Adquisición de variables y tratamiento de datos

2.2a Definition of a credit with regard to classroom/contact hours.

The academic year at Brown University consists of two semesters (Fall, Spring), each of which is approximately fifteen weeks in length. The semester course is the unit of credit, rather than having a course count for a specific number of “credit hours.” A full unit is defined as a course taken for the duration of one semester and, for purposes of evaluation, is considered the approximate equivalent of four semester/credit hours. Degree requirements at Brown are based on the total number of course units (sometimes called “tuition units”) students must complete, rather than a count of “credit hours.” The vast majority of courses at Brown are considered full course units, but there are some half-credit courses. Half credit courses either end half way through the semester or are otherwise half the time commitment of full credit courses. During the fall & spring semesters classes are typically scheduled in standard meeting times that meet either 3 days per week for 50 minutes each; 2 days per week for 1 hour and 20 minutes each; or seminar courses that meet 1 day per week for 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Courses may have additional sessions for labs or small group work.

For purposes of evaluation, Brown courses are considered the approximate equivalent of four semester hours. While most courses only meet in person for roughly 2-1/2 hours of seat time per week, the reasonable expectation is that out of class reading assignments, research, labs, projects, etc. required of typical Brown courses will require much more than a 2:1 ratio per seat hour which is affirmed under both federal definitions of a credit hour as well as with our regional accrediting body NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges). We have been provided guidance on this issue from our University Registrar.

There is also a Summer Studies program at Brown. The summer term lasts for seven weeks.

The number of class hours per week is substantially greater than in the regular academic year to compensate for the shorter term. Each summer course counts as one course equal to semester courses in the academic year. Public Health has been offering one undergraduate course during the summer (PHP1010) and two courses for the Summer Institute (PHP2090; PHP2460).

Therefore our undergraduate and graduate students have rarely taken summer courses as part of their degree programs. We hope to expand these offerings in the coming years. As

additional courses relevant to public health are added to the summer session it is possible that students will take summer courses more frequently. We are also beginning to consider online courses. We do not anticipate online courses becoming a major focus of our degree programs, but we would like offer our students some online options.

2.2b Information about the minimum degree requirements for all professional public health master’s degree curricula shown in the instructional matrix. If the school or university uses a unit of academic credit or an academic term different from the standard semester or quarter, this difference should be explained and an equivalency presented in a table or narrative.

The current requirements for the MPH Program, our professional public health degree, are that students in all tracks must successfully complete 13 courses and a thesis to receive the MPH degree (these 13 courses include PHP2070, the Public Health/Community Service Internship, which is a full course). Students may request that up to four graduate/medical courses, taken previously or concurrently with their Brown MPH enrollment, be counted toward the thirteen

course requirement. Courses taken as part of an undergraduate degree program outside of Brown University will not be allowed to count toward the MPH. Requests to count MPH core or elective courses taken as part of a Brown undergraduate degree program will be subject to university rules, as well as MPH Program approval. The MPH Program Director reviews all requests and determines if the courses are appropriate. Only graduate level credit bearing courses are considered. The MPH Program Director assesses the course based on information in the syllabus and/or other information provided by the student along with the type of credit given (number of credits awarded, course duration, etc.) and the student’s grade. First-year students must also seek approval from their core advisor, as well as the MPH Program Director.

Input from other Brown faculty may also be solicited if helpful in judging the appropriateness of the course. If the course is in one of the five core knowledge areas (epidemiology, biostatistics, health services administration, social-behavioral and environmental health), the student is required to take at least one course at Brown in that knowledge area.

As discussed in Section 2.2a, Brown does not use a system of credit hours or credit units. Brown courses are at least comparable to four credit units at other universities. As the MPH Program has a 13 course requirement, if Brown used a credit unit system, the requirement for the MPH degree would be for 52 credit units. As discussed above, courses taken outside the Brown MPH Program may count toward the 13 courses, but only if they are assessed to be appropriate by the MPH Program Director.

Students in the MD-MPH Program are required to meet the same requirements of 13 courses and the thesis to receive the MPH degree. No more than four of the MD courses can also be counted toward the MPH degree. Students in the AB-MPH Program must complete 24 courses during the five years of their training to meet the undergraduate concentration requirements and the MPH requirements. Included in the 24 course requirement is the 13 course

requirement of the MPH program, though students may take MPH courses at any time in the 5 years of the program. Students who do the MPH as part of the Brown Tougaloo Partnership must also complete the 13 course MPH requirement.

To assure that all students receiving an MPH degree from Brown meet the requirement of 13 courses (including core courses and electives) and the thesis, the MPH program tracks each student’s progress in meeting the degree requirements using the same progress tracking sheet and process for all students.

2.2c Information about the number of professional public health master’s degrees awarded for fewer than 42 semester credit units, or equivalent, over each of the last three years. A summary of the reasons should be included.

Brown does not offer a professional master’s degree requiring fewer than 42 semester credit units. As discussed above, Brown does not award semester credit units but rather bases degree requirements on the number of required courses. Brown courses are at least equivalent to four credit courses at other institutions. The current requirements are that students must

successfully complete 13 courses. Students may request that up to four graduate level or medical school courses taken previously or concurrently with the MPH Program count toward the 13 course requirement. Therefore while all students must complete 13 courses, well above the 42 credit equivalent, some students complete a small portion of those courses outside of Brown University. Only a small percentage of students fully exercise this option, with no more

than 6 students per year (1 out of 22 in 2012; 4 out of 36 in 2013; 6 out of 33 in 2014) graduating with fewer than 11 courses taken at Brown University.

2.2d Assessment of the extent to which this criterion is met and an analysis of the school’s strengths, weaknesses and plans relating to this criterion.

This criterion is met.

Strengths: All students are treated equally. The MPH program has a 13 course requirement.

Any MPH student may request to count up to 4 courses taken prior to enrollment, if they are graduate level and deemed appropriate by the Program Director. To assure that all students receiving an MPH degree from Brown meet the requirement of 13 courses (including core courses and electives) and the thesis, the MPH program tracks each student’s progress in meeting the degree requirements using the same progress tracking form for all students.

2.3 Public Health Core Knowledge. All graduate professional degree public health students must