Maternal and Child Health
May 2025 graduates: Please submit a completed MCH Concentration Form (see below) along with an unofficial transcript to mchconcentration@hsph.harvard.edu by Friday, April 25th.
Introduction
Empowering and equipping future leaders in maternal and child health to make a lasting impact.
At Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) is dedicated to cultivating leaders in the field. We offer a specialized concentration designed to provide graduate-level students with essential knowledge and practical skills. Through this program, students gain unique opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research and participate in impactful community projects led by the Center.
Curriculum
All MCH concentrators must complete two required courses and at least one core course. Doctoral, MPH-65, and SM-80 students must take an additional core or elective course to meet the requirements for the MCH concentration.
Click to view full concentration guidelines : MCH Concentration Guidelines 2024-2025
The Maternal and Child Health Concentration requires 6.25 – 8.75 credits for successful completion.
| Program | Two Required Courses | Core Courses (At least 1 Required) | Elective Courses (Optional) | Total Courses Needed | Total Credits Needed | Culminating Project |
| MPH-45/ SM-1 | SBS246 SBS360 (1 year) | 1 core course from list | Various elective courses as needed | 3 | 6.25 | Practicum or thesis in MCH-related topic |
| MPH-65/ SM-2 | SBS246 SBS360 (1 year) | 1-2 core course(s) from list | Various elective courses as needed | 4 | 8.75 | Practicum or thesis in MCH-related topic |
| DrPH/ PhD | SBS246 SBS360 (1 year) | 1-2 core course(s) from list | Various elective courses as needed | 4 | 8.75 | Dissertation or DELTA project in MCH-related topic |
- Maternal and Child Health: Programs and Policies (SBS 246) – Offered in Fall 2
- MCH seminar (SBS 360) – Must take two semesters
- Adolescent health (SBS 208)
- Social Services for Children, Adolescents and Families (SBS 222)
- Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology (EPI 269)
- Gender and Health: Introductory Perspectives (WGH 211)
- Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice (WGH 201)
… and more.
- Public Health Leadership Skills (HPM 245)
- Designing and Evaluations Behavioral Interventions Targeting Diet (NUT 232)
- Health Communications in the 21st Century (SBS 509)
- Introduction to Qualitative Research for Global Health (GHP 504)
- High-Risk Behavior: Epidemiology and Prevention Strategies (SBS 219)
… and more.
Competencies
The MCH curriculum is designed to meet the competencies in knowledge and skills identified in several sources:
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) concentration is meticulously designed for students aspiring to leadership roles in promoting maternal and child health. Leadership in MCH health requires mastery and knowledge of the unique health care needs of family populations, and analysis of the issues and programs addressing these needs worldwide.
Students in this concentration will learn to support MCH through research, policy development, advocacy, education, and program planning and management. They will also gain expertise in management, communications, policy, advocacy, and other emerging areas of public health practice.
Enrollment
The concentration is open to all graduate-level (master’s or doctoral) students at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The MCH concentration features elective courses that often overlap with other disciplines. Students who fulfill the MCH Concentration receive an official Letter of Completion the semester they graduate, recognizing their achievement in this specialized area of study.
There is no application for the concentration in MCH. Students should email us their interest and intent to concentrate.
Students follow the required MCH courses and submit a completion form with their unofficial transcript the semester they graduate.
Sponsors
Related links
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Leadership Lab is a competitive fellowship opportunity open to students pursuing the Interdisciplinary Concentration in MCH.
Students who wish to take the MCH Seminar for credit or who are concentrating in Maternal and Child Health can register for the course as SBS 360.
Check out our recent information session on the MCH Center and concentration!