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What Can I Expect from an Online Master of Public Health Program?

Online master of public health (MPH) programs offer the same academic quality as traditional in-person programs, and eliminating the need to commute to campus makes it easier to work full-time while you go to college. These online options also allow those who don’t have local access to an on-campus MPH program to earn their degree without the expense and inconvenience of moving to another city. If you’re interested in obtaining your degree online, it’s important to research and find the right program for your particular needs and career goals.

Available concentrations

There are many roles available within the field of public health. If you already know what you would like to do after you graduate, look for a program that allows you to focus your studies on that specialty. Some of the most common concentration options for online MPH programs include:

  • Biostatistics: Students gain a deep understanding of the foundations and methods of statistical analysis concerning public health.
  • Disaster Management: Focuses on the relationships between state and federal agencies, hazardous materials management, protective devices, risk assessment, and resource management.
  • Environmental Health Science: This concentration involves biostatistics classes, public health electives, and practical experience courses. Students gain a broad perspective on how the environment affects public health.
  • Epidemiology: Students expand their knowledge of health and diseases. The topics covered include health care policy, global environmental health, and epidemiology study design and research methods.
  • Gerontology: Prepares you to work with healthy and sick aging adults and their families. Coursework includes the psychology of aging as well as the sociology of death.
  • Health Policy and Management: Ensures students have a comprehensive understanding of the practice of health administration. The coursework for this concentration covers the financial management of healthcare programs, public health systems, healthcare policy, and behavior management.

Common degree curriculum

When searching for your online MPH program, remember that different schools offer different concentrations. Consider where you want to go in your career, and see how those objectives align with a college’s curriculum offerings. You should also consider the specific requirements for the degree program. Some colleges require you to take exams and labs in person, while others allow you to complete everything online. Students may also need to complete capstone courses and practicums for some concentrations.

The required coursework depends mainly on the concentration, but several core classes are standard across all programs. Some of these include:

  • Statistical Reasoning in Public Health: Provides a conceptual understanding of the statistical ideas and methods used in public health.
  • Fundamentals of Human Physiology: Reviews each organ system in the human body and the current public health issues and environmentally relevant topics that affect each.
  • Biostatistics: Trains students in biostatistical and bioinformatic methods.
  • Epidemiology: Covers the incidence, distribution, and control of diseases and other factors relating to public health.

Certification and license preparation

The Certified in Public Health (CPH) designation, provided by the National Board of Public Health Examiners, will show prospective employers that you are well-qualified to work in this field. To earn this certification, you must graduate from an MPH or DPH program approved by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Another certification path is earning a BPH and then gaining at least five years of work experience in the public health profession.

Program accreditation

Only apply to schools approved by a DOE-recognized regional accrediting organization, such as the New England Commission of Higher Education or Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. If your school doesn’t have regional accreditation, you may be unable to access financial aid or transfer credits to another institution if needed. As mentioned above, you should also look for CEPH-accredited programs due to the requirements for earning your CPH certification.

Program completion timeframe

Online MPH programs typically require 40 to 45 credit hours of coursework. For full-time students, this should take about two years to complete. Part-time students may need up to five years. Some schools offer accelerated programs, which can often be completed in just one year.

Cohort learning programs require you to take your classes simultaneously with the same group of people. If you want to earn your degree faster, look for an asynchronous program that allows you to progress at your own pace.

Employment Outlook for Master of Public Health Graduates

Public health is an excellent career choice for anyone concerned about job security. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total number of jobs in the United States is projected to increase by 3% over the next decade. Most occupations related to public health are expected to grow by at least double that rate, which means plenty of job opportunities will be available.

Most workers in this field make at least $70,000 per year. There’s also the potential to make six figures — for example, the top 10% of epidemiologists make more than $123,430.

You’ll likely need a master’s degree to get hired as an epidemiologist. Many other career paths in public health typically only require a bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions, but in these cases having a master’s will still help you get hired more quickly and advance to higher-paying positions.

Job Title Job Description Median Yearly Salary Projected Growth Rate (2022 – 2032)
Health Services Manager Also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, health services managers plan, coordinate, and implement medical services in a clinical department or facility. $104,830 28%
Epidemiologist Epidemiologists investigate the causes and patterns of diseases. They work in health departments, state and local governments, hospitals, colleges, and laboratories. $78,520 27%
Environmental Scientist Environmental scientists research ways to protect the environment and human health. They may work with lawmakers to clean up polluted areas or work in industries to reduce waste. Some work in the field monitoring the environmental impact of various conditions. $76,480 6%

Professional organizations

Professional organizations allow you to connect with peers and expand your network. These organizations also make it possible to keep up with the latest public health trends and benefit from others’ expertise.

Financing Your Online Master of Public Health Degree

Online master’s programs are often much more affordable than on-campus programs, but you still may need help paying for your degree. The first step in seeking financial assistance is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as this gives you access to the various funding methods available through the federal government. You can also check out the many private scholarships available for those earning a master’s in public health.

Student Finance Resources and Guides

Many different financing options are available, and it can be challenging to determine what you should do after submitting your FAFSA. The resources listed below will help you make sense of your financial aid situation and save as much money as possible.

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