If S is the graph of a minimal
surface, then when given parametrically by the Weierstrass representation, the first
two coordinate functions give a univalent harmonic mapping. In this paper, the
starting point is a univalent harmonic mapping f of the unit disk U. A height
function is defined on an appropriate Riemann surface over the range of f which
satisfies the minimal surface equation away from the branch points. This
height function is then used to obtain function theoretic information about
f.