Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Location

Department

Description

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is dedicated to the education of a diverse group of research scientists and public health professionals, a process inseparably linked to the discovery and application of new knowledge, and through these activities, to the improvement of health and prevention of disease and disability around the world.


The Department of Health, Behavior and Society was established in the summer of 2005 with a mission dedicated to research and training that advances scientific understanding of the impact on health of behaviour and the societal context. Its staff and students seek to understand how behaviours within the environmental context operate at the individual, organisational, community, and societal levels to affect health. And they seek to develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate interventions that facilitate health behaviours to improve health outcomes.

Programmes

1. Master of Health Science (MHS) - Health Education and Health Communication - The MHS programme in Health Education and Health Communication is designed for individuals seeking specialised formal academic training in health education, health promotion, and health communication. The programme equips students with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary for careers in these areas. The curriculum emphasises health promotion, education, and communication strategies for working with individuals, organisations, and communities. A solid foundation in behavioural sciences principles and theories is provided, along with advanced skills in programme planning, implementation, and evaluation. While the curriculum consists of a number of required courses, students are also provided with adequate flexibility to select among numerous electives. Electives can be used to complete certificate programmes in selected areas.
   
   The programme consists of one academic year of coursework and a minimum six-month field-placement experience. The full-time field placement is designed to provide students with an opportunity, under supervision, to apply the knowledge and skills from the classroom to actual health education, promotion, and communication practice.
   
   Students conclude the programme by producing a final paper that critically evaluates an activity or activities performed during the field placement. Part-time applicants are welcome in this programme. Students who successfully complete this degree programme are eligible to sit for the national certification exam to become Certified Health Education Specialists.
   
   
2. PhD/ScD in Social and Behavioral Sciences - Health, Behavior and Society offers doctoral training leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and the Doctor of Science (ScD). The Department organises its doctoral training into two areas of concentration: social and psychological factors influencing health, and health education and communication.
   
   The doctoral programme is designed for individuals seeking training for careers as social and behavioural scientists, health educators, and health promotion or communication specialists in the public health arena. The emphasis of the curriculum is on the application of behavioural and social science perspectives to research on contemporary health problems. Understanding and influencing health behaviours that are risk factors in disease and illness, as well as behaviours that can be considered protective and health enhancing, are emphases of the programme. Training in research methods and programme design and evaluation are also key elements of the curriculum.
   
   Health Education and Communication
   This specialisation focuses on the application of principles from education, communication, behavioural, social science, and psychological theories to encourage health behaviours conducive to optimal health in individuals, groups, and communities. Students are exposed to current research on health education and communication, with particular focus on multilevel ecological models of health and health behaviour, design and evaluation of multifaceted intervention programmes, and patient-provider communication.
   
   Social and Psychological Influences on Health
   This specialisation focuses on social and psychological factors and processes in the aetiology and prevalence of disease in health-care-seeking behaviour, disease prevention, long-term care, and rehabilitation. Students are exposed to current research on health knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs; social and psychological factors in disease aetiology; risk reduction; and cultural influences in public health, including cross-cultural and multilevel studies.

Other Information

Contact

---

How useful did you find the knowledge and contacts on this page to your work?

Average:

0

No votes yet

Your rating: Select ratingCancel ratingPoorOkayGoodGreatAwesome

Your rating: None

COMMENTS POSTED