This certificate is designed as an interdisciplinary certificate that provides a background in disciplines that relate to the social and behavioral determinants of health. Determinants of health are social, cultural, political, and economic factors coupled with individual factors that impact population as well as individual health outcomes. Socio-economic (upstream) factors are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels, which are themselves influenced by policy choices (e.g. policies to promote economic development and reduce poverty; policies to promote healthier homes, neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces; housing policy; policies affecting access to health care; education policy; social policy; community empowerment; social capital; social inclusion/ exclusion; transportation policy; job training programs; food policy; health system policy and more). Individual (downstream) factors are those of behavior/lifestyle; gender; genes/family history, stress, income, education, food insecurity, access to health care, and housing.
Certificates may be earned by regularly matriculated or extended learning students and denote successful completion of a prescribed program of study designed to:
- impart specified professional/vocational/career competencies; or
- produce mastery of the content of a sub-field of an academic major (discipline); or
- provide exposure to the range of materials in a traditional or emerging interdisciplinary field.
Certain certificate programs contain 600-level courses as requirements and/or electives. These 600-level courses may not be taken by undergraduate students. Candidates must receive two-thirds of their certificate-applicable credit from the university. The transferring of credit or the substitution of courses may occur only after application to the appropriate campus authority.
