Master of Public Health: Online Degree
Would you like to influence public health policies and issues? Would you like to enhance your current healthcare practice or change careers? An online Master of Public Health program may be of interest to you. Schools offering Public Health degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Is an Online Master of Public Health Degree Program Like?
A Master of Public Health (MPH) program will provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to respond to common public health issues, such as problems accessing healthcare, environmental concerns and substance abuse issues. You'll be prepared to take an active role in maintaining and improving public health, and you may participate in advocacy programs, disaster relief efforts or disease prevention. Your program may provide you with the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of public health, such as health policy, health management, epidemiology or program development. Most online MPH programs are intended for professionals already working within the public health system or healthcare industry, such as physicians, nurses and social workers.
How Does an Online Degree Program Work?
Online degree programs allow you to continue your professional work while taking classes toward your degree in a flexible, online environment. Some programs require a minimal number of on-campus meetings, but the majority of your program will take place online.
You'll be able to access your class lectures and materials anytime and anywhere you have Internet access. Your classes may consist of video lectures, discussion forums and online quizzes. Assignments will be submitted online as well. At times, you may need to be available at a specific time to participate in live discussions with your professors and classmates.
What Kinds Of Classes Will I Take?
You'll likely take general public health courses, as well as classes within your specific focus area. Some examples of classes you may take include:
- Public health policy
- Public health ethics
- Epidemiologic methods
- Health and social behavior
- Program development
- Biostatistics
- Healthcare management
- Environmental health
What Can I Do With This Master's Degree?
If you're an established healthcare practitioner or public health professional, your current career may benefit from completing an MPH program. If you'd rather change occupations or are not currently working in the healthcare industry, there are a variety of career paths you could take after earning your MPH. For instance, you could work in the field of epidemiology, health education or health policy.
The healthcare industry is a growing field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted that employment of health educators would increase 18% and employment of epidemiologists would grow 15% between 2008 and 2018 (www.bls.gov). The BLS also reported that the mean annual wage for healthcare educators was $50,270 in May of 2010. The same year, epidemiologists earned an average of $68,280.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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