Master of Public Health

One of the up and coming career fields is public health. If you are interested in promoting healthier outcomes for society, you might consider a career in public and global health. With health becoming a subject of interest for many, as well as a concern for the coming century, it is little surprise that jobs in public and global health are increasing. Jobs in in medical and health services are expected to grow at a faster than average rate, and you can take advantage of these opportunities.

Jobs in Public and Global Health

When it comes to career options, there are a number of possibilities in public and global health. There is a need for a wide variety of skills in the public health sector, and chances are that you could be perfect for one of the jobs that needs to be done. Here are some of the opportunities available in public and global health:

• Practitioner: A practitioner is a doctor, nurse practitioner, nurse, dietitian or other health trained personnel who can help diagnose and/or treat different conditions and diseases, or provide sound health advice. These are people who actually perform services. This can be at local clinics, or they can be as part of special medical missions around the world.
• Researcher: Public health issues affect a wide variety of people. If you are interested in finding out what is happening in terms of public health, and if you want to track trends in global health and wellness, you might consider being a researcher. Researchers help gather information so that policy makers and others have what they need to make informed decisions.
• Educator: If you have a flair for working with others, and teaching concepts, you might become an educator. A public health educator visits schools, organizations and communities in order to raise awareness. On the scale of global health, educators travel to the poverty stricken around the world and educate them about sound health practices. Public health educators can also help educate others about health services and options that they may not have known were available.
• Advocate for change: There are a number of organizations that work to effect change. You can work with these organizations to lobby for better laws to protect public health. It is also possible to be an advocate for change internationally, working with governments and organizations to change attitudes and practices.
• Grant writer: Many organizations have the need to obtain money in order to fund their activities related to public and global health. Grant writers put together documents meant to convince governments and charitable foundations to provide money to help public health efforts.
• Administrator, manager and/or coordinator: There is a need for organized administrators to help manage and coordinate public health efforts. Global health organizations need competent people who know how to organize effectively to get the job done. If you have a talent for coordination and work well with others, you might be able to aid public health organizations in this capacity.

Depending on your education and your developed skills, you might be suited for any number of possible jobs in public and global health. In some cases, you could perform more than one function, such as being a practitioner and a researcher, or being an educator and a grant writer. There are endless possibilities in public and global health. Consider what you want in a job, and think about what you would like to accomplish as a public health worker. This will help you determine which career possibilities to focus on.

Training and Education

If you are sufficiently trained in a related area, you may not need additional education. However, a Master of Public Health degree can be helpful. Even though you may have a skill set that prepares you for a job in the realm of public health, understanding the particular ins and outs of public health can be helpful, which is why some sort of degree or certification can be helpful. Even doctors and nurses can find a little formal education and training in the area of public health can be enlightening.

A public health internship may also be a good idea. This can give you a chance to actually get some hands on experience in public health, and determine if it is really want you want to do after all. There are a number of public and global health internship opportunities all over the world that can help you get a feel for the work. Additionally, the experience, specifically, related to public health can be a big help when you decide to apply for a job. While not completely necessary in every case, some education and experience specifically in public health can prepare you for the unique challenges and perspectives in this career field.

Looking for Opportunities in Public and Global Health

There are a number of web sites that offer jobs, internships, fellowships and other opportunities in public and global health. If you are interested in this field, you might visit these sites for information on specific openings, and how to apply for them:

• Global Health Fellows: USAID offers this program that sends qualified professionals all over the world.
• Global Health Council Career Network: Post your resume, learn about job openings, and network with other global health professionals.
• Idealist.org: This web site is aimed at people who want opportunities to help others, including public health jobs.
• Zebra Jobs: Interesting jobs, including public health jobs, located in Africa.
• The Global Health Trust: Look for jobs in global health in various places around the world.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Find various jobs at the CDC. Includes jobs in the U.S., as well as overseas opportunities in public health.
• Public Health Employment Connection: This job site is offered by the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory. Great job board with public health listings.
• Public Health CareerMart: The American Public Health Association offers a career site that can help you find information on public health degrees, and public health positions.
• JobTarget: This job center from InterAction offers you the opportunity to look for global jobs that can change the world — including those related to health.

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.
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