What You Can Do With A Master’s in Public Health

A master’s degree in public health will provide you with the knowledge and skills to protect and enhance the health of everyone. You will learn how to tackle health and safety issues in communities, work with people in other industries and educate the greater public about ways to create healthy communities and environments where people can thrive.

With an M.P.H. degree, you can analyze data, impact public policy, research and monitor public health threats and much more.

Public health is what we do collectively to elevate the health of people and communities. It matters to everyone, every day. While the COVID-19 pandemic has increased awareness and appreciation of the public health system, it has also created opportunities to reinvest in population health work that prioritizes health equity. In fact, the recent relaunch of the Ten Essential Public Health Services holds equity at the center of public health’s core functions.

Public health is focused on the root causes of health issues at community and population levels. Public health professionals work with health care providers and other sectors such as housing, transportation, planning, education and food systems to address the structural determinants of health.

More than 400,000 public health professionals nationwide work to promote public health through community programs, policy and research in nearly every industry. If you want to improve society and help others, a career in public health may be right for you.

Consider jobs in public health that meet your personal goals and expectations. Be prepared to analyze and visualize data, plan programming, help shape public policy, research and monitor health threats and much more. Consider an online M.P.H. degree that can provide you with the flexibility to complete a graduate-level degree on your schedule.

M.P.H. degree tuition varies and can cost as much as $35,000 a year for a two-year degree. Many colleges and universities have in-state and out-of-state tuition rates. Housing costs and living expenses can add another $10,000-$20,000 a year to the overall cost.

Students in Des Moines University’s online M.P.H. program pay a flat rate for tuition, with no graduate student fees. This means you can pursue an M.P.H. degree at a potentially lower cost while maintaining a schedule that works for you.

The variety of careers and demand in the field let you use your M.P.H. degree to create healthier lives for everyone and also create opportunities for professional advancement.

Here are a few roles:

• Clinical Trials Analyst
• Director of Rural Health
• Disaster Preparedness
• Researcher
• Environmental Health Director
• Health Care Administrator
• Infectious Disease Prevention Analyst
• Nutrition Advisor
• Occupational Health Specialist
• Public Health Analyst
• Social Worker

With an M.P.H. degree, you can work in a variety of fields and industries throughout your career. Here are a few examples.

• Academic institutions
  Many M.P.H. graduates pursue careers at public and private universities to educate new generations of public health practitioners and advance research in the field.
• Consulting
  Public health consultants work with businesses, communities, government agencies and nonprofits to enhance public health program effectiveness and delivery.
• Local, state and federal governments
  Opportunities include jobs in data analysis, disaster management and emergency preparedness, program planning and research in health departments, public schools and state boards of health. At the federal level, you’ll find roles with the Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health and other government agencies, departments and offices.
• Health care
  This field employs more M.P.H. graduates than any other industry, according to the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. You can help tackle crises as an administrator, communications professional, educator or researcher, or you may choose to continue your education and become a public health physician.
• Nonprofits
  A wide variety of public health careers exist at nonprofit organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the Public Health Institute and United Way in program development and planning, outreach services and other areas.

Attributes that equip people to improve the overall health and wellbeing of our communities include:

• Ability to adapt and be flexible
• Problem-solving, teamwork and analytical skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal know-how
• Vigorous work ethic

The science and application of public health knowledge are constantly evolving, requiring lifelong learning and professional development. As a public health student, you will receive training in foundational public health competencies and develop additional competencies in your chosen concentration area. You will be prepared to engage in evidence-based public health practice, applying knowledge to develop and implement programs and engage in policy, systems and environmental strategies to promote and protect population health.

Completion of the M.P.H. degree is a significant career milestone and opens doors to making our world a healthier, safer place.

Public health professionals who have the right credentials, knowledge and skills can find the field extremely rewarding professionally, personally and financially. Here are five examples of higher-paying public health careers, according to ziprecruiter.com:

• $176,063 – Infectious Disease Specialist
• $88,255 – Health Services Administrator
• $70,430 – Health Care Consultant
• $64,640 – Medical and Health Services Manager