Global Health Program Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation.

As part of Boston University’s on-campus Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, you will choose at least one Functional Certificate as your area of concentration, building upon your interests, strengths and career goals.

Global Health Program Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation Functional Certificate

This 16-credit certificate provides students with practical skills to work in health organizations in developing and developed countries. Students will design and implement monitoring and evaluation plans, apply rigorous analytical methods to estimate the impacts and costs of public health programs and policies, and critically assess and interpret existing evidence to inform public health decision making and the design of innovative new programs.

Upon graduation, students will be able to:

  • Design monitoring and evaluation plans for public health programs.
  • Utilize formative, process, and outcome evaluations.
  • Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods in relation to their strengths, limitations, appropriate uses, with an emphasis on reliability and validity.
  • Apply analytic methods to evaluate the impacts and costs of public health programs and policies.
  • Support the use of data from monitoring and evaluation projects in informing evidence-based decisionmaking and the design of new programs and continuous quality improvement efforts.

Sample Course Titles

  • Applied Research Methods in Global Health
  • Methods for Impact Evaluation
  • Implementing Health Programs in Developing Countries

View the BU Bulletin for Course Requirements

Sample Practicum

  • Massachusetts Department of Public Health – monitoring and evaluating health education programs in Massachusetts
  • Pathfinder International (Watertown, MA) – analyzing data from mHealth programs in Mozambique and Kenya
  • International Health Initiative (Weymouth, MA) – evaluation of the barriers and facilitators to cleazn water projects in Constanza, Dominican Republic
  • Social Science Research Analyst, Office of Inspector General – Office of Evaluation and Inspections (Boston, MA)
  • Uganda Village Project – partnering with local stakeholders to evaluate community-based health promotion
  • World Vision Guatemala – evaluating the effectiveness of nutrition and maternal and child health programs

View Career Data

Integrative Learning Experience

For students completing the certificate, there are two options for the ILE: a written M&E Plan; or a written Impact Evaluation Analysis.

Certificate Director

“Too often valuable resources are spent on public health programs and policies that simply do not work. The result is often a lack of services and support for families and communities in dire need. There is growing recognition that only strong evidence can identify effective strategies to address the tremendous health challenges we face locally and globally. This certificate gives students the skills to be leaders in developing a new evidence-based public health.”

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information about MPH degree requirements and admissions, request information to learn more.