COURSE CURRICULUM

The Social Behavior and Community Health Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the University at Albany provides students with advanced training in public health theory, research, and applied practice, with a strong focus on understanding and improving health behaviors within communities. The program equips students with expertise in core public health areas such as health systems, policy, epidemiology, and evidence-based public health practices. The curriculum is designed to blend foundational knowledge with applied learning experiences, allowing students to develop both analytical and practical skills needed in professional public health settings. Core courses include Biological Basis of Public Health, Introduction to Environmental Health, Principles and Methods of Epidemiology I, Principles in Statistical Inference I, Health Care Organization Delivery and Financing, Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health, and Professional Practice in Public Health. These courses provide a comprehensive understanding of how biological, environmental, and social factors influence population health and how health systems operate and deliver care. In addition to core coursework, students complete additional required classes in Community-Based Public Health, Program Development in Health Promotion, and Program Evaluation, which focus on designing, implementing, and assessing public health interventions at the community level. Elective courses allow students to tailor their education to specific interests in consultation with an advisor, enabling deeper exploration of specialized public health topics. A key component of the program is the Integrative Learning Experience (ILE), where students produce a high-quality written project that demonstrates their ability to integrate and apply public health competencies. The program also emphasizes extensive professional internships in at least two different organizational settings, providing hands-on experience in real-world public health environments. Students may work with diverse populations, including refugees, immigrants, low-income families, people with disabilities, and specific cultural communities. Internship placements often include organizations such as Planned Parenthood, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Montfiore Medical Center, local health departments, and nonprofit organizations. These experiences frequently lead to job offers and prepare students for careers in public health agencies, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and global health institutions, where they can contribute to improving community health outcomes and reducing health disparities.