221.645.01
Large-Scale Effectiveness Evaluations of Health Programs

Location
East Baltimore
Term
2nd Term
Department
International Health
Credit(s)
4
Academic Year
2024 - 2025
Instruction Method
In-person
Class Time(s)
Tu, Th, 9:00 - 10:20am
Lab Times
Thursday, 1:30 - 3:20pm (01)
Thursday, 3:30 - 5:20pm (02)
Thursday, 1:30 - 3:20pm (03)
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Neff Walker
Melinda Munos
Rebecca Heidkamp
Melissa Marx
Elizabeth Hazel
Ashley Sheffel
Contact Name
Melissa Marx
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite

Knowledge of basic biostatistics and epidemiology

Description
Uses lecture, discussion, and individual and small-group applications formats to: 1. Discuss evaluation of evidence-based public health programs, with a focus on low income countries; 2. Grapple with and discuss the best solutions to address methodological challenges in designing and conducting effectiveness evaluations in these settings; 3. Design comprehensive measurement plans with knowledge gained about pros and cons of different ways to collect new data and use and/or model existing data to address all parts of impact chains; 4. Discuss ways to design the evaluation and disseminate findings to maximize acceptance and use of findings
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify stakeholders of an impact evaluation
  2. Identify and document key objectives and answerable evaluation research questions that meet key stakeholders’ needs and are appropriate for program and setting
  3. Select and/or develop SMART indicators that answer the evaluation questions
  4. Propose a technically-sound design for evaluating the impact of program, focusing on key evaluation questions
  5. Identify pros and cons of evaluation designs under various constraints
  6. Identify appropriate sources of data and data collection methods to evaluate programs across the impact pathway
  7. Describe barriers and strategies to overcome barriers to promoting the uptake of results by policy makers and program planners
  8. Interpret evaluation results based on the design
  9. Prepare a conceptual model of the program being evaluated, linking program inputs to health impact
  10. Write a comprehensive evaluation plan and proposal
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 43% Group Project(s)
  • 10% Group Presentation
  • 42% Quizzes
  • 5% Peer-feedback
Enrollment Restriction
No undergraduate students
Instructor Consent
Consent required for all students
Consent Note
preference given to MSPH Health Systems students who have this course as a requirement.
Consent Contact
mmarx1@jhu.edu
Special Comments

Students are required to register for one of the three lab sections. There is a max of 16 for each section. This is the in person section of a course also held onsite. You are responsible for the modality in which you register.
No undergraduate students
There are three labs.
Lab.221.945.01: Thursdays 1:30-3:20 in person
Lab 221.945.02: Thursdays 3:30-5:20 in person
Lab 221.945.03: Thursdays 1:30-3:20 virtual