How would you define a master of public health (MPH)? It is probably true to say that the MPH degree is the most widely recognized public health qualification for administrative positions. The skills acquired by professionals in public health care are what enable them to adequately deal with issues and problems associated with public health.
Indeed, nothing is more important than a person’s health. You will find it very hard to extract joy from life, regardless of how rich and rewarding your life is, if you suffer from ill-health. If this is true for a person, it holds true for a society; but maintaining public health is no simple task.
There are a number of factors that make for a healthy society, not the least of which are access to health care, food and shelter, and a safe working environment. There is no easy way to deal with the complicated issues that arise in public health administration. That is where a master of public health (MPH) comes in.
Anyone hoping to successfully acquire a MPH degree needs to possess a range of personal attributes including a dedication to motivation, and a commitment to solving problems. To enter this sector, the health of communities all over the world needs to be a primary concern. There must definitely be a passion for the resolution of specific issues.
To work in public health one must be prepared to work hard. The nature of the modern challenges requires public health professionals to be committed in seeking solutions that are effective and successful. As such, before deciding to attend MPH programs, always assess yourself if you are willing to take the challenges of this profession.
One cannot overstate the importance of the Master of Public Health internship experience. This gives students a chance to use their knowledge and skills that they learned from their academic experiences. Often, an internship helps validate what they have learned in the classroom.
It's not always easy for students to know just how much of the MPH course material they were able to learn. Often, upon entering an internship, students are surprised by just how well they are actually prepared for the public health service. A variety of settings are covered in MPH internships including government agencies, non-profit organizations and nursing homes.
After college some students often opt to get some work experience before taking on the challenging public health degree. Immediately after completing their undergraduate program, some students attend a graduate program. While still in their undergraduate programs many students already start doing volunteer work through various public health initiatives.
As such, these students attend master of public health programs with clear direction in their minds. Also, students seem to be better prepared when they got involved in some public health activities before entering the program. Even schools that don't have experience in public health as a prerequisite are more prone to accept students with a health-related background.
By getting actively involved in the field, these students rake up hours of experience. Upon entering public health masters programs however, most students already have a lot of experience. These students are usually clear on the areas where they want to apply the skills they learn through MPH programs.
