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GPH-GU 2687: Thesis II: Practice & Integrative Learning Experiences
Doctoral Teaching Assistant: Epa Cabrera ([email protected])
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is the second course in a two-semester series that continues work on the culminating activity, the thesis, for Biostatistics (BIOS-MS and BIOS-MPH), Epidemiology (EPI-MS and EPI-MPH), and Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS-MPH) concentrations. The focus of this course is on completing the proposed thesis and preparing for the presentation of the final thesis. Students will work closely with their thesis advisor during the semester, but the course instructor will provide structural guidance on several remaining sections (results, discussion, structured abstract) of the thesis. The thesis should demonstrate the student’s ability to think critically, synthesize foundational and concentration competencies, provide understanding and insight into a substantive area of inquiry, and convey ideas effectively to an intended audience.
COURSE FORMAT: This course meets in person. In total, students will receive 1080 minutes of live in-person instruction, one 60-minute on-line methods module, one 120-minute statistical software tutorial (Stata or R) and two 30-minute meetings with the instructor or teaching assistant. In addition, students will meet with their assigned thesis advisor for a minimum of three 60-minute meetings. The Thesis II course design includes lectures and discussions, but most of your time during the semester is spent working independently on the thesis and working closely with your Thesis Advisor on the final sections of the thesis – Results (data analysis) and Discussion. In addition, we will “workshop” components of the thesis and discuss highlights and challenges of the process in class sessions.
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND RELATED COMPETENCIES AND COMPONENTS:*
|
Learning Objective |
Competency |
Course component |
|
1. Analyze quantitative or qualitative data using computer-based programming and software, as appropriate, and communicate the main and related study findings. |
Concentration Specific (BIOS/EPI/ SBS):
• Apply descriptive and inferential methodologies according to the type of study design for answering a particular research question. (BIOS)
• Distinguish among the different measurement scales and the implications for selection of statistical methods to be used based on these distinctions (BIOS)
• Implement the appropriate analytic methods for calculating key measures of association. (BIOS)
• Utilize relevant statistical software for data analysis (BIOS)
• Critically evaluate the application of epidemiologic methods to answer public health questions (EPI)
• Identify data sources, manage large datasets, and conduct analyses using appropriate statistical software (EPI)
• Apply the methods and analytic tools of social and behavioral science to design, implement, and analyze evaluation or research studies (SBS)
|
Sessions on:
- Complex Survey Design – on line
- Data management
- Writing Results and Producing Tables
Assessment: Thesis2
|
|
2. Interpret and discuss the results of the research study in the context of existing scientific knowledge, including assessing the limitations of the study and explain public health implications. |
Concentration Specific (BIOS/EPI/ SBS):
• Interpret results of statistical analyses found in public health research studies. (BIOS)
• Synthesize the extant epidemiologic literature and identify its limitations and gaps. (EPI)
• Critically assess the literature related to social and behavioral aspects of health (SBS)
• Assess the means by which structural bias & social inequities undermine health & create challenges to achieving health equity at the behavioral, community & societal levels. (SBS)
• Explain major theories, trends, and debates in the social and behavioral sciences literature regarding health. (SBS)
|
Session on:
- Writing Discussion
Assessment: Thesis
|
|
3. Prepare a scientific, structured abstract. |
|
Session on:
- Structured Abstract
Assessment: Thesis
|
|
4. Write a professionalquality, ethically sound thesis that develops a clear argument based on a research question. |
Concentration Specific (BIOS/EPI/ SBS):
• Understand and apply ethical principles to data acquisition, management, storage, sharing, and analysis. (BIOS)
• Understand and apply principles of ethical conduct to epidemiological studies. (EPI)
• Apply ethical principles to public health research and evaluation. (SBS)
|
Assessment: Thesis |
|
5. Develop skills to effectively communicate information to diverse audiences. |
Foundational:
• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
• Communicate audience-appropriate public health content both in writing and through oral presentation
Concentration Specific (BIOS/EPI/ SBS):
• Effectively communicate epidemiologic findings both orally and in writing. (EPI)
|
Session on:
- Effective communication
Assessments:
- Communication Plan
- Thesis
- Oral presentation
|
|
6. Explain the role of systems thinking in public health practice |
Foundational:
• Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue
|
Session on
- Effective
Communication
Assessment:
In class discussion
|
*Foundational and concentration specific competencies applicable to MPH program – BIOS, EPI, SBS
PRE-REQUISITES:
For the culminating experience courses, which includes Thesis I and Thesis II, students must receive a minimum grade of B in each course to be eligible for graduation.
Class Participation and Preparation
Students are expected to:
- Complete relevant readings and/or viewing of on-line resources, if any, prior to each of the class sessions to be able to participate fully during the class.
- Engage in active, intelligent and respectful dialogue with colleagues/classmates, guest lecturers, and with the instructor.
- Provide and accept constructive feedback to/from your instructor and colleagues during workshop sessions as well as in written critiques
- Prepare for all meetings with the instructor or doctoral TA. You should have a brief agenda, questions/discussion points to cover, and reviewed resources/readings PRIOR to the meeting.
Course/syllabus changes
E-mail is the preferred form of communication. Please use your NYU email account to send correspondences; emails should be professional in nature. Email is a formal means of communication in the context of school or work; please sign every message at the bottom, use polite language, capital letters, punctuation, greetings and salutations. The instructor will try to respond to emails within a 24-36-hour period during the standard Monday through Friday workweek. Students should not wait until a Friday to send an email if a response is needed before the following Monday.
Please be sure to frequently check the “Announcements” module within the course. The announcements feature is the best way to communicate time-sensitive information critical to your success within the course, such as due dates for assignments, changes to the syllabus or corrections/clarifications of materials.
Thesis Draft and Final Submission:
You will submit a draft of your thesis on NYU Brightspace by the due date (see course outline, page 6). In addition, you will email the draft thesis to your thesis advisor and copy the thesis instructor. For the final submission of your thesis, you will upload your thesis to NYU Brightspace, and submit via email your thesis to your thesis advisor, and copy the thesis instructor by the due date specified on the course outline. Specific guidelines and rubric for the thesis will be reviewed in class and shared in writing via NYU Brightspace.
Assignments should be submitted in Word (i.e., no PDFs will be accepted) through NYU Brightspace on the date and time indicated on the syllabus unless otherwise specified. It will be the student’s responsibility to make sure the assignment is on time. Please label files with your last name, first name and assignment (e.g., Reddy_Lavanya_Lit Review). Many students have similar last names; include your full name.
Please note, the thesis draft and final thesis “live” in the Thesis II course. In other words, do not approach your thesis advisor for an extension for either product. Please discuss any issues/concerns with the course instructor.
Assignments are due on the date indicated on the syllabus. For Thesis II, if any assignment (draft thesis, final thesis or communication plan) is submitted late, five (5) points will be deducted from your class participation grade for each 24-hour period. It is your responsibility to hand in assignments on time.
Incomplete final grades for this course will not be granted unless the request is justified by a legitimate and documented emergency.
Additionally, for Thesis II, the web-based plagiarism tool, Turnitin, will be used for all assignments, including the draft and final versions of the thesis. Students will be able to view Turnitin reports and can make needed revisions and resubmit the assignment an unlimited number of times prior to the due date and time. Please be sure to submit assignments with enough time before they are due to obtain the Turnitin report and make any needed revisions. Assignments must go through NYU Brightspace, where Turnitin is embedded, and thus cannot simply be emailed to the instructor without using Turnitin. Please refer to the following link for additional resources about NYU Brightspace, such as submitting assignments, viewing grades in the Gradebook, and information on Turnitin.
Computer-generated content in Thesis
Written assignments
Writing Support
Additional information on writing services available to you can be found on Brightspace in the Writing Resources module, as well as on GPH’s academics services webpage.
|
Item: |
Points: |
|
Progress-to-date meeting |
REQUIRED |
|
Communication Plan |
10 |
|
In-class presentation |
8 |
|
Class participation/attendance |
7 |
|
Thesis (final assessment provided by Thesis Advisor) |
75 |
GRADING SCALE:*
|
A: 94-100 |
C+: 77-79 |
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A-: 90-93 |
C: 73-76 |
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B+: 87-89 |
C-: 70-72 |
|
B: 83-86 |
D+: 67-69 |
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B-: 80-82 |
D: 60-66 |
|
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F: <60 |
NYU BRIGHTSPACE:
- Mobile device ringers (e.g., smart phones, pagers, etc.) should be silenced prior to class and put away.
- Laptops and tablets can ONLY be used in the classroom to take notes and download/read course materials. Please do NOT use laptops to check email, use social media, surf the Web, work on assignments, etc. during class. This is disrespectful to the instructor. In addition, it distracts your fellow classmates seated near you!
- There are studies that indicate that non-academic use of the Internet is associated with poorer learning outcomes.1,2
|
Week |
Date |
Topics |
Readings and Assignment Due |
|
1 |
Jan 21 |
Review course expectations Tips for data management |
Continue working with thesis advisor. Thesis proposal should have been shared with them last semester or early January 2025 |
| 2 |
Jan 28 |
NO CLASS - Data Wrangling with Data Services (attendance required at one session) |
Live Zoom session – Stata or R 1/31/2025 and 2/3/2025 – details to follow Work with Thesis advisor, data analysis |
| 3 |
Feb 4 |
NO CLASS -Data Wrangling with Data Services (attendance required at one session) |
Live Zoom session – Stata or R 1/31/2025 and 2/3/2025 – details to follow Work with Thesis advisor, data analysis |
| 4 |
Feb 11 |
Writing Results Section, including review of tables |
|
| 5 |
Feb 18 |
NO CLASS |
|
| -- |
Feb 25 (Tues) |
|
Submit (via email) table shells and preliminary findings by 9:00 pm to colleague and Instructor |
| 6 |
Feb 25 |
Workshop - Results section, including table shells |
|
| 7 |
March 4 |
Writing Discussion Section Structured Abstract Formatting of Thesis |
|
| 8 |
March 11 |
NO CLASS |
|
| -- |
March 18 (Tues) |
|
Submit (via email) discussion points, including findings in context of extant literature, limitations, and implications by 9:00 pm to colleague and Instructor |
| 9 |
March 18 |
Workshop - Discussion Section |
|
| 10 |
March 25 |
NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK |
|
| 11 |
April 1 |
NO CLASS |
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY April 2 |
DRAFT OF THESIS DUE |
Submit via email to thesis advisor and thesis instructor. In addition, you must submit on NYU Brightspace. All electronic submissions MUST be completed by 11:59pm |
|
12 |
April 8 |
Effective Communication Discussion of Systems Thinking |
Reading - Levy & Gaufin, Chapters 1 and 3 |
|
13 |
April 15 |
Presentation of Projects |
Receive comments back from thesis advisor |
|
14 |
April 22 |
Presentation of projects |
Submit Communication Plan assignment by April 22 at 11:59pm |
|
15 |
April 29 |
Presentation of projects LAST DAY OF CLASS |
|
| -- |
WEDNESDAY
April 30
|
FINAL VERSION OF THESIS DUE |
Submit via email to thesis advisor and thesis instructor. In addition, you must submit on NYU Brightspace. All electronic submissions MUST be completed by 11:59 pm |
READING/VIEWING LIST:
Textbook (select chapters will be made available): Levy B. & Gaufin J. Mastering Public Health – Essential Skillsfor Effective Practice. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012.
Resources and suggested websites: Please check NYU Brightspace for additional information including suggested sites/documents for topics that will be or have been discussed.
The Stata YouTube channel is a resource you will refer to often: youtube.com/statacorp
Basic introduction to complex survey data in Stata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DRXnoR-Q1c
Specifying study design in Stata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYjWCL7IEKU
Working with NHANES in Stata:
GPH DIVERSITY, EQUITY, and INCLUSION (DEI) STATEMENT:
Students with disabilities should contact the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities regarding the resources available to them, and to determine what classroom accommodations should be made available. More information about the Moses Center can be found here. must appear on the syllabus. Information about the center can be found here: https://www.nyu.edu/life/safety-health-wellness/students-with-disabilities.html.
The NYU School of Global Public Health (GPH) values both open inquiry and academic integrity. Students in the program are expected to follow standards of excellence set forth by New York University. Such standards include respect, honesty and responsibility. The GPH does not tolerate violations to academic integrity including:
- Plagiarism
- Cheating on an exam
- Submitting your own work toward requirements in more than one course without prior approval from the instructor
- Collaborating with other students for work expected to be completed individually
- Giving your work to another student to submit as his/her own
- Purchasing or using papers or work online or from a commercial firm and presenting it as your own work
Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the GPH and University’s policy on academic integrity as they will be expected to adhere to such policies at all times – as a student and an alumni of New York University.
Plagiarism, whether intended or not, is not tolerated in the GPH. Plagiarism involves presenting ideas and/or words without acknowledging the source and includes any of the following acts:
- Using a phrase, sentence, or passage from another writer's work without using quotation marks
- Paraphrasing a passage from another writer's work without attribution
- Presenting facts, ideas, or written text gathered or downloaded from the Internet as your own
- Submitting another student's work with your name on it
- Submitting your own work toward requirements in more than one course without prior approval from the instructor
- Purchasing a paper or "research" from a term paper mill.
When a professor suspects cheating, plagiarism, and/or other forms of academic dishonesty, appropriatedisciplinary action is as follows:
- The Professor will meet with the student to discuss, and present evidence for the particular violation,giving the student opportunity to refute or deny the charge(s).
- If the Professor confirms that violation(s), he/she, in consultation with the Chairperson/ Program Director may take any of the following actions:
- Allow the student to redo the assignment
- Lower the grade for the work in question
- Assign a grade of F for the work in question
- Assign a grade of F for the course
- Recommend dismissal