The Dean's Public Health Grand Rounds
Frequently asked questions:
What is the course and who must take the course?
How many terms of the course are required?
How many credits is this course and is there a tuition charge?
What is the purpose of the course?
How does it work?
What types of activities qualify as Public Health Grand Rounds events?
How are potential events identified and approved?
How will students know about activities that have been approved for Public Health Grand Rounds?
How will student participation be tracked?
How will the course be graded?
What is the course and who must take the course?
PUBHLT 2022, the Dean’s Public Health Grand Rounds, is a required, non-credit course for all GSPH students. Two terms are required for graduation.
Exceptions are:
1. Students enrolled in a certificate program only.
2. Students enrolled in a formal joint degree program per the table below.
| Program | Degree Options | Joint School |
| BCHS Public Health and Anthropology Public Health and International Affairs Public Health and Public Administration Public Health and Social Work | MPH/PhD MPH/MID MPH/MPA MPH/PhD, MPH/MSW | Arts and Sciences Public and International Affairs Public and International Affairs Social Work |
| EPI Epidemiology and Medicine | MD/PhD | Medicine |
| HPM Health Policy and Law | MPH/JD | Law |
| HUGEN Human Genetics and Medicine | MD/PhD | Medicine |
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How many terms of the course are required?
Two terms of this course are required. Note that the course is offered in the spring and fall terms; it is not offered in the summer. Students should register for PHGR in the first two consecutive terms during which they are enrolled at GSPH.
For example, students who first enroll in August 2009 should register for Public Health Grand Rounds in fall 2009 and spring 2010. Students who enroll in January 2010 should register for the course in spring 2010 and fall 2010.
If a student is enrolled at GSPH but not residing in Pittsburgh during one of the first two terms, the student must register for PHGR during the term following their return to Pittsburgh.
Students must successfully pass both required terms of this course to be certified as completing requirements for graduation.
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How many credits is this course and is there a tuition charge?
The course is zero credits and there is no tuition charge for the course. However, students must take Public Health Grand Rounds together with at least one other course, and not by itself.
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What is the purpose of the course?
The purpose of this course is to expose GSPH students to the broader profession of public health by engaging them in substantive programs on a wide range of topics that reflect the breadth of public health. Students will have an opportunity to interact with researchers and practitioners from other settings and universities around the world. The course helps to build students’ capacity to work in interdisciplinary teams to address challenging and complex public health problems.
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How does it work?
In each required term, students will earn a minimum number of points by attending approved Public Health Grand Round events. Full time students must earn a minimum of 3 points. Part-time students (i.e., students registered for fewer than 9 credits) must earn at least 1 point per term. Students will present their ID card and sign in as they enter the event. To receive credit for attending, students must be present for the ENTIRE event. Attendance will be monitored and recorded in CourseWeb. Signing in to the event is the ONLY way to verify your attendance.
Verification of attendance at off campus events will vary by event; details for these events will be posted on CourseWeb.
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What types of activities qualify as Public Health Grand Round events?
Activities must address some aspect of public health and are generally sponsored or co-sponsored by GSPH. Past events included the Cutler Lecture, the Foster Lectures, Public Health Week events, Dean’s Day events, and selected off-campus events such as the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association or Pennsylvania Public Health Association. Specific eligibility requirements are below.
Inclusion criteria (must meet one):
1. Sponsored or co-sponsored* by one of the following:
a. Dean’s office
b. Student Affairs
c. School-wide center (Center for Minority Health, Center for Public Health Practice, Center for Public Health Preparedness, Public Health Adaptive Systems Studies, RESET Center, Center for Computational Modeling)
d. GSPH departments or departmental centers
e. GSPH student organization
f. Center for Global Health
2. External meeting with a public health focus beyond one discipline (e.g., APHA, PPHA)
*Note that additional sponsors can be external to GSPH, as long as one of the listed areas is a co-sponsor.
Exclusion criteria:
1. Events that are already a curricular requirement for any GSPH student
2. Events that are not open to students across the school
The following criteria will be used to assign points to approved events:
• Events < 2 hours in length are worth 1 point
• Events > 2 hours and < 3 hours are worth 2 points
• Events > 3 hours are worth 3 points
Approved events are given a unique Public Health Grand Rounds identification number along with an assigned point value. For example: PHGR #2082-01-3; approved for 3 points.
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How are potential events identified and approved?
The course instructor reviews and approves all events for inclusion in the course. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to submit activities for consideration. Potential events should be submitted using the on-line form on the Public Health Grand Rounds webpage on the GSPH website. Note that events must be approved in advance and should be submitted for review at least three (3) weeks prior to the date of the event.
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How will students know about activities that have been approved for Public Health Grand Rounds?
When students register for this course they will be automatically placed into the CourseWeb for the class and will be able to check the site for approved events. Paper and electronic notices will be posted on the bulletin boards and the LED screens in the school. Events will also be posted on the Public Health Grand Rounds page on the GSPH website. The approved event list will be updated throughout the semester.
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How will student participation be tracked?
Students will present their ID card and sign in as they enter the event. The sign-in sheets at the event are the ONLY means to verify attendance. It is your responsibility to sign in. For that reason, it is wise to arrive at the event 5-10 minutes early to allow time to sign in. To receive credit for attending, students must be present for the ENTIRE event. Attendance will be monitored and recorded in CourseWeb. No partial credit or exceptions will be granted. Verification of attendance at off campus events will vary by event; details for these events will be posted on CourseWeb.
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How will the course be graded?
The course will be graded on a pass/no credit (s/nc) basis. In order to receive a pass, full time students must earn 3 points by attending approved Public Health Grand Rounds events. Part time students (students taking fewer than 9 credits) must earn 1 point by attending an approved Public Health Grand Rounds event.
Students who register for the course but cannot complete the requirements for a legitimate reason (illness, family emergency) will arrange with the course instructor to complete an assignment in lieu of the required event or register for the course another term.
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