Master of Behavioral Science (MBS)

MBS 601.  Behavioral Science and Community Health.  (3 Credits)  

Introduction to the community health paradigm using behavioral and social science perspectives, with emphasis on community and systemic responses to community health issues. Students develop fluency with common approaches to evidence-based prevention and trauma-informed interventions, particularly in rural areas of the American West. Introduces key ideas related to the social and psychological determinants of addiction, trauma, nutritional health, and violence across the lifespan. Prerequisite: admission into MBS program.

MBS 602.  Quantitative Methods and Research Design.  (3 Credits)  

Students enhance their skills of questionnaire design, sampling, survey administration, data compilation and management, the uses of secondary datasets, and basic epistemological and ethical issues in behavioral science. Emphasis on validity and measurement issues, project feasibility, assumptions underlying various types of causal models, and working with diverse constituents and modes of data collection/presentation. Prerequisite: admission into MBS program.

MBS 603.  Quantitative Analysis in Behavioral Science.  (3 Credits)  

Emphasizes the principles and procedures of commonly used statistical methods in behavioral science using publicly-available datasets. Incorporates the use of statistical software such as SPSS or R for summarization, visual presentation of results, and using descriptive/inferential statistical techniques. Builds on previous coursework in graduate-level quantitative methods and undergraduate-level statistics, developing students' abilities to conduct analyses including linear, logit, and logistic regression. Emphasis on managing data, basic structure of the command language for SPSS or R, and use of online resources for SPSS or R. Prerequisite: MBS 602 with minimum grade of B-.

MBS 604.  Qualitative Methods and Analysis.  (3 Credits)  

Introduces the common uses, principles, and procedures of qualitative research including participant observation, interviewing, organization and analysis of field notes, report writing, and data presentation for various audiences. Students complete a small-scale project that incorporates participant observation, in­-depth interviewing, or focus groups. Prerequisite: admission into MBS program.

MBS 605.  Health Disparities.  (3 Credits)  

Focus on the definitions of health at multiple scales and the unequal distribution of health outcomes across various socio-demographic and community types; includes an emphasis on rural and tribal areas in the American West. Students refine their understanding of health stratification, its origins in early life circumstances, and its consequences for later-life outcomes. Introduces several prominent U.S.-based case studies of community responses to problems such as stress, social isolation, chronic illnesses, poverty, hunger, trauma, and substance use. Prerequisite: admission into MBS program.

MBS 611.  Program Planning and Evaluation.  (3 Credits)  

Emphasizes a problem-based approach to program planning, implementation, and assessment in communities and organizations. Students develop fluency in creating the rationale, research design, feasibility assessment, measurement objectives, and implementation plan for a health-relevant program or other intervention. Prerequisite: MBS 601 with minimum grade of B-.

MBS 612.  Violence and Trauma.  (3 Credits)  

Examines major theories, principles, and intervention practices regarding the perpetration of violence and the experience of various traumas. Emphasis on understanding the concept of adverse childhood experiences; students will apply learning from prior coursework to examine case studies. Students become fluent in evidence-based methods of prevention and intervention regarding violence and trauma, especially within schools and households. Prerequisite: MBS 601 with minimum grade of B-.

MBS 613.  Lifespan Development I: Childhood to Emerging Adulthood.  (3 Credits)  

Students learn to identify physical, cognitive, social and emotional development sequences of children, adolescents, and young adults. Emphasis on identifying psychological models of attachment, sociocultural influences on development, family structure, and the range of contemporary issues facing child, adolescent, and young adult development. Prerequisite: MBS 601 with minimum grade of B-.

MBS 614.  Lifespan Development II: Adulthood to End of Life.  (3 Credits)  

Emphasizes the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development sequences of adults from young adulthood to older age and end of life. Students examine the significance of family dynamics, kin-based and non-kin care arrangements, cross-generational family formation in later life, as well as issues related to palliative, hospice, and end of life care. Prerequisite: MBS 613 with minimum grade of B-.

MBS 640.  Geographic Information Systems.  (3 Credits)  

Introduction to the concepts and techniques of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including mapping, data formats and acquisition, and quantitative analysis of spatial data as applied to community health contexts. Laboratory component emphasizes practical GIS applications to health disparities and other contemporary problems including chronic disease, toxic pollution, food security, and concentrated poverty. Prerequisite: admission into MBS program.

MBS 660.  Geospatial Analysis.  (3 Credits)  

Students enhance their understanding of concepts, skills, and techniques learned in an earlier GIS course by applying addition training in advanced vector and raster analysis, use of satellite imagery, and applying geospatial analysis methods to problems such as toxic pollution, flooding, oil spills, and other human-involved catastrophes. Prerequisite: MBS 640 with minimum grade of B-.

MBS 668.  Psychopathology.  (3 Credits)  

Introduction to behaviors commonly labeled abnormal or disordered in Western culture. Explores the various causes, symptoms, prevalence, treatments and prognoses of psychopathological conditions. Students become familiar with the DSM-V as a widely used classification system and examine how it may apply in various community health contexts. Prerequisite: admission into MBS program.

MBS 669.  Health Psychology.  (3 Credits)  

An overview of the multidisciplinary field of health psychology, which synthesizes research from clinical psychology, behavioral medicine and alternative therapies. Psychological aspects of prevention, wellness, health promotion and education are applied to various community health contexts. Students learn how to assess the feasibility of health interventions from a psychological perspective. Prerequisite: admission into MBS program.

MBS 692.  Independent Study.  (1-6 Credits)  

Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

MBS 697.  Special Topics in Rural Health.  (1-4 Credits)  
MBS 698.  Community Health Practicum Proposal.  (1-6 Credits)  

Preparation of a proposal for the master's-level practicum project in community health. Working with a faculty mentor, students create a detailed and comprehensive plan that provides an outline for completing a project serving community or organizational needs. The proposal must meet MBS Council's standards for intellectual rigor, professionalism, and relevance. This is a repeatable course. Upon completion of all core and elective coursework, students must be continuously enrolled for at least 1 credit of either MBS 698 or MBS 699 until successful completion and practicum defense. Course may span summer, fall, and spring. Prerequisite: MBS 601, MBS 602, and MBS 603 with minimum grade of B-.

MBS 699.  Community Health Practicum.  (1-6 Credits)  

Completion of a master's-level practicum project in community health. Under supervision from a faculty mentor, students complete the design, coordination, and execution of a practicum project that serves community or organizational needs and that meets the MBS Council's standards for intellectual rigor, professionalism, and relevance. This is a repeatable course. Upon completion of all core and elective coursework, students must be continuously enrolled for at least 1 credit of either MBS 698 or MBS 699 until successful completion and practicum defense. Course may span summer, fall, and spring for a required minimum of 6 credit hours. Prerequisites: MBS 601, MBS 602, MBS 603, and MBS 698 with minimum grade of b-.