Master of Public Health – Health and Social Behavior
Summary
The Master of Public Health in Health and Social Behavior gives students the knowledge, skills, and expertise they need to progress in their career.
Through educational experiences both in and out of the classroom, students learn to solve important public health problems and apply their training to real-world situations. The MPH in Health and Social Behavior is offered in two variants—45-credit and 65-credit—to fit the needs of students with different educational goals and work experience.
About
The Master of Public Health 45-credit degree provides established professionals and medical students with specialized knowledge and skills to advance their career in public health.
The MPH in Health and Social Behavior gives students a deep understanding of health disparities and social determinants of health and teaches them how to promote health and social equity.
Coursework emphasizes theoretical and methodological strategies for characterizing health problems in target populations and the formulation of social and behavioral change interventions. In addition, communication, advocacy, and policy formation in the public sector are addressed. This field of study provides students with the skills to conduct and translate research, design and evaluate policies and programs, and pursue public health leadership.
The program prepares students to work in diverse spheres, including federal, state, and local government; advocacy organizations; and community-based health care settings. Some graduates pursue academic careers in teaching and research.
On Campus (Fall start) • Full-time (1 year) • Part-time (2 years)
Curriculum
MPH core requirements:
- ID 100: Foundations for Public Health
- ID 201: Core Principles of Biostatistics and Epidemiology for Public Health Practice
- MPH 101: Qualitative Methods for Public Health
- MPH 102: Health Systems
- MPH 103: Leadership and Communication
- MPH 105: Public Health Policy and Politics
Applied practice experience and integrative learning experience:
- SBS 945: Applied Practice Experience for Health and Social Behavior
- SBS 508: Successes and Challenges in Health Behavior Change
Field of study requirements:
- SBS 201: Society and Health
- SBS 281: Principles of Social and Behavioral Research
- Theory-guided research translation course
- 5 credits of additional SBS coursework beyond the field of study requirements
- SBS 219: High-Risk Behaviors: Epidemiology and Prevention Strategies
- SBS 502: Mass Incarceration and Health in the U.S.
- HPM 562: Narrative Leadership – Using Storytelling to Mobilize Collective Action in Public Health
Competencies
- Design a proposed social and/or behavioral public health intervention using social and behavioral theories or conceptual paradigms as a guide
- Assess theory-guided social and behavioral change interventions based on their appropriateness and responsiveness to the social and cultural context
- Critically appraise principles of research, evaluation, and/or public health monitoring/surveillance methodology – including quantitative and qualitative methods – to address research hypotheses using a range of research designs
- Describe and apply rigorous frameworks or theory-based approaches to research translation for practice, policy, and/or public health settings
- Explain how principles of social inclusion, diversity, social justice, and/or ethics can be applied in research and interventions
Our Community
Committed, Accomplished, Collaborative
As a Harvard Chan MPH student, you will work in a collaborative classroom environment alongside talented students from around the world and from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds. You will take advantage of the extraordinary resources of Harvard University and Boston’s Longwood Medical Area—home to Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and other world-class health facilities. You will meet global leaders and work with world-renowned faculty members. And when you graduate, you will benefit from Harvard’s unparalleled global network of alumni leaders.
Career Outcomes
An MPH degree opens an extraordinary number of pathways to a meaningful career. Graduates of the MPH program are trained to pursue careers in a variety of industries:
- Academic medicine
- Biotech/pharma
- Consulting
- Government
- Health care management
- Hospital/health care delivery
- Non-profit/Non-government organizations
- Private practice
- Private sector institutions
- Public health agencies
- University/research
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for the MPH 45-credit degree program in Health and Social Behavior must have one of the following:
- A bachelor’s degree, plus five or more years of relevant health experience.
- A master’s degree in a health-related field—for example, MSN, MSW, MBA—plus at least two years of relevant health experience.
- A prior doctoral degree—for example, MD, DO, DMD, DDS, PhD, SD, JD—or equivalent.
- Completed the primary clinical year of medical or dental school. For more information, visit Joint/Combined Degrees.
Application Requirements
All applications must be submitted through SOPHAS – the centralized application service for public health programs. In addition to the application, applicants must submit:
- Statement of purpose and objectives
- Standardized test scores (optional with guidance)
- Three letters of reference
- Resumé/curriculum vitae
- Post-secondary transcripts or mark sheets (World Education Services credential evaluation for applicants with degrees from outside of the United States)
- English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo English Test), if applicable
Application Deadline: December 1
Applicants may apply to only one degree program for either full- or part-time status. Applications are reviewed in their entirety and decisions are released via email in late February/early March. Decisions are not released until all application components are received.