Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Public Health Certificate Program
OVERVIEW
Globally, LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer)-focused public health is a growing field of study, but there is a dearth of training opportunities specifically related to social and behavioral factors. The addition of the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in LGBTQ Public Health helps fulfill the School’s strategic planning goal of strengthening and expanding diversity in terms of training in the School, and thus continuing as a leading institution for social and behavioral training and research in public health.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of the certificate program, students will be able to:
1. Assess what is known and unknown in LGBTQ health research and critically read public health literature related to LGBTQ health.
2. Describe a range of psychological and sociological conceptualizations of LGBTQ health, health behavior, stigma, and illness in a cross-cultural context, and integrate these into culturally competent skills and attitudes.
3. Apply an ecological perspective to LGBTQ health, linking individual, social, community and environmental causes of disease and LGBTQ community health through theory and research.
4. Locate and evaluate health disparities both within and facing LGBTQ populations in the context of social behavioral, socio-ecologic, and other theoretical frameworks.
5. Analyze changes in political climates and how legal, policy and structural changes affect the translation of research findings regarding the health of LGBTQ populations.
6. Integrate an ecological perspective on LGBTQ health into the design of effective interventions, translating research findings through communications, advocacy, health policy and the law, to reduce health problems and disparities in LGBTQ populations.
ELIGIBILITY
The certificate program is open to currently enrolled masters and doctoral students at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, with the exception of MAS students who are not eligible to apply until they have completed their primary degree program. It is open to students in graduate programs at Johns Hopkins University, as well as to individuals who are not currently enrolled in the university but who have completed an undergraduate degree program and who have an interest in LGBTQ Public Health.
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Applicants should review the How to Apply page for information about eligibility and special instructions.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
The certificate requires a minimum of 18 term credits. All required and elective courses must be taken for a letter grade; a minimum grade of C is required in all certificate coursework and students must maintain a 2.75 or better overall GPA for all certificate coursework. The certificate program length is flexible; it varies from student to student, however, the certificate must be completed within three years.
The student should review the section of the website that addresses completion before completing certificate program requirements. The student's transcript will not indicate that the certificate was earned until the Notification of Completion has been submitted, verified by the certificate program, and processed by the Registrar.
COURSE OF STUDY
Students should check the course catalog to confirm when courses are offered. The term and time may change from what is listed in the table below and some courses are only offered every other year. Students should also check for prerequisites and whether instructor consent is required.
Course No. | Course Title | No. Credits | Online Term | Campus Term |
Introduction to Online Learning All students are required to complete this free course before taking other online courses. | 0 | 1,2,3,4, Summer | - | |
| 550.860 | Academic & Research Ethics at JHSPH All students are required to complete this free online course during their first term of study. | 0 | 1,2,3,4, S, SI, WI | - |
Required Core Courses (Students must complete three out of the four courses, for a minimum of 9 credits) | ||||
| 306.660 | Legal and Public Health Issues in the Regulation of Intimacy | 3 | - | 4 |
| 410.681 | Gay, Bisexual and Other Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and HIV: Theoretical Perspectives on the US Epidemic | 3 | - | 4 |
| 410.683 | Global Perspectives on LGBT Health | 3 | - | 3 |
| 550.629 | The Epidemiology of LGBT Health | 3 | - | 2 |
Key Area 1: Develop LGBTQ cultural competency skills and attitudes (minimum of 2 credits) | ||||
| 224.689 | Health Behavior Change at the Individual, Household and Community Levels | 4 | - | 2 |
| 301.615 | Seminar in Health Disparities | 3 | - | 2 |
| 410.652 | Interpersonal Influence in Medical Care | 2 | - | 4 |
| 410.864 | Critical Issues in Health Disparities | 1 | - | 1,2,3,4 |
Key Area 2: Linking social and environmental causes of disease and LGBTQ community health through theory and research (minimum 2 credits required) | ||||
| 224.692 | Formative Research for Behavioral and Community Interventions | 4 | - | 4 |
| 305.684 | Health Impact Assessment | 3 | - | 3 |
| 306.625 | Ethical Issues in Health Policy: Public Health and Health Care | 3 | - | 2 |
| 330.674 | Suicide as a Public Health Problem | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 340.627 | Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 340.639 | Assessing Epidemiologic Impact of Human Rights Violations | 2 | - | 4 |
| 340.646 | Epidemiology and Public Health Impact of HIV and AIDS | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 340.666 | Foundations of Social Epidemiology | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 340.683 | Human Rights for Public Health Practitioners | 2 | - | 3 |
| 380.663 | Gender-based Violence Research, Practice and Policy: Issues and Current Controversies | 3 | - | 3 |
| 410.612 | Sociological Perspectives on Health | 3 | - | 1 |
| 410.613 | Psychological Factors in Health and Illness | 3 | - | 3 |
| 410.616 | Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health | 4 | - | SI |
| 410.620 | Program Planning for Health Behavior Change | 3 | 4 | 1, WI |
Key Area 3: Community dimensions of practice skills and attitudes to include communications, advocacy, health policy and the law (minimum of 2 credits) | ||||
| 301.627 | Understanding and Preventing Violence | 3 | - | 2 |
| 301.692 | The Role of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Improving Global Public Health | 3 | - | WI |
| 308.610 | The Political Economy of Social Inequalities and Its Consequences for Health and Quality of Life | 3 | - | 4 |
| 380.623 | Adolescent Health and Development | 3 | - | 3 |
| 380.725 | The Social Context of Adolescent Health and Development | 3 | - | 4 |
| 380.761 | Sexually Transmitted Infections in Public Health | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 410.657 | Communication Strategies for Sexual Risk Reduction | 3 | - | 4 |
| 410.668 | Policy Interventions for Health Behavior Change | 3 | - | 2 |
| 410.672 | Introduction to Campaigning and Organizing for Public Health | 3 | S,3 | - |
| 410.677 | Theory and Practice in Campaigning and Organizing for Public Health I | 4 | - | 3 |
| 410.678 | Theory and Practice in Campaigning and Organizing for Public Health II | 4 | - | 4 |
| 410.721 | Translating Research into Public Health Programs I | 2 | - | 3 |
CONTACT INFORMATION
Sponsoring Departments
Program Contact: L. Robin Newcomb
Email: rnewcomb@jhmi.edu
Faculty Sponsor: Danielle German, PhD
GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM INFORMATION
At this time, non-degree students enrolling in this certificate program are not eligible for financial aid. You may, however, pursue private education loans to assist you in meeting your program costs. Contact our Financial Aid Office with any questions.