- Academics
- Degree Programs
- Master of Public Health (MPH) Degrees
-
Master of Public Health in LGBTQ Health (MPH)
Master of Public Health in LGBTQ Health (MPH)
The Rutgers School of Public Health’s Master of Public Health (MPH) in LGBTQ Health degree is designed to support public health professionals dedicated to improving the health of LGBTQ people and populations.
About the Program
As the first MPH concentration in LGBTQ health to be offered by an accredited school of public health, students will be prepared to address the unique health care needs of the LGBTQ community and work toward creating new policies and practices founded upon social justice and health equity.
Graduates will be well educated on the health disparities among LGBTQ communities as well as the concepts of gender, sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation as it is situated across public health, culture, history, legal, medicine, and the political context. Students, practitioners, and researchers will be trained in research practice that supports the identification of relevant health problems and opportunities of improvement in current policy to support the holistic health of this community.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified in Public Health Exam.
Competencies
Each concentration identifies competencies for each degree offered. These competencies reflect the full range of knowledge, skills, and other attributes that a student will acquire as a result of completing the requirements for a particular degree.
Upon graduation, a student completing the MPH curriculum in LGBTQ Health will be able to:
- Describe the concept of gender, sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation as it is situated across public health, culture, history, legal, medicine, and the political context;
- Understand the origins, causes and manifestations of health disparities among LGBTQ populations;
- Use relevant sources (including public health literature and qualitative and quantitative data) to identify the health status and disparities in specific LGBTQ populations and communities;
- Synthesize the existing literature to identify relevant health problems, policies, programs or gaps in the research to identify research agendas and questions that when addressed will contribute to the improvement of LGBTQ health;
- Design research for diverse LGBTQ populations that address identified relevant health problems; and
- Utilize intersectionality theory to describe how to improve advocacy techniques for populations with multiple marginalized identities.
Program Format and Length
The Master of Public Health in LGBTQ Health degree is offered to students on a full-time or part-time basis. Courses are available in-person, remote, and/or online. Students will complete a total of 45 credits, including a practicum experience and capstone research project.
Students seeking the degree must complete 45 credits of academic work with a minimum GPA of least 3.0; earn no more than nine (9) credits bearing grades less than “B,” and complete the degree requirements within six years. Courses are three credit hours unless otherwise noted and semester when each course is typically offered is noted parentheses. Students should review the Forward Schedule for long-term course planning and the Schedule-At-A-Glance for each semester to determine when, where, and how a course is offered.
If completing the program as a full-time student (nine or more credits per semester), the degree requirements may be completed in as little as two years (four to five semesters). Part-time students taking at least six credits per semester may expect to finish within four years. Taking courses in the summer may help expedite part-time students’ timing.
Students are also required to register for and complete an Interprofessional Education activity prior to graduation.
Dual-degree options are available in partnership with other Rutgers University schools.
Students can earn a post-baccalaureate certificate alongside their degree with an additional 6-12 credits. Contact admissions for additional information at admissions@sph.rutgers.edu.
Application Deadline and Requirements
Fall Semester Start Date
January 15 (priority)
May 1 (regular)
Spring Semester Start Date
October 15 (priority)
December 1 (regular)
A complete application includes:
- Completion of the online application
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- Statement of goals, one-to-three pages in length, which addresses:
- Interest in the program
- Preparedness for the program
- Goals and aspirations
- Two letters of recommendation with at least one letter from an academic reference if you are currently enrolled in a degree program or have graduated within the last four years.
- Resume or CV
- GRE General Exam (optional)
- TOEFL or IELTS score for applicants educated in a non-native English-speaking country
Applications are accepted on a rolling, space-available basis following the regular deadline.
Core Courses (18 credits)
- PHCO 0501 - Health Systems and Policy
- PHCO 0502 - Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
- PHCO 0503 - Introduction to Environmental Health
- PHCO 0504 - Introduction to Biostatistics (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
- PHCO 0505 - Social and Behavioral Health Sciences in Public Health
- PHCO 0513 - Leadership and Management Essentials for Public Health
Practicum (3 credits)
Note: Students should review the Practice Experience webpage for information about Practicum.
- PRAC 0715 - Applied Practice Experience (0 credits) [Prerequisite: APE Learning Agreement and select PHCO and concentration courses]
- PRAC 0716 - Practicum Capstone (3 credits) [Prerequisite: Completion of the APE and Practicum Capstone Learning Agreement]
Review the School’s Registration Calendar for important MPH Practice Experience Registration dates specific to PRAC 0715 and PRAC 0716.
Concentration Courses (18 credits)
Note: Students should review the Course Descriptions in the School Catalog for specific information about prerequisites required for required courses and recommended electives.
- UGPH 0640 - LGBTQ Health: History and Context (Fall)
- UGPH 0642 - LGBTQ Health and Health Disparities (Spring)
- UGPH 0644 - Methods for Hard to Reach Populations (Fall)
- UGPH 0646 - Transgender Health (Fall)
- UGPH 0648 - Public Health Aspects of HIV Prevention and Care (Spring)
- HBSP 0652 - Program Planning and Evaluation (Fall/Spring/Summer)
Other Requirements (0 credits)
For Students Enrolled Fall 2018 and After
- PRAC 0621 - Interprofessional Education (0 credits) [Fall/Spring]
Students are required to register for and complete an Interprofessional Education activity prior to graduation.
Elective Courses (6 credits)
Courses in LGBTQ Health as approved by advisor.