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MPH in Maternal and Child Health

The curriculum offers core public health content, research and planning skills, and electives that address the health needs of mothers and children. Part-time and full-time programs are offered in traditional and intensive formats. Course work toward the MPH degree in maternal and child health may be pursued in the following formats:

• a traditional on-campus program; or
• intensive, nontraditional Spanish-language programs in Peru.

Who should enroll

Licensed health care professionals with a masters in public health (MPH) in maternal and child health are public health specialists who play a key role in preventing illness and improving health for mothers and children. Functions include planning, managing, and evaluating programs; teaching health professionals; consulting; conducting research; and advocating for public health policy.

The major in maternal and child health builds on health education, epidemiology, cross-cultural, and nutrition theory and practice. Family-health issues are addressed using a broad array of public health strategies.

Learner outcomes

Graduates of this program in maternal and child health will have the skills necessary to:

1. Apply public health research and management tools to the organization, design, implementation, and evaluation of maternal-child health programs in public health settings.
2. Contribute to the development of public health policy and action agendas in maternal and child health.
3. Communicate health and nutrition issues affecting mothers and children to a wide variety of stakeholders in varying cultural settings.

Educational Effectiveness Indicators

• Field practicum report
• Comprehensive examination [dual majors]
• Professional portfolio for review
• Exit interview

PREREQUISITE

• Demonstrate college-level conceptualization and writing skills
• Professional license in a medical or health-related discipline (nursing, dentistry, medicine, social work, dietetics)
• Relevant professional or public health experience in the field of maternal and child health

Public health core courses (28 units)

• ENVH 509 Principles of Environmental Health (3)
• EPDM 509 Principles of Epidemiology I (concurrent with or after STAT 509) (3)
• GLBH 524 Cultural Competencies and Health Disparities (2)
• HADM 509 Principles of Health Policy and Management (3)
• HPRO 509 Principles of Health Behavior (taken before HPRO 538) (3)
• HPRO 536 Program Planning and Evaluation (2)
• NUTR 505 Public Health Biology (2)
• PHCJ 605 Overview of Public Health (1)
• PHCJ 675 Integrated Public Health Capstone (2)
• ±REL 534 Ethical Issues in Public Health (3)
• STAT 509 or STAT 521 General Statistics
• Biostatistics (4) (4)

Core courses for maternal and child health (26 units)

• EPDM 534 Epidemiology of Maternal and Child Health (3)
• HPRO 523 Maternal and Child Health: Policy and Programs (3)
• HPRO 550 Women in Development (3)
• HPRO 556 High-Risk Infants and Children: Policy and Programs (3)
• HPRO 559 Lactation Management (3)
• HPRO 567 Reproductive Health (3)
• HPRO 589 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
• HPRO 614 Seminar in Maternal- and Child Health Practice (2)
• NUTR 534 Maternal and Child Nutrition (3)

Recommended electives (6 units)

• HPRO 524 Adolescent Health (3)
• HPRO 553 Addiction Theory and Program Development (3)
• NUTR 585 Topics in International Nutrition (3)
• STAT 515 Grant- and Contract-Proposal Writing (3)
• STAT 564 Survey and Advanced Research Methods (3)

Field experience

• HPRO 797 MIP Internship in Health Education (U.S. Peace Corps) (0)
• or HPRO 798A/B/D Field Practicum (100clock hours)

Culminating activity

Students are required to demonstrate the ability to integrate the specified areas of public health: administration, epidemiology, statistics, environmental health, and health behavior. The culminating activity is comprised of field experience, professional portfolio, and exit interview. Students who do not meet minimum standards of performance on the culminating activity are subject to academic review or remedial course work to address deficiencies in preparation.

The program requires completion of 60 units, with culminating activity and a 100 clock-hour field practicum.

Licensed health professionals with experience in public health may apply to this 60-unit program in maternal and child health. Those without a health profession and/or public health experience may apply to the 70-unit dual-major program. Students who complete the dual major will be eligible to sit for the examination leading to certification as a health education specialist (CHES).

Contact Information - Department of Health Promotion & Education