Master of Public Health

Mindfulness Concentration

Breadcrumb

Mindfulness Concentration

An interdisciplinary program focused on the full spectrum of mindfulness ranging from theory to measurement to treatment delivery to teacher training

The Brown University School of Public Health has developed substantial strengths in Mindfulness. This includes a vibrant core of interdisciplinary faculty focused on the full spectrum of mindfulness ranging from theory to measurement to treatment delivery to teacher training. The establishment and expansion of a world-leading Mindfulness Center at Brown (MC@B) under the leadership of Eric Loucks, PhD, presents new opportunities for expanding mindfulness research and education programs at Brown. With the expanded faculty, critically important mindfulness courses have been implemented.

It really is in your head— but how does it work?

A first in the nation, the School of Public Health's MPH mindfulness concentration sets the stage for interdisciplinary discoveries across hospitals, government, community organizations, and industry.

Learn more about the mindfulness center at Brown

Program Snapshot

Competencies

MPH candidates in this concentration will develop core competencies prior to graduation. Required skills and topics include:

  • Evaluate the evidence for mindfulness’s impact on physical and mental health.
  • Analyze the strengths and limitations of the major types of mindfulness interventions.
  • Assess the methods researchers have used to understand the mechanisms of mindfulness.
  • Utilize a directed acyclic graph (DAG) to develop a testable theoretical framework for how mindfulness interventions influence health outcomes.
  • Create a mindfulness research protocol and data analysis plan.

Courses

Complete all of the following mindfulness courses

  • PHP1880, Meditation, Mindfulness and Health (Fall and Spring)
  • PHP1885, Measuring Mindfulness (Spring)
  • PHP1895, Mindfulness Epidemiology (every other Spring)

Select one of the following sciences courses

  • PHP1890, The Craving Mind (Fall)
  • COST1020, The Cognitive Neuroscience of Meditation (Spring)
  • COST1710B, Science and Meditation

Applied research methods courses for those following the qualitative analytic sequence (PHP2506/PHP2060/PHP2061):

  • Students following the qualitative analytic sequence must take PHP2061, Qualitative Analysis in Public Health Research and it will count as the Mindfulness applied research methods requirement.

Applied research methods courses for those following the quantitative analytic sequence (PHP2507/PHP2508 or PHP2510/PHP2511):

  • PHP1810, Community-Based Participatory Research (CBLR) course
  • PHP2015, Foundations of Spatial Analysis in Public Health
  • PHP2030, Clinical Trials Methods
  • PHP2040, Survey Research Methods
  • PHP2060, Qualitative Methods
  • PHP2300, Behavioral Research Methods
  • PHP2415, Introduction to Evidence-Based Medicine

Thesis


All in-person students are required to complete a thesis. Students in the Mindfulness Concentration must complete their thesis focused on an appropriate Mindfulness topic with appropriate Mindfulness advisors.

Faculty

Mindfulness Concentration Lead