Engage with communities to design, implement and evaluate public health programs
Our MPH program prepares graduates to effectively apply social and health behavior theory to design culturally informed public health programs that help eliminate health disparities and promote well-being.
Fully online option available.
Perfect for
- Those who want to be “on the ground” and engaged with communities
- People who are passionate about helping guide individual and community level change to positively influence health behavior and eliminate health inequities
- Students seeking flexibility - full time, part time, online or in-person options available
Career paths
Recent alumni job titles include:
- Public Health Informatics Specialist
- Science & Policy Fellow
- Capacity Building Research Analyst
- Senior Research & Evaluation Specialist
- Communicable Disease Health Educator
- Health Communication Fellow
- Program Manager
- Communications Specialist
Program Overview
Students engage in academic and applied training in health behavior theory, program planning and implementation and program evaluation.
See all Behavioral and Community Health graduate student resources.
For more information, see the Behavioral and Community Health Flyer.
Upon completion of the degree requirements, all students are expected to demonstrate their ability to:
- Apply appropriate methods to plan, implement, and evaluate theoretically grounded programs and interventions that promote healthy behaviors and health outcomes
- Select, apply, and critique health-relevant theories to examine and address public health problems to promote health equity and implement health promotion activities
- Translate empirical findings to inform community health promotion and practice
- Use a critical lens to analyze and address a range of systemic inequities that impact the health of socially and structurally marginalized groups
- Select and apply evidence-based community engagement strategies to support community-driven and community-led efforts
- Select and apply health literacy and health communication strategies to design, implement, and evaluate public health communication practice or research activities
For information on course requirements, competency assessment and additional requirements of the program, please contact the MPH Director, Dr. Jenny Hodgson, at jhodgson@umd.edu
Students admitted to the Master of Public Health in Behavioral and Community Health program will complete 45 credit hours of coursework. The course of study includes 12 elective credit hours, a 4-credit practical experience, and a 3-credit capstone project.
View all of the required courses for the MPH in Behavioral and Community Health.
For more information on the MPH Practical Experience and Capstone Project requirements, please contact Dr. King-Marshall, Director of MPH Internship and Capstone, at eckm@umd.edu.