Program Overview

Master of Applied Science in Humanitarian Health

The Master of Applied Science (MAS) in Humanitarian Health is a fully online, part-time degree designed for working professionals. The program focuses on emergent industry sectors in public health and healthcare that have a need for highly skilled professionals.

Program Overview

The MAS program in Humanitarian Health is not open to new matriculants in AY25-26. Students previously admitted to the program should consult the prior catalogue/guidebook under which they were admitted or review the MAS Student Resources site in CoursePlus. The program is delivered entirely online and designed for working students. Courses reflect the breadth of global public health, and students are trained in epidemiology and biostatistics, form practical skills derived from workshops in professional development, and understand critical issues in the humanitarian and disaster fields.

Program Requirements

The part-time, 49.5-credit degree program consists of intensive graduate-level coursework culminating in the Integrative Activity, which requires students to synthesize knowledge and skills obtained through coursework in a final project that demonstrates their mastery of the program competencies. Students may complete the degree over a minimum of eight 8-week terms in two years to a maximum of four years.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

The Bloomberg School of Public Health requires students to maintain satisfactory academic progress for the duration of the degree program. For the MAS program, satisfactory academic progress is defined as maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 and grades of C or better in all required courses.

Program Plan of Study

Students should follow the plan outlined below if they wish to complete the MAS program in two years. This plan will also allow students to maintain minimum credits needed for financial aid eligibility each term and to follow any prerequisite sequencing. Courses can be taken at a slower pace if needed, so long as course prerequisites are met.

• First Term:
  • PH.550.860 Academic & Research Ethics at BSPH
  • PH.600.601 Seminars in Public Health
  • PH.604.601 Public Health Humanitarian Emergencies
  • PH.552.612 Essentials of One Health
• Second Term:
  • PH.604.621 Design and Planning of Primary Health Care Projects
  • PH.604.641 Disaster Preparedness
• Third Term:
  • PH.604.651 Introduction of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Emergencies
  • PH.600.701 Introduction to Epidemiology
• Fourth Term:
  • PH.600.709 Statistical Concepts in Public Health 1
  • PH.604.771 Social & Cultural Basis for Community and Primary Health Programs
• Second Year:
  • First Term:
    • PH.604.701 Assessment Approaches in Humanitarian Settings
    • PH.604.715 Health Needs and Service Provision in Humanitarian Emergencies
  • Second Term:
    • PH.604.721 Securing Food Assistance and Nutrition in Humanitarian Emergencies
    • PH.604.731 Management and Leadership in Humanitarian Health
    • PH.600.602 or PH.602.721 Seminars in Public Health: Advanced Topics or Organizing for Public Health: A Systems Approach
  • Third Term:
    • PH.604.741 Human Rights in Humanitarian Emergencies
    • PH.604.751 Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Low-Resource Humanitarian Emergencies
    • PH.600.612 Professional Development: Writing for Results
  • Fourth Term:
    • PH.608.771 Non-Governmental Organizations and the Administration of Global Health Programs
    • PH.604.880 Humanitarian Health Integrative Activity

Integrative Activity

The Integrative Activity is a culminating experience that provides Master of Applied Science students with the opportunity to synthesize lessons learned via the application of concepts and techniques. The activity requires students to demonstrate mastery of program competencies as applied to real-world public health and healthcare questions.

Program Policies

For a full list of program policies, please visit the MAS Office page where students can find the handbook.

Program Competencies

By the end of the program, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of humanitarian architecture, including key organizations, international and UN systems, and sectors, including health; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); shelter; nutrition; food security; and protection.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of core humanitarian and human rights principles, treaty instruments, and codes of ethical conduct in humanitarian and disaster settings.
3. Apply skills in assessment, monitoring and evaluation, and research relevant to humanitarian contextsincluding qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods.
4. Apply skills in humanitarian health project design, planning and implementation, including awareness of appropriate interventions and how to contextualize them in operational settings.
5. Critically assess and synthesize information relevant to humanitarian health interventions, prioritize decisions and actions, and communicate decisions and actions effectively.
6. Demonstrate key management and leadership skills needed to function in humanitarian and disaster contexts, including developing and maintaining collaborative relationships, operating safely and effectively, adapting and coping, and maintaining professionalism and critical judgment.
7. Apply leadership and management skills, as well as program evaluation methods, to inform decision-making in humanitarian and disaster settings.