Health & Human Services (HHS)
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Read more about the courses within this subject prefix in the descriptions provided below.
HHS 810 - Introduction to Telehealth
Credits: 3
This course focuses on the ever-changing landscape of telehealth through the lens of various health disciplines. Students will explore topics such as the digital divide, telepresence, ethics, telehealth technology, and current practices in telehealth. In addition to completing weekly modules that span a variety of key telehealth topics, students will work collaboratively at a distance to create a multi-media project focused on a telehealth topic of interest.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
View Course Learning Outcomes
- Describe telehealth and how it is utilized in their field of study/practice.
- Identify benefits, challenges and opportunities related to the integration of telehealth.
- Apply key concepts of ethical practice in their discipline to considerations for the use of telehealth.
- List important considerations for successful telepresence.
- Apply their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of other healthcare professionals to discussions and assignments focused on telehealth practice.
HHS 898 - Special Topics
Credits: 1-8
Special Topics. Special fee on some topics.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
Special Fee: Yes
HHS 901 - Seminar Series in Health and Human Services
Credits: 1-2
This is a doctoral-level course that features seminars given by faculty, staff, and guest speakers based on their research interest, expertise, and experience. The Graduate Program Coordinator of the PhD program will be the primary instructor for this course and will oversee the coursework and coordinate with relevant guest speakers on weekly topics. The course is intended to help facilitate the development of students’ dissertation research ideas and to contribute to the student's professional development focusing on skills or professional experience typically not provided in coursework. Examples include teaching, community engagement, and knowledge translation. Students will write a research reflection paper and give a research presentation. The course will be offered once every year, during Fall semester. To be exposed to the wide-ranging scope of research across the college, students in the HHS PhD program are required to enroll in this course for all four years in the program. Students will hear a broad array of research being conducted by faculty and scholars across CHHS and beyond. Invited speakers will describe current or past research, identify challenges involved in their work, and highlight research conceptualization, approaches, methods, data analysis, and/or translation to practice and policy. In addition to the research seminars, the first two years of this course will also center on optimizing the student's meaningful engagement in the program, orienting them to doctoral-level expectations and imparting a long-term career outlook. CHHS faculty and experts from relevant UNH offices (such as the library and Research Integrity Services) will present on topics ranging from framing one's dissertation, research ethics, human subject protections, publishing and career advancement. Students in the PhD Program will also present to the class and faculty during key stages of their research from conceptualization, methodology to findings.
Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. May be repeated up to 4 times.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
View Course Learning Outcomes
- Describe the process for developing a program of research, characterized by conceptual and methodological rigor.
- Evaluate the role of social, political, and environmental systems in creating healthy communities.
- Discuss ways to communicate research findings to different audiences and sectors.
- Analyze and critique illustrative examples of health research projects, including the. design, analysis, interpretation, and impact of health research.
- Discuss examples of quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods approaches.
- Discuss knowledge synthesis, systems thinking, and scientific writing.
HHS 902 - Philosophy of Science and Theory Development in Health and Human Services
Credits: 3
The goal of the course is to introduce students to philosophic thought about science and scientific methodology and apply this knowledge to think critically about how knowledge develops in science across the health and human services disciplines. The course will include basic philosophy of science content using an historical context and includes ways of knowing in health and human services, concepts, and philosophical world views. Students also will view applications of worldviews, paradigms, concepts as well as their links to research through examples and faculty presentations.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
View Course Learning Outcomes
- Analyze competing philosophical viewpoints about the nature of scientific knowledge, and the implication for knowledge development in science across health and human services.
- Compare and contrast concepts, theories and worldviews in the student's area of interest.
- Develop knowledge of the relationship of concepts to theory and worldviews and their implications for the design of research in the student's area of interest.
- Demonstrate ability to write a logically developed argument with appropriate attribution.
- Demonstrate ability to orally present one's work in a logical and interesting way, respecting time limits.
HHS 903 - Foundations in Health and Disability
Credits: 3
Introduction to the subject matter, what the course is about: Through an interdisciplinary framework, this course will introduce students to the foundational tenets of health and disability across the lifespan. This course provides students exposure to the theoretical and systems (institutional) issues surrounding health and disability, by exposing students to contemporary cultural, economic, and social constructs of health and disability. The course will comprehensively encompass key theoretical foundations and system constructs that underpin health and social care in the U.S. Interdisciplinary and evidence-driven approaches will prepare students for advanced application of research methods to health and disability topics. The course prepares students to integrate interdisciplinary perspectives into research approaches in health and human services. How the course fits in the college or department curriculum: The course offers core content knowledge to students entering Health and Disability track in the second year of the CHHS PhD Program. The content is highly anticipated to also be of interest and value to Masters students across health science programs in CHHS as well as Masters and PhD students in COLA. Therefore, the course will also be promoted and cross-listed as a 900-level elective within both colleges to assure adequate enrollment. Why students would want to learn the material: Health and Human Services is a rapidly changing and evolving industry. The quality of life and health of citizens today is dependent upon high quality health and social systems that address the diverse health, environmental, economic, and cultural needs of all people. This course introduces students to advanced issues related to health equity, the social determinants of health, data integration and interoperability to prepare students to use emerging technologies and inclusive research practices to address contemporary issues in the field such as workforce developmental, behavioral health access, wholistic healthcare, and provider preparation. Students in the course will deepen their expertise in health and disability, develop leadership insights, and enhance their research understanding so they can pursue advanced positions as researchers, educators, and leaders in health and human services.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
View Course Learning Outcomes
- Articulate the guiding principles and theoretical models that support health and social care in the U.S as well as the theoretical links between disability, health, and well-being across academic disciplines in health and human services.
- Use critical thinking and implementation science to identify evidenced based research in health and disability and how research informs policy, systems, and practice in Health and Human Services.
- Communicate basic science research and emerging scientific evidence that support the implementation of key health and social care interventions across wide ranging professions.
- Describe how current delivery systems and policy impact health outcomes for people with and without disabilities as well as the barriers to access to health and social care.
- Discuss and evaluate interdisciplinary models to health and disability, including access to health and social care.
- Identify research-based strategies that improve the quality of life or/and health for people with disabilities.
HHS 904 - Foundations in Rehabilitation Science and Technology
Credits: 3
Introduction to the subject matter, what the course is about: This interdisciplinary graduate course introduces students to cutting edge innovations in information communication, assistive, and rehabilitative technologies that have wide-ranging implications to promote health, rehabilitation, and community living of individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions. How the course fits in the college or department curriculum: The course offers core content knowledge to students entering the Rehabilitation Science and Technology Option in the second year of the CHHS PhD Program. The content is highly anticipated to be of interest and value to Masters students across health science programs in CHHS as well as engineering and computer science students in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) at UNH. Therefore, graduate students in Masters programs within both colleges will also be invited to the course to assure adequate enrollment. Why students would want to learn the material: Rapidly advancing technologies in Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, home monitoring, wearables and immersive devices are projected to shift the delivery of future healthcare and rehabilitation. The course brings students to the forefront of rehabilitation science and health technology innovations and inspires them to carveout a career path towards the design, development, testing and implementation of these technologies using an end-user and stakeholder-driven perspective. Specifically, the course lends the foundation for students in the CHHS PhD program and stimulates dedicated interest in a technology domain to drive their scholarly pursuit towards their dissertation.
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
View Course Learning Outcomes
- Understand and explain the role of healthcare technologies in relation to human health conditions and naturally occurring changes to human body structure and body functions.
- Conceptualize and classify the technologies by function and expected implications on human health, wellbeing, activities, and participation.
- Articulate the basic technological framework and components (hardware and software) that are inherent in the technologies.
- Critically observe and appreciate the complexities in the interaction of end-users with the technologies from a human factors science outlook by factoring in motor and process skills and contextual demands.
- Compile and analyze literature to gauge the development, diffusion, and clinical evidence associated with key domains of innovative and emerging healthcare technologies.
- Appreciate the importance of interdisciplinary expertise and collaboration needed towards the advancement of innovative health-based technologies.
HHS 905 - Graduate Research Practicum
Credits: 2-4
This course offers experiential learning to students under the mentorship of a faculty to gain knowledge and skills for effectively implementing research studies. The course will be tailored to students in the Health and Human Services PhD program as a means to develop a pre-requisite skill set to support their dissertation research. The practicum may focus on the conceptualization of a research study, retrospective review of literature or data, human subjects and clinical research compliance, development of an intervention program, data collection, pilot study, data analytical approaches, or dissemination. Faculty mentors and students must establish the learning objectives and deliverables pertaining to the practicum using the form below to develop a clear understanding of expectations.
Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.
Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading
View Course Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate mastery and competence in specific research methodologies pertaining to the practicum.
- Students will be able to apply their learned skills to effectively prepare, design and implement their PhD dissertation research.
HHS 906 - Graduate Teaching Practicum
Credits: 2-4
This graduate practicum is offered to students in the Health and Human Services PhD program as an experiential learning opportunity to develop their teaching skills. Full time faculty in all ranks who teach graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to mentor students. Students will work with their mentor to refine a course or lab, develop a lesson, deliver content, supervise students and class activities, and assess student performance. Students are expected to deliver at least three in-class lectures, and the faculty mentor must observe and provide written feedback at mid-semester and end-of-semester outlining strengths and recommendations for improving the student's teaching.
Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits.
Grade Mode: Credit/Fail Grading
View Course Learning Outcomes
- Students will gain critical instructional skills to promote student learning and engagement on their topic of expertise.
- Students will gain appreciation on multiple facets of teaching spanning content creation and delivery, classroom management, student support, and evaluation.
- Students will conceptualize their core teaching philosophy in consultation with their faculty mentor and self-reflect on the application of the philosophy at the end of the practicum.
HHS 999 - Doctoral Research
Credits: 0
Doctoral Research.
Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading