Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health

MSPH in Health, Behavior and Society (Health Education and Health Communication)

The MSPH degree in Health Education and Health Communication offers specialized formal academic training in health education, health promotion, and health communication.

The program equips students with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary for careers in these areas. The curriculum develops skills in: understanding social and behavior change; developing, implementing, and evaluating programs; and advocating and communicating effectively with individuals, organizations, communities, and policymakers.

Example job titles in this field include (but are not limited to):

• Communications Specialist
• Research Program Coordinator
• Training Manager
• Patient Outreach Coordinator
• Evaluation Specialist
• Program Director
• Population Health Research Associate
• Grants officer

The program, completed in one-and-one-half to two years, consists of one academic year of coursework, a minimum six-month field placement experience, and a practice-based proposal. The full-time field placement is designed to provide students with an opportunity, under supervision, to apply the knowledge and skills from the classroom to real-world health education, promotion, and communication practice.

Part-time applicants are welcome in this program.

Students conclude the program by producing a practice-based proposal on a topic relevant to their field placement. Students who successfully complete this degree program are eligible to sit for the national certification exam to become Certified Health Education Specialists.

An update on GRE requirements and COVID-19

The Department of Health, Behavior & Society recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic may significantly impede prospective students’ ability to complete standardized testing requirements. To help address the unique challenges the pandemic has presented, the Department of Health, Behavior & Society has opted to alter our policy requiring GRE scores for applicants to the 2021-2022 academic year.

For prospective students applying to all HBS academic programs for the 2021-2022 academic year, GRE scores will be optional but highly recommended. We encourage applicants with existing GRE scores to include them as part of their applications. However, applications will still be reviewed without GRE scores.

Applicants may submit GRE scores to BSPH using the SOPHAS code 3738.