Below is the current list of available degree programs. You may click on any of the program titles below and view the sample degree planner.

Society, Human Development, and Health Degree Programs (SHH)

Doctorate

General - Society, Human Development and Health (sample course schedule)

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This Doctor of Science program provides a common core education addressing issues of society, human development, and health at the same time as developing expertise in one of four areas (health and social policy, human development, planned social change, and the social determinants of health). Students must select an academic focus in one of the four areas of interest. Graduates pursue careers in such areas as academia, government, research, policymaking, and program development.

Applicants enter the doctoral program with a strong foundation in the social, behavioral, clinical, public health, or natural sciences and with an earned master's degree in a social science. Applicants to the Doctor of Public Health must hold an MPH and a prior doctoral degree.

 

Health Communications Concentration (sample course schedule)

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This Doctor of Science is an interdisciplinary concentration housed within the Department of Society, Human Development, and Health. HCC prepares students who are interested in health communication to apply rigorous, theory-based research and methods to health and risk communication and to apply and evaluate health communication technologies. Graduates pursue positions in academia, research, public health communication, policymaking, journalism, or communication professions.

This Doctor of Science concentration is open to all HSPH doctoral students. As the concentration does not offer a degree, prospective students must apply to a degree program which can be in any department. Students must fulfill the requirements of the home department and the requirements of the concentration. Applicants to the Doctor of Public Health program must hold an MPH and a prior doctoral degree.

 

Maternal and Child Health Concentration (sample course schedule)

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This Doctor of Science concentration in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) provides education in physical and cognitive development, health problems of children and their families, relevant health services and policies, appropriate research methods, and program planning and evaluation. Graduates pursue leadership roles in academia or other areas of public health.

This Doctor of Science concentration is open to all SHDH doctoral students. Prospective students must apply to the general SHDH doctoral degree program. Students must fulfill the requirements of the general SHDH doctoral degree program and the requirements of the concentration. Applicants to the Doctor of Public Health program must hold an MPH and a prior doctoral degree.

 

Women, Gender, & Health Concentration (sample course schedule)

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This Doctor of Science concentration in Women, Gender, and Health (WGH) provides the study of the health of women and girls - and men and boys - throughout the lifecourse, with gender, gender equality, and biology understood as important and interacting determinants of well-being and disease. Students from any academic department at the Harvard School of Public Health are invited to complete the Women, Gender and Health concentration.

This Doctor of Science concentration is open to all HSPH doctoral students. As the concentration does not offer a degree, prospective students must apply to a degree program which can be in any department. Students must fulfill the requirements of the home department and the requirements of the concentration.

 

 

Masters

General - Society, Human Development & Health - 42.5 credit program (sample course schedule)

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This Master of Science program is intended to prepare students for research careers in public and private agencies. Students in this program must fulfill schoolwide requirements and earn 15 credits in departmental courses. They work closely with their advisers to develop a study plan to meet their particular academic and career goals.

Applicants eligible for the 42.5-credit program are established practitioners or investigators holding prior master's degrees in the social/behavioral sciences, health care, or a public health field.

 

General - Society, Human Development & Health - 80 credit program (sample course schedule)

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This Master of Science program prepares students for a variety of positions in community, public, and private settings. These roles include design, management, and evaluation of programs, particularly health promotion and disease prevention, health communication, and those providing services to women, youth, and children. Other roles include work in research, public policy, and advocacy.

Applicants are encouraged to have a strong background in social sciences and/or natural sciences, public health experience, and defined public health goals. Solid mathematics, writing skills, critical reading and writing, drawing inferences, and rigorous analysis are crucial. Previous graduate work is not required.

 

Health Communication Concentration (sample course schedule)

View the degree competencies for this program.

The Health Communication Concentration (HCC) is an interdisciplinary concentration housed within the Department of Society, Human Development, and Health. HCC prepares students who are interested in health communication to apply rigorous, theory-based research and methods to health and risk communication and to apply and evaluate health communication technologies.

This Master of Science concentration is open to all HSPH two-year master students. As the concentration does not offer a degree, prospective students must apply to a degree program which can be in any department. Students must fulfill the requirements of the home department and the requirements of the concentration. Students should indicate their interest in the concentration by contacting the HCC Coordinator, Shoba Ramanadhan, at: sramanad@hsph.harvard.edu.

 

Maternal & Child Health Concentration (Research) (sample course schedule)

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This Master of Science concentration is for those wishing to develop research, advocacy, or policy. The concentration is intended to prepare students for research careers in public and private agencies. The curriculum provides education in physical and cognitive development, health problems of children and their families, relevant health services and policies, appropriate research methods, and program planning and evaluation.

Applicants eligible for the 42.5 credit program are established practitioners or investigators holding prior master's or doctoral degrees in the social/behavioral sciences, health care, or a public health field. This Master of Science concentration is open to all qualified SHDH students. As the concentration does not offer a degree, prospective students must apply to the SHDH masters degree program. Students must fulfill the SHDH masters program requirements and the requirements of the concentration.

 

Maternal & Child Health Concentration (sample course schedule)

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This Master of Science concentration is an intradepartmental concentration in the Department of Society, Human Development and Health. The curriculum provides education in physical and cognitive development, health problems of children and their families, relevant health services and policies, appropriate research methods, and program planning and evaluation.

This Master of Science concentration is open to all SHDH two-year masters students. As the concentration does not offer a degree, prospective students must apply to the SHDH masters degree program. Students must fulfill the requirements of the SHDH masters program and the requirements of the concentration.

 

Maternal and Child Health Dual Degree with Simmons College (sample course schedule)

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This Master of Science dual degree program offered with Simmons College is designed to prepare nurse practitioners and social workers for leadership roles in public and private institutions serving children and their families. Recent graduates have taken such positions as Director of Clinical Services for state family planning and Staff Director for WHO.

Applicants should have a relevant bachelor's degree and the equivalent of at least three years relevant experience. International nurses applying to the program must have equivalent licensure. Applicants must appy to and be accepted by both HSPH and Simmons College.

 

Women, Gender, & Health (sample course schedule)

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This Master of Science concentration is an interdepartmental concentration geared toward students who desire careers in research, teaching, and programs related to women, gender, and health.

This Master of Science concentration is open to all HSPH two-year masters students. As the concentration does not offer a degree, prospective students must apply to a degree program which can be in any department. Students must fulfill the requirements of the home department and the requirements of the concentration.