Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences, MPH
The MPH program in the Department of Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences provides advanced training and field applications in basic and applied public health program development, evaluation, and research to promote health equity. Our mission is to define and address the societal and structural bases of health inequities. The program has a strong emphasis on social determinants of health and theoretically based multi-level models of health promotion. The program prepares individuals for further graduate training or professional practice where graduates progress to careers in national and international government agencies (i.e., the Centers for Disease Control and state health departments), global nonprofit organizations, public health institutes, and academia. Graduates are expected to have responsibilities that would include program leadership, planning and evaluation, and applied research.
MPH in Social, Behavioral and Population Health Competencies:
- Construct multilevel models of health behaviors for health promotion interventions and research based on individual, community, and population level theories.
- Plan research and evaluation strategies to answer key social behavioral science research questions and evaluate programming, with a community-informed lens.
- Apply appropriate data management and analysis methods for social behavioral science research in the social determinants of health, health systems, and health policy to promote health equities and reduce health disparities.
- Formulate implications for research, policy, and practice from an interpretation of the results of social behavioral science research at the individual, community, and societal levels.
- Assess health inequities in the U.S. and globally through applying a social justice framework.
- Appraise one's own implicit biases and make a plan for minimizing their potential impact on personal and professional interactions.
The MPH in Social, Behavioral and Population Sciences requires 45 credits:
Public Health Foundation Courses
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
MPH in Social, Behavioral and Population Sciences Requirements
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SBPS 6030 | Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health | 3 |
| SBPS 7250 | Evidence-Based Research Methods in Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| SPHL 6100 | Health Equity | 3 |
| Two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Programs | ||
| Social Innovation Tools | ||
| Public Health Policy & Practice | ||
SBPS 7200 | ||
| Qualitative Methods I: Basic Foundations | ||
| Qualitative Methods II: Theory and Methods | ||
| Electives | 15 | |
| SPHL 7950 | Integrative Learning Experience | 0 |
| SPHL 9980 | Applied Practice Experience | 0 |
Integrative Learning Experience
All students must complete an Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) that demonstrates the synthesis of foundational and concentration competencies. Students in the MPH in Social, Behavioral and Population Sciences conduct a public health analysis.
Applied Practice Experience
The Applied Practice Experience (APE) is a supervised practice experience conducted in an agency or organization external to the university to gain practical experience. The APE allows students to demonstrate attainment of at least five competencies, including at least 3 from the foundational competencies (CEPH Criterion D2).
Model Schedule
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| SBPS 6030 | Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6100 | Health Equity | 3 |
| SPHL 6020 | Foundations in Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6050 | Biostatistics for Public Health | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPHL 6060 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6070 | Health Systems Policy and Management | 3 |
| SPHL 6080 | Design Strategies in Public Health Programs | 3 |
| SBPS 7250 | Evidence-Based Research Methods in Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Summer Session | ||
| SPHL 9980 | Applied Practice Experience | 0 |
| Credit Hours | 0 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| SBPS 6340 | Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Programs (or other methods option) | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| SPHL 7950 | Integrative Learning Experience | 0 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| SBPS 7200 | or other methods option | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |