What is a master of public health (MPH)? The MPH degree is considered one of the most popular qualifications for administrative positions in public health. Being a public health professional means that you utilize a varied set of skills to solve public health problems.
Few things matter more than the health of a person. If you are unhealthy, it is almost impossible to enjoy life, no matter how rich or satisfying your life may be. If this is true for a person, it holds true for a society; but maintaining public health is no simple task.
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. There is, simply stated, no easy way to maintain public health. A master of public health is useful when it comes to this.
In order to be successful, a MPH degree candidate needs to have passion and determination. One needs to exhibit a desire to improve community health across the globe. It is important to have a passion for working on specific issues.
This involves some serious hard work. The modern challenges in public health require professionals to be committed to seeking solutions. One therefore needs to seriously examine one's willingness to deal with the challenges associated with this profession before attending the MPH program.
One cannot overstate the importance of the Master of Public Health internship experience. The knowledge and skills gained during the student's academic experience are used and refined. Everything that was taught in the classroom is practically re-enforced during the internship.
Sometimes it can be hard for a student to accurately assess how much they managed to really learn during the MPH program. Often, upon entering an internship, students are surprised by just how well they are actually prepared for the public health service. The internships in the MPH program see the students participate in a variety of settings such as companies, clinics and hospitals.
As a way of getting practical experience, some students actually take a year off after college to do some practical work. 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 seem to better prepare students for the program if they get involved in some public health activities beforehand. Some schools admit students even with no solid public health experiences but they prefer those with academic background from a health-related field.
Students get a chance to gain valuable practical experience from being placed in field-based activities. Many students already have years of public health masters programs experience, however. They are already clear on the direction they want their careers to take.
