The Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University has launched a Global Certificate in Legal Epidemiology. This non-credit certificate is offered by the Center with Temple University’s Office of Continuing Education. It is a self-guided, 16-hour program ideal for anyone interested in developing their skills and knowledge in public health law research. The program is fee-based but offered on a sliding cost scale to make it as accessible as possible to students, early career professionals, and international participants who may be more strapped for resources.

The Center’s staff has developed three comprehensive modules where participants will gain a deeper understanding of the foundations of legal epidemiology and the transdisciplinary model of public health law. The modules are divided into units that teach the skills and techniques used to evaluate the effects of laws and policies on health:

1. The New Public Health Law – This four-unit module introduces the transdisciplinary model of public health law, the Five Essential Public Health Law Services, and the key doctrines of United States and/or global health law.
2. Policy Surveillance – This three-unit module explores the history, process, and application of policy surveillance — a form of scientific legal mapping — and provide a step-by-step demonstration of the policy surveillance process.
3. Legal Evaluation – In this two-unit module, participants will learn the basic principles of legal evaluation and the quasi-experimental design elements that are necessary to scientifically evaluate the impact of law on population health, a crucial part of legal epidemiology practice.

More information about the program, including a full syllabus, and a link to registration may be found at PHLR.org.