Women’s & Reproductive Health
The MPH concentration in Women's and Reproductive Health focuses on understanding the health status of women with regard to their general and reproductive health, the determinants of their health status, preventive strategies and programs to address women's health and well being, as well as the health of their newborns. Students may opt to focus on women's, reproductive or perinatal health concerns either domestically or in a developing country setting.
Competencies Gained
- The scope and magnitude of health problems for women with regard to their health in general or reproductive health, with a focus across the life span, and including infectious, chronic and disabling conditions
- The determinants of women's and reproductive health, including socioeconomic, cultural, behavioral, environmental, political and other determinants
- Analytic skills in the core MPH courses, as they are applied to women's and reproductive health as well as other skills including demographic, evaluation, and epidemiologic methods
- Development and implementation of public health programs and clinical interventions to improve the reproductive health and well being of women, including programs related to family planning services, safe motherhood, or health during the reproductive years
Course of Study
| Students must complete the following course: if the course is used as the Behavioral and Social Science Requirement for the MPH, it does not count in the five-course requirement for the concentration. | |||
| 380.604 | Life Course Perspectives on Health* | 4 units | 1st term [Internet - 1st term] |
| Students are also required to complete one course from each of the three areas below: | |||
| Epidemiology and Health: | |||
| 380.666 | Women's Health | 3 units | 3rd term |
| 380.668 | International Perspectives on Women, Gender and Health | 3 units | 3rd term |
| 380.664 | Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology | 4 units | 4th term |
| Policies and Programs: | |||
| 380.624 | Maternal & Child Health Legislation and Programs | 4 units | 2nd term |
| 380.665 | Family Planning Policies and Programs | 4 units | 3rd term |
| 380.667 | Women's Health Policy | 3 units | 4th term |
| 380.771 | Understanding International Reproductive Health Policy | 3 units | 4th term |
| Clinical Aspects: | |||
| 221.627 | Issues in the Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality in Low Income Countries | 4 units | 2nd term |
| 380.761 | STI in Public Health Practice* | 4 units | 3rd term [Internet - 4th term] |
| 380.661 | Clinical Aspects of Maternal and Newborn Health | 3 units | 4th term |
| 380.760 | Clinical Aspects of Reproductive Health | 3 units | 3rd term |
| Students are recommended to take the following course to meet their biology requirement: | |||
| 120.620 | Fundamentals of Reproductive Biology* | 3 units | 1st term |
| Students must also select two additional courses. A course from the above list that does not fulfill the three concentration course requirements may also be selected. | |||
| 380.641 | Prenatal Infant Growth & Development | 3 units | 1st term |
| 380.767 | Couples and Reproductive Health | 3 units | 1st term |
| 380.655 | Social and Economic Aspects of Human Fertility | 4 units | 1st term |
| 380.765 | Preventing Infant Mortality & Promoting the Health of Women, Infants & Children | 3 units | 4th term - Internet Only |
| 380.662 | Critiquing the Research Literature in Maternal, Neonatal and Reproductive Health | 4 units | 2nd term |
| 380.762 | HIV Infection in Women, Children and Adolescents | 4 units | 4th term [Internet - 4th term] |
*May not be used as one of the concentration electives if it is used to fulfill an MPH core requirement.
Capstone Experience
The MPH capstone experience in Women's and Reproductive Health is an opportunity for students to apply the competencies and skills acquired through coursework and other related educational activities (e.g. practicum). Most students fulfill the capstone by undertaking independent investigation with a concentration-affiliated faculty. The project may involve, but is not limited to, undertaking a data analysis, literature review with a focus on policy and programmatic implications, or an analysis of a public health problem using the problem solving paradigm or other related conceptual models. Students register for the 2-unit MPH Capstone Course (XXX.800) in the fourth term.
Students may also take an additional 1-4 units of special studies research (XXX.840) for the capstone experience, beginning as early as the second term under the direction of the student's capstone advisor. A written product is required.
Capstone Presentation
The MPH concentration in Women's and Reproductive Health Capstone presentations will be held during a separate evening session prior to the Saturday Capstone Project Symposium.
Maternal and Child Health Certificate
Students in the Women's and Reproductive Health Concentration may also pursue the Maternal and Child Health Certificate. However, there are additional course requirements outside the concentration requirements.
Faculty Concentration Directors
Donna Strobino, PhD, Professor, Population, Family and Reproductive Health, 410-502-5451, dstrobin@jhsph.edu
Michelle Hindin, PhD, Associate Professor, Population, Family and Reproductive Health, 410-502-6038, mhindin@jhsph.edu