What is to be understood by the phrase 'master of public health', or MPH? It is probably true to say that the MPH degree is the most widely recognized public health qualification for administrative positions. Being a public health professional means that you utilize a varied set of skills to solve public health problems.
Indeed, nothing is more important than a person’s health. It is hardly possible to have a fulfilling life if you are not healthy. This is also the case for society as a whole, which is why the maintenance of public health is so complicated.
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 simple way to deal with the issues that one encounters in public health. That is where a master of public health (MPH) comes in.
Diversity and creativity are some of the necessary traits for any successful MPH degree candidate. Anyone wishing to enter public health must genuinely be driven and motivated to improve the health of not just local, but also international communities. It is important to have a passion for working on specific issues.
Working for public health entails hard work. The nature of the modern challenges requires public health professionals to be committed in seeking solutions that are effective and successful. It is therefore vital that one does a self-assessment before attending any MPH program.
Experiencing the Master of Public Health internship is vital. This gives students a chance to use their knowledge and skills that they learned from their academic experiences. It can be said that an internship 'confirms' what was learned in class.
Sometimes it can be hard for a student to accurately assess how much they managed to really learn during the MPH program. However, once they get into the internship and start to apply what they’ve learned, often students cannot believe how well-prepared they are in entering the public health workforce. In the MPH internships students are exposed to a number or environments including clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and even non-profit organizations.
Some students take a year off after college to get some work experience before pursuing a public health graduate degree. Some just get right into it. Public health initiatives taken on by some who are still busy with their undergraduate degrees are also not uncommon.
This gives student's needed focus by the time they attend master of public health programs. 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.
Students often engage in field activities to give them an opportunity to gain experience in public health. Upon entering public health masters programs however, most students already have a lot of experience. These students often have the idea of where they want to use their skills through MPH programs.
