• Description of Program
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

The MPH in Behavioral, Social, and Community Health trains students to research, analyze and address the social and behavioral factors that influence health and health outcomes at the individual, community, and population levels. Students work collaboratively with faculty and community stakeholders to find solutions for critical issues in population health and health equity. The program of study includes the core disciplines in public health, courses in social and behavioral health, and options for elective courses tailored to students’ interest. Program graduates will have knowledge and skills in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of public health interventions as well as in acquiring and managing funds to support interventions and programming. Alumni work in settings ranging from the CDC and state health departments to non-profit and private sector organizations. The flexible program allows students to choose a second MPH concentration or a graduate certificate in a range of specialized public health areas.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 44 graduate credit hours is required for this program.  A minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. A minimum grade of C is required in each course. All electives for completing the degree must be approved by the advisor. Prerequisite courses may be prescribed for students lacking sufficient background for graduate study in public health.

MPH Master of Public Health Degree Requirements (44 credits)

MPH Degree Core (20 credits)

Public Health Foundations Requirement (0 credits)
All MPH students must complete the Public Health Foundations online course no later than the end of their first semester of graduate study. Complete details and registration information for this course can be found at the following website: https://iu.instructure.com/enroll/MNG3L6

Integrated Public Health Core (12 credits)
Complete each of the following courses.

• SPH-X 601 Assessment and Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-X 650 Evidence-Based Approaches to Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-X 660 Population Health Determinates (3 cr.)
• SPH-X 685 Public Health Policy and Politics (3 cr.)

Professional Development and Practical Experiences (8 credits)
Complete each of the following courses.

• SPH-X 610 Professional Development Seminar 1 (2 cr.)
• SPH-X 611 Professional Development Seminar 2 (2 cr.)
• SPH-X 696 Professional Practice Experience in Public Health (4 cr.)

Behavioral, Social & Community Health Concentration (12 credits)

Required Concentration Courses (12 credits)
Complete each of the following courses.

• SPH-B 589 Theory & Conceptual Frameworks in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 602 Intervention Design in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 562 Health Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 662 Acquiring and Managing External Funds (3 cr.)

Option 1: Additional MPH Concentration or Graduate Certificate (12 - 15 credits)

Complete all courses in one of the eight following choices. (12 credits)

MPH concentration in Public Health Administration (12 credits)
Successful completion of the following four courses earns the student a second concentration in Public Health Administration.

• SPH-H 661 Legal Issues in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-P 680 Public Health Economics (3 cr.)
• SPH-X 561 Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
• SPH-_ ___ A Public Health Administration Elective approved by the MPH academic advisor (3 cr.)

MPH concentration in Physical Activity (12 credits)
Successful completion of the following four courses earns the student a second concentration in Physical Activity.

• SPH-K 553 Physical Activity & Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 556 Physical Activity Assessment (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 557 Physical Activity Across the Lifespan (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 565 Physical Activity Behavioral Interventions (3 cr.)

• SPH-E 651 Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 658 Intermediate Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 659 Intermediate Epidemiological Methods (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 611 Statistical Packages in Research (3 cr.)

• SPH-E 650 Special Topics in Epidemiology (3cr.)
• SPH-E 653 Chronic Disease Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 655 Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 656 Genetic Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 657 Social Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 680 Nutritional Epidemiology (3 cr.)

MPH concentration in Environmental Health (15 credits)
Successful completion of the following requirements earns the student a second MPH concentration in Environmental Health

• SPH-V 541 Environmental Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 542 Principles of Toxicology (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 545 Exposure Assessment and Control (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 546 Risk Assessment, Policy and Toxic Regulations (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 548 Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology (3 cr.)

Online Graduate Certificate in Gerontology and Health (12 credits)
Successful completion of the following requirements earns the student an online graduate Certificate in Gerontology and Health.

Complete the following courses.

• SPH-H 524 –or-- EDUC-P 513 Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Gerontology (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 675 Practicum in Public Health (3 cr.)

Complete two (6 cr.) courses from the following.

• EDUC-D 505 Adult Learning through the Lifespan (3 cr.)
• EDUC-D 506 Adult Education Planning and Development (3 cr.)
• EDUC-P 517 Adult Development and Aging (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 535 Contemporary Issues in Aging and Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 615 Health Longevity, and Integrative Therapies for the Later Years (3 cr.)

Online Graduate Certificate in Sexual and Reproductive Health (12 credits)
Successful completion of the following four courses earns the student an online graduate Certificate in Sexual and Reproductive Health.

• SPH-B 630 Sexual and Reproductive Health Surveillance (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 632 Sexual Health: Contemporary Discoveries and Controversies (3 cr.)
• SPH-B 634 Sexual Health Research and Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 633 Advanced Instructional Methods in Sexual and Reproductive Health (3 cr.)

Note: SPH-B 589 Theories and Conceptual Frameworks in Public Health, which is required for this certificate, is already completed as one of the required BSCH concentration courses.

Online Graduate Certificate in Safety Management (12 credits)
Successful completion of the following four courses earns the student an online graduate Certificate in Safety Management.

• SPH-S 502 Instructional Strategies for Safety Education (3 cr.)
• SPH-S 513 Safety Management in Business and Industry (3 cr.)
• SPH-S 610 Occupational Risk Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-S 632 Safety & Health Program Design (3 cr.)

Online Graduate Certificate in Addiction Intervention (15 credits)
Successful completion of the following five courses earns the student an online graduate Certificate in Addiction Intervention.

• SPH-H 664 Public Health Approaches to Substance Abuse Prevention for Adolescents and Young Adults (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 665 Substance Abuse Treatment for Adolescents and Young Adults in the Context of Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 670 Introduction to Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders for Public Health Professionals (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 667 History of Public Health Approaches to Addiction Treatment and Recovery for Adolescents and Young Adults (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 668 Motivational Interviewing (3 cr.)

Option 2: Other Electives (12 credits)

Complete 12 credits of graduate level elective courses to be chosen in consultation with the student’s MPH advisor.

XXXX-X XXX (3 cr.) P: Prior permission of advisor
XXXX-X XXX (3 cr.) P: Prior permission of advisor
XXXX-X XXX (3 cr.) P: Prior permission of advisor
XXXX-X XXX (3 cr.) P: Prior permission of advisor

Special Opportunities

The MPH program at IU balances theoretical knowledge with a professional practice experience and opportunities to work with faculty on research, teaching, and service projects. The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program at IU is accredited by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH). Examples of current research and community engagement include:

• The Person to Person Health Interview Study - This project aims to understand and improve the physical and mental health of Indiana residents, bringing the voice of the people to Indiana public health policy.
• O.A.L. Get Onboard Active Living – A collaborative project between SPH, local healthcare, and Parks and Recreation. Students work with school-age children in a multi-level program to encourage physical activity and good nutrition.
• Project UNITE - Uncovering new Initiatives for Teen Empowerment – Working within a rural community, researchers work with community members to design and implement a multi-level teen pregnancy intervention that fits the cultural preferences of teens, parents, and caregivers.
• IN-PORT: Indiana Networks of Prescribers of Opioids and Related Treatments – Research project examining how physician networks affect HIV prophylaxis prescribing in the U.S.
• Mexico's Physical Activity Report Card - The Report Card is a knowledge translation tool summarizing current evidence around physical activity of children and youth in Mexico. The Report Card is part of the Global Matrix Project, a global evaluation focused on assessing physical activity levels and opportunities among children and youth. 
• Dig It – Health coaching to prevent diabetes for pre-adolescents. Includes screening and interventions that address food insecurity.
• Tracking Together – Research project examining the impact of simultaneous Use of Human and Dog Activity Trackers. Funded by Purina
• Ad-Vance/Greene County Kids! – a formative study that uses community-engaged approaches to inform the development of a rural, multi-level community community-based intervention to prevent obesity in preschool-aged children.
• CACFP Disparities Study - a project to assess drivers of the disparities in child care center participation in the USDA-funded Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) across four states with high poverty levels.

Careers

Growing public interest in optimal and equitable health outcomes for all is increasing the demand for public health professionals. Public health careers can be found in local, state, and federal government; nonprofit organizations; businesses and corporations; hospitals; county health departments; universities; health foundations and health-based grant projects. Graduates of this program assume leadership roles that influence education, policy development, advocacy efforts, research, program development, implementation, and evaluation. A Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Behavioral, Social and Community Health can lead to career positions such as:

• Case Manager Specialist
• Community Health Worker
• Contact Tracer
• Community Health Educator
• Disease Intervention Specialist
• Global Health Worker
• Health Program Evaluator
• Health Promotion Specialist
• Maternal and Child Health Specialist
• Obesity Prevention Coordinator
• Program Director
• Public Health Educator
• Public Health Program Manager
• Public Health Researcher
• Sexual Health Educator
• Technical Advisor for HIV/AIDS Programs
• Vaccine Advisor and Program Manager
• Youth Tobacco Prevention Coordinator