What is the UN track record in promoting and protecting human rights? This intense six-week course will examine the UN human rights standards, mechanisms, institutions and procedures established over the past sixty years and question their effectiveness. With a particular focus on the actions (or lack thereof) of the UN Security Council, the UN Human Rights Council and diverse international judicial institutions like the International Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court, the course will illustrate, through practical case studies, the inherent challenges associated with the protection of human dignity, the enforcement of human rights and the fight against impunity.
The United Nations recently passed its seventieth anniversary and a new Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, was selected by the Security Council to succeed Ban Ki-moon. At this critical juncture, the international system is being challenged to provide adequate responses to the rise of violent extremist groups, waves of refugees arriving in Europe, and to --†fewer but deadlier --armed conflicts. As prevention continues to be elusive and recent - mostly intrastate --armed conflicts have proven to be particularly resistant to peaceful settlement whether through mediation, the deployment of peace operations or peacebuilding projects, the question of the relevance of the UN is posed yet again. Has the Security Council been successful in using the tools at its disposal, from prevention to peace operations and enforcement measures? What has become of the Responsibility to Protect? Is a divided Security Council facing a crisis of relevance? What does it mean for peace operations sent where there is no peace to keep? What are the persisting obstacles to effective prevention? What are the lessons from the evolving partnership with regional organizations? How can peace be sustained over the long term? What will have been Ban Ki Moon's legacy? What are the prospects for UN reform and what could it look like? To address these questions and more, the course will examine the evolving role of the world organization in global security, shaped by its member states with different strategic interests and by the broader geopolitical context in which it operates.
This six week course provides an overview of the contribution the United Nations development system has made in the sphere of development. The course traces the historical evolution of the UN's contribution in the areas of development cooperation, poverty reduction, environment and climate, human rights, gender and humanitarian action. It explores the emerging role of non-state actors, in particular the private sector and civil society. The last sessions will examine in detail the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 and the recognition that to be relevant in today's rapidly changing world, the UN must commit itself to major reform. The course will draw extensively from the practical experience of the instructor.
This course explores the unique and distinct foreign policy behavior of different states in the international system. Explanations of state behavior will be drawn from many overarching international relations frameworks including but not necessarily limited to realism, liberalism, and constructivism. The effects of power, culture, institutions and history will be examined.
This course examines the foundations, decision-making processes, and substance of American foreign policy, particularly as it has developed over the past fifty years. We explore the role of American political culture, the presidency, Congress, and the foreign policy bureaucracy in helping to determine America's relationship with other states and international organizations. We pay particular attention to the recurring tensions that run through American foreign policy: isolationism v. internationalism, security v. prosperity, diplomacy v. military power, unilateralism v. multilateralism, and realism v. idealism. Each week we will explore a broad theoretical/conceptual theme and then focus on a specific topic that exemplifies a practical application of the theme.
Special Operations are typically defined as national security actions in hostile, denied, or sensitive environments, and often require covert, clandestine, or low-visibility approaches. From hostage-rescue operations to tactical reconnaissance, special operations forces are typically deployed for national security objectives in which traditional military units are not suitable or applicable. This course examines the nexus of special operations and national security, with the United States serving as its primary example. It has four core objectives: 1) develop an understanding of the concepts and ideas of special operations in national security; 2) explore the priorities and challenges of the utility of special operations, from intelligence to policies to investments; 3) exchange insights, paradigms, and perspectives in class discussions and assignments; and 4) sharpen analytical thinking, research methods, writing skills, and verbal communication. Major themes of study will be: national security fundamentals; concepts of war, conflict, and special operations; and the use of special operations forces over time.
Through a review of major academic literature, lectures, and class discussion, this course examines many of the central concepts, theories, and analytical tools used in contemporary social science to understand international affairs. The theoretical literature is drawn from fields including comparative politics, international relations, political sociology, and economics. The course is designed to enhance students' abilities to think critically and analytically about current problems and challenges in international politics.
This course empowers students to develop a deep understanding of the major issues of East Asian security. We will examine the various challenges to stability in East Asia in the context of power, institutions, and ideas (the three primary factors that impact international relations), including: China’s increasing assertiveness; the North Korean nuclear crisis; historical stigma amongst Japan, South Korea, and China; lingering Cold War confrontations on the Korean Peninsula and across the Taiwan Strait; and an unstable relationship between the US and China. Through a comparison with the West, students will inquire whether a unique approach is required when considering appropriate responses to security issues in East Asia.
This course serves as an introduction to the study of international political and economic relations. We look at the connections between politics and economics as well as markets and governments and relate them to key substantive issue areas such as finance, trade, investment, marketing, income inequality and poverty, and globalization. In examining the issue areas, we shall look both at how scholars think about them and how private and public decision makers analyze and impact them. The teaching is informed by the sharing with students knowledge deriving from multiple disciplines, cultures, and languages to help them gain useful real-world insights.
May be repeated for credit, but no more than 3 total points may be used for degree credit. Only for electrical engineering and computer engineering graduate students who include relevant off-campus work experience as part of their approved program of study. Final report required. May not be taken for pass/fail credit or audited.
This course can be viewed as the most significant case study of your EMBA education - the case of China. We will discuss how the Chinese economy gets to where it is - by managing three transitions simultaneously: from Marx to market, from an inward-looking Middle Kingdom to an externally-oriented world factory, and from farming to industrialization. We will also discuss factors that could influence the chance of success/failure of doing business in China, including local financial sector, exchange rate policy, corruption, and negotiation style.
n/a
The purpose of this course is to provide practical experience in analyzing epidemiologic data. The goal is to familiarize you with various analytic methods and their uses to answer specific epidemiologic research questions. Brief reviews of relevant statistical methods, their applications in epidemiologic research and interpretation of results will be covered step by step in this course. You will be provided with several data sets from epidemiologic (case-control and cohort) studies and will be asked to conduct analyses of these data.
Large data sets provide crucial information for monitoring the health of our nation and evaluating public health policies. The principal goal of this course is for students to develop the skills to identify, process, and analyze these data to answer a specific research or policy question. The class is an applied, hands-on course that provides an introduction to several major health data sets and guides students in processing and analyzing these data. Students will hone computer and statistical skills developed in other research methods courses. Students with also gain insight into active research projects that utilize large scale health data sets via a series of guest lectures. By accessing data that measure health variables of current importance, the class provides a foundation for developing a variety of health policy research questions.
This course is intended to provide students with the legal framework governing health care administration, management and policy. Students will analyze case law, and selected statutes relevant to health care administrators, providers, and consumers of care. Students will be exposed to the evolution of laws and the ethical, practical and political impact of laws in the management of health care institutions.
This course covers marketing strategy for all players, from biotech startups to pharmaceutical firms and service providers. It has two objectives: Present methods and models used in the life sciences sector, and demonstrate how they are successfully used in current business situations. Key learnings include how to segment consumer and medical markets, brand a new product/service, create a marketing plan for a startup, decide on a pricing approach and integrate online/offline communications. Students customize the course to their needs with a term paper (instead of final exam) based on a consulting assignment for a company.
This is a course about analytical thinking and skills for managers. Our aim is to further develop statistical skills, while emphasizing practical applications, translation to policy, and communicating results. We will spend the first half of the course building technical skills on fundamental and some advanced analytical methods, where each session will be a combination of teaching and practice. Next, we will apply all skills into interactive challenges (including presentation of results), where we will focus on written and visual communication of insights. We will close the class by covering the principles of survey design and analysis, plus utilizing insights for decision-making. We will develop these skills not only through directed challenges, but also through more practical examples, where only general guidance is provided and participants will utilize their own creativity and experience.
How do unique characteristics of the healthcare industry influence financial management in this sector? What techniques are effective in this field? How can we uses cases to avoid mistakes and to maximize efficiency and ultimately patient health? The goal of this class is to teach the principles necessary for effective financial management in healthcare to individuals who are not experienced financial executives. It is intended to make administrators comfortable in managing the finances of the department or other entity for which they have responsibility.
Information technology and the management of this technology is increasingly critical in healthcare. Healthcare represents a new frontier for information management. This class explores the promises and challenges of health information technology in today's environment. Readings and lectures will focus on the nature and uses of health care information systems in a variety of health care settings. Students will learn fundamental IT terminology, understand how IT fits into the organizational structure in terms of quality of care, financing, and strategic organizational issues as well as project management. They will also learn about opportunities and challenges for IT in healthcare in the future.
The Course is the integrating exercise for the Management curriculum and provides students with the opportunity to experience the challenges of executive leadership and strategic decision-making in a realistic exercise that effectively emulates or simulates the full breadth and complexity of organizational decision-making in a complex, competitive marketplace. Using the HealthSquare Simulation and working in teams of 6-7 members, students will act as the executive leadership of a community hospital participating in a multi-hospital market. As hospital executives, they will be required to analyze the position of their institution and to make all decisions central to the successful management of the hospital, including such elements as service line mix, capacity, investment in quality professional/clinical, systems, etc., patient/payer mix, marketing, staffing, financial structure, and so on. Participation in this complex experiential learning experience is supported by group/team work session, readings, lecture/discussions, and presentations. As indicated above, all students are expected to take an active role in each session; the level of class participation will have a major effect on the quality of the Course.
It is widely acknowledged that as a variable, 'race' often explains a significant portion of the variation we observe in patterns of morbidity and mortality. But it isalso understood that race is a socially determined construct that functions as a proxy for a host of other variables associated with, among others, socioeconomic status, culture, place of residence, and position within social networks. The question that we will explore together is how to deconstruct ‘race’ to understand what factor or group of factors create the patterns of health disparities that are so dramatically present among populations of color here in the US. COVID-19 has exploited these factors tocreate a burden of disease in many communities of color that will substantially impact medicine and public health for much of the foreseeable future.One of the issues of particular salience for medical and public health research is how to go beyond describing the correlation between race and health to create effective interventions for eliminating such disparities. How can our exploration of health disparities generate the levers that we can use to promote health and prevent disease? How well do our explanatory models of race and health provide us with the tools to eliminate disparities and create a system dedicated to creating and preserving health equity?
Prerequisites: enrollment in the M.S. in Climate Finance program. During the third and final term of study for the 12-month M.S. in Climate Finance program, students must complete an internship and simultaneously enroll in CLMT 9010. The summer internship requires a minimum of 140 hours of professional participation during the Summer Term in a position related to core issues of concern to the Program. The selected position must be approved by the Director of the M.S.C.F. Program by a specified date in the Spring Semester preceding the Summer Term. The position must be substantive in nature and must constitute a practical, professional experience. Students will be evaluated on the basis of oral and written updates on the work, a student internship report to be submitted at the end of the Summer Term, and on the basis of a supervisor report form to be submitted by the site supervisor for the internship.
In this course, students will work jointly with a client organization in the Climate Finance field. Under the guidance of the instructors, they will take a short request from the organization for a specific product (data analysis, program development, curricular and training material, or other related items), develop a work plan, implement the work plan, and present the final product to the client. This course gives students direct experience in the co-production of knowledge in the Climate Finance field, a valuable skill in the contemporary world. It includes training in the construction of a boundary object--a final product--conducted jointly with the client organization; this training includes instruction in project design, implementation and evaluation, and in communication between organizations.
In this course, students will work jointly with a client organization in the Climate Finance field. Under the guidance of the instructors, they will take a short request from the organization for a specific product (data analysis, program development, curricular and training material, or other related items), develop a work plan, implement the work plan, and present the final product to the client. This course gives students direct experience in the co-production of knowledge in the Climate Finance field, a valuable skill in the contemporary world. It includes training in the construction of a boundary object--a final product--conducted jointly with the client organization; this training includes instruction in project design, implementation and evaluation, and in communication between organizations.
In this course, students will work jointly with a client organization in the Climate Finance field. Under the guidance of the instructors, they will take a short request from the organization for a specific product (data analysis, program development, curricular and training material, or other related items), develop a work plan, implement the work plan, and present the final product to the client. This course gives students direct experience in the co-production of knowledge in the Climate Finance field, a valuable skill in the contemporary world. It includes training in the construction of a boundary object--a final product--conducted jointly with the client organization; this training includes instruction in project design, implementation and evaluation, and in communication between organizations.
Candidates for the M.S. degree may conduct an investigation of some problem in biomedical engineering. No more than 6 points in this course may be counted for graduate credit.
This class discusses the challenges of public health practice, focusing on tasks that employees working in environmental health may encounter. Using examples from environmental toxicology, hazardous materials and contaminated sites, GIS applications, acute and chronic exposures, emerging public health concerns, and community communications strategies, students complete assignments modeled after real-life situations. These include a briefing of subject matter experts, a site investigation plan for a town council, a PPT presentation to the executive board of a non-profit organization, a review of a superfund site for a state public health agency, and a factsheet for the general public.
The Master's Thesis is one of the options for a capstone requirement of all students in all tracks of the MPH program of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS). The thesis is intended to reflect the training you have received in the MPH program and demonstrate your ability to design, analyze, research and present scholarly writing relevant to your major field of interest.
Writing the thesis is an essential experience that could further your career development and or an application for further studies in academia. Employers seek in potential employees with a MPH degree the ability to write articles and reports, and want to see evidence that you can design studies, analyze data, and write scientific papers. If you plan to continue your academic studies, developing expertise and demonstrating your ability as a writer are two important skills required of doctoral candidates. A well-written paper is a great asset that you can bring with you to a job interview or include in an application for further study. The thesis ought to demonstrate your ability to think clearly and convey your thoughts effectively and thereby provide an example of your understanding and insight into a substantive area in which you have developed expertise.
All candidates for the M.P.H. and the M.S. degrees in epidemiology are required to write a master's thesis, usually based on an original analysis of previously collected epidemiologically relevant data. Students are responsible, with assistance from faculty, for finding a dataset and two readers, one of whom must be a faculty member in the Department of Epidemiology. Students register for P9419 at least two semesters before the targeted graduation date and it is required that students obtain access to a dataset they will use for their thesis prior to the course. The course guides students through development of the master’s thesis proposal by reviewing critical elements in writing each element of a thesis, development of a study question, writing specific aims, study design and analysis.
This is the second course in a two-course series P9419-P9420 required of all candidates for the M.P.H. and M.S. in epidemiology. This course focuses on the Statistical Analysis, Results and Discussion sections of students' master's theses. Students will work closely with their first and second readers during the semester, but course instructors and teaching assistants will provide guidance on the selection and conduct of statistical analyses, and on transforming their thesis into a format appropriate for submission for publication.