The Program was initiated in 1991 with the Master’s Degree and later in 1998 it included the Doctoral Degree. It is a multi-disciplinary program since its origin and meets a demand of nurses and other professionals working in the health and related fields. The education of masters and doctors evidences its importance in the regional and national contexts meeting social needs and promoting changes of care systems through research and intervention. 

The “conducting wire” of the Program is Collective Health, an interdisciplinary and multi-professional field not restricted to a theoretical foundation but to the set of natural, social and formal sciences. During education, the health disease continuum is considered from the social determination theory including the subjectivity and historicity in the constitution of social subjects. Care is considered as meeting universal and specific needs, grounded on science, technology, ethics and philosophy.  

The Program is consolidated with strong insertion at a national level and in the Latin America with growing international insertion, achieving a level of excellence; grade 6 was obtained in the triennium 2010-2012. Effort is being implemented to broaden international partnerships with increased capitation of resources and international publication.