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Community and Behavioral Health

The Department of Community and Behavioral Health examines the relationship between human behavior and community health and focuses on creating effective strategies for change. Its faculty members come from a variety of disciplines within the social and health sciences, drawn together by an interest in health behavior and promoting healthy communities.

Community and behavioral health students learn how to design, implement, and evaluate interventions directed toward identified public health problems in communities. They learn how public and institutional policy, the media, and community organizations can promote healthy behavior and effect positive change.

Graduate Programs

The department offers a Master of Science in community and behavioral health, with a subtrack in health communication; and a Doctor of Philosophy in community and behavioral health, with an addiction studies subtrack and a health communication subtrack.

It also offers two subtracks and two focus areas for the Master of Public Health: the community and behavioral health subtrack, the health communication subtrack, the nutrition and exercise focus area, and the maternal, child, and family health focus area. See "M.P.H. Subtracks and Focus Areas" below.

Master of Science

The Master of Science in community and behavioral health requires 35 s.h. of graduate credit, including a thesis. The program prepares students for research and professional positions in community and behavioral health or for Ph.D. study in community and behavioral health. The degree is offered with an optional subtrack in health communication; see "M.S. Subtrack in Health Communication" below.

During the first semester, M.S. students work with their academic advisor to develop a plan of study that satisfies their interests and professional goals as well as the program's requirements. Students are required to attend departmental seminars and to complete the following courses.

COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH CORE

All of these (9 s.h.): 

BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES CORE

Three of these (9 s.h.): 

RESEARCH METHODS CORE

Two of these (6 s.h.): 

CONTENT AREA ELECTIVES

Students work with their advisors to select at least 5 s.h. of course work appropriate to their educational goals and emphasis areas. They may choose from any community and behavioral health courses not already taken, other College of Public Health courses, or other University of Iowa graduate-level courses.

THESIS

The thesis requirement is 6 s.h.

M.S. Subtrack in Health Communication

The M.S. subtrack in health communication is designed for students who wish to gain knowledge and skill in designing, evaluating, and implementing effective communication strategies and messages that use mediated and interpersonal channels to address the health needs of diverse audiences. The program focuses on clinician-patient interaction, family communication, group and organizational communication, and mass media and web-based campaigns.

The health communication subtrack combines the M.S. core course work with additional concentrated learning opportunities. Students fulfill the regular M.S. requirements, using the health communication core to satisfy the content area electives requirement.

HEALTH COMMUNICATION CORE

Four of these (12 s.h.): 

M.P.H. Subtracks and Focus Areas

The Department of Community and Behavioral Health offers two subtracks (community and behavioral health, and health communication) and two focus areas (maternal, child, and family health; and nutrition and exercise) for the Master of Public Health. For detailed information about the M.P.H. degree, see Master of Public Health Program in the Catalog.

M.P.H. Subtrack in Community and Behavioral Health

The M.P.H. subtrack in community and behavioral health prepares public health practitioners for a variety of positions in community development, health program implementation, and health education.

M.P.H. Subtrack in Health Communication

The M.P.H. subtrack in health communication prepares public health practitioners for a variety of employment opportunities in health communication strategies, health communication in groups and organizations, and mass media/web-based campaigns in health promotion.

M.P.H. Focus Area in Maternal, Child, and Family Health

The M.P.H. focus area in maternal, child, and family health prepares public health practitioners for employment in maternal, child, and family health positions that involve identifying problems, analyzing data, and developing solutions to maternal, child, and family health issues.

M.P.H. Focus Area in Nutrition and Exercise

The M.P.H. focus area in nutrition and exercise prepares public health practitioners for employment in community health promotion programs where nutrition and exercise research is applied. Students learn skills for working with clients to make behavioral changes such as altering diet and exercise patterns.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy in community and behavioral health requires at least 75 s.h. of graduate credit, including credit from a master's degree. The program prepares individuals for academic, research, and policy-making work in the social and behavioral health sciences. This fast-growing academic specialty offers many career opportunities in academic and research institutions. The Ph.D. is offered with subtracks in addiction studies and health communication; see "Ph.D. Subtrack in Addiction Studies" and "Ph.D. Subtrack in Health Communication" below

Ph.D. students must successfully complete a qualifying exam, a comprehensive exam, and a dissertation--a substantial scholarly treatise. The research topic must be approved by the student's dissertation committee.

During the first semester, students work with their academic advisors to develop a plan of study that satisfies their interests and professional goals as well as the program's requirements. Students are required to attend departmental seminars and to complete the following courses.

COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH CORE

All of these (9 s.h.): 

BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES CORE

Seven of these (21 s.h.): 

RESEARCH METHODS CORE

Five of these (15 s.h.): 

CONTENT AREA ELECTIVES

Students work with their advisors to select at least 18 s.h. of course work appropriate to their educational goals and emphasis areas. They may choose from any Department of Community and Behavioral Health courses they have not already taken, other College of Public Health courses, or other University of Iowa graduate-level courses.

DISSERTATION

The dissertation requirement is 12 s.h.

Ph.D. Subtrack in Addiction Studies

The Ph.D. subtrack in addiction studies is designed for students who wish to gain skill in developing and evaluating addiction prevention and intervention programs. This area of study and practice examines addiction prevention and treatment from both a public health and a biopsychosocial perspective.

The addiction studies subtrack combines core course work from the Ph.D. curriculum with additional specialized training. Students fulfill the regular Ph.D. requirements, using the addiction studies core to satisfy the content area electives requirement.

ADDICTION STUDIES CORE

Students work with their advisor to select 18 s.h. of addictions studies course work offered by the department. Courses focusing on treatment of substance abuse and comorbid psychopathology, prevention of substance abuse and comorbid psychopathology, and assessment and diagnosis of addiction and comorbid psychopathology are under development.

Ph.D. Subtrack in Health Communication

The Ph.D. subtrack in health communication is designed for students who wish to prepare for academic, research, and policy-making careers in the area of health communication.

The health communication subtrack combines the core course work from the Ph.D. curriculum with additional specialized training. Students fulfill the regular Ph.D. requirements, using the health communication core to satisfy the content area electives requirement.

HEALTH COMMUNICATION CORE

Four of these (12 s.h.): 

Admission

The community and behavioral health faculty considers several factors when evaluating applications for admission, including scores on the Graduate Record Exam, grade-point averages, letters of recommendation, intent and motivation for graduate study, and research interests. A student with deficiencies in one area may be admitted if all other components of his or her application are very strong.

All applicants must submit academic transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. Forms are available from the Department of Community and Behavioral Health or on its web site (see "Prospective Students").

Applicants to the M.S. program must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00 and should hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. No specific undergraduate major is required. Preference is given to applicants with Graduate Record Exam verbal scores of at least 520, quantitative scores of at least 600, and analytical writing scores of at least 4.0.

Applicants to the Ph.D. program must have a graduate grade-point average of at least 3.40 and should hold a graduate degree from an accredited college or university--ideally, an M.S. in community and behavioral health, or another public health degree, or a related social science degree, or a clinical health degree. Applicants who do not hold a graduate degree should apply to the M.S. program. Preference is given to applicants with Graduate Record Exam verbal scores of at least 520, quantitative scores of at least 620, and analytical writing scores of at least 4.0. Ph.D. program applicants also must submit their master's thesis, or if no thesis is available, a sample of their scholarly writing.

Applicants whose first language is not English and who do not hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada (except Quebec), Australia, or New Zealand must score at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants who score 550-599 (paper-based), 213-249 (computer-based), or 79-99 (Internet-based) are required to take English fluency courses. Applicants who score below those ranges are not considered for admission.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Fall entry: April 1

Applications received by January 20 receive maximum consideration for financial aid.

Financial Support

Several forms of financial support are available, including scholarships and awards, student loans, and graduate assistantships.

Graduate assistantships provide a stipend and entitle students to resident tuition and reduced health insurance costs. Research assistantships are competitive and are awarded according to department need and student merit.

Scholarships and fellowships are available through federal agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health, and from private foundations.

Resources

The department houses the Center for Health Communication and Social Marketing, the Iowa Tobacco Research Center, the Prairielands Addiction Technology Transfer Center, and the Prevention Research Center.

The Center for Health Communication and Social Marketing promotes communication research to address today's public health challenges.  The Iowa Tobacco Research Center supports research and education on tobacco use and prevention of tobacco use. It also supports culturally competent and accessible smoking cessation services. The Prairielands Addiction Technology Transfer Center provides state-of-the-art training, curricula, and resources on substance use issues for counselors, health care professionals, and members of the community. The Prevention Research Center focuses on improving the health of rural Iowans.

Graduate students may have opportunities to work with ongoing research projects in the centers.