20 Best Master’s in Public Health 2020

The best master’s degrees in public health will give you a strong foundation from which to launch a lucrative and lifelong career.  Ã‚   Between the beginning and end of the 20th century, the average life expectancy rose sharply by 30 years. Advances in public health practices are said to account for the vast majority of improvements in enjoying a longer lifespan. However, the reality is that the sector is lacking the workforce that it needs to drive these advances forward.  Ã‚   In 2019, the Association of Schools Programs of Public Health (ASPH) estimated 250,000 more public health workers would be needed by 2020. And as of 2012, the workforce stood at around only 110,000 workers; 23% were also eligible to retire by 2012.   These are all fantastic reasons to pursue a Master’s in Public Health (MPH), securing your future with a career in a rapidly expanding field. What is a Public Health Master’s Degree? If you work in public health, youre working toward improving societys health and general attitudes toward healthy living. As a student, youll learn how to promote healthy lifestyles, prevent disease and injury, and control the spread of infection. You could be studying or working on local policies within a community, or global policies to protect the planet.   Students will have to demonstrate competencies in all areas of public health as part of their studies. Classes will cover subjects like epidemiology, social and behavioral influences on health, biostatistics, and management sciences. Youll also likely cover public health policies and problem-solving, demographies, biological sciences, and environmental health.   GPA requirements for admission into these courses will vary from institution to institution across the country. Many colleges and universities will ask for a minimum GPA of 3.0, with additional work experience gained prior to application. However, the best applicants to the best Master’s in Public Health are likely to have a GPA of 3.3 or higher. Careers for Public Health Majors Anyone considering entering the field of public health has a broad selection of career specializations available to them. You could work as a dietitian and nutritionist, epidemiologist, emergency management specialist, health educator, or community health worker. Graduates can become microbiologists, work in occupational health and safety, become nurses, or pursue the career paths of social and community service professionals.   Some of the most common professions for newly-qualified graduates include Biostatistician, epidemiologist, environmental health scientist, and health educator. Some graduates also choose to become medical and health service managers for public health-oriented organizations. This is one key area in which the demand for more skilled workers tends to increase regularly. The standard level of education for entry into most public health roles is a Master’s in Public Health or similar. Beyond this, you can apply for further studies toward a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), but its not always necessary. Lower-level roles, like health educators, typically only require a bachelors degree, with some roles only requiring a high school diploma. Potential Salary of Public Health Professionals After graduating with an MPH and gaining around a years work experience, the average salaries available can vary quite broadly. Biostatisticians, nutritionists, and international health professionals typically earn the lowest starting salary, averaging at around $30-33,000. Entry-level roles in health service administration or epidemiology tend to pay more at around $40,000, though they can rise to around $160,000.   Environmental health roles can start at around $45,000 on average, increasing up to around $140,000. Some of the highest available salaries are for executive directors, with an average of between $60,000 and $137,000. However, most specializations see considerable salary growth throughout their careers; there’s a large emphasis on further education and professional development plus experience.   As public health is a broad field, the range of professional certifications available for specific roles vary widely. All public health professionals can attain the Certified in Public Health (CPH) credential to increase their prospects, and potentially their salary. This qualification is fast becoming an industry standard for some roles and requires continued professional development every two years. What are the Best Master’s in Public Health Degrees? We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of CollegeRank utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following three aspects: 40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni 30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and National Accreditation for the 2019-2020 school year 30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school At CollegeRank, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@collegerank.net. 1University of California, BerkeleyLocationBerkeley, CaliforniaAverage Net Price$17,862More information Ranked No. 4 on the list of Best Global Universities, according to U.S. News World Report, the University of California, Berkeley is home to the Campanile, a 307-foot bell and clock tower, the third-largest in the world. The Master of Public Health provides students the necessary training they need to be a major asset to the population and to study the major issues affecting mental health and social behavior. The MPH is an interdisciplinary degree that requires 42 to 48 units of core courses, electives, practicums, and capstone and thesis projects. Students can choose a focus in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology; Health Policy and Management; Health and Social Behavior; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Environmental Health Sciences; or Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health. To date, 31 UCB alumni have been awarded the Nobel Prize and many faculty members have received other prominent awards. Program applicants are required to submit to the Office of Admissions three letters of recommendation, documentation of work experience, a statement of purpose and personal history, and official transcripts.