Population, Family and Reproductive Health

The academic Master's of Health Science (MHS) program allows students to select from the five areas of interest listed below. This full-time, one-year, 64 credit program is designed for those with a desire to enhance their research skills in public health and includes both methods and content courses. Students choose one of four methodological approaches: demography; behavioral and social sciences; epidemiology; or health services research and evaluation. The one-year curriculum is intended for students with two or more years of public health or related experience to inform their area of research inquiry prior to entry into the program. 

The Department's current areas of interest in the MHS program include:

• Adolescent Health
• Child Health
• Maternal, Fetal, and Perinatal Health
• Population and Health
• Women's, Sexual and Reproductive Health

 All PFRH MHS students must attain proficiency in the following three (3) competencies:

1. Applying statistical methods to address the health of populations.
2. Applying epidemiological methods to address the health of populations.
3. Applying ethical concepts and tools to population health research and practice.

Degree Program Competencies

All PFRH MHS students must attain proficiency in three MHS-specific research competencies:

1. Evaluating and applying study designs for addressing research and evaluation questions about the health of populations.
2. Evaluating and applying rigorous strategies for measurement and data collection across a range of study designs.
3. Translating and communicating research findings to researchers, policy makers, and the public.

Area of Interest Competencies

All PFRH MHS students must attain proficiency in five competencies:

1. Applying a life course framework to understand population health problems related to their area of interest, including multiple determinants framework for the health of populations across the life course.
2. Identifying and assessing the causes and consequences of population change using demographic methods.
3. Assessing the principal health concerns for the populations relevant to the area of interest , the associated population-based risk factors, and the relative impact of each risk factor.
4. Evaluating strategies to promote population health, including health services and systems delivery strategies used to address health concerns in the relevant populations.
5. Applying frameworks specific to the area of interest (beyond life course) for improving the health of the relevant populations.

CEPH Learning Objectives

All PFRH MHS students must attain proficiency in twelve CEPH Learning Objectives:

1. Explain public health history, philosophy and values
2. Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Services
3. Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population's health
4. List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the US or other community relevant to the school or program
5. Discuss the science of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc.
6. Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge
7. Explain effects of environmental factors on a population's health
8. Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population's health
9. Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population's health
10. Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities
11. Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease
12. Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health and ecosystem health (e.g., One Health)

Hopkins invests in developing global perspectives so students can be engaged citizens wherever they are.

As a global university with students from all over the world, we welcome all kinds of experiences and new ways of thinking. We’re here to connect international students with the resources you need to become leaders and active members in our community and beyond. 

Please email [email protected] with any general international admissions questions. You can also email your regional admissions counselor if you have any questions specific to the area where you live or study.