MPH Catalogue 2006-2007

Abstract

The social, economic and cultural dimensions of health and population are a major focus of both governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Bangladesh and in other developing countries. It is now increasingly being recognized that there is a need for professionals who are well trained in the multi- faceted complex interactions of social, economic and cultural factors affecting health and population, such as plateauing fertility rates, inadequate health services coverage, the ongoing epidemiological transition from infectious to chronic diseases, and emerging public health issues such as HIV-AIDS and Arsenic contamination of water supplies. There is however a critical shortage of such professionals in these countries. This increased demand for such personnel comes at a time where funding for this kind of education abroad (United States, Europe, Australia/New Zealand, Asia) is extremely limited and will continue to be so in the future. Thus there exists a window of opportunity for in-country training of high quality at the master’s level in Public Health, which focuses on social-economic and cultural dimensions of health and population.

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) is particularly well positioned to meet this demand, as it has a well-established track record of providing instruction in the health, population and social sciences. IUB has the oldest department of population- environment in Bangladesh, operating now for over 12 years, and providing high quality undergraduate education in the interactions between population, health and environment. In addition the Centre for Health, Population and Development at Independent University, Bangladesh continues to promote research and scholarly activities in the broad area of health, population and development through seminars, training programs, publications and numerous research collaborations both nationally and internationally. In light of the above, Independent University, Bangladesh is pleased to offer the following post-graduate program leading to the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.).