
Home Department: Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences
The Maternal and Child Health Specialization is ideal for students who intend to work toward the health and well-being of mothers, children, and families – including women of childbearing age, pregnant people, infants, and adolescents – or in the field of reproductive health and family planning. The school has had a long commitment to the field of maternal and child health, with dynamic faculty well respected nationally and around the globe. Faculty conduct cross-cutting research that combines MCH with issues of health equity, implementation science, violence prevention, mental health care, disaster management, and more.
The MCH Specialization will give students a practical, secondary skill set combined with their program of study. Graduates will be well prepared to work in leadership roles with a lens of health equity and a life course perspective in government or community-based organizations. Students may add this specialization to any MPH or MSPH degree program in the school to further develop analytic, programmatic, policy, and communication skills that serve the MCH population and its varied stakeholders.
Specialization Competencies: Maternal and Child Health
Students who complete the specialization in Maternal and Child Health will:
- Examine emerging challenges in maternal and child health through a health equity lens
- Analyze issues in maternal and child health using a life course development framework
- Examine the development and structures of MCH policies and practices in the United States or globally
- Develop evidence-based public health interventions or policies targeting maternal and child health issues
- Interpret maternal and child health data and appropriately communicate findings
The specialization requires 12 credits (4 courses):
MCH Core
SBPS 6510 Essential Issues in Maternal and Child Health (3 credits, Fall – Year 1)
SBPS 7510 Maternal Child Health: The Life Course Perspective (3 credits, Spring – Year 2)
Policies and Programs Elective (Choose One)
IHSD 6760 International Family Planning: Policies and Programs (3 credits, Spring – Year 1)
SBPS 6490 Key Policies and Programs in Maternal and Child Health (3 credits Spring – Year 1, required of CEMCH Leaders)
Interventions and Focused Interest (Choose One)
IHSD 6870 Adolescent Health Policies and Programs (3 credits, Fall)
IHSD 7210 Survey Data Analysis in Family Planning/Reproductive Health Research (3 credits, Spring)
EPID 6480 Reproductive epidemiology (3 credits, Spring)
SBPS 6460 Child Health and Development in Public Health (3 credits, Spring)
More Maternal and Child Health at WSPH
Students may also be interested in learning more about Maternal and Child Health at WSPH by visiting these sites:
- Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health – this HRSA-funded program provides leadership training for students interested in Maternal and Child Health. The CEMCH Leaders Program pairs well with the MCH Specialization.
- In Focus: Maternal and Child Health – Learn how WSPH leans into MCH through academics, research, practice, and networking.
How to apply
Students should work with their Academic Success Advisor to incorporate the specialization into their academic course plan. Students may also indicate their interest by completing this form.
For more information:
Specialization Director/manager?: Who?
Email:
Phone: 504.988.