- November 05, 2026
- By Fid Thompson
Separating fact from fiction in public health keeps getting harder, with misinformation spreading quickly on social and other media. Meanwhile, complex health issues can bewilder the public, patients and policy-makers alike.
A new Master’s in Public Health (MPH) in Health Literacy and Public Health Communication at the University of Maryland School of Public Health launching in Fall 2027 aims to support public health leaders to bridge this critical gap. The MPH is offered in person and online, with the online program offered at in-state tuition regardless of residency.
“This degree trains students to translate complex science into clear and actionable messages, to help communities navigate competing sources of information and to ensure that health recommendations are accessible to people with different educational backgrounds, language needs and lived experiences,” said Kerry Green, professor and chair of the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, where the program is housed.
The first of its kind in the nation, this MPH concentration aims to build a public health workforce that can communicate crucial health information effectively and help people become more confident, informed consumers.
“Health literacy plays a crucial part in deciphering the vast amount of unverified, often inaccurate, online information. The general public is inundated with health information whose accuracy can be nearly impossible to confirm,” said Cynthia Baur, endowed chair and director of the SPH’s Hershel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy, whose faculty and resources will be part of the new MPH.
Students in the program will train in the theory, methods and application of health literacy and public health communication for public health information, messages, materials and campaigns. They will complete 45 credit hours of coursework; that includes nine elective credit hours, four credits of practical experience, and a three-credit capstone project.
Graduates will be prepared for roles such as public health communication specialists, health education and prevention specialists, and health literacy program coordinators in health departments, healthcare organizations, nonprofit organizations and government agencies.
The need, Green said, is particularly clear in Maryland, where the Maryland Commission on Public Health identified significant challenges related to misinformation, public trust and the accessibility and relevance of public health messaging. Co-chaired by SPH Dean Boris Lushniak and with contributions including from Baur, the commission’s findings reinforce the need to strengthen health literacy and communication skills across the public health workforce.