Health and Human Service (HHS)

HHS 501     HHS Internship     3 Credit Hours

The Health and Human Services Internship is an academic, curriculum-based practical work experience in a health care setting, health insurance firm, or health policy agency that provides students with hands-on experience to enhance understanding of issues relevant to health policy and health service delivery. The internship is normally unpaid and, when taken as a three credit hour course, consists of 8 hours per week of field work over a 14-week semester. Students are required to attend an internship seminar that meets weekly and includes a series of lectures on organizational, ethical, and administrative topics, intended to link the work experience with students prior coursework. An internship application is required for registration and must be submitted by July 15th for Fall, October 15th for Winter, or March 15th for Summer. The internship application and clearance documents can be found at: https://umdearborn.edu/cehhs/cehhs-office-student-success/field-placement-office/health-and-human-services-field-placements (F, W, S).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Graduate

HHS 503     Medical Information Systems     3 Credit Hours

Medical Information Systems deals with how information is created, stored and used in health care settings. Areas to interest for this course include fundamentals of computers and data management, medical information documentation in the form of paper and electronic medical records, health data privacy issues, disease classification and scoring systems, quality assurance in health care delivery, commonly used health care statistics, reimbursement methodologies, health care monitoring by internal processes and external review agencies, and vital statistics and disease surveillance systems. The course also includes some hands-on computer applications instruction to familiarize students with commonly used software platforms utilized in health care administration. Student cannot receive credit for both HPS 403 and HPS 503.

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate
Cannot enroll if Program is

HHS 504     Financing Health & Medical Sys     3 Credit Hours

Full Course Title: Financing Health & Medical Systems The American health care system faces two problems: access to health services and high and rising costs. This course looks at the problems of uninsured citizens as well as the strains placed on health care facilities in providing services for them. Europeans have dealt with problems of access and costs controls through universal health care coverage and the course takes up various models in use today. The course also looks at American health insurance and "managed care" programs such as HMOs and PPOs as methods of providing health coverage as well as controlling costs. The course introduces students to services provided by the government including Medicare, Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Students will learn the basics of creating a budget under constraints such as contractual limitations and Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs). Students Cannot receive credit for more than one of the following: HHS 404, HPS 404, HHS 504, or HPS 504. (F,W,S))

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Graduate

HHS 505     Population Health     3 Credit Hours

Much too often, population health is understood to be either a “sum” of the health of individuals comprising the population or to be identical with public health. Yet, population health is distinct in its definition, determinants/risk factors, measurement/evaluation, and strategies for improvement from both individual health and public health. Population health encompasses traditional public health and individual-level preventive medicine but emphasizes the full range of health determinants affecting the entire population rather than only ill or high-risk individuals. The population health approach integrates the social and biological, the quantitative and qualitative, recognizing the importance of social and cultural factors in practice and research. Consequently, all these factors need to be appreciated when designing, implementing, and evaluating health and public policies aimed at improving population health. (F, W).

Prerequisite(s): HHS 200 or CHE 101

HHS 506     Program Evaluation     3 Credit Hours

This course will provide an introduction to key concepts in program evaluation. Students will learn about the systematic steps involved in evaluating public programs for efficiency and effectiveness. The course will rely on case studies, text examples and discussion. This course is the graduate equivalent of HHS 406. Graduate students enrolled in this course will produce a paper that is substantively different with increased requirements than the paper produced by undergraduates enrolled in HHS 406. In addition, graduate student examinations will require deeper responses that focus on synthesizing both text and journal article materials. (OC)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

HHS 510     Quantitative Research & Stats     4 Credit Hours

An introduction to methods of data collection and analysis. Also a discussion of research design and the philosophy of social sciences. Additional reading assignments or projects will distinguish this course from its undergraduate version HHS 410. Students cannot receive credit for both HHS 410 and HHS 510. (F,W,S)

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Graduate

HHS 512     Principles of Epidemiology     4 Credit Hours

The study of frequency and distribution, as well as the causes and control, of disease in human populations. Using data analysis tools, one can identify causes of disease and the effects of prevention and treatment. This course is an application of research design to determine the extent to which environment (toxins, for instance), heredity, childhood, development, and lifestyle influence morbidity and morality rates. Graduate students' work will include re-analyzing original data in a confirmatory, in contrast to exploratory mode. (F,W,S)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate
Cannot enroll if Level is

HHS 515     Healthcare Administration     3 Credit Hours

This course introduces students to administrative models and skills that can be used at a supervisory level. These conceptions include strategic planning, marketing, organizational communications, quality assurance, project management and team skills, supervision and evaluation, conflict resolution and office cultures and politics. A critical and historical perspective is used to understand the origins and meanings of these conceptions and the extent to which they correspond with the service mentality of health and human services. Applications to the health and human services will be central to the course. Students cannot receive credit for both HHS 415 or HPS 405 and HHS 515 or HPS 505. (F,W,S)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Graduate

HHS 530     Health Behavior & Health Educ     3 Credit Hours

Full Course Title: Health Behavior & Health Education This course provides an overview of social and behavioral science theories that guide the development of health education and promotion interventions aimed at preventing, reducing, and eliminating public health problems. Part one of the course describes the relationship between behavior and health, through a review of several current health problems faced by people in the United States. Part two presents a survey of health behavior theories ranging from those aimed at individual behavioral change to community health education promotions. The final part of the course looks at the application of theory to real-world health promotion and education interventions. Students will learn how social and behavioral theory informs intervention design, implementation, and evaluation. (F,W,S)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Graduate

HHS 533     Race/Ethnic Health     3 Credit Hours

Full Course Title: Race, Ethnicity and Community Health This course begins with a broad overview of health disparities in the United States, with a focus on the three types of social inequality- race/ethnicity (and nativity status), socioeconomic status (SES), and gender. Following this introduction epidemiological issues, health behaviors, health care services, and health and social issues specific to various minority populations in the U.S. are examined in greater depth. The underlying position of the course is that understanding why these groups are at a higher risk of developing poor health outcomes is crucial to developing better health care and health policy interventions and moving towards health equity. (OC).

HHS 535     Obesity and the Lifecourse     4 Credit Hours

This course aims to introduce students in the fundamentals of the lifecourse perspectives on health, while using "obesity" as a unifying example to illustrate its theoretical linkages to individual and population health, the practical implications for the administration and financing of the health care system, and for framing policy options. The course highlights the differential impact of obesity on (1) the health and socioeconomic achievement of individuals at various stages in the lifecourse; (2) the population health and economic needs or opportunities, as derived from the lifecourse profile of a specific population (i.e., age distribution and aging trends) and in the context of a changing structure of society; and (3) the demand for healthcare services and other stressors on the healthcare system. The course identifies the rationale, goals, scope, design, and potential for successful implementation of obesity-reducing policy interventions at different points during the lifecourse. (W).

HHS 540     Medical Sociology     3 Credit Hours

An analysis of health and illness behaviors from the point of view of the consumer, as well as the medical professionals, the structure, strengths, and weaknesses of the medical care delivery system in the U.S.; the impact of culture and personality on illness behavior; and a study of the institution of medicine and activities of health care professionals. Additional reading assignments or projects will distinguish this course from its undergraduate version HPS 440. Students cannot receive credit for both HPS 440 and HPS 540. (F).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

HHS 542     Medical Ethics     3 Credit Hours

Issues in medical ethics are among the most exciting and most urgent facing the world today. This course will explore some of these issues: the relationship between patient and health caregiver (truth-telling, informed consent, the right to refuse treatment, confidentiality); assisted suicide and euthanasia; treatment of defective newborns; scarce resources, social justice and the right to health care; cloning and genetic manipulation; new reproductive technologies; and others. We will discuss issues from the standpoint of patients, medical professionals, and citizens who shape policy in a democratic society. Ethical theories and concepts will be stressed. Students cannot receive credit for both HPS 442 and HPS 542. Prerequisite(s): any previous course in Philosophy or permission of instructor. (F,W,S)

Prerequisite(s): PHIL 100 or PHIL 120 or PHIL 233 or PHIL 234 or PHIL 240 or PHIL 301 or PHIL 302 or PHIL 303 or PHIL 304 or PHIL 305 or PHIL 310 or PHIL 315 or PHIL 320 or PHIL 335 or PHIL 340 or PHIL 350 or PHIL 365 or PHIL 369 or PHIL 370 or PHIL 371 or PHIL 375 or PHIL 380 or PHIL 390 or PHIL 441 or PHIL 445 or PHIL 485 or PHIL 490

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

HHS 548     Comparative Health Care Sys     3 Credit Hours

An introduction and overview of the English, Swedish, and People's Republic of China health care systems. Focus on cultural and other organizational characteristics, unique features, approaches and ability to solve problems. Emphasis on how the three systems help us understand the American health care system. Additional reading assignments or projects will distinguish this course from its undergraduate version HHS 448 or HPS 448 and HHS 548 or HPS 548. (F,W,S)

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Level is Graduate

HHS 556     Health Care and the Law     3 Credit Hours

A sociological study of legal issues in health care, including regulation of hospitals, consent for treatment, confidentiality, experimentation, family planning, children's rights, access to health care. The emphasis will be on the organizational and personal consequences of legal requirements. Junior/Senior standing is a requirement. Students cannot receive credit for both HPS 456 and HPS 556. (W)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

HHS 570     Information Science and Ethics     3 Credit Hours

Technological innovations in how individuals, organizations, and governments collect and share personal information have raised myriad concerns regarding how that information can be best protected. In today's highly networked world, individuals must acquire the knowledge and skills to engage with technologies in a safe and secure manor. This course provides an interdisciplinary exploration of the social, legal, ethical, and design challenges that arise when it comes to securing personal information and helping individuals maintain desired levels of privacy at home, work, and everywhere in between. Graduate students interact with a local agency and produce a paper regarding a relevant security issue. Students may not receive credit for both HHS 470 and HHS 570. (OC)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

HHS 591     Graduate Seminar     3 Credit Hours

Seminar focuses on current issues and practical problems in health care organization, delivery, and financing. The Case Method (where appropriate) is used to demonstrate and discuss real problems and approaches in functioning health care institutions in Southeastern Michigan. The course is primarily from the point of view of individuals responsible for administering or advising institutions. Students cannot receive credit for both HPS 402 or HHS 491 and HPS 502 or HHS 591. (F,W,S)

Prerequisite(s): HHS 440 or HHS 540 or HPS 440 or HPS 540

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Graduate

HHS 690     Graduate Research     3 Credit Hours

To provide masters candidates with the opportunity to undertake a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. The research topic is chosen by the student, in consultation with a faculty member in the appropriate discipline. Written approval must be obtained at least two weeks prior to registration on a form available in the Graduate Office. The request must include a comprehensive description of the proposed research project, as well as a time line for the project’s completion. (A maximum of 3 credit hours of research course work may be applied toward graduation requirements upon approval from the Program Advisor.)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

HHS 691     Topics in Health IT     3 Credit Hours

This is a graudate seminar focused on the latest developments in Health Information Technology. Topics Vary. See schedule of classes for current offerings. May be elected more than once if topics differ.

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate

HHS 692     Graduate Internship     3 Credit Hours

The internship provides real-world experience for students in a professional environment. Participating employers hire students within parameters set by the internship program. Students are required to submit a report and evaluation documents at the end of each work assignment and participate in an assessment session with the internship staff. (A maximum of 6 credit hours of internship course work may be applied toward graduation requirements upon approval from the Program Advisor.) An internship application is required for registration and must be submitted by July 15th for Fall, October 15th for Winter, or March 15th for Summer. The internship application and clearance documents can be found at: https://umdearborn.edu/cehhs/cehhs-office-student-success/field-placement-office/health-and-human-services-field-placements (F, W, S).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Graduate