The professional MSPH program in Population, Family and Reproductive Health is intended for individuals with a baccalaureate degree who are interested in issues related to the Department's areas of interest. Details regarding the areas of interest can be found in the student handbook. The department's current areas of interest include:
- Adolescent Health
- Child Health
- Maternal, Fetal, and Perinatal Health
- Population and Health
- Women's, Sexual and Reproductive Health
The two-year curriculum allows students to integrate coursework in the life course, population, program management, quantitative methods, and core areas with practical knowledge and skills. Additional courses may include program design and evaluation, advocacy, policy, and qualitative methods among others. The two-year curriculum is intended for students with less than 2 years of public health work experience.
MSPH students participate in a four- to six-month supervised field placement in domestic and/or international settings during the first half of the second year. The field placement provides the opportunity to integrate formal classroom teaching with practical experience in the student's chosen field. There is no part-time option available for the two-year MSPH program. For detailed information, please refer to the handbook (See Important Links).
Components of the MSPH program include a set of core departmental courses that provide a common theoretical foundation for the work of the entire department. These courses cover biological/developmental, demographic, and social science foundations. MSPH students in Population, Family, and Reproductive Health also complete a core set of courses determined by the area of study they have selected. All professional MSPH students within the department complete an MSPH Essay and Presentation. The Essay and Presentation are culminating experiences for which students apply newly honed skills and put their academic and experiences in perspective within the broader context of public health.
Graduates of the MSPH program in PFRH go on to careers in organizations such as the Census Bureau, government ministries, non-governmental health organizations, state, and local MCH agencies, managed health care organizations, research institutions, health care delivery organizations, advocacy groups, and academic institutions.