MCH

Concentration in Maternal & Child Health
The Department of Community Health Sciences offers the concentration in maternal and child health to train students for careers that improve the health of women, families and communities, while addressing health inequities and the systems and policies that contribute to them. To this mission we bring life course, gender-based, and ecologic perspectives. Our primary focus is on issues of maternal and child health in the United States; however, our faculty, curriculum, and scholarly activities include countries across the development spectrum.

Our faculty conduct research, education and service in partnership with community-based organizations, advocates, local, national and international government agencies.

Upon graduation, MCH concentrators are equipped with the knowledge, critical thinking and technical skills essential for assessing community needs and assets, designing and evaluating programs and policies, and advocating for health equity. Graduates are employed as managers, researchers, and advocates within private and public sector organizations in the U.S. and across the globe.

What You'll Learn
The curriculum combines an understanding of the substantive issues in maternal and child health with the essential skills needed to shape and influence public health practice and policy. Our courses cover women's health across the life span; reproductive health and rights; the perinatal and interconception periods; and child and adolescent health. Courses emphasize three skill areas for MCH practice: policy and advocacy, research and evaluation, and program development and management.

Students May Focus on the Following Areas:
  • Reproductive and women's health
  • Child and adolescent health
  • Maternal and child health epidemiology
  • Family and community health
  • Policy-making and advocacy for women, children and families
Career Pathways
The maternal and child health concentration offers an education rich in field experience and preparation for the demands of practice and research. The course of study prepares you to design, implement, manage and evaluate programs and develop policy in governmental and community-based agencies and health care organizations. This is an ideal concentration for those who wish to bring their commitments to social justice and intellectual talents to bear on the challenge of reducing health disparities among women, families, and communities.