About the Program

The UNC Schools of Public Health and Medicine recognize the parallels between socioeconomic status and racial/ethnic disparities, and are committed to educating and training a cadre of professionals who are knowledgeable of the social determinants of health disparities and are equipped to work towards elimination of disparities through community action, public health practice, and policy.

This specialized ten credit hour certificate is offered to UNC-CH matriculated graduate and professional students, as well as continuing education students, in any academic course of study. This includes, but is not limited to, allied health professionals, educators, community members, researchers, and counselors, currently working, or planning to work in culturally diverse settings. Our students are interested in challenging their assumptions and enhancing their primary education and training with the culturally sensitive skills needed to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.

Our curriculum includes coursework across the university's academic campus and exposes students to an interdisciplinary research and methods approach to interventions beyond public health. The two required courses, "Understanding and Addressing Health Inequalities in the US", and "Interdisciplinary Seminar in Health Disparities," combine to give students the opportunity to test their new education and training.

Upon completion of the certificate our students are prepared with new interdisciplinary skills needed to successfully develop and apply evidence based research interventions; socially sensitive training that focuses on the unequal health burdens felt by underserved populations; and, the knowledge to deliver community relevant and short and long term sustainable interventions.