Maternal and Child Health
Introduction
Degree Program
Admissions
Financial Support
Opportunities for Graduates
Further Information
The University of California, Berkeley, Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program is dedicated to promoting and protecting the health status and well being of women, infants, children, adolescents, and their families. The program has provided superior graduate training, continuing education, research, advocacy, and service since its founding in 1953.
The training mission of the UC Berkeley Maternal and Child Health Program is: To educate public health professionals to have those leadership capabilities and skills necessary to plan, organize, develop, implement, analyze, and evaluate systems of care, programs, and services for improvement of the health status of mothers and children. The program provides training on domestic MCH issues, with a particular focus on the unique cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic characteristics of the San Francisco Bay area and the state of California. Courses on international MCH are also available.
M.P.H. Options
Two master of public health (M.P.H.) degree options are available.
- The one-year M.P.H. track (July-May) trains health professionals with significant experience in the MCH field. The one-year program requires completion of a year-long Community-based Research Project with a public health agency, organization, or research group. It also requires completion of a summer epidemiology course (July-August) prior to the fall semester. Graduates of the one-year program are employed in MCH leadership positions at local, state, and national levels; as innovators in MCH programs with local, state, and national agencies, non-governmental organizations, and foundations; and as clinical service managers for HMOs and other public health care agencies.
- The two-year M.P.H. track provides training for post-baccalaureate students with demonstrated quantitative and analytic abilities and work or volunteer experience in the MCH field. The two-year track emphasizes analytic and research training, with a strong focus on epidemiology and biostatistics, and requires completion of a research thesis and a 3-month summer field placement. Graduates of the two-year track tend to secure employment in research centers, public health agencies, policymaking institutions, and academic settings, and often also go on to pursue advanced degrees (Dr.P.H., Ph.D.).
M.P.H. Curriculum
The M.P.H. curriculum emphasizes the study of biologic, social, cultural, political and environmental influences on the health of women, children, adolescents, and the family.
The M.P.H. curriculum includes the following aspects:
- Breadth requirements: All M.P.H. students are required to demonstrate proficiency or complete course work in biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, public health biology, health policy and management, and health and social behavior.
- MCH required and highly recommended courses. Both one- and two-year students complete the "MCH Core Course" and "Problems and Programs in MCH: Needs Assessment." Two-year students complete addition course work in epidemiology, biostatistics, and research. Other highly recommended MCH courses cover public health practice, program planning and evaluation, and MCH data analysis.
- Elective courses. Students may tailor the curriculum with elective courses in the School of Public Health and from other departments. MCH electives include such courses as: Family Planning and Population Change; Maternal and Child Nutrition; International MCH; Overview of the AIDS Epidemic; and Money, Management & MCH.
Specialty Areas
Specialty areas are equivalent to a minor.
- MCH masters and doctoral students may add a specialty area in Aging, Global Health, or Multicultural Health, each of which requires nine units of course work.
- We also offer an MCH Specialty Area (minor) for students enrolled in other School of Public Health two-year M.P.H. or doctoral programs. The specialty area requires nine units of MCH course work including the MCH Core Course. At the time of graduation, students receive a letter certifying their completion of the specialty area requirements.
Each year, approximately 20 new M.P.H. students join our program. Both M.P.H. program tracks are extremely competitive: on average, we accept 15 percent of our M.P.H. applicants. Faculty carefully weigh all aspects of applicants' backgrounds in making admissions decisions. For both program tracks, the fit between the program's focus and the candidate's interests and objectives is of utmost importance.
One-Year M.P.H. Requirements
- Professional degree in a health care-related field (physicians, baccalaureate- or masters-level nurses, psychologists, masters-level social workers, and other masters-level professionals)
- Significant work experience in the MCH field
- Must be engaged in or demonstrate a commitment to shift from the perspective of individual patient care to focus on public health programs, policies, and systems of care
Two-Year M.P.H. Requirements
- Strong interest in and potential to develop quantitative analytical skills as evidenced by scholastic achievement and/or research activities
- Work or volunteer experience in an MCH-related research, service, or policy setting (typically, at least 1-2 years)
Applicants must also meet the School's admissions requirements to be admitted to the program.
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U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply for a variety of University fellowships and federal financial aid (loans and work-study). The MCH Program is also able to offer a limited number of graduate student researcher positions and traineeships to qualified applicants. International applicants must provide evidence of sufficient financial support to complete the program of study, if admitted.
Graduates of our program come from very diverse backgrounds and so the positions they secure can also be quite varied, depending on the previous talents and experiences they combine with their M.P.H. degree. Three broad career paths that our graduates tend to follow are programmatic positions with public health agencies or community-based organizations, research positions with public and private research groups, and academic positions. Some graduates do go into clinical careers; however, the training we provide focuses on the community and population level, versus the individual patient level.
For further program information, please visit http://mch.berkeley.edu. You may contact the MCH Program Administrator at mchprog@berkeley.edu or at (510) 642-1512.