image: Credit CUNY SPH
Credit: CUNY SPH
New York, NY | Sept. 9, 2025: Beginning January 2026, the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) will offer a new master of public health (MPH) concentration in sexual and reproductive justice and health (SRJH). Building on the school’s longstanding commitment to equity, the concentration expands and deepens opportunities for students to engage with sexual and reproductive health through a justice-centered, interdisciplinary lens.
As part of the Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, the concentration prepares students to address the social, political, and economic forces that shape sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The program integrates research, policy, law, leadership, and applied practice through courses and experiential learning that explore inequities in maternal and child health, reproductive rights, and global health. Through 42 credits of instructive and field-based work, students will develop the knowledge and skills to pursue careers in public health research, practice, advocacy, and policy.
“CUNY SPH is a leader in advancing sexual and reproductive justice in public health education,” said Terry McGovern, senior associate dean for academic and student affairs. “The need for skilled, justice-driven public health leaders has never been greater. Our students will graduate prepared to confront today’s complex challenges, address inequities in sexual and reproductive health, and drive change in communities most impacted by injustice.”
The concentration was developed through a collaborative process led by the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Hub at CUNY SPH. Faculty, students, practitioners, activists, and community partners participated in a series of workshops to shape the curriculum and ensure it reflects both academic rigor and real-world relevance. Grounded in the reproductive justice framework established by a group of Black women leaders in 1994, the program will focus on intersectionality, community voices, and systems change.
“Our goal was to design a program that reflects the vision of activists who built the reproductive justice movement and that challenges students to think beyond existing structures,” said Lynn Roberts, associate dean of student affairs and alumni relations. “The result is a curriculum that pushes students to think critically about health inequities and equips them with the tools to lead change in policy, practice, and research. Our graduates will be ready to carry forward the fight for sexual and reproductive justice in every sector of public health.”
Media contact:
Katherine Hartley
Press Relations Manager
CUNY SPH Sexual and Reproductive Justice Hub
katherine.hartley@sph.cuny.edu
About CUNY SPH
The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is committed to promoting and sustaining healthier populations in New York City and around the world through excellence in education, research, and service in public health and by advocating for sound policy and practice to advance social justice and improve health outcomes for all.