Community-Based Participatory Research and Practice Certificate

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Community-based Participatory Research and Practice (CBPRP) is a collaborative process of research and practice that includes both researchers and community representatives. Communities are generally defined as those that share a unit of identity (e.g., social ties, geographical locations). The CBPRP process involves engaging community members, using local knowledge in the understanding of health problems, and a long-term commitment to partnership. CBPRP is oriented towards holistic interventions informed by social ecology modeling, a widely recognized approach that not only targets knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals, but also includes social factors such as family and friendship ties, community norms, and the structure of community services.

This certificate provides a comprehensive set of courses that will prepare students for a career in community-based participatory research and practice. As part of the program, student interns will work with local community agencies to collaboratively address identified community public health issues.

Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to the MPH program in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences and be accepted into the certificate program. The certificate program is designed to be completed in four semesters of full-time study.  An option does exist for finishing in three semesters.

Note: Some additional credits that do not apply to any degree or other certificate must be completed for each certificate program.