Master of Public Health (MPH) in Maternal and Child Health (MCH)

Epidemiology Curriculum     Health Services Curriculum    

All students must fulfill the requirements of the School of Public Health, their home department (epidemiology or health services), and the MCH Program. In addition, all students must meet regularly with their advisors to develop a curriculum of additional courses and other activities to ensure adequate training in public health skills.

The School of Public Health requires completion of a minimum of 54 course credits and 9 thesis credits for a MPH degree. The course credits include both formal courses and independent study. The formal courses must include at least one course in each of the five basic public health areas: health services, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, and social and behavioral sciences.

Electives are useful for deciding on a thesis topic or for obtaining a certificate. The Department of Global Health offers certificates in global health, HIV and STIs, global injury and violence protection, and global health of women, adolescents, and children. The Department of Health Services offers certificates in comparative effectiveness research, emergency preparedness and response, health management, and health policy.

MCH Program Requirements

All students are required to attend a weekly journal club/research seminar in autumn and spring quarters that provides a forum for learning how to critically review the research literature and for obtaining feedback from faculty and other students in developing a thesis research project.

In addition, all students are also required to take the course Epidemiology of Maternal and Child Health Problems, HSERV 542/EPI 521, which focuses on critical literature reviews, research methodology, and oral and written communication in the context of common MCH problems.

Epidemiology students are required to take Application of Epidemiologic Methods, EPI 514, a hands-on data analysis class that uses the Washington State birth certificate and hospitalization records to design and analyze a research study.

Health services students are required to take Topics in Maternal and Child Health I, HSERV 541 which focuses on advocacy, and public health program planning, management, and evaluation, in addition to providing content on the historical, behavioral, sociological, political, and economic aspects of maternal and child health.

The MCH Program requires a minimum number of credits in certain areas:

  • HSERV/EPI courses: At least 18 graded credits in graduate level courses numbered 500-599. Independent study, practicum, and thesis do not count toward this requirement
  • Other graduate-level classes: At least 30 credits in graduate-level courses through the School of Public Health, or other UW schools if approved by the student's faculty advisor.
  • Practicum: At least 3 practicum credits of HSERV/EPI 595
  • Thesis: Nine credits of HSERV/EPI 700 (Master's Thesis)