Health Behavior, Society and Policy

Competencies for the Master of Public Health (MPH) in Social and Behavioral Health Sciences (45 credits)

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 Social and Behavioral Health Sciences will be able to:

• Understand the importance and use of public health policy in health behavior change and health promotion
• Use various techniques to conduct needs assessments of diverse populations
• Utilize health behavior theories and models for understanding health behaviors
• Design, implement, conduct, and evaluate health education/promotion programs in diverse settings
• Develop and critique health education materials, methods, and programs
• Apply management techniques in health education and health promotion settings
• Understand public health research as it pertains to the principles of behavioral science research

Curriculum for the Master of Public Health (MPH) in Social and Behavioral Health Sciences (45 credits)

Students seeking the MPH in Social and Behavioral Health Sciences 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.

• CORE COURSES (15-18 credits)
  • PHCO 0501 - Health Systems and Policy
  • PHCO 0502 - Principles and Methods of Epidemiology (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
  • 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 (required for students enrolled Fall 2018 and after)
• FIELDWORK (6 credits) -- For Students Enrolled Prior to Fall 2016
  • FDWC 0600 - Fieldwork I (1 credit)
  • FDWC 0601 - Fieldwork II (5 credits)
• PRACTICUM (6 credits) -- For Students Enrolled Fall 2016 through Spring 2018
  • PRAC 0705 - Practicum I (1 credit)
  • PRAC 0707 - Practicum IIA (2 credits)
  • PRAC 0709 - Practicum IIB (3 credits)
• PRACTICUM (3 credits) -- For Students Enrolled Fall 2018 and After
  Note: Students should review the Practice Experience webpage for specific information about prerequisites required for 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 Capstone Learning Agreement]
• REQUIRED COURSES (15 credits) Note: Students should review the Course Descriptions in the School Catalog for specific information about prerequisites required for required courses and recommended electives.
  • HBSP 0600 - Health Behavior and Policy Research Design and Methods
  • HBSP 0652 - Program Planning and Evaluation
  • HBSP 0653 - Modifying Health Behaviors: Theory and Practice
  • HBSP 0654 - Health Communication/Risk Communication
  • HBSP 0655 - Social Marketing
• OTHER REQUIREMENTS (0 credits) -- For Students Enrolled Fall 2018 and After
  • Students are required to complete an Interprofessional Education activity prior to graduation (0 credits)
• RECOMMENDED ELECTIVE COURSES (9 credits)
  • HBSP 0540 - Seminar in Health Behavioral Topics (1-3 credits)
  • HBSP 0640 - Seminar in Health Education Topics (1-3 credits)
  • HBSP 0657 - Seminar in Tobacco Control and Public Health

• MD/MPH
• DO/MPH
• DMD/MPH
• PsyD/MPH
• Master of Biomedical Science/MPH
• MS in Community Health Nursing/MPH
• MSN/MPH
• MPH/MBA
• MPH/MSPA
• JD/MPH
• PharmD/MPH