Public Health Track

This track has been designed for students who want to understand the biological, psychosocial, and structural determinants of human health on a population scale. This track is offered in collaboration with the NYU School of Global Public Health (NYU GPH).  Students are awarded the Master’s in Biology degree on completion of 36 credits with an average of B (GPA=3.0) or better and a research paper. At least 24 of the credits must be completed in Biology courses or in courses cross-listed with Biology (BIOL-GA). Up to 12 credits can be completed in GPH (GPH-GU). The research paper (also called the Master’s thesis) can be written based on original laboratory research results (laboratory-based thesis) or an in-depth literature study of an area of public health biology (library-based thesis). The thesis can be mentored by a faculty member in Biology or GPH.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED COURSES OFFERED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

  • Bio Core 1: Molecules and Cells - BIOL-GA 1001, 4 points. This core course surveys the major areas of modern molecular biology, molecular genetics and systems biology. Topics include  1) the molecular structure and function of proteins and polynucleic acids and their fundamental roles in cell biology and disease, 2) the mechanisms of transcription and translation, 3) genetic and genomic analysis methods and an introduction to systems biology.
  • Bio Core 2: Genes, Systems, and Evolution - BIOL-GA 1002, 4 points. This course addresses the general question: how are molecular processes integrated to make functional cells? The course focuses on 1) structure and function of cell organelles, 2) cellular systems, including ion and protein transport, metabolism and energetics, 3) signaling and regulation of the cell cycle, 4) molecular machines, such as mitotic spindle and actin networks.
  • Genomics and Public Health - BIOL-GA 2015, 4 points (cross listed with GPH). This course describes the developing relationship between genomics and genomic technologies with the health of populations in a global context.  Topics covered include genomic technologies and their applications, genetic epidemiology, the human microbiome, infectious disease genomics, and the ethical, legal and social implications of genomics.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED COURSES OFFERED THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH

  • Epidemiology - GPH-GU 2106, 3 points. Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease in different human populations and the application of methods to improve disease outcomes. This course is designed to introduce students in all fields of public health to the background, basic principles and methods of public health epidemiology.  
  • Biostatistics for Public Health - GPH-GU 2995, 3 points. This course covers basic probability, descriptive and inferential statistics, and the role of biostatistics in the practice of public health.
  • Essentials of Public Health Biology - GPH-GU 2190, 3 points. Only for students with little biology background; this course must be taken before Biology courses.
  • All three courses are available in-person and online.

additional COURSES OFFERED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

  • BIOL-GA 2520 Issues in Global Pediatric Oral Health (3) (GPH course cross listed with BIOL)
  • BIOL-GA 1023 Hot Topics of Infectious Disease (4)
  • BIOL-GA 1080 Viral Diseases (4)
  • BIOL-GA 1045 Protein Biochemistry (4)
  • BIOL-GA 1032 Metabolic Disorders (4)

additional COURSES OFFERED THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH

General public health

  • GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health (3) – available in-person and online
  • GPH-GU 2153 Global Environmental Health (3) – available in-person and online

Epidemiology and biostatistics

  • GPH-GU 2450 Intermediate Epidemiology (3) – available in-person only
  • GPH-GU 2353 Regression I: Linear Regression and Modeling (3) – available in-person only

Infectious diseases

  • GPH-GU 5120 HIV/AIDS from a Global Perspective (3) – available online only
  • GPH-GU 2410 Global Burden of Infectious Disease (3) – available in-person only

Modelling

  • GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health (3) – available in-person and online
  • GPH-GU 2152 Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling (3) – available in-person only
  • GPH-GU 3152 Advanced Agent-Based Modeling (3) – available in-person only

For the schedule of course offerings please see the registrar’s website and the School of Public Health Graduate Syllabi. Note that approval from the Director is needed prior to registration for courses outside of Biology and the School of Global Public Health (non BIOL-GA or GPH-GU courses), and that at least 24 of the 36 required credits must be in BIOL-GA courses.

  • Director of the Master’s in Biology Program (all tracks): Christine Rushlow, Professor of Biology, NYU Arts and Science (212-998-8270; chris.rushlow@nyu.edu).
  • Public Health track Adviser: Danielle Ompad, Associate Dean for Education and Professor of Epidemiology (danielle.ompad@nyu.edu).