Media contact: Hannah Echols
The programs were created for students who hope to enhance their skills regarding LGBTQ-related research and advocacy. Applications for the undergraduate and graduate-level certificates are now open for coursework to begin in fall 2023. The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health has launched two certificate programs in LGBTQ health and well-being, including undergraduate and graduate-level certificates. The programs were created for students who hope to enhance their skills regarding LGBTQ-related research and advocacy, preparing graduates to have an immediate impact on LGBTQ inequities through their future work.
“We invite those who want to learn how to navigate a complex LGBTQ landscape to come train with us, knowing that our students’ skills will quickly translate into dynamic action in Alabama and beyond,” said Sarah MacCarthy, Sc.D., program director. “We are excited to be joining the small circle of universities across the nation who offer such programs.”
The two 15-hour curriculums bring together existing courses from across UAB’s campus, drawing on classes from the School of Public Health, the School of Education, and the College of Arts and Sciences. Both the undergraduate and graduate certificates will include a service-learning course led by UAB faculty and staff from the nonprofit organization Birmingham AIDS Outreach.
By working closely with Josh Bruce, director of Education at Birmingham AIDS Outreach, students will have a range of opportunities to explore what LGBTQ health and well-being looks like in practice. Under the umbrella of BAO exists the Magic City Research Institute, Wellness Center, which focuses on primary care, and the Acceptance Academy that focuses on education from grades 6-12. Taken together, these organizational components of BAO will enable a range of experiential learning opportunities as they relate to research, health and education.
These certificates are the first two academic initiatives from MacCarthy, who is the initial holder of the Magic City LGBTQ Health Studies Endowed Chair, a community-funded initiative that supports research, education and training, and community collaborations in the field of LGBTQ health. Both programs are now accepting applications for coursework to begin fall 2023. Learn more by visiting LGBTQ Health and Wellbeing Undergraduate Certificate and LGBTQ Health and Wellbeing Graduate Certificate.