Overview
The Master of Science degree program in Prevention Science and Community Health is a 33-credit hour program that is intended to train the next generation of researchers and practitioners who are committed to reducing the mortality and morbidity attributable to behaviorally-based, preventable causes of illness, disorder, and death; and promoting health and well-being, in the United States and internationally. Our focus is on the community as the primary domain for intervention development, implementation, and evaluation. Students are trained in the fundamentals of prevention science, including (a) the assessment of risk and protective factors that predict and modify health and behavior outcomes; (b) the development of preventive interventions that target these risk and protective factors; and (c) the implementation and evaluation of these interventions. Students in the program will develop skills in translating prevention research into demonstrable preventive action, and to successfully partner with communities and organizations for the implementation of evidence-based preventive interventions with fidelity and sensitivity to communities’ diversity and unique strengths.
The focus of this program is in line with the seven priority areas of the U.S. National Prevention Strategy (e.g., tobacco-free living, preventing drug abuse and excessive alcohol use, healthy eating, active living, injury and violence-free living, reproductive and sexual health, and mental/emotional well-being), as implemented through the Strategy’s strategic directions of creating healthy and safe communities, eliminating health disparities, providing clinical and community prevention services, and empowering people. The program is in intended to prepare students for research or technical positions in government, industry, academia, or private institutions, as well as to pursue future doctoral studies in medicine and public health.
Admission Requirements
Master of Science in Prevention Science and Community Health (MS) - Admission Requirements
- All applicants for the Master of Science in Prevention Science and Community Health program must submit the following items on SOPHAS:
- Application fee
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of Purpose/Personal statement
- Official transcripts from every post-secondary school attended
- This graduate degree program also requires submission of certain supplemental materials, including:
- TOEFL/IELTS score, as applicable
- Foreign evaluation on international transcripts, as applicable
For more detailed information, please visit our Public Health Sciences Graduate Studies Admission Website.
For further information, please contact:
Ginelle Solis, EdD, MPA
Director of Admissions and Recruitment
Department of Public Health Sciences
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Tel: 305-243-7246
Email: publichealthadmissions@miami.edu
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| EPH 600 | Introduction to the Science Practice of Public Health | 3 |
| EPH 623 | Determinants of Health and Health Disparities Across the Life Course | 3 |
| EPH 617 | Disease Prevention and Health Promotion | 3 |
| EPH 717 | Integrating Behavior Health Theories and Models | 3 |
| EPH 731 | Developing, Adapting and Evaluating Interventions | 3 |
| EPH 732 | Introduction to Dissemination and Implementation Science | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | |
Student selects 3 credits of elective with faculty advisor approval, EPH-600 or 700 or other departments graduate level courses not already listed | ||
| Statistics/Research Methods Courses | 6 | |
Students complete 6 credits of coursework in statistics or research methodology from a pre-approved list of courses. | ||
| Statistical Principles of Clinical Trials | ||
| Survey of Statistical Computing | ||
| Longitudinal and Multilevel Data | ||
| Data Science and Machine Learning for Health Research | ||
| Clinical Trials | ||
| Fundamentals of Program Evaluation | ||
| Community Based Participatory Research and Social Network Analysis | ||
| Research Methods | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods | ||
| Fundamentals of Healthcare Analytics | ||
| Advanced Statistical Methods I | ||
| Advanced Statistical Methods II | ||
| Chronic Disease Epidemiology | ||
| Climate, Environment, and Health: Data Integration and Management | ||
| Survival Analysis in Clinical Trials | ||
| Advanced Research Methods | ||
| Design Implementation of Epidemiologic Studies | ||
| Epidemiologic Methods and Reasoning | ||
| Methods in Epidemiology | ||
| Thesis Courses 1 | ||
| EPH 810 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 33 | |
- 1
The MS Thesis requires an individual investigation of a current public health problem and allows the student to demonstrate competency in the development and implementation of a research question. Students will work closely with a faculty advisor and the thesis committee during their investigation. The master's thesis requires 6 credits, and its process, requirements, format and deadlines follows the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) requirements of the Graduate School. Students should register for 1-3 credits to complete the proposal and form a committee in one semester, and register the remaining master's thesis credits in a later semester to defend the thesis and complete all requirements.
Plan of Study
The Master of Science in Prevention Science and Community Health curriculum consists of required coursework in prevention science and public health, required coursework in statistics/research methodology, credit hours in elective coursework (chosen in consultation with the program advisor), and required credit hours dedicated to proposing and completing a research thesis. The average time to completion is 2 years.
Below is a Sample Study Plan - students will work with their mentor to develop a personalized plan:
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| EPH 600 | Introduction to the Science Practice of Public Health | 3 |
| EPH 617 | Disease Prevention and Health Promotion | 3 |
| EPH 717 | Integrating Behavior Health Theories and Models | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| EPH Methods Course | 3 | |
| EPH Method Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| EPH 623 | Determinants of Health and Health Disparities Across the Life Course | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| EPH 731 | Developing, Adapting and Evaluating Interventions | 3 |
| EPH 810 | Master's Thesis (Master's Thesis (Proposal)) 1 | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| EPH 732 | Introduction to Dissemination and Implementation Science | 3 |
| EPH 810 | Master's Thesis (Master's Thesis (Defense)) 1 | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 33 | |
- 1
Master's Thesis: EPH 810 section 01, Proposal must be completed prior to enrolling in EPH 810 section DEF, Defense. The 810 Master Thesis follows the ETD requirements from Graduate School.
Mission
The mission of the Graduate Programs in Public Health is to develop leaders who can generate and translate knowledge into policy and practice to promote health and prevent disease in human populations.
Goals
Upon completion of the Master of Science in Prevention Science and Community Health (MS) degree, all graduates will be able to:
- Apply epidemiologic methods to the measurement and study of prevention science;
- Describe the origins, foundations, and standards of prevention science;
- Design and carry out theoretically-grounded research studies that contribute to the literature on risk and protective factors, and identify their mechanisms of influence associated with health and behavior outcomes across the lifespan;
- Explain evidence-based preventive interventions and how to apply prevention science to the design, implementation, adaptation, and evaluation of preventive interventions;
- Integrate knowledge of research design, quantitative and qualitative methods, data analysis, and multi-method, multi-agent assessment methods commonly used in prevention science into research activities;
- Communicate research findings and conclusions (written and oral) in a clear and concise manner;
- Describe the importance of diversity and contextual issues such as culture, identity, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marginalization, poverty, inequality, and religion in research and applied activities.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills in the presentation of prevention science and related areas.
- Students will develop and demonstrate the ability to make scholarly contributions to the field.
- Students will demonstrate mastery of research competencies.
