Mission
The focus of the Health Promotion Sciences (HPS) division of The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) is on studying risk factors for disease or injury and using the knowledge gained to protect the health of the public. Our strength is our diversity of approaches including learning about biological, psychological, societal, cultural, and organizational factors that can improve the health of the public.
Faculty Research, Teaching and Service
The Health Promotion Sciences division has a diverse group of faculty members who engage in teaching, service and research in the many different areas of health promotion and disease prevention. Faculty research ranges from laboratory science to research in health promotion and prevention; both directly benefit the public. Current areas of research include:
- Nutrition, prevention and physical activity
- Tobacco, alcohol, and substance abuse
- Women's health, children's health, violence against women,
- Minority health, international/global health
- Cancer prevention, AIDS, and other diseases
- Health education, prevention science,
- Program evaluation, quality of care improvement
- Patient empowerment, chronic disease self-management, and quality of life assessment.
View our faculty directory to learn more about their research programs and interests. A new research web page which details ongoing grants, programs and research activities will be released by the College in late August, 2009.
Educational Programs and Sections
Each MEZCOPH division is sub-divided into sections that are aligned with academic areas. Sections are also called degree concentrations. HPS consists of two sections for students to choose from:
MPH in Family and Child Health
The MPH in Family and Child Health (FCH) offers a curriculum that allows students to gain an understanding of the history and current status of the socioeconomic, cultural, political and physiological issues that affect families and children. Students entering FCH must choose to work in one of two specialized areas: maternal and child health (MCH), and international health. All students in Family and Child Health will take a set of courses that focus on maternal and child health issues, government policies affecting women and children, adolescent health, and nutrition, as well as follow an individualized plan of study for his/her specialized area of study.
MPH in Health Behavior and Health Promotion
The MPH in Health Behavior and Health Promotion (HBHP) is founded on a philosophy of disease prevention, health education, and promotion to improve the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities. HBHP focuses on training practitioners of health education in the social, cultural and psychological factors that influence health and health behavior and the scientific and theoretical bases for planning, implementing, and evaluating effective public health promotion and disease prevention programs.
New Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) Degree
Beginning in the Fall 2009 semester, a new Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) degree is offered by The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH). The curriculum for the degree is based on recommendations of the Association of Schools of Public Health taskforce on undergraduate education and includes courses in:
- The health care system of the United States
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
- Global health
- Program planning and evaluation, and
- Health disparities
Students who were enrolled in the previous bachelor's degree program in health sciences need to contact a MEZCOPH academic advisor if they haven't already since a finite time period is allowed for completion of those degrees. All new undergraduate students will study for the new BSPH degree.
Please click here to view more information about the academic programs at the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health.
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