Welcome to the Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS) website.  CHS is the academic department within the UCLA School of Public Health (SPH) concerned with social and behavioral research applied to health, health promotion, and public health practice.  Our focus is on programs, policies, and actions that can promote health in the context of social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental factors.  Of particular interest is how social and cultural factors, social programs, the health care system, and social policies influence health beliefs and perceptions, health behaviors, and health status within populations.  The department prides itself on its reputation of academic excellence and stellar research activities.

The CHS faculty is multidisciplinary and includes those whose primary training is in the social sciences, behavioral sciences, medicine, nutrition, demography, economics, health promotion and education. The faculty maintain active research and training collaborations with a wide variety of agencies and departments both internal and external to the university.  Additionally, many of the faculty pursue research at regional, national and international levels.

The department offers both master’s and doctoral degrees.  The curriculum integrates basic theories, research methods and programmatic strategies and applies them to real problems of human populations.  

Most master’s degree students receive the M.P.H. degree; however, there is also an M.S.P.H. degree, as well as a number of combined degrees.  The department also offers an Executive M.P.H. for working professionals.  Graduates of the master’s programs generally assume positions in the planning, administration, and evaluation of public health programs and policies, both in the U.S. and abroad, which have as their objective the maintenance and improvement of the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations.  Master’s students may, if they choose, focus on the following areas during their course of study: health education and promotion, social and behavioral sciences, child and family health, public health nutrition, population, health policy, aging and the life course, international health, disasters and public health, and women's health.

Two doctoral programs are offered, the Dr.P.H. and the Ph.D. Graduates of the doctoral programs assume leadership positions in a wide variety of settings, including universities, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, international health agencies, and research centers.  Doctoral students also select a minor area of focus.  Dr.P.H. students focus on another field within the School of Public Health, while Ph.D. students focus on a field outside of SPH such as Sociology, Anthropology, Education, Economics, Psychology, and Women’s Studies among others.  Additional information on our academic programs can be found under “Information for Prospective and Current Students”  including links to course listings and program requirements. 

I encourage you to browse our website to learn more about the CHS department.  Here you will find information on our academic programs, research activities, faculty, and links to affiliated research centers. 

Anne Pebley

Department Chair

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