The MPH in Community and Behavioral Health prepares public health practitioners for a variety of positions related to community development, health program implementation, and health education. Students learn how to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based interventions that are directed toward identified public health problems in populations. Bachelor’s level training in the social and behavioral sciences is good preparation for this program, but current students come from a variety of educational backgrounds.
The practicum requirement has been fulfilled in the past with organizations or agencies that are actively addressing public health concerns with intervention programs. Past sites have included the Johnson County Public Health Department, the Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa City Family Planning Clinic, and the University of Iowa Department of Pediatrics.
Graduates of the CBH subtrack are able to:
- Identify the major socio-behavioral phenomena, which impact the health of the public and understand the mechanisms by which they impact health.
- Work effectively with communities in defining and addressing important public health concerns.
- Design, implement and evaluate community-based behavior interventions to prevent disease and/or promote health.
- Critically assess the scientific basis for preventive interventions.
- Plan and conduct program evaluations to assess quality and effectiveness of public health interventions.
- Communicate effectively with a broad range of groups utilizing state of the art communication media.
Prerequisite
An undergraduate degree is required. The cumulative grade point average should be a minimum of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Although no specific major is required, prerequisite coursework includes one semester each of college algebra and biology.
MPH Core Courses (18 s.h.)
The following course work is required for all MPH students. Students are expected to earn ≥ B- (2.67) on each core course and must earn a ≥ B (3.0) cumulative grade point average on all core courses. When necessary, a student may repeat courses to achieve this standard.
| Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CPH:4101 | Intro to Public Health | 3 s.h. |
| BIOS:4120 | Intro to Biostatistics | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:4105 | Intro to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 s.h. |
| EPID:4400 | Epidemiology I: Principles | 3 s.h. |
| HMP:4000 | Intro to the US Healthcare System | 3 s.h. |
| OEH:4240 | Global Environmental Health | 3 s.h. |
CBH Required Courses (12 s.h.)
Theory
| Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CBH:5220 | Health Behavior and Health Education | 3 s.h. |
Community and society (pick one)
| Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CBH:5235 | Community-Based Participatory Research | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:6230 | Health Equity and Social Justice | 3 s.h. |
Intervention (pick one)
| Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CBH:6205 | Designing and Implementing Interventions | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:6220 | Health Communication Campaigns | 3 s.h. |
Methods (pick one)
| Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CBH:5305 | Evaluation: Approaches and Applications | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:5310 | Qualitative Research for Public Health | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:5420 | Communicating with the Community | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:6335 | Research Methods in Community and Behavioral Health | 3 s.h. |
Electives (9 s.h.)
Students must take an additional 9 s.h. of elective credit in CBH or elsewhere on campus. In addition, once the 12 required CBH hours are met in the areas of the other classes in the choice lists above (theory, methods, community and interventions) any can be taken as elective credits or any of the following courses below are recommended as electives:
| Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH:6141 | Medical Anthropology and Social Theory | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:3150 | Media and Health | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:4140 | Feminist Activism and Global Health | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:5140 | The Anthropology of Women’s Health | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:5230 | Public Health Issues in Overweight Management | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:5435 | Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:5440 | Prevention and Intervention of Mental Health Disorders | 3 s.h |
| CBH:6115 | Ethnographic Field Methods | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:6210 | Health Communication | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:6405 | Maternal, Child, and Family Health: An Overview | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:6410 | Special Topics | 3 s.h. |
| CBH:6415 | Independent Study in Community and Behavioral Health | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3505 | Foundations of GIS | 3 s.h. |
| HMP:6360 | Non-Profit Organizations Effectiveness 1 | 3 s.h |
| URP:6253 | Health Cities and the Environment | 3 s.h. |
| URP:6260 | Transportation Policy and Planning | 3 s.h. |
| URP:6400 | Eco-Sensitive, Low-Cost Housing: The Kerala Experience | 3 s.h. |
Practicum Requirement (3 s.h.)
The experience from this course, including a final written report and a poster presentation, constitutes the final examination for the MPH.
| Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CPH:7000 | MPH Practicum Experience | 3 s.h. |
Pre-Requisite to MPH Practicum
Students must complete all of their MPH core courses and the majority of other MPH coursework prior to registering for the Practicum.
Summary of Hour Requirements
| Area | Hours |
|---|---|
| MPH Core | 18 s.h. |
| Practicum | 3 s.h. |
| Required courses | 12 s.h. |
| Electives | 9 s.h. |
| Total | 42 s.h. |
