 |
About CHS
Greetings!
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
Back to the
top |