Master of Public Health

Have you ever wondered how masters of public health program rankings for 2010 and 2011 are done? The truth is that the methods for creating rankings vary from one list to the next but here are some of the methods used by the more reputable sources of MPH rankings. Now when you look at a list of the rankings for 2010 and 2011 you will not only know which programs are the best but you will also know why.

How Do You Start Ranking Programs?

The ranking of programs usually begins with the sending out of surveys. These surveys are sent to a large number of programs and an even larger number of professionals working in these programs. Deans, program directors, and senior faculty are targeted by these surveys.

Whenever you create a ranking list you cannot take into account all the variables that make one program better than another. If you look at one variable then this program will come out on top. If you look at another variable then what was the top program a moment ago may now be much farther down the list. Even if you could take all the variables into account then you would have to decide how much weight each one held when it came time to compose the final list. For this reason, master of public health program rankings tend to zero in on a limited number of criteria at most so as to provide clear, accurate rankings.

How Do You Complete The Rankings?

These surveys ask the professionals in these programs to rank the many aspects of their own program. The questions involve everything from quality of the staff to the acceptance rate of students into that program. As mentioned earlier, if you include more than one measure of a program then you need to decide how to weigh each factor. Are all the factors being ranked equally important or should some have more weight than others? This is a somewhat subjective question but must be answered before the final list of rankings can be put together.

Master of public health program rankings for 2010 and 2011 are not easy to tabulate. Many criteria must be taken into account and not everyone will agree on the rankings. Still, if you are looking for a starting point for your program search, these rankings can provide you with some information to consider.

Health administration, behavioral studies, biostats, environmental science, health education, epidemiology, and occupational health form the foundation of public health. Individuals interested in one or more of these areas would do well to advance their careers by earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. The schools below are all accredited online universities that offer the MPH or a similar degree.

MPH MPH: Epidemiology MPH: Health Mgmt MPH: Intl Public Health	University of Liverpool – The University of Liverpool Master of Public Health degree provides a foundation in the science of promoting health and preventing disease. Areas of emphasis within the MPH program include epidemiology, healthcare management, and international public health. As an added convenience, the university offers a modular system that provides students the flexibility of obtaining credits at partner institutions.
MPH MPH: Health Education	Kaplan University – Graduates of the Kaplan University MPH program are ready to take their careers to the next stage at the government, nonprofit, or private level. The online program provides students with an education on how to analyze and apply scientific research, prepare public health policies, develop health education programs, and review the impact of occupational and environmental factors. Kaplan offers several specializations within their MPH program, including health education.
MPH MPH: Disaster Mgmt MPH: Health Education MPH: Health Policy MPH/MBA Dual Degree	Benedictine University – Benedictine University's Master's in Public Health program features a curriculum of public health core with a focus on the needs of today's healthcare industry. Courses feature a conceptual, factual, and skill base where students are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a professional setting. Benedictine offers areas of emphasis within their MPH program: disaster management, health education, and healthcare policy. They also offer an MPH/MBA dual degree.
MPH MPA: Health Policy	Walden University – The Walden University MPH degree teaches the development of healthy individuals, organizations, and communities. The program provides core study in the public health field, using real-world teaching methodology, industry leading professors, and a capstone fieldwork practicum. Those interested in policymaking may find Walden's MPA in health policy to be of interest.
MPH MPH: Behavioral Science MPH: Health Policy	Capella University – The MPH program at Capella University prepares students for careers in public health management, social welfare, or research. Key facets of the curriculum include the behavioral, psychological, and social factors that contribute to the health of populations. Specializations include behavioral science and healthcare policy. Courses include International Public Health, Environmental Health Concepts in Public Health, and Principles of Biostatistics.
MS: Health Services MBA: Health Services	Strayer University – Strayer University offers two health services administration degrees through its accredited online program. The Master of Health Services Administration prepares students for high-level careers as healthcare managers, managed healthcare plan coordinators, hospital administrators, and much more. The MBA in health services administration gives students a well-rounded business education in addition to healthcare-specific knowledge.
MPH	Grand Canyon University – The Grand Canyon University Master of Public Health program is recognized as a leader in training the next generation of public health advocates. Featuring a curriculum that is developed around a multidisciplinary methodology, courses include Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Health, and Social, Behavioral, and Cultural Factors in Public Health.
MS: Health Communication	Boston University – At the Boston University online Master of Science in Health Communication program, students are taught cutting edge methods in hospital administration through a dynamic curriculum that examines current healthcare issues. The program gives students a world class education in the art of communicating health literacy.
MS: Disaster Mgmt	Philadelphia University – The Master of Science in Disaster Medicine and Management at Philadelphia University is focused on the study of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, hazardous materials, natural disasters, psychological effects of disasters, stress intervention, and disaster research. In a post 9/11 world, this knowledge is in high demand.
MHA: Health Education MHA	University of Phoenix – The Master of Health Administration and MHA in Health Education programs at the University of Phoenix provide a foundation in sciences with a relevant working knowledge of the industry. Graduates of either online degree program will be empowered to both analyze current public health care environments and have the tools necessary to improve their management.
MPH MPH: Dental Health MPA: Health Administration	A.T. Still University of Health Sciences – The A.T. Still Universty of Health Sciences Master in Public Health program is focused on graduating leaders in community health centers, institutes of higher education, non-profit organizations, and local, state, and federal government. They also offer an MPH in dental health and an MPA in health administration. The university is renowned for both its innovative research and creative faculty.
Find more public health degrees here...