There is a range of available options for those pursuing a graduate degree in Public Health, depending on the career path you want to pursue. A general Master of Public Health (MPH) prepares you for a wide range of careers in public health and curriculum covers areas of study including: policy advocacy, health education, institution administration, treatment delivery, and disease prevention to name a few.
Does My Bachelors Degree Have to Be in Public Health to Pursue a Master of Public Health degree?
Although all Master of Public Health (MPH) programs require a bachelor's degree to apply, there are no universal coursework requirements to enter these programs. Students can have degrees from a variety of areas including medicine, social sciences, law, and the humanities. To focus their studies in public health students can elect a specific area of specialization some of which include:
Epidemiology is the study of how health affects large populations of people and how to reduce problems associated with public health crises
Biostatistics specializations provide more specific training in quantitative methods to use and adapt statistical procedures in designing and analyzing research
Environmental Health Science specializations prepare students with the knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health
Social and Behavioral Sciences include a study of the social, behavioral, community, and societies influences on health in the general population
Disaster Management & Emergency Preparedness coursework allows the skills in designing and executing plans of action in the event of natural or man-made disasters
Maternal & Child Health programs provide the skills for improving the health of youth and families
Nutrition specializations provide additional training for those interested in careers with public health, but oriented towards health promotion, disease prevention, and nutrition interventions
What Are The Options for a Dual Degree in Public Health?
Some students may find that a generalized MPH degree doesn't meet their precise needs. If that is the case there are a number of joint MPH degrees to better tailor their educational needs, some which include:
MPH/MD dual degrees allow future physicians to expand their clinical research and practices to address the health and epidemiology in community or global populations
MPH/MBA programs use a combined curriculum in managerial, policy-making and financial aspects of healthcare organizations
MPH/PHARM provide the opportunity to become Pharmacists with a background in public health
MPH/MSN programs allow nurses with advanced degrees to gain knowledge in public health in order to administer treatments and research health topics affecting groups of people
MPH/JD for those future attorneys who want to gain experience in health law and public policy to effect legislative change for hospitals, patients, and communities
MPH/MSW to pursue a career in social work with public health expertise to work in communities addressing social issues and health hazards to identify and implement preventative measures
MPH/DPT for Physical therapy physicians who are skilled in addressing rehabilitation to diverse populations with a range of injuries and disabilities
MPH/MA students pursuing a Masters of Arts to aid in public health research efforts and projects
The right MPH program can prepare students to become clinicians, health educators, epidemiologists, family therapists or counselors.