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 and
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.
Boston University School of Public Health 
