University of Maryland Graduate Catalog Fall 2009

Public Health: Maternal and Child Health Ph.D. (MCHS)

Faculty

Chair
Koblinsky, Sally A.,

Professor
Anderson, Elaine A., Epstein, Norman B., Hofferth, Sandra L.,

Associate Professor
Braun, Bonnie, Kim, Jinhee, Leslie, Leigh A., Randolph, Suzanne M., Roy, Kevin, Wallen, Jacqueline,

Assistant Professor
LaTaillade, Jaslean,

Abstract

Maternal and child health is an interdisciplinary field in which empirical research, epidemiological data, and policy analyses are used to understand individual, family, community, and sociocultural factors that influence health behaviors, health outcomes, and use of health services by mothers, children, adolescents, and their families (including fathers). The MCH program prepares students to advance research, policy, and practice to improve the health, safety, and well-being of these groups, with a particular emphasis on low income and ethnic minority populations. The program equips students to address MCH issues at both the family and population levels. It is unique in its focus on the whole family system and family health policy. Ph.D. graduates in MCH are prepared for academic and research positions in colleges and universities; high level administrative or research positions in city/county/state/national health and human service agencies; and leadership positions in nongovernmental and advocacy organizations. MCH graduates are also increasingly hired by private health care organizations such as hospitals, HMOs, and health insurers.

Admissions Information

Application Deadlines

	Fall	Spring
Domestic Applicants: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
Domestic Applicant Deadlines	Applications and all supporting materials must be received by January 15th .
International Applicants: Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials IMPORTANT:   International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas	February 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1	June 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants	May 1 If Domestic Deadline is after May 1	October 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials	May 15 If Domestic Deadline is after May 15	October 31 If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Application Requirements

Applicants to the MCH Ph.D. program should have an MPH degree or a social/behavioral science master's degree that focuses on family, maternal, and/or child health issues (including mental health). Prior to entry, students must also have completed at least one semester of a university-supervised, graduate level professional experience in a public health or mental health setting. Students without the MPH degree must complete the required 5 public health core courses (biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health services administration, and social and behavioral sciences) within one academic year of their entry into the program. Applicants should also have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0. GREs of at least 1000 (verbal and quantitative combined) are required.

Degree Requirements

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Ph.D. program requires 48 graduate credit hours beyond the master's degree, including a maternal and child health core (24 credits), a research methods core (12 credits), and the dissertation (12 credits). Students in the Ph.D. program advance to candidacy after completing required coursework and passing a written comprehensive examination. After advancement to candidacy, students must complete a dissertation proposal and oral defense, followed by the doctoral dissertation and oral dissertation defense.

Financial Assistance

Fellowships and Graduate Assistantships are available to students admitted into the MCH Ph.D program.

Contact Information

For additional information contact: Dr. Sally Koblinsky (Chair), Dr. Edmond Shenassa (MCH Program Director), or Dr. Leigh Leslie (Graduate Director). Maternal and Child Health Ph.D. Program Department of Family Science 1204 Marie Mount Hall University of Maryland Phone 301-405-3672 Fax 301-314-9161 http://www.sph.umd.edu/fmsc

current URL: http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog/programs/printable.cfm?CODE=754

Copyright 2001 University of Maryland