Health & Social Behavior
"I have felt that the School attracts people with a lot of cultural diversity and also diversity of life experience, and that really enriches a lot of the conversations."
Degree Options:
The mission of the M.P.H. Program in Health and Social Behavior is to train scholars and practitioners to identify and analyze the major social, cultural, and bio-behavioral determinants of health and health behavior; and to design, implement, and evaluate social and behavioral interventions and social policies aimed at improving community and population health.
The core curriculum includes course work in the behavioral, bio-behavioral, and social sciences as these relate to public health, in survey research methods, and in program planning and evaluation. The role of race/ethnicity, culture, class, and gender in influencing physical and mental health status, interactions between the individual and society, and ethical issues in the design and implementation of community-based interventions are also stressed.
In addition to required courses, students are encouraged to create a cluster of elective courses which will enhance their knowledge and skills in a particular area of interest. A comprehensive examination or original research paper completes the degree.
Students and faculty in this concentration work closely with the School's Center for Public Health Practice to ensure that their educational experience reflects the profession's and the School's commitment to integrating field experience with more traditional forms of pedagogy.
Health & Social Behavior: 2-Year Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Curriculum & Requirements
Health and Social Behavior (HSB) is a 2-year, full-time master's degree program. MPH graduate students are expected to complete at least 48 units of coursework over four academic semesters and one summer. The minimum enrollment is 12 units per academic semester.
The HSB curriculum includes course work in the behavioral, bio-behavioral, and social sciences as these relate to public health in theory, research methods, and program planning and evaluation. The role of race/ethnicity, culture, class, and gender in influencing physical and mental health status, interactions between the individual and society, and ethical issues in the design and implementation of community-based interventions are also stressed.
Schoolwide Requirements
- Introduction to Probability and Statistics
- Public Health Core Breadth Seminar
- Epidemiologic Methods I
- Public Health Field Placement
Program Requirements
- Health and Social Behavior Seminar
- Theory
- Theories of Health and Social Behavior
- Research Methods
- Advanced Methods: Qualitative Research;
- Community-Based Participatory Research in Public Health; or
- Social and Behavioral Research: Intro to Survey Research Methods
- Program Planning and Evaluation
- Program Planning, Development and Evaluation
- Evaluation of Health and Social Programs
- Preparation for Public Health Practice
- At least two courses chosen from the Health and Social Behavior elective list
Sample HSB elective courses
- Community-Based Research and Interventions to Promote Health
- Culture, Public Health Practice, and Eliminating Health Disparities
- Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Health Status and Behavior
- Community Organizing and Community Building for Health
- Biological and Public Health Aspects of Alzheimer's Disease
Students enrolled in the master's program in Public Health are required to complete a comprehensive examination or write a master's thesis.
The comprehensive examination in HSB occurs during the spring semester of the second year and is designed to provide students with an opportunity to synthesize and apply their academic and professional knowledge gained through the program.
Public Health Practice
The field placement is a schoolwide requirement and is considered an essential component of the Health and Social Behavior curriculum. The field placement is a 12-week, full-time work experience and completed over the summer between the first and second year.
Sample Curriculum (PDF)
Fall 2011 Admissions Statistics:
Admissions Ratio: 36/238 (15%)
Average GPA of admitted applicants: 3.57
Average GRE scores of admitted applicants:
Verbal: 620 (89%); Quantitative: 660 (61%)
What we look for in competitive applicants:
- Course work in one or another of the behavioral, social, or biological sciences
- Work experience in community, health promotion, or health-related practice or research. Most admits to the program have one to two years of work experience
- Statement of purpose that explains why the applicant is interested in HSB versus other areas, and how this program would build on prior experiences (if applicable) and contribute to his or her career goals
- Academic excellence in undergraduate (and graduate, if applicable) studies.
- Contribution to diversity of the program and the public health workforce
- Competitive GRE scores
- Letters of recommendation that speak to the applicant's academic and professional qualifications and leadership abilities
Employment Opportunities:
Opportunities exist for graduates to work for community-based organizations, city and county health departments, state health departments, research institutes, and policy/advocacy organizations.