 Welcome to Public Health Topics. After taking this course, students will be prepared to debate important issues in public health. They will be able to craft strong, evidence-based arguments for policy development in public health and bioethics. They will use data to draw meaningful conclusions about our world and identify systemic patterns in health. Because public health relies on a number of systems in order to serve diverse populations across the globe, this course will take a systems-thinking and modeling approach. Using authentic performance assessments, students will work in teams to apply concepts learned throughout the term. Students in this course play the role of the active participant in collaborative and cooperative work with their peers. They will engage in discussion, fostering a sense of cultural awareness and social justice. They will also harness their intellectual curiosity with projects focused on self-directed inquiry and reflection. This interdisciplinary course requires complex reasoning and critical thinking, extensive use of technology, and communication and problem-solving skills. Strong writing skills are imperative. Thanks, and I look forward to working with you.