This Public Health Science capstone course is designed to challenge students to integrate the five core areas of public health in investigating, researching and addressing public health issues.
Terms Offered
Fall 2025
Course Details
The capstone course is the culminating experience for Public Health Science students and must be taken only in the final semester of study. The Public Health Science capstone course is designed to challenge students to integrate the five core areas of public health in investigating, researching and addressing public health issues. Throughout the semester, students will be required to evaluate, analyze and synthesize scholarly works as they research and propose solutions to a variety of public health issues. By the conclusion of this research based course, students will understand how the various public health perspectives can combine in addressing and informing public health practices.
Number of credits: 3
How You Will Learn and Work
This is a Global Classrooms Signature Course.
Cultural Connection
El Salvador
General Education Credits
Distributive Studies - Scholarship in Practice
School/College
School of Public Health
Prerequisites & Restrictions
Prerequisite: Must have completed the professional writing requirement with a C- or higher; and minimum grade of C- in PHSC450.
Restriction: Must have earned a minimum of 100 credits; and must be in Public Health Science program; and must be in the final semester of undergraduate study.
Credit only granted for: SPHL498F or PHSC497.
Faculty Highlight
Kendall M. Bustad
Dr. Kendall M. Bustad is a Senior Lecturer in the Public Health Science program in the School of Public Health.
Her teaching and research interests include addressing social and structural inequalities, public health nutrition, and vulnerable populations. Dr. Bustad currently teaches PHSC430, PHSC440, PHSC450, and PHSC497.
Dr. Bustad also champions student organizations that focus on empowering students to embrace causes they are passionate about. Therefore, she serves the university as the faculty advisor for various student organizations on campus, including IGNITE, and the Kidney Disease and Awareness Program.
Tuition & Scholarship
Course costs should be calculated based on the university’s standard tuition and fees for undergraduate students and graduate students.
Students enrolled in winter and summer Global Classrooms courses may be eligible for the International Education Scholarship.
Questions & Contact Info
For more course information, contact Dr. Kendall M. Bustad at kbustad@umd.edu.
For general questions, please contact the Global Classrooms team at globalclassrooms@umd.edu.