Mission Statement of the Health Science
Graduate Program

1. Mastery of public health and health education knowledge and skills.
2. Application of public health competencies with a clear vision of values and ethics that will define their practice.
3. Acquisition of leadership roles in a wide variety of public health and health care settings.
4. Incorporation of research skills into practice.
5. Adoption of a collaborative model for use in their public health practice.
6. Development of appropriate strategies to respond to a diverse community.

Ojectives for both the MPH and MS Degrees are:
Graduates will demonstrate:

1. A mastery of public health knowledge and skills, including community organization, community assessment, program planning, implementation/service delivery, and evaluation; theories of health behavior change; and the concepts and interventions for health promotion/disease prevention.
2. A mastery of competencies relevant to quantitative disciplines such as biostatistics adn epidemiology.
3. A mastery of skills that are required to use electronic media as currently employed in the public health field.
4. Knowledge of the values and ethics that guide decision making in the practice of public health, and implications of these for public health policies.
5. A knowledgeof multicultural influences on health and health behavior change.
6. A mastery of fundamental research sills through involvement in research activities, including research design, implementation, analysis and reporting.
7. Comletion of a community-based internship in which Health Science students will gain an understanding of public health service and the role of the internship experience.

Objectives for the MPH degree:
Graduates will demonstrate practical knowldege for careers in an applied health education setting, in academics or for the pursuite of further education.

Objectives for the MS degree:
Graduates will demonstrate advanced quantitative skills.

The MPH requires 42 units, including three units of electives and six units of internship. Having a somewhat more flexible currculum, the MS program requires 43 units including 18 units of electives and four units of thesis. The MPH/MSN, which requires 57 units is governed jointly by the Department of Health Science and the Department of Nursing. If you are interested in the MPH/MSN program, you may obtain a brochure by calling (562) 985-4472. The department tyupically offers graduate courses in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate part-time students.