Maternal and Child Health MPH

Degree Awarded: Master of Public Health (MPH)
Minimum Required Credits: 42.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.2209
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 21-1094

About the Program

Students in the Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health learn about the development of the field of MCH and gain skills to design, implement and evaluate public health interventions in MCH in collaboration with community stakeholders. Through coursework and applied experiences, students develop a strong foundation in public health ethics, health behavior theory, and the individual, social, and structural determinants of health all of which are specifically directed to MCH.

The program emphasizes the use of mixed methods—integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches—to understand, promote and sustain MCH. Faculty in the Department of Community Health and Prevention conduct research and teach across a broad range of topics, including health promotion, policy evaluation, and community-based participatory approaches.

Graduates of the program are prepared to lead MCH directives in health education, community organizing and advocacy. They go on to design, manage, and evaluate health promotion programs and policies that improve health in both domestic and global settings.

Additional Information

For more information about this program, please contact the Dornsife School of Public Health 

Admission Requirements

Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health admissions requirements can be found at: https://drexel.edu/dornsife/admissions/overview/

Degree Requirements

Core/Foundational Courses
BST 5000Introduction to Biostatistics3.0
CHP 5000Public Health Systems and Practice3.0
EPI 5000Introduction to Epidemiology3.0
HMP 5000Qualitative and Mixed Methods in Public Health Research3.0
PBHL 5000Public Health Foundations 13.0
PBHL 5001Career Development for Public Health I0.0
PBHL 5002Career Development for Public Health II0.0
PBHL 6000Applied Practice Experience in Public Health0.0
Subject-Area Focused Courses
HMP 5001Healthcare and Public Health Policy and Programs in the United States3.0
HMP 5002Policy Analysis for Population Health3.0
HMP 5003Healthcare Organizations, Management and Financial Leadership3.0
HMP 5004Critical Perspectives on Health Inequities: Systems, Structures, Histories and Solutions3.0
HMP 7000Integrative Learning Experience3.0
Electives
Select 12.0 credits in the following at the 5000-9999 level: 212.0
Any BST (Biostatistics) course
Any CHP (Community Health and Prevention) course
Any EOH (Environmental and Occupational Health) course
Any EPI (Epidemiology) course
Any HMP (Health Management and Policy) course
Any PBHL (Public Health) course
Total Credits42.0
1

Foundational Public Health Knowledge: Public Health Foundations is only required for students who do not have a degree from a CEPH accredited school. Students who have a degree from a CEPH accredited school will take an elective in place of Public Health Foundations 

2

Students can take additional 5000-9999 level electives across the university with Program Director approval.

Students may be able to use elective credits to further focus their academic work by coupling a DSPH graduate certificate. Students must have enough applicable elective credits to complete the certificate program without going beyond the required credits for the program. Students can contact their academic advisor for more information.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Apply epidemiological methods to settings and situations in public health practice  
  • Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context  
  • Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as appropriate 
  • Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy, or practice
  • Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings
  • Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities, and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and systemic levels  
  • Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ health  
  • Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs 
  • Design a population-based policy, program, project, or intervention  
  • Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management  
  • Select methods to evaluate public health programs  
  • Discuss the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence  
  • Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes  
  • Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
  • Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity 
  • Apply leadership and/or management principles to address a relevant issue  
  • Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges  
  • Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors  
  • Communicate audience-appropriate (i.e., non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation 
  • Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content  
  • Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health  
  • Apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative  
  • Assess emerging issues in the organization, financing, and delivery of public health and health care services in the U.S. and their significance for population health. 
  • Develop an evidence-informed program or policy proposal that addresses an important urban public health problem.  
  • Develop evidence-based recommendations to address complex management and organizational issues in health care and public health. 
  • Assess and apply ethical and legal principles related to public health and health care services to improve health in and of communities. 
  • Assess how public policy and programs can counteract the roles of history, power, privilege, and structural racism in producing health inequities.