide an attestation (form provided by the Office of Student Services) in lieu of the required background check yearly after the initial check
  • Meet with academic advisor each semester during the enrollment period
  • Acknowledging yearly the OUHSC Financial Responsibility Agreement
  • Meet financial obligations to the University

Laptop Computer Requirements

For All Public Health Students

The privacy and the protected health information (PHI) governed by federal HIPAA law and monitored by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is of critical importance to the entire OU Health Sciences Center community. University policy requires students to have a university compliant Laptop for University related activities including academic course work, testing, classroom notes, OUHSC email, accessing ePHI, creating, storing, or sharing, treatment notes, medical records or case notes from classroom, clinical or research activities prior to the start of your academic program.

See https://it.ouhsc.edu/policies/ for a list of all applicable policies and standards.

The OU Health Sciences Center recommends that students purchase a new laptop computer for the start of their academic program with the University. Experience has shown that older, heavily used devices can be ineffective, potentially impacting the time required to complete assignments etc. which can have an impact on your overall student experience.

The Hudson College of Public Health requires each student to have access to a laptop that meets the requirements below to have the best possible experience with the University’s required security tools and your academic, clinical, and research activities.

Please check with the OUHSC Office of Financial Aid about the availability of financial aid funds for a laptop computer purchase.

Minimum Computer Requirements

The Hudson College of Public Health requires each student to have access to a laptop that meets the computer requirements below to have the best possible experience with the University's required security tools and your academic, clinical, or research activities.

For Biostatistics and Epidemiology Degrees and Courses

Students are required to have a laptop with a Windows operating system, with the below specifications. MacOS is not compatible with SAS and other software used in the Department.

Platform Windows MacOS
Operating System Minimum OS: Windows 10 or Windows 111 Minimum OS: MacOS Big Sur (11.x)1
Computer Specifications i5 or i7 Intel™ Processor
13-inch display or greater
Minimum 8GB RAM or greater
Minimum 256GB SSD Hard Drive
Minimum of 2 USB Ports
Webcam
Microphone
Speakers
Wireless Internet Connectivity		 i5 or i7 Intel™ Processor
13-inch display or greater
Minimum 8GB RAM or greater
Minimum 256GB SSD Hard Drive
Minimum of 2 USB Ports
Webcam
Microphone
Speakers
Wireless Internet Connectivity
Internet Connectivity Reliable Broadband Internet Connectivity of at least 15Mbps Download and 4Mbps Upload Reliable Broadband Internet Connectivity of at least 15Mbps Download and 4Mbps Upload
Software Requirements Microsoft Office3652 with Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Antivirus software

Other important software:
Mozilla Firefox
Adobe Acrobat Reader
VLC Media Player
Respondus LockDown Browser		 Microsoft Office3652 with Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Antivirus software

Other important software:
Mozilla Firefox
Adobe Acrobat Reader
VLC Media Player
Respondus LockDown Browser
1

Windows upgrade available here: https://it.ouhsc.edu/e‐academy

2

Microsoft Office is available for free to current OUHSC students here: https://www.ou.edu/ouit/workanywhere/O365

Student Virtual Desktop

This service allows you to access secure university resources usually used in research, experiential learning, and to access other special software your degree program may require.

Students can log in at https://mydesk.ou.edu.

For log in details, check out the MyDesk article here: https://itsupport.ou.edu/TDClient/30/Unified/KB/ArticleDet?ID=2340.

Work that does not require PHI (Protected Health Information) or other regulated data, such as attending Zoom lectures or accessing coursework on Canvas, can be completed on the student’s computer without connecting to the Virtual Desktop.

Need Help?

For support with the new Student Virtual Desktop contact the OU IT Service Desk through phone or email below.

Computer Technical Support

COPH-IT (College Support)
COPH-IT@ouhsc.edu
(405.271.8001) (x46637)

IT Service Desk

Location: Student Union, Room 105, 1106 N. Stonewall
Phone: 405-325-HELP (4357) (Toll Free 1-888-435-7486)
Office Hours: 8:00AM – 5:00PM, Monday – Friday

OU-Tulsa IT Service Desk
http://ou.edu/tulsa/it/help
(918) 660-3550

Additional Software Requirements for Specialty Degrees

For Biostatistics and Epidemiology Degrees/Courses:

  • SAS statistical package – SAS can be installed by COPH IT. A SAS installation can be scheduled at https://calendly.com/coph-it/. A Windows computer is now required to install SAS on student personal computers. IT Service Desk is no longer able to install Statistical Analysis Software.
  • JMP—JMP software can be installed from https://itsoftware.ou.edu/.
  • NVIVO – Nvivo software can be installed from https://itsoftware.ou.edu/.

For Health Promotion Sciences Degrees:

All laptop computer hardware and software requirements are subject to periodic revisions >> https://itsupport.ou.edu/TDClient/30/Unified/KB/ArticleDet?ID=2340.