University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Dept. of Health Services Policy and Management Courses and Curricula

 

Classes meet Mondays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Wardlaw 116. The classes are televised live to regional campuses and other locations with access to the ETV closed-circuit network.

Goal of the course: To introduce selected quantitative methods applicable to public and institutional health administration.

Instructional method: Learning by doing. You will apply the methods presented in class in homework exercises due each week.

Required work: The weekly assignments are the only required work in the course. No examinations. How the grading works.

Prerequisite: BIOS 700 or its equivalent with permission of the instructor. This course builds on the statistics concepts and the computer experience in BIOS 700. If you can understand this introductory probability and statistics review, you should be OK.

Readings: Downloadable pdf files. Links are in the table to the right. A free pdf reader can be downloaded from www.adobe.com. There is no book to buy. Students wishing additional detail on econometric theory may consult a standard textbook, such as Wonnacott & Wonnacott, Econometrics, but this not required.

Downloading all of the readings at the start of the semester is not recommended. I may revise some readings as I notice errors or get ideas for improvements. Instead, download each week's materials when you are about to start that week's work.

Required computer access: Every course assignment will require using a computer. You may do course assignments in our computer lab, Room 124 of the Arnold School of Public Health's old building (HESC). If you wish to work elsewhere, you must have access to a computer with a full-featured spreadsheet program and internet access with a browser that can do Java.

Internet access, with a web browser with Java, will enable you to download data for assignments, use course software, read about bugs and last-minute changes, and use the Answer Checkers. (Answer checkers let you know instantly whether you are on the right track as you do assignments.) If you do not have internet access or cannot get Java to work, plan to spend time in our lab.

Full-featured spreadsheets:

You'll get keystroke-by-keystroke instructions for doing the assignments with Excel, run under Microsoft Windows . All of the course assignments can be done with recent versions of Excel, Quattro Pro, and Lotus 1-2-3. Course data files will be provided in a format that all of these programs can read. Students using spreadsheets other than Excel will have to translate the instructions to fit their particular programs. The spreadsheet with Microsoft Works is not good enough, sorry.

Solver: Several of the course exercises use Excel's Solver. This is not installed by the default "typical" installation of Excel. If the Solver icon is not under the Data tab in Excel 2007 (under Tools on older Excel versions), here is how to install it. (Here are instructions for older Excel versions. For older versions, you will need your Microsoft Office installation CD.)

Please locate the computer(s) that you intend to use well before the first meeting of the course. Contact me if you have questions about your computer's capabilities.

Homework: A write-up is mandatory. The write-up should answer the assignment's questions in sentences. It is good to also turn in your spreadsheet file. That can help a lot if I need to track down an error. Your spreadsheet can be in a separate file from your write-up, or you can include your write-up in the spreadsheet.

Most homework assignments have an online Answer Checker. It can tell you if you are on the right track, and give you hints.

Turning in homework: Use Blackboard's  Assignments  feature.

Blackboard's  Assignments  allows you to include a spreadsheet file as an attachment. Your write-up can go in the text box, in an attached word processor file, or it can be incorporated into a spreadsheet file that you attach. A few assignments require your doing something on paper. You may bring the paper to my office or to class on the due date. Alternatively, you may mail the paper, fax it (803-777-6986) or scan it and attach it to what you submit on Blackboard.

Guidelines for helping other students and getting help from other students

Helping another student is a great way to learn, and a great way to make a friend. Be careful, however, to follow these guidelines.

The assignments in this course are intended to be individual work, not team efforts. The goal is for you to have confidence that you can do this.

By the way, I like explaining things. Feel free to ask me for help, by e-mail or when I'm in my office.

Grades in HSPM J716

Each week's assignment is worth 4 points, if done well.
There are 14 assignments, so a perfect score for the semester is 56.

Some weeks have their assignment split into two parts. The first week, for example, has assignment 1 and assignment 1A. Each part is worth 2 points, so that the total for the week is 4 points.

Fixing errors in homework

For Students Working in Our Lab

Specific Learning Objectives

1. Spreadsheet and Presentation Graphics Skills
   1. Students will demonstrate an ability to use a computer-based spreadsheet as a tool for organizing data and making calculations. (All course sessions)
   2. Students will demonstrate an ability to create graphs that present data clearly. (Jan. 29 session)
2. Econometrics and Forecasting
   1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the theory behind regression-based forecasting methods. (Jan. 14 - Feb. 25 sessions)
   2. Students will demonstrate an ability to present a reasonable analysis of time series data, including a forecast with a statement of justification and limitations. (Feb. 25 session)
3. Queuing Theory
   1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the theory behind standard methods of analyzing the dynamics of queues (waiting lines), including the assumptions behind and limitations of that theory. (Mar. 3 - Mar. 17 sessions)
   2. Students will demonstrate an ability to analyze specific queuing situations. (Mar. 17 session)
4. What-If Analysis
1. Students will demonstrate an ability to do What-If analysis, and an understanding of the limitations of What-If analysis. (Mar. 24 session)
5. Linear Programming
   1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the theory of optimization under constraint where the constraints and objective function are linear. (Mar. 31 - Apr. 7 sessions)
   2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the scope and limitations of the applicability of linear programming theory. (Mar. 31 - Apr. 7 sessions)
   3. Students will demonstrate an ability to analyze specific linear programming problems. (Mar. 31 - Apr. 7 sessions)
6. Project Planning / Critical Path Analysis
   1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the scope of network analysis theory. (Apr. 14 session)
   2. Students will demonstrate an ability to apply the Critical Path Method to a specific problem. (Apr. 16 session)
7. Decision Theory
1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of basic ideas and methods in decision theory. (Apr. 23 session)
2. Students will demonstrate an ability to apply these ideas to a specific problem. (Apr. 21 session)
8. Markup Languages, HTML
   1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of theoretical and practical considerations behind the design of markup languages. (Apr. 28 session)
   2. Students will demonstrate an ability to design a basic web page in HTML. (Apr. 30 session)
   3. Students will demonstrate an acquaintance with the concepts behind interactive web pages. (Apr. 30 session)
9. Writing skills -- Students will demonstrate an ability to present clearly and accurately the results of mathematical analysis. (All sessions)

Student performance of these objectives will be evaluated by weekly assignments.