Certificate Programs

Public Health Graduate Certificate

Contact Person: Meghan Walker
Contact E-mail: mewalker@uab.edu
Phone: (205) 934-2684
Website: www.uab.edu/soph

The Public Health Certificate is a 17-hour course of study ideal for individuals interested in exploring the field of public health or expanding their knowledge and skills. The certificate is built around the MPH Core, which is based on the Evidence-Based Public Health framework. This core set of courses builds skills in all critical areas of public health, including public health and health care systems; planning and promotion to promote health; as well as policy, leadership, communication, and systems thinking. Students also select one elective course from all available master’s-level courses to round out their training.

The Public Health Certificate is available completely online and does not require any travel to Birmingham (though students are welcome to take on-campus courses if they prefer). Coursework taken in pursuit of the Public Health Certificate can be used toward an MPH degree for students who choose to continue their training at the UAB School of Public Health.

Program Format

Students are required to take the 6 public health core courses from the Master of Public Health program (14 credit hours) and a 3 credit hour elective, for a total of 17 credit hours. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good academic standing and to earn the certificate. Certificate students may apply for the MPH or other degree programs within the UAB School of Public Health and if admitted, the courses taken will be counted towards the completion of the degree program; the courses must have been completed in the last five years with a minimum grade of B. If you have questions about the program prior to enrolling, please reach out to Meghan Walker at mewalker@uab.edu.

Admission Requirements

Applicants not currently enrolled at UAB should apply by completing an application through the UAB Graduate School: www.uab.edu/graduate/admissions.

Application Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Statement of Purpose

Global Health Studies Graduate Certificate

Director: Meredith Gartin, PhD
Contact Person: Misty Altiparmak, MEd
Contact E-mail:  maltima@uab.edu
Phone: (205) 996-0076
Website: www.uab.edu/soph/home/graduate/programs/global-health-studies-certificate

This 15-hour certificate program is offered to any UAB student who seeks to further their foundational knowledge and practical skills that are expected of professionals pursuing careers in global health and international development. Students may choose from several online or classroom-based courses to meet the requirements for this program. Upon successful completion of program requirements, students will receive a graduate certificate awarded by the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In order to be enrolled in the graduate certificate program, you have to be enrolled as a student with the UAB Graduate School (UAB Graduate Admissions). Undergraduate students may apply to the certificate program, but the certificate will not be awarded until a bachelor’s degree is earned. This certificate can be used as part of UAB’s master’s degree program in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies. 

Upon completion of the GHS certificate program, participants will be able to:

• Analyze the relationship between global health and development.
• Use appropriate methods to appraise global health challenges and health care systems, as well as responses to these challenges.
• Synthesize information from primary and secondary sources to help identify appropriate interventions and actions in the field of global health.
• Use research, planning and management methods to make efficient and effective use of available resources in field settings.
• Develop professional skills in program design, program monitoring, and evaluation.

Program Format

Students are required to complete GHS 600 and GHS 601 for 6-credit hours, and an additional 9-credit hours of approved public health and global health courses for a total of 15-credit hours. Students must take a minimum of 6-credit hours from GHS & IDGH approved electives.

Admission Requirements

Currently enrolled UAB graduate students should apply by submitting the change of program form.

Applicants not currently enrolled at UAB should apply by completing an application through the UAB Graduate School.

Admissions requirements include:

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
• 3.0 GPA
• Statement of purpose

Undergraduate students in any major are eligible to apply to the GHS graduate certificate. An application must be submitted to the UAB Graduate School. To be considered for the certificate, student must have:

• At least a 3.5 GPA in undergraduate courses.
• Completed 60 undergraduate credit hours, and at least 36 hours at UAB.

Once admitted to the certificate, undergraduate student must meet the following:

• Maintain a 3.5 GPA in undergraduate courses.
• Receive a B or better in graduate courses taken while still an undergraduate student.
• Maintain full-time student status at UAB.

Any student who wishes to enroll into the GHS Certificate Program is responsible for meeting with his or her departmental coordinator and with the GHS program coordinator to ensure that all administrative requirements have been met. Any student who does not maintain a “B” average in his or her certificate courses is subject to dismissal from the certificate program. 

Graduate Certificate in Disability Health Studies

Program Director: Dr. Teneasha Washington, teneasha@uab.edu

Program Director: Dr. Jereme Wilroy, jdwilroy@uab.edu,

Program Coordinator: Julie Brown, jebrown@uab.edu

Website: www.uab.edu/soph/home/graduate/programs/dhs-graduate-certificate 

The 15-hour Disability Health Studies Graduate Certificate program will prepare masters’, doctoral, post-doctoral, and post-masters’ students with advanced knowledge and skills to develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate programs promoting the health of individuals with disabilities. It is a unique program that will educate and train health professionals on inclusion and implementation science in the field of disability health.

Students may choose between courses in health behavior, health policy and organization, and administrative health services. Students may choose from several online or classroom-based courses to meet the program requirements.

Currently enrolled UAB graduate students should apply by submitting the change of program form.

Applicants not currently enrolled at UAB should apply by completing an application through the UAB Graduate School.

Program Format:

Online, In-Class 

Admissions requirements include:

• A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
• 3.0 GPA
• Statement of Purpose

Certificate students may apply for the MPH or other degree programs within the UAB School of Public Health and if admitted, the courses taken will be considered counting towards the completion of the degree program. If you have questions about the program prior to enrolling, please reach out to Julie Brown at jebrown@uab.edu.

Graduate Certificate in LGBTQ Health and Wellbeing

Program Director: Dr. Sarah MacCarthy, smaccarthy@uab.edu

Program Coordinator: Julie Brown, jebrown@uab.edu

Website: www.uab.edu/soph/home/graduate/programs/lgbtq-grad-cert

The 15-hour LGBTQ Health and Wellbeing Graduate Certificate Program will provide advanced education in LGBTQ health to graduate and post-doctoral students at UAB seeking to enhance their skills regarding LGBTQ-related research and advocacy. It will prepare students and future professionals to have an immediate impact on LGBTQ inequities in the Deep South and throughout the nation. Graduate students may choose between courses in counseling, human services, psychology, and health behavior. Students may choose from several online or classroom-based courses to meet the requirements for this program. All students will participate in a service-learning in-person course led by UAB faculty and staff from Birmingham AIDS Outreach.

Currently enrolled UAB graduate students should apply by submitting the following change of program form.

Applicants not currently enrolled at UAB should apply by completing an application through the UAB Graduate School.

Program Format: 

In-class

Admissions requirements include:

• A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
• 3.0 GPA
• Statement of Purpose

Certificate students may apply for the MPH or other degree programs within the UAB School of Public Health and if admitted, the courses taken will be considered counting towards the completion of the degree program. If you have questions about the program prior to enrolling, please reach out to Julie Brown at jebrown@uab.edu