PH870 provides students with professional skills that are relevant to research careers in public health. In this course, students will learn and apply concepts and tools relevant to research project execution, research project management, and communication of research results to various audiences. This includes conducting a literature review on a scientific question that they have developed with input from a faculty mentor and effectively communicating scientific messages through visual means. In Session 6, students are introduced to fundamental aspects of data visualization including graphical elements of charts and visual properties. Guidelines and principles for better data visualizations will be presented. Key concepts covered include the importance of identifying the target audience and a single message for each visualization, and matching chart type with data, message, and audience. In small groups, students will interpret and critique various charts and figures displaying public health data, and they will make suggestions for improving the figures and clarifying the message. In the last section of the class session, we will discuss oral communication strategies and students will learn how to effectively communicate with clinical patients as research study participants. Student mastery of data visualization will be assessed as part of a final in-class oral presentation, in which students present the findings from their literature review.

Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the MyBU Student Portal for the most up-to-date course information.