Public Health Concentration (MS-PH)

Objective

Our Master's of Science - Public Health (MS-PH) concentration (36 credits) will enable students to apply clinical nursing expertise and population health skills in federal, state and local Public Health and Community Health agencies, Visiting Nurse and Homecare Associations,  and teach public  health nursing. Population based practice in nursing focuses on improving the health of the whole community whether locally, nationally, or globally, including individuals, families, and communities, with particular emphasis on underserved and marginalized populations.  It involves a process of assessment, policy planning and development of holistic plans of care as well as critical thinking and interprofessional collaboration at the systems level.

Course Requirements

The Public Health concentration in the master’s program consists of 33 credits including two practicum experiences (N698G & N798LL).

The final two semesters will involve specialty courses and clinical practicums in public and population health practice.  These courses emphasize community engagement and collaboration including community needs assessments, practice in grant writing and the application and evaluation of evidence based nursing practice at the public health and population level.

Course Descriptions

• N604 Introduction to Statistics for Health Research- 3 credits
  This course focuses on introductory statistical techniques frequently used in health sciences research, use of analytic software and database creation and management.
• N540 Epidemiology for Clinicians – 3 credits
  This course provides in-depth theoretical knowledge on concepts and principles of epidemiology and its application in health promotion and disease prevention. Its focus will be on key areas of epidemiology. 
• N640 Advanced Public Health Nursing I course - 3 credits
  This course is designed to provide advanced practice nurses specializing in the role of the Public Health Nurse Leader with knowledge and skills required to identify and analyze population-based public health problems as they occur in the local national, and global community. Analysis and evaluation of health problems will take place and evidenced based strategies designed to strengthen health promotion and disease prevention research, practice, education, and policy. Application of this 
  knowledge also occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698G. Content and practicum focus is on conducting a Comprehensive Community Assessment and a targeted Needs Assessment. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698G. Students will engage in 250 hours (about 1 week) of practical experience to meet course objectives. This practicum is conducted in a community that the student chooses. Students will need an outside community preceptor for this course. In order to plan ahead by mid-semester students should identify a preceptor and an agency that they will affiliate with for the next practicum course, N750 offered in the spring semester.  
• N750 Advanced Public Health Nursing II course- 3 credits is an examination of the theories, models and process of public health program planning, with a focus on designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating population-based public health programs, including financial program management and effective grant writing strategies.  

The final two semesters will involve specialty courses and clinical practicums: Content and practicum focus is on conducting a Comprehensive Community Assessment and a targeted Needs Assessment. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N798LL. Students will engage in 250 hours of practical experience to meet course objectives. This practicum is conducted in a community that the student chooses. Students will need an outside community preceptor for this course. In order to plan ahead by mid-semester students should identify a preceptor and an agency that they will affiliate with for the next practicum course, N750 offered in the spring semester, and N798LL) in public and population health practice.  These courses emphasize community engagement and collaboration including community needs assessments, practice in grant writing and the application and evaluation of evidence-based nursing practice at the public health and population level.  

General Practicum Information for both courses :

• The practicum setting and preceptor must be approved before starting the practicum experiences.
• The student may prefer or need more than one preceptor to fulfill identified teaching/learning goals. 
• The preceptor(s) should be an expert in the field of public health practice who can assist the student in gaining access to the population of interest. Must be a master’s level or higher community health professional.
• The site must provide access to and authority for expanded scope of practice (for example: temporary entry into data systems, access to staff/patients for interviews/focus groups), which will allow students to practice at the highest level.
• Students will keep a log of clinical experiences, and every two weeks they will electronically enter the time and activity log into Typhon system signed by preceptor.

Master of Science Student Support

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing
032 Skinner Hall
Amherst, MA 01003-9304
nursing [at] UMass [dot] edu (Nursing[at]UMass[dot]edu)