Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Health Science Online Program in Population, Family and Reproductive Health

The Master of Health Science (MHS) Online program in Population, Family and Reproductive Health is designed for working professionals seeking to enhance their research skills in public health. This program includes both methods and content courses, providing students with a fundamental understanding of statistical methods, epidemiology, research methods, leadership, and expertise in Maternal and Child Health (MCH), as well as the application of life course perspectives on health.

Program Overview

• The program is intended for students with one to two years of public health experience prior to entry.
• Students complete the program in 1-3 years, with 64 credits (4 full-term equivalents of coursework) including an MHS essay and presentation, departmental requirements, content area requirements, research methods requirements, and 12 CEPH Learning Objectives.
• Faculty in the PFRH Department have expertise in health throughout the life course, with specific focus on certain populations and areas. MHS (Online) students select courses related to areas of interest, including:
  • Child and Adolescent Health
  • Maternal, Fetal and Perinatal Health
  • Population and Health
  • Women's, Sexual and Reproductive Health

Program Requirements

Course location and modality can be found on the Bloomberg School of Public Health (BSPH) website.

MHS Departmental Competencies

The following competencies are required:

1. Explain the life course approach to understanding population health.
   • PH.380.604: Life Course Perspectives on Health (4 credits)
2. Compare different sources of demographic data including their strengths and limitations. (Choose 1)
   • PH.380.603: Demographic Methods for Public Health (4 credits)
   • PH.380.600: Principles of Population Change (4 credits)
3. Describe risk factors and/or causes of health outcomes in select populations across the lifecourse. (Choose 1)
   • PH.380.623: Adolescent Health and Development (3 credits)
   • PH.380.616: Child Health Epidemiology (3 credits)
   • PH.380.664: Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology (4 credits)
   • PH.380.655: Social and Economic Aspects of Human Fertility (3 credits)
   • PH.380.750: Migration and Health: Concepts, Rates, and Relationships (3 credits)
   • PH.380.666: Women's Health (3 credits)
   • PH.380.765: Preventing Infant Mortality and Promoting the Health of Women, Infants and Children (3 credits)
4. Describe the strengths and limitations of key interventions, policies, and/or programs designed to promote the health of selected populations across the lifecourse. (Choose 1)
   • PH.380.665: Family Planning Policies and Programs (4 credits)
   • PH.380.661: Clinical Aspects of Maternal and Newborn Health (3 credits)
   • PH.380.667: Women's Health Policy (3 credits)
   • PH.380.768: Selected Topics in Women's Health and Women's Health Policy (4 credits)
   • PH.380.760: Clinical Aspects of Reproductive Health (3 credits)
   • PH.221.627: Issues in the Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality in Low-income Countries (4 credits)
5. Identify theoretical frameworks used to assess the health of select populations. (Choose 1)
   • PH.380.725: The Social Context of Adolescent Health and Development (3 credits)
   • PH.380.642: Child Health and Development (3 credits)
   • PH.380.744: Nutrition and Growth in Maternal and Child Health (3 credits)
   • PH.380.762: HIV Infection in Women, Children, and Adolescents (4 credits)
   • PH.380.668: International Perspectives on Women, Gender, and Health (3 credits)
   • PH.380.623: Adolescent Health and Development (3 credits)
   • PH.380.747: International Adolescent Health (3 credits)
6. Describe a range of study designs for addressing research and evaluation questions about the health of populations. (Choose 1)
   • PH.380.611: Fundamentals of Program Evaluation (4 credits)
   • PH.380.711: Issues in Survey Research Design (3 credits)
   • PH.340.722: Epidemiologic Inference in Public Health II (4 credits)
7. Communicate research and evaluation methods related to assessment of the health of a population to a variety of audiences. (Choose 1)
   • PH.380.612: Applications in Program Monitoring and Evaluation (4 credits)
   • PH.340.770: Public Health Surveillance (3 credits)

CEPH Learning Objectives

The following learning objectives are required:

1. Explain public health history, philosophy, and values.
   • PH.380.624: Maternal and Child Health Legislation and Programs (4 credits)
2. Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Services.
   • PH.380.624: Maternal and Child Health Legislation and Programs (4 credits)
3. Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a populations health.
   • PH.140.611: Statistical Reasoning in Public Health I (3 credits) (Must take 140.611 and 140.612)
   • OR PH.140.621: Statistical Methods in Public Health I (4 credits) (Must take 140.621, 140.622, and 140.623)
   • AND PH.224.690: Qualitative Research Theory and Methods (3 credits)
   • OR PH.550.604: Qualitative Reasoning in Public Health (2 credits)
   • OR PH.552.603: The Role of Qualitative Methods and Science in Describing and Assessing a Population's Health (0.5 credits)
4. List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the US or other communities relevant to the school or program.
   • PH.340.721: Epidemiologic Inference in Public Health I (5 credits)
5. Discuss the science of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc.
   • PH.340.721: Epidemiologic Inference in Public Health I (5 credits)
6. Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge.
   • PH.340.721: Epidemiologic Inference in Public Health I (5 credits)
7. Explain effects of environmental factors on a populations health.
   • PH.380.616: Child Health Epidemiology (3 credits)
   • OR PH.552.607: Essentials of Environmental Health (0.5 credits)
8. Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a populations health.
   • PH.380.604: Life Course Perspectives on Health (4 credits)
9. Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a populations health.
   • PH.380.604: Life Course Perspectives on Health (4 credits)
10. Explain the social, political, and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities.
    • PH.380.604: Life Course Perspectives on Health (4 credits)
11. Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease.
    • PH.380.600: Principles of Population Change (4 credits)
    • OR PH.552.611: Globalization and Population Health (0.5 credits)
12. Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health, and ecosystem health (e.g., One Health).
    • PH.552.612: Essentials of One Health (0.5 credits)

Departmental and Schoolwide Requirements

• Applying statistical methods to address the health of populations:
  • PH.140.621: Statistical Methods in Public Health I (4 credits)
  • AND PH.140.622: Statistical Methods in Public Health II (4 credits)
  • AND PH.140.623: Statistical Methods in Public Health III (4 credits)
• Applying epidemiological methods to address the health of populations:
  • PH.340.721: Epidemiologic Inference in Public Health I (5 credits)
• Applying ethical concepts and tools to population health research and practice:
  • PH.550.860: Academic & Research Ethics at BSPH
  • AND PH.221.616: Ethics and Global Public Health Practice (2 credits)
• DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENT:
  • PH.380.850: PFRH Master's Essay Course is taken for two consecutive terms in the last two terms enrolled in the degree program (3-6 credits)

For Program Policies, please refer to the Student Handbook on the About the MHS Online in Population, Family and Reproductive Health Program page. According to the requirements of the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), all BSPH degree students must be grounded in foundational public health knowledge. Please view the list of specific CEPH requirements by degree type.