Overview
The MPH public health core curriculum is developed in accordance with the Council on Education for Public Health’s 12 Foundational Public Health Knowledge learning objectives and 22 MPH Foundational Competencies required of all students receiving an MPH degree at accredited institutions. Learn more about the MPH program curriculum and competencies.
The MPH public health core curriculum is required of all Harvard Chan MPH students and is comprised of a school-wide, pre-matriculation course, ID 100: Foundations for Public Health; the biostatistics and epidemiology core; and five courses (MPH 101 – MPH 105) in other foundational public health areas. These courses are offered at distinct times of year for select fields of study and are summarized below. Students are encouraged to review the MPH Curriculum Guide for guidance on when these courses should be completed for their program.
For questions about the MPH public health core, please contact the MPH-OEP Office at mph@hsph.harvard.edu, or Sarah Stillman, Office of Education Course Manager, at stillman@hsph.harvard.edu.
ID 100: Foundations for Public Health
Overview
All MPH students are required to complete a school-wide, pre-matriculation course, ID 100: Foundations for Public Health, in their first year of the program. This 1-credit course covers the 12 Foundational Public Health Knowledge learning objectives. ID 100 is an online, asynchronous course which consists of four modules and takes approximately 10-12 hours to complete. Students will be automatically given access to the ID 100 course materials via Canvas in July and can complete the course at their own pace. Since this course is considered a pre-matriculation requirement, students are strongly encouraged to complete all four modules prior to Fall Orientation but can take until the end of Fall 1 if needed. In order to receive credit for this course, students must enroll themselves in ID 100 via my.harvard prior to the Fall/Fall 1 add/drop deadline.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to public health and establish a solid foundation for your education, experience and engagement over the next year. You will be introduced to the principles and science of public health, the major causes of morbidity and mortality, the social determinants of health, and the ways society can respond from the health sector and from outside the health sector. You will become familiar with commonly used metrics and measures that make up the “language of public health” and be exposed to conceptual frameworks that will help you to “ask the right questions”. We will explore some of the most important interdisciplinary health problems facing populations – locally and globally. Adopting an ecologic perspective, we will pay particular attention to transnational risks and global governance – preparing you to engage academically and professionally with the most consequential challenges of our times – from pandemic risk to climate change.
Biostatistics and Epidemiology Core
Overview
The biostatistics and epidemiology core covers Competencies 1 -4 of the 22 MPH Foundational Competencies. Most MPH students take ID 201 to fulfill their biostatistics and epidemiology core requirements, with the exception of students in the Clinical Effectiveness, Epidemiology, and Quantitative Methods fields of study who take different courses to fulfill their biostatistics and epidemiology core requirements (see below).
Course Descriptions
For Most MPH-45 and MPH-65 Fields of Study (unless otherwise noted below)
ID 201: Core Principles of Biostatistics and Epidemiology for Public Health Practice is an integrated course required for all MPH-65 students and for MPH-45 students in the Generalist, Global Health, Health Management, Health Policy, Health and Social Behavior, and Occupational and Environmental Health fields of study. This 7.5-credit course is only offered in the fall semester has both a lecture and lab component.
For MPH-45 in Clinical Effectiveness
Students in the Clinical Effectiveness field of study are required to take BST 206: Introductory Statistics for Medical Research (Summer 1, 2.5cr), BST 207 or BST 208: Statistics for Medical Research (Summer 2, 2.5cr), and EPI 208: Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology (Summer, 5.0cr) to fulfill their biostatistics and epidemiology core requirements (10 credits total). These courses are only available to students also admitted to the Program in Clinical Effectiveness.
For MPH-45 in Epidemiology
Students in the Epidemiology field of study are required to take ID 207 and ID 208: Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics (June and Summer, 10 credits total) to fulfill their biostatistics and epidemiology core requirements. These courses are only available to students in the MPH-EPI program.
For MPH-45 in Quantitative Methods
Students in the Quantitative Methods (QM) field of study are required to take BST 201: Introduction to Statistical Methods (Fall, 5.0cr), EPI 201: Introduction to Epidemiology: Methods I (Fall 1, 2.5 cr), and EPI 202: Epidemiologic Methods II (Fall 2, 2.5cr) to fulfill their biostatistics and epidemiology core requirements (10 credits total).* Alternatively, QM students who start in summer may take BST 202 (Summer 1, 2.5cr), BST 203 (Summer 2, 2.5cr), EPI 500 (Summer 1, 2.5cr), and EPI 202S (Summer 2, 2.5cr) to fulfill their biostatistics and/or epidemiology core requirements.
*The advanced sequence (BST 201, EPI 201, and EPI 202) is also available to students in other MPH-45 and MPH-65 (residential) fields of study with instructor permission and no course conflicts with field of study requirements.
MPH 101: Qualitative Methods for Public Health
Overview
MPH 101: Qualitative Methods for Public Health: A Brief Introduction is an asynchronous, self-paced, online course which takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete. The course is worth 0.25 credits and is offered two times during the academic year to specific fields of study. All MPH students are required to complete MPH 101 in their first year of the program.
- Summer (July – August): This section of the course is only open to students in the Epidemiology and Clinical Effectiveness (summer-only) fields of study.
- Fall 2: This section of the course is open to all MPH students. Most MPH students complete this course during the Fall 2 term.
Course Description
This online module will provide a basic introduction to qualitative methods in public health research. It is intended for students with little or no prior knowledge of qualitative research methods, but who have an interest in using or conducting qualitative research to inform health policy and practice. The module will provide an overview of the qualitative research paradigm, including fundamental principles of the paradigm, potential uses of qualitative inquiry in addressing public health issues, the value and utility of core data generation methods, and basic principles of qualitative data analysis.
MPH 102: Health Systems
Overview
MPH 102: Health Systems is an online 1.25-credit course offered three times during the academic year to specific fields of study. This course’s required content will be delivered in an asynchronous format with set deadlines for the completion of each module. Optional in-person and remote synchronous sessions will be offered to provide students with additional opportunities to engage with the course material.
- Summer 1: This section of the course is only open to students in the Epidemiology, Clinical Effectiveness, and Quantitative Methods fields of study, and continuing part-time MPH-45 students. This course is an intensive 3-week version.
- Fall 1: This section of the course is open to all MPH students. Most MPH students complete this course during the Fall 1 term (approx. 8 weeks).
- WinterSession: This section of the course is only open to students in the Epidemiology, Clinical Effectiveness, Health Management (both -45 and -65), and Quantitative Methods fields of study, and part-time MPH-45 and MPH-65 students. This course is an intensive 2-week version.
Course Description
Health systems are the foundation of health care delivery and an essential component of the public health landscape. MPH 102: Health Systems is designed to provide MPH students with an understanding of the components of a health system and alternative ways of understanding its structure, functions, and effectiveness. Through exploring both global and U.S. health systems within a comparative framework, students will learn to analyze the different choices that countries make in providing health coverage and health care to their populations and the challenges and benefits that these choices entail. This is an introductory survey course that enables students to learn essential concepts in each topic area.
MPH 103: Leadership and Communication
Overview
MPH 103: Leadership and Communication is an online 1.25-credit course offered once during the academic year in Fall 2. This course’s required content will be delivered in an asynchronous format with set deadlines for the completion of each module. Optional in-person and remote synchronous sessions will be offered to provide students with additional opportunities to engage with the course material.
- Fall 2: All MPH students should enroll in this section of the course. This course takes place over the Fall 2 term (approx. 8 weeks).
Course Description
The effective practice of public health in the 21st century requires working with interdisciplinary teams, communicating effectively with diverse audiences, and successfully leading and managing others to achieve better health outcomes for all populations. This course is designed to provide MPH students with an understanding of, and appreciation for, the fundamentals of leadership, management, and governance; cultural competence; and communicating with different audiences. Through case study analysis, experiential exercises, simulations, lectures, practitioner panels, and application activities and assignments, students will explore the opportunities and challenges of being in leadership positions and will develop important skills in negotiation and mediation, budgeting and resource management, systems thinking, and selecting and developing a variety of audience-appropriate communication strategies.
MPH 104: Social, Behavioral, and Structural Determinants of Health
Overview
MPH 104: Social, Behavioral, and Structural Determinants of Health is an online 1.25-credit course offered three times during the academic year to specific fields of study. This course’s required content will be delivered in an asynchronous format with set deadlines for the completion of each module. Optional in-person and remote synchronous sessions will be offered to provide students with additional opportunities to engage with the course material.
- Summer 1: This section of the course is only open to students in the Epidemiology, Clinical Effectiveness, and Quantitative Methods fields of study, and continuing part-time MPH-45 students. This course is an intensive 3-week version.
- Fall 1: This section of the course is open to all MPH students. Most MPH students complete this course during the Fall 1 term (approx. 8 weeks).
- WinterSession: This section of the course is only open to students in the Epidemiology, Clinical Effectiveness, Health Management (both -45 and -65), and Quantitative Methods fields of study, and part-time MPH-45 and MPH-65 students. This course is an intensive 2-week version.
Course Description
MPH 104: Social, Behavioral, and Structural Determinants of Health aims to provide an introduction to the social determinants of health, examine how social determinants influence the health of individuals, communities, and populations, provide an overview of public health intervention and evaluation approaches, and introduce health advocacy. Faculty will offer foundational frameworks and theories, discuss relevant research, explore potential interventions to improve health status and health outcomes, and encourage participants to apply their learning to current US and international contexts and issues. In addition to weekly discussion boards and check-in quizzes to grapple with the weekly material, students will get to complete two written assignments centered around identifying and addressing a solution about a health disparity in their home community. After learning the basics of how to write a critical communication/advocacy format (i.e. an op-ed), students will author one as the final assignment for this course.
MPH 105: Public Health Policy and Politics
Overview
MPH 105: Public Health Policy and Politics is an online 1.25-credit course offered two times during the academic year to specific fields of study. This course’s required content will be delivered in a synchronous format. Optional in-person and remote synchronous sessions will be offered to provide students with additional opportunities to engage with the course material.
- June: This section of the course is only open to students in the MPH-EPI program. This course is an intensive 4-day version.
- Fall 2: This section of the course is open to all MPH students. Most MPH students complete this course during the Fall 2 term (approx. 8 weeks).
Course Description
The effective practice of public health in the 21st century demands familiarity with the dynamics of policy development. This includes policy development, enactment, implementation, evaluation, and revision, plus understanding political dynamics to achieve policy change and improvement. While this pursuit is lifelong, learning key foundational elements can quicken and broaden effective inquiry and engagement. This course will introduce MPH students to core and essential elements of policy and politics in the public health context, laying a foundation on which students can expand their familiarity and sophistication throughout their professional careers. Most of the sessions will include the use of a case study to illuminate and explore policy concepts and to familiarize students with public health policy areas.
Last updated: 08.17.2021