The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program provides public health education in:
- The biologic, sociocultural, behavioral, and policy issues that impact the health of the MCH population.
- A well-grounded historical context for and current federal, state and local governmental policies and services in the MCH arena.
- Underlying causes of major health problems and disparities facing the MCH population.
- Approaches to properly address these problems and the professional skills required for an MCH career whether nationally or internationally.
Students will gain the skills needed to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions with a special emphasis on women, children, and families over the lifespan. Programs will be conceptualized with sensitivity to cultural diversity within a global context.
Program Competencies
- 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.
- Determine how different strengths, needs, values and practices of diverse cultural, racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups affect health status, health behaviors and program design.
- Evaluate theories and principles of individual and family growth and development from an intergenerational and lifespan perspective.
- Apply appropriate research methods to the evaluation of MCH program and practices.
- Evaluate evidence-based methods that contribute to the translation of research into programming and practice.
- Recognize principles of ethical conduct in program management, research and data collection and storage.
- Identify, assess and prioritize health problems at the level of the community
- Develop a plan to monitor and evaluate a public health intervention or program, based on a theory of change.
Degree Program Requirements
The MPH degree in Maternal and Child Health requires a total of 45 credits that includes:
SPHTM - Core Courses (15 Credits)
- BIOS 6030 Introductory Biostatistics (3)
- EPID 6030 Epidemiological Methods 1 (3)
- GCHB 6030 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Global Health (3)
- GEHS 6030 Survey of Environmental Health (3)
- GHSD 6030 Health Systems, Management and Policy (3)
MPH in MCH- Required Courses (18 Credits)
- GCHB 6110 Health Promotion and Health Education Programs (3)
- GCHB 6120 Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Education and Communication Programs (3
- GCHB 6510 Essential Issues in Maternal and Child Health (3)
- GCHB 6490 Key Policies and Programs in Maternal and Child Health (3 )
- GCHB 7250 Evidence-Based Methods in Social and Behavioral Sciences (3)
- GCHB 7510 Maternal and Child Health: The Life Course Perspective (3)
Elective Courses (12 credits)
Selected from courses offered within the department, school, or university in consultation with an academic advisor.
Practicum (SPHL 9980)
All Maternal and Child Health students complete a 300 hour practicum to gain practical experience. The practicum is usually completed after core courses are completed.
Culminating Experience (SPHL 7950)
Students in the MPH in Maternal and Child Health conduct a public health analysis.
Contact Us
Department Chair: Richard Oberhelman, MD
Program Director: Carolyn Johnson, PhD
Department Administrator: Rosanna Chavez
Email: gchb@tulane.edu
Phone: (504) 988-6951
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