Are you a bright, self-motivated individual who wants to use your talents and training for public good? Do you have a a professional or educational background in a field other than medicine, but a desire to work in healthcare? If you answered "yes" to these questions, you might be the perfect candidate for an online Masters of Public Health (MPH) degree.
What is An MPH Degree?
A Masters of Public Health is a professional degree designed to graduate highly-skilled public health practitioners. There are numerous accredited online MPH programs available to prospective students. Any online MPH degree program will offer specializations in discrete public health disciplines such as administration, epidemiology, environmental health, and behavioral health.
Who Can Pursue an MPH Degree?
Prospective online MPH program candidates do not have to fit a single mould in order to be accepted into an accredited degree program. They can be recent college graduates or long-time professionals in fields such as teaching, journalism, accounting, social work or law, to name but a few. Prior academic scores, professional track record and the ability to articulate a specific public health-related career goal are factors which will be taken into consideration by the admissions boards of online MPH programs.
What Can on Expect From an MPH Degree?
Online MPH degree programs generally range from $400 to $600 per credit hour, with completion of forty to fifty credit hours required for graduation. As with any online program, students can opt to take either a part-time or full-time course load, enabling them to obtain an MPH degree in two-and-a-half to seven years. During that time, students can expect to participate in classes comprising a wide variety of subjects, including but not limited to scientific research, drafting public health policies, creation and implementation of public health education programs and behavioral psychology.
Can Other Degrees Be Combined with an MPH?
There are a number of dual degrees that can be earned in conjunction with an MPH, including but not limited to degrees in nursing, dentistry, social work, law and public policy. Many online Masters of Public Administration degree programs offer coursework that directly compliments and enhances online MPH degree programs. A Master of Public Administration online will provide degree candidates the leadership skills required to obtain managerial and administrative positions in the public health industry.
What Kind of Careers are Avaliable to an MPH Degree Recipent
One of the most appealing aspects of working in public health is the industry’s diverse personality and skill base. For example, Executive Directors and Managers of public health initiatives might find themselves in constant contact with people from all walks of life, while Research Analysts and Scientists will spend most of their day working independently, or in small teams of similarly-skilled individuals.
Is a Career in Public Health Right For you?
Now that you know more about the diverse career opportunities made possible by a Masters in Public Health, why not learn about the many excellent online universities that offer this exciting and rewarding degree?
