What is a master of public health (MPH)? The MPH degree is perhaps the most popular and widely recognized credential for administrative positions in public health. As a professional, your understanding of, and skill in the disciplines associated with public health will allow you to address these issues.
Few things matter more than the health of a person. It is hardly possible to have a fulfilling life if you are not healthy. This is as true for an individual as it is for a society.
A healthy society is greatly dependent on access to health care, clean air and water, sufficient food and shelter, and a safe working environment to mention a few. Simply put, maintaining public health is a complicated issue without easy solutions. It is in this regard that a master of public health or MPH comes into play.
In order to be successful, a MPH degree candidate needs to have passion and determination. To enter this sector, the health of communities all over the world needs to be a primary concern. Specific issues will need to be addressed and therefore there must be a passion for this.
Hard work and public health are somewhat synonymous. Today's issues require professionals in the public health sector to be determined to the successful resolution of said issues. It is important before you commit to MPH programs that you check yourself to see if you are up to the challenges that will no doubt arise in this profession.
One cannot overstate the importance of the Master of Public Health internship experience. Students get the opportunity to see what they learned in theory applied in the real world. An internship validates the learning from the classroom.
Sometimes, it is hard for students to gauge exactly how much they have learned during their MPH course. Students often cannot believe just how capable they are for a career in public health care once they start practicing their theory in the internships they get into. A variety of settings are covered in MPH internships including government agencies, non-profit organizations and nursing homes.
It's not uncommon for students to take a year off after college to get some hands-on experience. Immediately after completing their undergraduate program, some students attend a graduate program. Some get involved in public health initiatives even while completing their undergraduate degree.
As such, students have clarity of vision by the time they enter master of public health programs. It does give students a great head start when they do work in the public health service before actually starting with the MPH program. Some schools admit students even with no solid public health experiences but they prefer those with academic background from a health-related field.
Students often engage in field activities to give them an opportunity to gain experience in public health. But most of the students in public health masters programs already have considerable years of experience. These students are usually clear on the areas where they want to apply the skills they learn through MPH programs.
