Maternal and Child Health
Upon completion of the core courses of the Maternal and Child Health Certificate, individuals will gain a broad understanding of the field that focuses on the health and welfare of women and children. Competencies addressed include the following:
- Understanding of the biological, social, and behavioral basis for a MCH program
- Knowledge of the historical development of the field of MCH
- Knowledge of significant past and current national legislative mandates relative to MCH, including the structure and roles of legislative and administrative bodies at the national, state, and local levels
- Ability to define and describe the MCH population in a community
- Understanding of the normal patterns of human growth and development
- Knowledge of the organization and financing of health systems in the U.S.
- Understanding of the design, implementation and evaluation of MCH programs domestically and internationally
- Ability to identify essential gaps in existing programs serving mothers and children
Eligibility
The certificate program is open to graduate students currently enrolled in any division of The Johns Hopkins University, with the exception of JHSPH MAS students, who are not eligible to apply until they have completed their primary degree program. Individuals who are not currently enrolled in a degree program at Johns Hopkins University are eligible to apply.
Admissions Process
Applicants should review the How to Apply page for information about eligibility and special instructions. The certificate program's review committee will review the applications and notify each applicant of their admissions decision.
Requirements for Successful Completion
The certificate program 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 program 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 and verified by the certificate program and processed by the Registrar.
Course of Study
Students should check the course catalog to confirm when the 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 Title | No. Credits | Online Term | Campus Term | |
| Required Courses | ||||
Introduction to Online Learning All students are required to complete this free course before taking any other online courses | 0 | 1,2,3,4,Summer | - | |
| 550.860 | Academic & Research Ethics | 0 | 1,2,3,4,Summer | - |
| Required Courses (8 credits) | ||||
| 380.604 | Life Course Perspectives on Health | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 380.624 | Maternal and Child Health Legislation and Programs | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Elective Courses: Students must take 10 total elective credits. Courses must include at least 2 of the 3 content areas represented by Groups A, B, and C | ||||
| Group A (Maternal, Fetal and Perinatal Health): | ||||
| 221.627 | Issues in the Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality in Low Income Countries | 4 | - | 2 |
| 380.661 | Clinical Aspects of Maternal and Newborn Health | 3 | - | 3 |
| 380.662 | Critiquing the Research Literature in Maternal, Neonatal and Reproductive Health | 4 | - | 2 |
| 380.664 | Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology | 4 | - | 4 |
| 380.765 | Preventing Infant Mortality and Promoting the Health of Women, Infants and Children | 3 | 4 | - |
| Group B (Child Health): | ||||
| 223.663 | Infectious Disease and Child Survival | 3 | - | 3 |
| 380.616 | Child Health Epidemiology | 3 | - | 4 |
| 380.625 | Attitudes, Programs and Practices for Children with Special Health Care Needs | 3 | - | 3 |
| 380.640 | Children in Crisis: An Asset-Based Approach to Working with Vulnerable Youth | 3 | - | 3 |
| 380.642 | Child Health and Development | 3 | 2 | - |
| 380.744 | Nutrition and Growth in Maternal and Child Health | 3 | 1 | - |
| Group C (Adolescent Health): | ||||
| 380.623 | Adolescent Health and Development | 3 | 3 | - |
| 380.721 | Schools and Health | 3 | - | 4 |
| 380.725 | The Social Context of Adolescent Health and Development | 3 | - | 4 |
| 380.747 | International Adolescent Health | 3 | 4 | - |
| 380.720 | Masculinity, Sexual Behavior and Health: Adolescence and Beyond | Variable | - | 2 |
| Group D (Additional Courses to Consider): | ||||
| 223.686 | Child and Public Health in the Tropics | 4 | - | WI, SI |
| 330.640 | Childhood Victimization: A Public Health Perspective | 3 | - | 4 |
| 330.646 | Autism Spectrum Disorders in Public Health | 2 | - | SI |
| 380.742 | Family Health, Public Health and Policy | 3 | - | 4 |
| 380.625 | Attitudes, Programs, and Policies for Children with Special Health Care Needs | 3 | - | 3 |
| 380.665 | Family Planning Policies and Programs | 4 | - | 3 |
| 380.666 | Women's Health | 3 | - | 3 |
| 380.667 | Women's Health Policy | 3 | - | 4 |
| 380.762 | HIV Infection in Women, Children and Adolescents | 4 | 4 | - |
| 380.768 | Selected Topics in Women's Health and Women's Health Policy | 4 | 1 | - |
WI = Course is offered in the Winter Institute held in January in Baltimore/Washington DC
SI = Course is offered in the Summer Institute in Baltimore
Sponsoring department
Population, Family and Reproductive Health
Contact Information
Certificate Program Contact
Name: Gilbert Morgan
Phone (410)614-6676
Email gmorga13@jhu.edu
Faculty Sponsor
Name Cynthia Minkovitz
Gainful Employment Program Information
In accordance with US Department of Education regulations, the JHU Bloomberg School of Public Health is required to disclose graduation rate data, median loan debt data, and other select information for all Title IV eligible gainful employment programs. To see the most recent data available for this gainful employment program, please view the attached disclosure.