Certificate in Maternal and Child Health

The Certificate in Maternal and Child Health provides the knowledge and skills that will prepare students to contribute to community programs, research, and other interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of vulnerable and underserved women, children, and families. Students will gain knowledge about the basis of interventions and skills in assessment and methods for program planning. All the relevant courses are in SBPS. The MCH certificate courses prepare students for leadership roles in managing programs that serve women, infants, children, adolescents, and their families, and pairs well with other public health degrees.

Offered by: Department of Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences

Faculty Lead: Shokufeh Ramirez, PhD, MPH

 

Certificate Purpose

The courses required for the certificate provide students with a background in the biologic, sociocultural, behavioral, and policy issues that impact the health of the MCH population. Programs will be conceptualized with a sensitivity to cultural diversity within a global context. Students will be able to undertake the process of planning and evaluating community programs with a special emphasis on women and children.

Eligible Students

This certificate program is designed for current MPH/MSPH/MPH&TM/MHA students who are not pursuing the Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health. The certificate is a complement to degrees in other areas.

Certificate Competencies

Students who earn the Certificate in Maternal and Child Health will be able to:

  • Recognize the different strengths, needs, values and practices of diverse cultural, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and determine how these factors affect health status, health behaviors, and program design;

  • 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;

  • Evaluate and use theories and principles of individual and family growth and development from an intergenerational and lifespan perspective;

  • Evaluate evidence-based methods that contribute to the translation of research into programming and practice.

Number of Credits Required for Completion: 15

Required Courses
  • SBPS 6460 Child Health and Development (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 Methods in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (3)
  • SBPS 7510 Maternal and Child Health: The Lifecourse Perspective (3)

Students should consult with their academic advisor to determine which certificate best fits their professional and academic goals and how best to plan their graduate course schedule.