At UC Berkeley Public Health, we are at the forefront of addressing complex public health problems through groundbreaking research, world-class education, and community-engaged action.
UC Berkeley School of Public Health Changemakers
Making public health work in the real world.
Our vision is to establish Berkeley Public Health as the global leader known for graduating public health changemakers ready to embrace opportunities, lead change, and meet the challenges of society’s most critical threats to health and equity.
Our curriculum seeks to activate our students’ passions, help them develop a sharper sense of the change they want to make in our world, and equip them with the confidence, capabilities, and courage to bring about this change in the real world.
If this vision resonates with you, we invite you to join us on a path to being impactful public health changemakers:
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Desire for Change
UCBPH Changemakers are purpose-driven leaders who seek the strategic agility to promote thriving in times of uncertainty. Operating at the intersection of rapidly changing political, scientific, and technological environments, we understand the shifts in information and media are top of mind for today’s students. Armed with deep emotional intelligence, we are uniquely equipped to inspire meaningful, ground-up change while simultaneously mobilizing policymakers to chart bold new directions.
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Motivated to Act
UCBPH Changemakers embrace a growth and change mindset with courage, humility, and resilience. We lead by influence, take strategic risks, and communicate effectively to drive impactful change in the communities we serve.
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Innovate for Impact
UCBPH Changemakers think outside the box and harness creative and critical thinking to solve some of the world’s most pressing public health challenges. We translate theory into practice to disrupt the status quo to solve local and global problems.
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Solve for Greater Good
UCBPH Changemakers drive evidence-based change with (i) a deep commitment to community trust and cultural humility; (ii) awareness of our own positionality; and (iii) strategic collaboration with local partners to co-create solutions for our most pressing public health challenges.
Path to Changemaking: Classroom to Community
Don’t just study the world of public health, change it.
Change takes more than classroom knowledge; it takes the courage to act, an ability to listen and changemaking skills. You are committed to change—think of your time at Berkeley as the place to sharpen that commitment and put you on the path to make the change you want to see.
Start with Purpose
Begin your changemaker path in PH 291: Leadership for Public Health Changemakers. This core course is the starting line for your identity as a leader. You will move past traditional classroom theory to learn how to navigate uncertainty, challenge the status quo, and lead by influence.
This class reoriented my approach to public health; it taught me what it truly takes to be a leader.
Build Your Toolkit
Theory and methodology are essential, but impact requires more than technical mastery. Use our Changemaker microcourses—1-unit, 8-week intensive skill sprints—to tailor your education for your goals.
- Identity and Mindset: Strengthen your capacity as a leader, practice humility, and manage resilience for long-term changemaking.
- Strategy and Change Management: Master human-centered design, fiscal logic, and project management to translate theory into sustainable programs.
- Mobilizing Others: Navigate power dynamics, build coalitions, and communicate complex data for compelling policy.
Public Health Changemaker Microcourses
Studying storytelling and changemaking at Berkeley has not merely informed my thinking; it has fundamentally reoriented my approach to public health.
Apply in the Real World
The classroom is where you think; applied practice opportunities are where you do. Changemaking is where classroom concepts meet actual challenges. Whether advocating for health policies, co-creating community solutions, or mobilizing partners, at UC Berkeley Public Health we offer many ways to apply your changemaker skills in a professional setting.
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Tailor your Applied Practice Requirement for Changemaking
Whether you are completing an MPH Practicum (managed through the RISE Office) or a DrPH Residency (guided by the DrPH Program), consider structuring your required applied practice experience around the core pillars of changemaking.
- Target Changemaking Competencies: guide your practice experience by picking competencies around critical thinking, persuasive communication, strategic collaboration, and community-centered leadership.
- Select Purposeful Deliverables & Work Products: Partner with organizations tackling complex public health challenges where your work can drive systems-level change or community impact.
- Strengthen Professional Leadership: Seek out real-world environments where you can broaden your executive vision and lead sustainable solutions.
For specific requirements, credits, and administrative details unique to your degree track, please consult your respective program advisors or the RISE Office / DrPH Program.
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Community Health Fellows Program
This new program connects MPH students with Bay Area community health organizations tackling homelessness, addiction, mental health, and community violence. Fellows receive funding for paid practicums, gain hands-on operational experience, and join a learning community of peers and faculty dedicated to systems-level change.
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Social Impact Programs
Visit our Social Impact page to learn more about how to participate in policy hackathons and other student competitions, apply for innovation grants, and engage with advocacy networks. We are a platform to help you drive change.
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Global Health and Equity Certificate
The objective of the Certificate in Global Public Health and Equity (GPHE) is to support and cultivate student’s interests in global public health, and to help develop a strong foundation of competencies and skills in global public health, emphasizing interdisciplinary dimensions that can be applied to students’ careers. The GPHE Certificate provides students with the opportunity to explore global health issues from multiple disciplinary perspectives through both coursework and experiential engagement.
Launch Your Career
Move from student to practitioner; UC Berkeley Public Health supports you to turn your commitment into a profession.
Need support? Connect with the RISE Team—our Careers & Leadership Office. They provide career coaching, practicum planning, and networking to ensure you are positioned to land high-impact roles that build upon your background and training at UC Berkeley Public Health.
People
Jim Shultz
Lecturer, Interdisciplinary Studies