Advances in genetics are occurring at a pace that challenges our collective ability to respond to the many social, legal, ethical, and public health policy implications generated by this revolution of knowledge. The purpose of this certificate is to provide graduates with a basic grounding in public health genetics that will enable them to function as public health professionals at the cutting edge of this important new area. You will be trained to incorporate knowledge of how genes, together with the environment and behavior, influence health and apply this insight into their area of practice or research. Additionally, you will:
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of the role that genetics plays in the development of disease
- Identify the limits of your genetic expertise
- Identify ethical and medical limitations to genetic testing, including uses that don't benefit the individual
- Determine the role that cultural, social, behavioral, environmental, and genetic factors play in the development and prevention of genetic-related diseases
Academic Requirements
15 credits (at least 12 must be traditional classroom courses). The remaining three credits can be seminar, project, or practicum work, as described below.
Students enrolled in Human Genetics degree programs other than the MPH in Public Health Genetics may receive the certificate, with the stipulation that the certificate curriculum must include at least nine credits of coursework, seminar, project, or practicum work that is not part of the coursework for their degree.
Please note: All students receiving the certificate must give a presentation in a public health genetics course.
Required Courses
- HUGEN 2049 Introduction to Public Health Genetics (3 credits)
- HUGEN 2059 Current Topics in Public Health (3 credits)
At least six credits from the following six courses are required:
- HUGEN 2010 Bioinformatic Resources for Geneticists (1 credit)
- HUGEN 2020 Introduction to Population Genetic and Genetic Epidemiology
- HUGEN 2040 Molecular Basis of Human Inherited Disease (3 credits)
- HUGEN 2054 Applications in Public Health Genetics and Genomics
- HUGEN 2060 Chromosomes - Structure and Function
- HUGEN 2090 Molecular Basis of Complex Diseases
- HUGEN 2091 Genetics of Complex Diseases
A maximum of two credits may come from the following courses:
- HUGEN 2021 Special Studies
Can be taken if a student's essay/thesis/dissertation project is related to Human Genetics or Public Health Genetics or if the student wishes to conduct a small independent research project on a topic in Public Health Genetics. A final written document must be submitted and reviewed. This can be in the form of the student's essay/thesis/dissertation or a research paper on the independent project.
- HUGEN 2028 Human Genetics Journal Club and Peer Review
- HUGEN 2047 Clinical Genetics Case Conference (1 credit)
- HUGEN 2050 Public Health Genetics Practicum
Can be taken if the student's practicum or other practice-based experience is related to Human Genetics or Public Health Genetics. A written document summarizing the experience must be submitted to certificate leadership.
Additional courses permitted for the certificate include:
- All other Human Genetics courses
- EOH 2805 Epigenetics and Epigenomics of Environmental Health
- EPIDEM 2600 Introduction to Molecular Epidemiology
- BCHS 2572 Risk Communication
- IDM 2001 Molecular Biology of Microbial Pathogens
- IDM 2002 Molecular Virology
- IDM 2010 Pathogen Biology
- IDM 2014 Functional Genomics of Microbial Pathogens
- IDM 2032 Human Diversity and Public Health
Other courses may be permitted, but must be pre-approved by the certificate director.
Requirements for Students in a HUGEN Degree Program
Students in a HUGEN degree program other than the MPH are eligible to receive the Public Health Genetics Certificate by meeting the requirements below:
- Student must complete six credits of coursework not already required by the student's degree program
- Students must complete the following courses:
- HUGEN 2049 Introduction to Public Health Genetics
- HUGEN 2059 Current Topics in Public Health
- The additional two credits of coursework can come from any of the following:
- The list of HUGEN core courses, the list of approved additional courses, or must be approved by the certificate director
- Up to two credits of a project or practicum work (HUGEN 2050 or HUGEN 2021). A paper (8-10 double-spaced pages, plus references) describing the project or practicum is required to receive a grade for these credit hours. Writing guidelines will be provided to students.
Admissions
The program is open to currently matriculated Pitt Public Health graduate students and also to non-degree students who hold at least a bachelor’s degree. The standards for admission are the same as those for the MPH, i.e. an adequate background in mathematics, biology, and social science to successfully complete the required coursework for the certificate. Applicants who are not enrolled in degree programs in Pitt Public Health must demonstrate prior public health experience in the form of academic work or appropriate job experience. In addition, applicants must demonstrate prior public health experience in the form of academic work or appropriate job experience.
Admissions decisions for the certificate program will be made by the Human Genetics MPH admissions committee.