The University of Massachusetts Medical School is home to some of the finest public health programs in the nation. Its undergraduate curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to serve in public health positions and is particularly notable for its emphasis on the social sciences and economics. The PhD program in public health program trains students in the application of research, statistics, and research methodology.
The MPH program in public health programs emphasizes the development of core public health competencies, such as the application of basic science to practice public health interventions and policies. In addition to preparing students for the workplace, the program helps prepare graduates to become leaders in their communities. Students are encouraged to become active in their communities and participate in local activities. The program also emphasizes social action, such as volunteer work and civic service. In addition to enrolling in the program, students must take part in campus visits and community activities.
The graduate of the program will be prepared to enter public health positions that involve evaluating public health systems, developing policies and plans to improve health and reduce health care costs, and managing clinical trials. The program prepares students for leadership positions within government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private institutions like the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). The graduate also has the option of enrolling in the Master of Science degree in public health with a focus in public health administration.
The MPH public health programs emphasize the social and environmental determinants of health and examine the connections among societal factors like stress, income, racial, gender, ethnicity, age, geographic region, health status, and family history. In addition to exploring these determinants, the program covers the physical environment and exposure to environmental toxins and biological risk. A strong focus on prevention and community education is emphasized in the curricula.
The faculty and students of the MPH public health programs are dedicated to providing quality education. They strive to ensure that their students receive a thorough grounding in the concepts of prevention, assessment, diagnosis, intervention, management and control of disease and promote the best practices in public health. The curriculum emphasizes collaboration among various stakeholders, such as patients, policy makers, community members, policy makers, researchers, and educators. Students are taught about cultural, behavioral and environmental risk factors in addition to social norms that can contribute to the occurrence of disease.
The goal of the MPH public health program is to ensure the education of health professionals as they conduct research, conduct and interpret results from scientific studies, and educate the public about the disease prevention, diagnosis, control, and cure. The curriculum integrates research-based learning through student involvement and includes lectures and workshops that focus on the role of prevention and the care and management of health problems. In addition to this, students must complete courses related to public health, including teaching methods, principles of research, ethics and research design, and research methodology.
All students enrolled in the MPH public health programs are required to complete a minimum of 60 credit hours. During the internship, students will work directly under the direction of faculty members in their respective departments. Interns are encouraged to complete an internship that incorporates one or more areas of focus within the public health field. This internship is often conducted in areas outside of the Department of Health in collaboration with other universities and research institutes. The internship is designed to prepare the students to enter the workforce in a career path that addresses one of the primary goals of the program; the promotion of good public health and wellness.
