Department
of Health Behavior
UAB
School of Public Health
The Master of Public Health in Health Behavior (M.P.H. - Plan A)
Description/Career Opportunities
The Master of Public Health in Health Behavior - Plan A Program is designed for experienced public health practitioners with an advanced degree in a health related field and/or a minimum of two years of full-time health-related work experience. Students are taught to understand determinants of health behaviors and to develop and evaluate interventions that promote behavioral changes. Emphasis is placed on both qualitative and quantitative approaches in the evaluation of health promotion programs. Although there is no thesis requirement for the M.P.H. - Plan A program, a major paper, prepared under the direction of a Department of Health Behavior Faculty member, is required.
The learning objectives of the M.P.H. - Plan A program are to enable the student to:
- explain and apply social
and behavioral science theories as they relate to public health;
- critically examine health
behavior literature;
- develop and implement health
promotion/disease prevention programs; and
- apply evaluation principles and procedures to effectively assess health promotion and disease prevention programs.
Demand for qualified behavioral scientists and health educators is increasing. Graduates of our master's degree programs are typically employed in public and private agencies at the local, state, and national levels. They work to develop, implement, and evaluate health promotion and disease prevention programs.
Admissions
Applicants should have a strong academic record and meet the requirements for admission to the School of Public Health. All applicants to Plan A must have an advanced degree in a health related field and/or two years of full-time health related work experience.
Curriculum
Students in this track take a minimum of 40 credit hours. Full-time students taking 12 to 15 hours a term can generally complete the program in one year.
Required Courses
M.P.H. Core - 15 hours:
SPH 600 Public Health Integrated Core I (6 hours)
SPH 601 Public Health Integrated Core II (9 hours)
Health Behavior Track -
22 hours:
HB 600 Introduction to Public Health Education (3 hours)
HB 630 Health Communications: Theory and Practice (3 hours)
HB 641 Research Methods in Behavioral Science (3 hours)
HB 643 Health Program Evaluation (3 hours)
HB 690 Behavioral Science Tutorial Experience (4 hours)
HB ___ Behavioral Science Elective I (3 hours)
HB ___ Behavioral Science Elective II (3 hours)
Integrative Experience -
3 hours:
SPH 690 Public Health Integrative Experience (3 hours)
Total 40 hours
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