Occupational Description and Outlook
Public health is an exciting and growing field of study that offers an abundance of job opportunities to suit a variety of interests and skills. Whether you are more interested in crunching numbers, conducting research, or working with people, there is a place for you in the field of public health. Recent college graduates and those that have been in the field for years have something to offer and to gain in this field. Public health is ideal for those that gain satisfaction knowing that they are working to improve the lives of others.
Public health is a diverse and dynamic field. Public Health professionals come from varying educational backgrounds and can specialize in an array of fields. A host of specialists, including teachers, journalists, researchers, administrators, environmentalists, demographers, social workers, laboratory scientists, and attorneys, work to protect the health of the public. In a word, the field challenges its professionals to confront complex health issues, such as improving access to health care, controlling infectious disease, and reducing environmental hazards, violence, substance abuse, and injury.
As a field geared toward serving others, Public health professionals serve local, national, and international communities. While it is possible to gain experience in the field without an advanced degree, most public health professionals need at least a Masters degree for career advancement. A graduate degree gives public health professionals a competitive edge over other professionals and enables professionals to: gain knowledge of the factors which influence local, national and global legislative and social polices; apply broad-based, state-of-the-art quantitative and qualitative skills needed for problem solving; develop multidisciplinary and collaborative strategies for solving health-related problems; enhance communication skills by working with diverse populations; and, be positioned for a leadership role in health promotion and disease prevention.
Admission Requirements for Public Health Programs
There are 37 Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH accredited schools of public health. All accredited schools meet rigorous accreditation standards and each has unique strengths in research, service and education. For a complete list of accredited schools of public health, see the ASPH website at: http://schools.asph.org. To search for a particular program, a search feature is available under: Search for a Program.
Students of public health come from a variety of educational backgrounds, but there is coursework that can better prepare you for the field of study you choose. For example, coursework in biology and mathematics is highly recommended for students who plan to concentrate in Epidemiology or Biostatistics. For Behavioral Sciences, Health Education or Global Health, courses in sociology, psychology, education or anthropology are beneficial. Health Services Administration students find that a business background is a plus. A biology or chemistry background is helpful for the study of Environmental Health. All schools of public health require competence in effective communication (both verbal and written); therefore, students should try to take advantage of undergraduate opportunities to hone these skills.
Additionally, while schools of public health look for high graduate entrance exam scores and GPA, other aspects of an applicant's record, such as a career achievement, professional experience, and clarity of career goals also are equally important. Admissions decisions are based on an overall assessment of the ability of the applicants to successfully complete the degree track area selected. Each program or track within a given department may set additional requirements for admission; therefore, applicants should refer to the individual programs for details.
Public Health Degree Programs
There are many different degree programs for those interested in studying public health. Some of the programs include:
MPH = Master of Public Health
MHA = Master of Health Administration
MHSA = Master of Health Services Administration
MSPH = Master of Science in Public Health
DrPH = Doctor of Public Health
PhD = Doctor of Philosophy
In general, the MPH degree will include coursework in a number of public health disciplines, such as administration, epidemiology, environmental health, and behavioral health. Specialized degrees such as a Master of Health Administration will be more focused on a specific topic.
Another distinction between degrees is the professional degree versus the academic degrees. Professional degrees generally have a greater orientation towards practice in public health settings. The MPH, DrPH, and MHA are example of degrees which are geared towards those who want careers as practitioners of public health in traditional health departments, managed care organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, consulting firms, international agencies, state and federal agencies, among others.
Academic degrees are more oriented toward students wishing to seek a career in academics and research rather than public health practice. Examples of academic degrees are the MS and PhD.
However, each school of public health can tailor their degree programs significantly. Students interested in getting a degree in public health should check with individual schools for more information on specific degree programs.
