Prevention Science: PSC

Lower-Division Courses

Upper-Division Courses

Graduate Courses

PSC 386. Applied Research Methods.

Explore disciplines of research methods, research design, data-producing techniques, treatment, interpretation of data and reporting on research. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PSC 390. Introduction to Prevention Science.

Introduction to prevention science and to the logic of prevention as preferable to care or management of health problems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PSC 391. Theories of Change.

Examine personal, social, and environmental factors that influence health-related behavior as well as the role of individuals, groups, institutions, and social structures in encouraging and discouraging healthy behavior. Focus on behavior change theories and the practical application of these theories. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Health Education 395 (Topic 6) and Prevention Science 391 may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PSC 392. Prevention Science Across the Lifespan.

Introduction to the theories and applications of developmental science and the lifespan approach to prevention science. Learn how to integrate principles of developmental science into a prevention science framework. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PSC 393. Foundations of Epidemiology.

Introduction to the basic tenets of epidemiology as well as the different types of epidemiological study designs. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Health Education 395 (Topic 7) and Prevention Science 393 may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PSC 394. Community Engaged Intervention Design.

Develop culturally responsive, theory-based prevention and treatment practices in school, community, and family settings. Discuss prevention science research and practice to contextualize the tension between theory and evidence-based design and community contextual fit when developing, refining, and disseminating intervention programs. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Health Education 395 (Topic 26) and Prevention Science 394 may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PSC 395. Topics in Prevention Science.

Examine advanced topics in prevention science; critique and synthesize research findings and literature. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Topic 1: Advanced Methods in Prevention Science. Explore analytic reasoning and research design, execution, analysis, interpretation, and appraisal for prevention scientists. Examine complex study designs, analytic techniques, issues of bias, moderation and mediation, and causal inference.
Topic 2: Implementation Science. Discuss the theory and practice of Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) Sciences. Explore conceptual and theoretical foundations of implementation science, methodologies for evaluating implementation and dissemination strategies, and examining case examples from literature.
Topic 3: The Design and Conduct of Randomized Controlled Trials. Conduct randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of preventive intervention and health promotion programs.
Topic 4: Social Determinants of Health. Explore social determinants of health and health disparities in the United States and globally, as well as strategies to address them.
Topic 5: Research Ethics. Explore ethical issues in research.
Topic 6: Impact of Marketing on Public Health. Introduction to research on the impact of marketing from a public health perspective, with a focus on youth and young adults. Explore theoretical approaches to understanding marketing's influence, impacts on public health, and disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups.
Topic 7: Physical Activity and Public Health Practice. Practice strategies for implementation of public health programming related to physical activity, approached through review of the current research literature. Focus on evidence-based strategies, and key approaches to program development, implementation, and evaluation.
Topic 8: Risk and Resilience in Children and Adolescents. Introduction to the theories and methods of child and adolescent risk and resilience. Examine resilience processes in populations at elevated risk for negative outcomes. Explore how empirical research contributes to the development of programs aimed at strengthening resilience in at-risk youth.
Topic 9: Child and Adolescent Health Psychology. Introduction to the psychological, social, and physical aspects of childhood and adolescence. Examine issues from a developmental-contextual perspective.
Topic 10: Psychology of Immigration and Cultural Adaption. Discuss psychology of immigration and cultural adaptation. Examine immigration and cultural adaptation from the perspectives of demography, sociology, anthropology, developmental psychology, family psychology, vocational studies, and other disciplines.

PSC 196, 296, 396. Doctoral Seminar.

Produce individual or shared project research with reports evaluated by seminar participants and the instructor. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. Health Education 196 and Prevention Science 196 may not both be counted. May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and written consent form.

PSC 196T, 296T, 396T. Directed Research in Prevention Science.

Investigate assigned problems under the direction of a Graduate Studies Committee member; develop and demonstrate competence in research design and execution; produce an acceptably written research report. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. Health Education 296T and Prevention Science 296T may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and written consent form.

PSC 197, 297, 397. Research Problems.

Examine individual or group research in a specialized area of health education. For 197, three lecture hours a week for one semester; for 297, six lecture hours a week for one semester; for 397, nine lecture hours a week for one semester. Health Education 197 and Prevention Science 197 may not both be counted. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and written consent form.

PSC 397P, 697P. Graduate Internship.

Practice in a professional organization or institution under supervision. The equivalent of nine laboratory hours a week for one semester. Health Education 397P and Prevention Science 397P may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and admission by internship committee.

PSC 698. Thesis.

The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for two semesters. Health Education 698 and Prevention Science 698 may not both be counted. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate advisor. For 698B, Prevention Science 698A.

PSC 398T. Teaching in Higher Education.

Explore diverse instructional strategies, common issues in teaching and learning, short and long-term planning, practical aspects of course design and management, as well as assessment and grading practices. Review historical perspectives on the research in teaching and learning. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Health Education 398T and Prevention Science 398T may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PSC 399W, 699W, 999W. Dissertation.

May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Professional Courses