The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program provides public health education in:
- The biologic, sociocultural, behavioral, and policy issues that impact the health of the MCH population.
- A well-grounded historical context for and current federal, state and local governmental policies and services in the MCH arena.
- Underlying causes of major health problems and disparities facing the MCH population.
- Approaches to properly address these problems and the professional skills required for an MCH career whether nationally or internationally.
Students will gain the skills needed to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions with a special emphasis on women, children, and families over the lifespan. The MCH concentration is conceptualized with sensitivity to cultural diversity within a global context.
Program Competencies
Students who graduate from this degree program can expect to develop the following competencies as they successfully meet and complete the program degree requirements.
- Describe the historical development, scientific basis, financing and structural organization of MCH public policies and practices in the United States for federal, state, and local agencies and programs serving MCH populations.
- Determine how different strengths, needs, values and practices of diverse cultural, racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups affect health status, health behaviors and program design.
- Evaluate theories and principles of individual and family growth and development from an intergenerational and lifespan perspective.
- Apply appropriate research methods to the evaluation of MCH program and practices.
- Evaluate evidence-based methods that contribute to the translation of research into programming and practice.
- Recognize principles of ethical conduct in program management, research and data collection and storage.
- Identify, assess and prioritize health problems at the level of the community
- Develop a plan to monitor and evaluate a public health intervention or program, based on a theory of change.
The MPH degree in Maternal and Child Health requires a total of 45 credits that includes:
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SPHTM Foundational Requirements | ||
SPHL 6020 | Foundations in Public Health | 3 |
SPHL 6050 | Biostatistics for Public Health | 3 |
SPHL 6060 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
SPHL 6070 | Health Systems Policy and Management | 3 |
SPHL 6080 | Design Strategies in Public Health Programs | 3 |
Program Course Requirements | ||
SBPS 6030 | Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health | 3 |
SBPS 6340 | Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Programs | 3 |
SBPS 6490 | Key Policies and Programs in Maternal and Child Health | 3 |
SBPS 6510 | Essential Issues in Maternal and Child Health | 3 |
SBPS 7250 | Evidence-Based Research Methods in Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
SBPS 7510 | Maternal Child Health: The Life Course Perspective | 3 |
Elective Courses | 12 | |
SPHL 9980 | Applied Practice Experience 1 | 0 |
SPHL 7950 | Integrative Learning Experience 2 | 0 |
Total Credit Hours | 45 |
- 1
The Applied Practice Experience (APE) is a supervised practice experience conducted in an agency or organization external to the university to gain practical experience. An APE report summarizing the field experiences is required.
- 2
All students must complete an Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) that demonstrates the synthesis of foundational and concentration competencies.
Model Course Schedule
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credit Hours | |
SBPS 6030 | Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health | 3 |
SPHL 6050 | Biostatistics for Public Health | 3 |
SPHL 6080 | Design Strategies in Public Health Programs | 3 |
SBPS 6510 | Essential Issues in Maternal and Child Health | 3 |
Credit Hours | 12 | |
Spring | ||
SPHL 6020 | Foundations in Public Health | 3 |
SPHL 6060 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
SBPS 6340 | Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Programs | 3 |
SBPS 6490 | Key Policies and Programs in Maternal and Child Health | 3 |
Organize the Practicum | ||
Credit Hours | 12 | |
Summer Session | ||
SPHL 6070 | Health Systems Policy and Management | 3 |
SPHL 9980 | Applied Practice Experience | 0 |
Credit Hours | 3 | |
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
SBPS 7250 | Evidence-Based Research Methods in Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
Electives | 6 | |
Credit Hours | 9 | |
Spring | ||
SBPS 7510 | Maternal Child Health: The Life Course Perspective | 3 |
Electives | 6 | |
SPHL 7950 | Integrative Learning Experience | 0 |
Credit Hours | 9 | |
Total Credit Hours | 45 |