Online Master of Public Health in Community Health

The online MPH in Community Health is a graduate degree program designed to prepare students for careers working in local communities addressing public health issues specific to those communities. Graduates of these programs often work as public health leaders, as health educators, and in the creation and implementation of new public health policies.

Community health professionals address many different health issues including infectious diseases, reproductive health issues, obesity, addiction issues, and others. Community health professionals play a vital role in the areas of disease prevention, health education, public health policy creation and implementation, and a wide range of health issues facing society.

The MPH in Community Health degree is broad-based, and while primarily designed for those working to better the public health of local communities, the degree can also be used in many different public health careers. Just a few examples include a hospital administrator, public health department administrator, or public health researcher.

If an exciting career in community health sounds interesting, it is worth considering to earn an online MPH in Community Health. Going online to earn a degree is now very common. The learning outcomes are the same as those from on-campus programs. Online degree programs allow students to continue their education without having to put their life on hold to study full-time on campus.

Pursuing an Online MPH in Community Health

Online MPH in Community Health degree programs are designed to be very flexible and are designed to accommodate the needs of working adults. Students can access courses and work on assignments during times that are convenient for them.

When considering pursuing an online MPH in Community Health, students will have to submit an application and have official transcripts from all previous schools attended sent to the new institution. Students will also have to submit GRE scores and letters of recommendation. There are also some schools that may require submission of a statement of purpose (why you want to earn the degree) and possibly a resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

Most MPH in Community Health degree programs require approximately 45 credit hours to graduate. All of the coursework can be completed entirely online. However, some schools may require completion of field experience (or practicum) to graduate. Practicums in the area of community health are completed at a public health facility within the community (with prior approval from the program administrator). Practicums require the completion of 200 to 300 hours of field observation and experience.

Potential MPH in Community Health Career Path

The MPH in Community Health prepares students for many different careers in the public health sector. One potential career path is that of a health services administrator. Health services administration is a field that combines business and public policy to manage the financial and human resources aspects of public health facilities such as clinics, community health centers, and others.

According to Payscale.com, health services administrators earn an average salary of $65,811 with a pay range of $37,419 to $106,151.

Sources:

http://sph.umn.edu/programs/che/
http://www.sph.tulane.edu/publichealth/chs/mphchs.cfm
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Health_Care_Administrator/Salary