Health Promotion Sciences

HPS faculty

Vision

We engage the community to translate science into practice to inspire and change the world.

Mission

The mission of the Division of Health Promotion Sciences in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health is to collaborate with communities in southwestern United States in developing innovative responses to health challenges, and translating best practices globally.

Adminstration

Division Director: John Ehiri, PhD, MPH, MSc

Administrative Assistant: Alayna Voutsas

Sections

Each MEZCOPH division is sub-divided into sections that are aligned with academic areas.  HPS consists of two sections for students to choose from:

Family and Child Health:

Chair: Nicolette Teufel-Shone, PhD

Health Behavior and Health Promotion:

Chair: Scott Carvajal, PhD, MPH

Faculty

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. View our primary faculty directory.

Research:

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, elder health
  • Violence against women
  • Minority health, global health
  • Cancer prevention, HIV/AIDS and other diseases
  • Health education and prevention science
  • Program evaluation, quality of care improvement
  • Patient empowerment, chronic disease self-management, and quality of life assessment.

Please click here to learn more about current research at MEZCOPH.

Educational Programs:

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.

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.

Community Outreach:

Faculty and students have provided public health services to the community via health education lectures, public health fairs, border health services, community outreach programs, and public health surveillance. Highlights.