Maternal and Child Health Certificate Requirements

1. Coursework 
Students are required to complete a minimum of 12 credit hours with a ‘B’ or better in each course to receive the certificate.

Students are required to take the following Foundational MCH Course (2 credits):

  • NUTR 615 Foundations in Maternal and Child Health (Winter, 2 credits)

Students are required to take four of the following MCH elective courses (>10 credits):

  • BIOSTAT 521: Applied Biostatistics (Fall, 3 credits)
  • BIOSTAT 650: Theory and Application of Linear Regression (Fall, 4 credits)
  • EHS 660: Environmental Epigenetics and Public Health (Winter, 2 credits)
  • EPID 514: Social Epidemiology (Fall, 3 credits)
  • EPID 673: Epidemiology of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (Winter, 2 credits)
  • EPID 696: Pregnancy and Perinatal Epidemiology (Winter, 3 credits)
  • HBHEQ 634: Child Health and Development (Fall, 3 credits)
  • HBHEQ 629: Families and Health (Winter, 3 credits)
  • HBHEQ 710: Special MPH Topics In Health Behavior And Health Equity (Women’s Health, Instructor: King) (Winter, 3 credits)
  • HBHEQ 540: Reproductive Health (Winter, 3 credits)
  • HMP 626: Belonging and Difference In Health, Healthcare, And Health Policy (Fall, 3 credits)
  • NUTR 510: Nutrition in the Life Cycle (Winter, 3 credits)
  • NUTR 540: Maternal and Child Nutrition (Winter, 2 credits)
  • NUTR 593: Food Security, Policy, and Programs (Fall, 3 credits)
  • NUTR 650: Socio-Ecological Approaches To Child And Adolescent Nutrition (Winter, 3 Credits)
  • NUTR 677: Physical Growth and Maturation (Fall, 2 credits

2. MCH-FOCUSED PRACTICE OR RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (>84 hours)
Students must complete 84 hours of a MCH-Focused practice and/or research experience. The experience should meaningfully contribute to the health and well-being of MCH populations through engagement in public health practice or research. The work must extend beyond routine tasks and involve applying or developing MCH-relevant skills. Students should complete this survey for approval of their MCH-focused experience (survey preview document).

Examples of Eligible Activities:

  • Conducting needs assessments
  • Providing health education or counseling
  • Supporting program development or evaluation
  • Collecting or analyzing data
  • Contributing to policy or communications work
  • Engaging with community partners
  • Offering technical assistance
  • Performing other activities that strengthen MCH programs or services

Note: Experiences based primarily on routine care, childcare, classroom support, or clerical tasks do not qualify unless paired with skills-based activities listed above

3. MCHSA membership
Students pursuing the MCH Certificate are required to become members of the Maternal and Child Health Student Association (MCHSA). To join, students can complete MCHSA interest form.