Develop the skills to collect and analyze data to identify the physical, social, behavioral, economic, and political factors contributing to the causation and spread of infectious diseases, and use that information to develop sustainable prevention and control strategies. Infectious diseases are responsible for a significant burden of disease, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations worldwide. The problems posed by these diseases to both governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations focused on health and development are numerous and varied. Infectious diseases range from chronic neglected tropical diseases that primarily occur in rural communities of low- and middle-income countries, to waterborne, foodborne, and vector-borne diseases that affect both rural and urban populations in those countries, to diseases caused by multi-drug-resistant organisms that are one of the largest threats to public health in all regions of the world. Climate change, environmental changes (deforestation and increased urbanization), global travel, and international commerce facilitate the emergence and spread of novel and known infectious pathogens to new geographical locations.
This 12-credit certificate provides a foundation for a public health career that will involve working with infectious diseases in the many settings where they occur. Students will learn how data are collected and analyzed in order to identify agent, host, and environmental (physical, social, behavioral, cultural, economic, political) factors contributing to the cause and spread of infectious diseases. Upon completing the certificate, graduates will be prepared to design contextually appropriate interventions for infectious disease prevention, control, and elimination.
Upon graduation, students will be able to:
Collect and analyze data to describe agent, host, and environmental factors contributing to the causation and spread of infectious diseases.
Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate methodologies to study infectious diseases including diagnostic and environmental testing, surveillance systems, and epidemiologic study designs.
