Program Overview

Maternal and Child Health Graduate Certificate Program

The Maternal and Child Health Graduate Certificate program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively promote and improve the health and well-being of mothers, children, and families. This program is ideal for students working in public health or professionals coming from a variety of backgrounds, including physicians, nurses, health educators, clinical research professionals, policy experts, and more.

Program Overview

The program focuses on the following key competencies:

1. Knowledge Base/Context – Understanding the knowledge of maternal and child health history, systems, and practice
2. Self-reflection – Assessing the impact of personal values, beliefs, communication styles, cultural influences, and experiences on one's personal and professional leadership style
3. Ethics – Learning conduct congruent with generally accepted principles and values
4. Critical Thinking – Identifying an issue or problem, framing it as a specific question, considering it from multiple perspectives, evaluating relevant information, and developing a reasoned resolution
5. Communication – The verbal, nonverbal, and written sharing of information
6. Negotiation and Conflict Resolution – Resolving or managing disputes and finding a solution that meets the legitimate interests of involved parties
7. Cultural Competency – Knowledge and skills necessary to communicate and interact effectively with people regardless of differences
8. Family-Professional Partnerships – Understanding how to build partnerships with families to honor the strengths, culture, traditions, and expertise that everyone brings to the relationship
9. Developing Others through Teaching, Coaching, and Mentoring – Designing the learning environment, providing guidance and structure needed for people to examine their assumptions, and influencing the career development and professional growth of another
10. Interdisciplinary/Interprofessional Team Building – Providing a supportive environment in which the skills and expertise of team members from different disciplines are acknowledged and seen as essential and synergistic
11. Working with Communities and Systems – Recognizing the complexity and examining the linkages and interactions among components, norms, laws, resources, infrastructure, and individual behaviors that influence outcomes
12. Policy – Understanding the resources necessary to improve health and well-being for children, youth, families, and communities, and being able to articulate those needs in the context of policy development and implementation

Admission Requirements

Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution to be considered for admission to the Maternal and Child Health Graduate Certificate (MCHGC) program. The application requirements include:

• Online application and $50 application fee
• College transcripts
• Personal statement
• Resume (work experience is valuable but not required)
• The GRE is not a requirement for admission to the MCHGC program

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires 18 credit hours, including:

• Prerequisite Public Health Foundational Courses (7 credit hours)
• Public Health Foundational Courses (6 credit hours)
• Core Curriculum (12 credit hours)

Career Opportunities

GSU's Graduate Certificate in Maternal and Child Health prepares students to improve the health and well-being of women, children, and families in a range of fields, including public health, healthcare, policy, education, and community advocacy. Organizations that employ people with backgrounds in maternal and child health include:

• Health departments and agencies (local, state, or federal)
• Hospitals, clinics, and healthcare organizations
• Nonprofit and community-based organizations
• Social service agencies
• Research centers and academic institutions

Tuition and Financial Assistance

Georgia State is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible programs for all prospective students. The university offers financial assistance and scholarships to support students through their education. Students can use the Student Financial Services Guided Paths to walk through the Financial Aid Process and learn about all options for financing their education.

Program Details

• Admissions Requirements
• Curriculum
• Tuition
• Goals & Outcomes

The Maternal and Child Health Graduate Certificate program can be completed as a standalone certificate or embedded into other graduate coursework at GSU. Because many of the prerequisite and required Maternal and Child Health Graduate Certificate program courses overlap with Georgia State's MPH program, students can earn both credentials at the same time. The program is open to public health graduate students and practitioners and leaders from other health professions. Students with backgrounds in a variety of disciplines, including counseling, nursing, nutrition, pediatrics, psychology, self-advocacy, social work, and other allied health professions, are encouraged to apply.