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Graduate Resources: Behavioral and Community Health

From advising to career services, resources are available to make the student experience as productive, supportive and enjoyable as possible.

Learn more about our Master of Public Health, Online and Doctoral degrees on their respective degree pages. 

Opportunities for Graduate Student Engagement in Research with BCH Faculty 

The document, Opportunities for Graduate Student Engagement in Research with BCH Faculty, is a living document that provides updated opportunities for graduate student engagement in faculty member's research projects. This spreadsheet includes both paid and unpaid research opportunities currently available within the department. 

View Opportunities for Graduate Student Engagement in BCH Faculty Research

MPH Resources

The mission of the MPH program is to promote the development of behavioral and community health professionals who understand the science, theory, and practice of public health and can apply this knowledge toward the enhancement of health status of communities. 

Program Requirements

Students will participate in both academic and applied training in health behavior theory, program planning and implementation, program evaluation, health communication, public policy analysis, research, and management. To see a list of skills MPH graduates are expected to have upon graduation, review the MPH Essential Skills Table. 

The MPH program may be completed either full-time or part-time. The majority of classes begin at 4:00 or 4:30pm Monday through Friday. On occasion, a class will begin at 7:00pm or will be held from 1:00-4:00pm, but those occasions are rare. The courses offered each semester vary and to get a full listing of current course offerings, go to www.testudo.umd.edu. 

All students must complete their degree within five (5) years in accordance with University of Maryland Graduate School policy.

For an outline of required coursework and additional requirements of the program, please go to the MPH Program Guidelines (admitted Fall 2022 and later).

For students who entered the MPH program before Fall 2022: MPH Program Guidelines (students who entered prior to Fall 2018).

Competencies

All MPH students must master all competencies prior to graduating. The competency assessment will take place while students are taking courses, completing the practical experience, and as they work on their capstone. See the BCH MPH competency list (entering Fall 2018 and later) to better understand the program competencies.  

Students Admitted Fall 2018 and later:

Students who matriculate to the university during and after Fall 2018 will be required to complete a 4-credit practical experience. The Public Health Practical Experience (HLTH 778) is a 4-credit capstone requirement that provides MPH students in Behavioral and Community Health with the opportunity to apply their coursework and gain hands-on experience in a professional community/public health setting. Students are required to investigate practical experience opportunities and secure a practical experience during the Fall or Spring semester prior to enrollment in HLTH 778. 

For full-time students, the 4-credit practical experience may be completed the summer between the first and second year or during the Fall or Spring semester of the second year. Part-time students may complete the practical experience the summer between the second and third year or during the Fall or Spring semester of the third year. At a minimum, all students must have completed the following courses to be eligible to go out on their practical experience: SPHL 601, 602, 603, 610, 611; HLTH 665, 780.

For more detailed information related to the practical experience semester, please review the Department of Behavioral and Community Health MPH Practical Experience Program Manual. An orientation to the practical experience and related requirements is provided the semester before you intend on doing the practical experience. If you have immediate questions about HLTH788 and your practical experience search, please contact Dr. Evelyn King-Marshall, Practical Experience Program Coordinator, at eckm@umd.edu.

All Master of Public Health degree students are required to complete a 3-credit year-long capstone project (HLTH  784-1 credit & HLTH 786-2 credits).

You must work with your advisor EARLY during the final year (or earlier) of the program to select a topic and anticipate choosing other faculty members to be part of your committee.

For students who entered the MPH program in Fall 2018 and later, please use the following MPH Capstone Project Guidelines.

General Forms

Practical Experience Forms

PhD Resources

The goal of the doctoral program is to develop health professionals competent in understanding the health needs of populations who are qualified to conduct research in order to implement programs and policies aimed at improving the public's health. The program provides students with the opportunity to develop research skills essential in making significant contributions to the scientific and professional literature in behavioral and community health. To see a list of skills doctoral students are expected to have upon graduation, review the PhD Essential Skills Table.  

The PhD program may be completed either full-time or part-time, although full-time is preferred. The majority of classes begin at 4:00 or 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. On occasion, a class will begin at 7:00 pm or will be held from 1:00-4:00 pm, but those occasions are rare. The courses offered each semester vary and to get a full listing of current course offerings, go to www.testudo.umd.edu. 

All students must complete their degree in nine (9) years in accordance with the University of Maryland Graduate School policy. For an outline of required coursework and additional requirements of the program, please click on the appropriate PhD Program Guidelines below.

PhD Program guidelines for students admitted Fall 2022 and later

PhD Program Guidelines for students admitted Fall 2018 through Fall 2021

PhD Program Guidelines for Students admitted prior to Fall 2018

    Qualifying Exam

    The Qualifying Examination must be taken within the semester the student is first eligible. Students must pass the written and oral components of the exam and complete 15 credits of Individual Research Plan credits before advancing to candidacy. The Director of Graduate Studies must have an updated and approved (signed by the student's advisor indicating the student's eligibility) program plan before taking Qualifying Examination.

    Refer to the Qualifying Examination Guidelines below and the list of PhD Competency Expectations for additional information.

    Qualifying Examination Guidelines (required for students admitted 2015 and later; available for students admitted in or prior to 2014)

    Qualifying Exam Results Form 

    Dissertation Proposal Guidelines

    All Doctoral degree students are required to complete a dissertation-HLTH 899 Doctoral Dissertation Research (12 credits). This can be done using the traditional 5 chapter model or the manuscript model. Please review manuscript option guidelines. All dissertation credits will be given an incomplete grade until the research is completed. The student should enroll under the section number of his/her dissertation advisor. No student may formally propose a dissertation topic until advanced to candidacy.

    Relevant forms for students:

    View All SPH Student Resources and Opportunities