Curriculum

The Master of Science in Public Health program is a two-year program, made up of four academic semesters. This program has a graduation requirement of 28 credits (from coursework), and 6 credits from a thesis or project/research report. Master’s students in the Department of Public Health are expected to take required courses and elective courses.

Required Courses (13 credits)

Required courses make up a total of 13 credits, and they are spread across the four semesters of this Master’s program.

1 credit, Fall

This course enables students to discuss public health issues, and understand research methods as they read and study research papers. Students are expected to deliver oral presentations on public health research papers to their peers and public health experts. Through this course, students build their research and analytical capabilities. It prepares students for their own research or project as they learn about different study designs and analytical methods.

2 credits, Fall

This course is one that explores a wide range of research and study designs, enabling students to understand how to utilize each study design, and the appropriate situations. Students learn to collect and analyze both quantitative and qualitative data. Additionally, they learn to interpret their findings and postulate how their research findings would be utilized in a public health context.

0 credit

This is a compulsory course managed by Taiwan’s Center for Taiwan Academic Research Ethics Education. All graduate students studying in Taiwan have to take this course, and it is completely offered online. This course teaches and explores research ethics, and intellectual rights. It is a guiding course that prepares students for their graduate studies as well as future research.

2 credits, Fall

This is a required course that is imperative for students in this master’s program. Students will learn about very important bio-statistical concepts, relevant for their research during their master’s program and beyond. Students will learn about data collection, and how to analyze the different types of data, as well as how to interpret respective data, utilizing different statistical tools. Through this course, students will be prepared for research.

1 credit, Spring

This second seminar course is offered in the spring semester and it is a required course. This course enables students to discuss public health issues, and understand research methods as they read and study research papers. Students are expected to deliver oral presentations on public health research papers to their peers and public health experts. Through this course, students build their research and analytical capabilities. It prepares students for their own research or project as they learn about different study designs and analytical methods.

3 credits, Fall

This course explores a wide range of public health issues. It dives into the different aspects of public health: health policy and management, health promotion, epidemiology, environmental health. Through their participation in this course, students will have a better understanding of the different domains that make up public health, as well as explore how to address and tackle public health problems. This course grants students the opportunity to learn from experts in different public health domains. Students will also be able to critically appraise existing solutions and public health decisions as they explore public health issues from around the world.

1 credit, Fall

This is the third seminar course that master’s students are expected to take. Just like the previous seminar courses, this course enables students to discuss public health issues, and understand research methods as they read and study research papers. Students are expected to deliver oral presentations on public health research papers to their peers and public health experts. Through this course, students build their research and analytical capabilities. It prepares students for their own research or project as they learn about different study designs and analytical methods.

2 credits, Spring

This course explores epidemiological concepts. Students will learn about epidemiology and its concepts, as well as its application through lectures, class discussions, assigned readings, case studies and oral presentations.

1 credit, Spring

This is the final seminar course that master’s students have to take before graduation. This course enables students to discuss public health issues, and understand research methods as they read and study research papers. Students are expected to deliver oral presentations on public health research papers to their peers and public health experts. Through this course, students build their research and analytical capabilities. 

Department Electives (21 credits)

The Department of Public Health has nine elective courses spread across Policy & Management of Public Health, Environmental & Occupational Health, Biostatistics & Epidemiology and Social & Behavioral Science. Students can register any elective of their choosing. Additionally, students can register electives from any other program in the College of Medicine. Selection of courses outside the College of Medicine will be subject to approval by the Department of Public Health.

Policy & Management of Public Health

3 credits, Fall

Development and Global Health is a 3-credit elective course that will introduce students to the concept of development on a global scale. This course explores theories of development, global health, different players in the field of global health and their respective roles. Students will come to understand the factors that influence population health and learn about global health governance. It delves into global health governance, pulling all the relevant players to the forefront and students are able to discuss, learn and understand international health and its influences.

2 credits, Fall

This course explores the role of non-governmental organizations in public health, their contributions and the challenges they face. Students will come to understand the role of non-governmental organizations across local, national and global levels, and different contexts.

3 credits, Spring

This course will expose students to the frameworks behind health policies. Students will be able to learn about health policies, and how they are made. They will be able to critically analyze and discuss health policies, their challenges, as well as the impact of health policies.

2 credits, Spring

This course gives an overview of healthcare systems around the world. Students will be able to deeply explore and understand the different facets of Taiwan’s healthcare system, their country’s systems, and learn about other healthcare systems. They will come to see the existing challenges and the components that make up health systems. This course will also introduce the process of healthcare reform across different countries.

Environmental & Occupational Health

2 credits, Spring

Through this 2-credit elective course, students will be able to learn about the relationship between health and environment. They will also come to understand the impact different environmental conditions can play on health. Students will learn to evaluate environmental health, and understand how to tackle associated problems.

Biostatistics & Epidemiology

2 credits, Fall

This course introduces prevention and control of infectious diseases. Students will have the opportunity to study research papers, as well as understand infectious diseases and their related issues across different countries. 

2 credits, Spring

This course introduces students to different statistical methods and tools. Students will learn about data analysis and the application of statistics in medical research.

Social & Behavioral Science

3 credits, Fall

This course explores public mental health and its different facets. Students will be introduced to mental health and screening. They will also come to learn about mental health intervention and treatment. Students will be able to understand mental health promotion at the end of this course.

2 credits, Spring

Through this course, students will be able to familiarize themselves with psychological concepts and processes like behavior, personality, motivation, stress, perception, risk, happiness. Students will come to see how psychological processes impact health.