Master of Public Health, Concentration in International Health Print
The Master of Public Health with a Concentration in International Health provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to work effectively in the practice of international health, both in overseas settings and in US-based international health organizations. Students have the flexibility to combine coursework in economics, financial management, policy analysis, and infectious and chronic disease with comparative studies addressing the social and cultural issues that impact health internationally. Graduates are equipped to assume careers in relief, development, consulting, research, and government both domestically and abroad, or to pursue further study. 

Competencies

In addition to the cross-cutting competencies that all MPH graduates master, upon completing the requirements for the MPH in International Health graduates are able to:

  • Demonstrate skills in program and budget management that can be used to design and implement health programs in low and middle-income country settings.
  • Apply a multidisciplinary approach to analyze health systems and institutions involved in financing and providing preventative and curative health services at the multilateral, bilateral, national and community levels in low and middle-income countries.
  • Integrate information and apply models from epidemiologic, economic, behavioral, and cultural perspectives to promote social changes required to improve the health of populations.

Summary of IH Concentration Requirements:


 Course Credits Total Credits
Core Courses Biostatistics (BS704) 3 18-22
Epidemiology (EP713) 3
Environmental Health (EH717 or EH765) 3 or 4
Health Law (LW719 or LW751)* 3 or 4
Health policy and Management (PM702 or IH704) 3 or 4
Social and Behavioral Sciences (SB721 or IH720)  3 or 4
IH Required Courses

 One of the following courses: IH702, IH703, IH704 or IH720.
(IH704 and IH720 do not count towards the 16 approved concentration electives as they are core courses.)		 4 16
IH Approved Concentration Electives 12-14
SPH Electives Elective Courses from any department 4 12-16
Required Practicum Practicum Course (PH970; PH971; PH975; PH984; IH707; Philippines Program) 0-16 0-16
Required Culminating Experience Option 1: Policy Analysis (IH941; IH777) 0,1 or 2 0-2
Option 2: Journal Article 2
Option 3: Independent Project 0,1 or 2
Total Credits: 48

*IH Concentrators who are neither US citizens nor permanent residents are exempted from the Health Law requirement

Emphasis Areas

The International Health Department believes that students should graduate with basic analytic and public health skills (addressed by the School's core courses) and with sufficient in-depth knowledge to be employable in an international health program. Students are encouraged to focus their course of study within one of five emphasis areas:

The emphasis areas are interdisciplinary and combine offerings in IH with other courses at BUSPH.  Although you are not required to pick an emphasis area in order to complete your International Health concentration, you are strongly encouraged to do so.  Students can select up to two emphasis areas.

Each emphasis area will host events and career opportunities for its members throughout the year.  Joining an emphasis area will give students a unique opportunity to interact with IH concentrators with similar areas of interested and to build networks.  The best way to find out which emphasis area is right for you is to sign up for one!  You can always change emphasis areas if you change your mind.

For detailed course listings visit the International Health Concentrator’s Guide.  Consult with your faculty advisor early in your course of study about pursuing an area of emphasis.  S/he will help you identify out-of-the-classroom opportunities, practimcs, and CE options that match your area of interst, enhance your learning, and give you a “leg up” on your career path.

To join an emphasis area, please complete the online form.  For more information, contact Emily Morin at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Prospective students should contact the International Health staff at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for additional information.

Health Program Management
The Health Program Management emphasis provides students with the tools they need to become effective leaders and managers in organizations working in international settings. The courses are aimed at developing relevant finance and program design, management, and evaluation skills as well as cultivating professional development in oral and written communication, negotiation, and managing diversity, all skills that are necessary to lead and manage international projects and programs successfully. Students completing this emphasis will be prepared for work in NGOs, universities, government agencies, foundations, and consulting firms in the US or abroad.

Infectious and Non-Communicable Diseases
The Infectious and Non-Communicable Diseases emphasis provides students with the tools they need to become familiar with the burden of diseases worldwide as well as strategies for their prevention and control. The courses are aimed at developing an understanding of the epidemiology of both chronic non-communicable and infectious diseases with a focus on the ecological, socio-cultural, political, and economic factors that influence their development and methods for control.  Students completing this emphasis area will be prepared for roles in service delivery programs in resource-poor settings, global public health policy organizations, non-governmental organizations and academic departments that have an International Health focus.

Managing Disasters and Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
The Managing Disasters and Complex Humanitarian Emergencies emphasis provides students with the tools they need to care for populations affected by man-made and natural disasters. Students completing this emphasis will be prepared for roles in program planning, implementation and management in disaster settings. They will learn skills for initial assessments and response, meeting populations’ short and long-term basic needs including public health interventions essential in disasters settings.

Monitoring and Evaluation and Research Methods
In the past decade, the scale, scope, and complexity of international health research and evaluation has grown rapidly, creating growing demand for qualified individuals to design, conduct, analyze, and evaluate international health studies and programs.  The Monitoring and Evaluation and Research Methods emphasis provides students with the tools they need to work on health research projects or monitoring and evaluating of health programs.  The courses in this emphasis area are aimed at developing quantitative and qualitative data collection, management and analytical skills that students can take into the field and play important roles in conducting research and evaluation.

Sex, Sexuality, Gender, and Health
The Sex, Sexuality, Gender, and Health (SSGH) emphasis aims to provide students with an understanding of the ways in which sex, sexuality, and gender affect the health of all people, both through vulnerability and exposure to risk, and through access to quality health services. Students in this emphasis area will be prepared to work in programs focusing on environment and women’s health; sexual and reproductive health; maternal mortality; gender and vulnerability to HIV; gender and occupational health; and gender and disease prevention. This Emphasis Area provides students with the tools they need to become advocates, policy analysts, researchers, program planners and managers.