Public health professionals work in governmental health departments, medical centers, or in private companies in fields such as Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Health Education, and Health Services Administration. They may work to identify and study community health issues, provide education about health issues, develop laws or procedures that improve health and wellness, enforce health-related regulations, and evaluate health services.
The entry-level degree in this field has many different names, including the following: M.P.H., M.H.A., M.S., M.A., and M.H.S.A. The Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), can be earned in as few as 11 months of full-time study. Some programs also offer part-time (or even Internet-based) programs of up to three years.
REQUIREMENTS:
Requirements generally include math (Calculus, Statistics), General Biology, and health-related sciences such as Nutrition, Microbiology, Anatomy, and Physiology. Some programs prefer or require that applicants have several years of health-related work experience-or even an advanced degree-before applying for an M.P.H. Programs usually expect the results of a standardized test such as the GRE, but also sometimes the GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT.
NYU REQUIREMENTS:
NYU offers two M.P.H. programs, one through Steinhardt in Community Public Health and an interdisciplinary program in Global Public Health. The latter program requires applicants to have an advanced degree. The Community Public Health program also offers a combined R.D.(Registered Dietitian)-M.P.H. degree option. The GRE is required.
NYU also offers an M.P.A. in Health Policy and Management through the Wagner School.
NYU CONTACTS:
Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health
Steinhardt School of Education
35 West 4th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10003
Tel: (212) 998-5580
Master's Program in Global Public Health
113 University Place, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10003
Tel: (212) 992-MPH1 (6741)
M.P.A. in Health Policy and Management
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
259 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10012
Tel: (212) 998-7400
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
American Public Health Association
800 I Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
Tel: (202) 777-APHA (2742)
Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS)
Association of Schools of Public Health
1101 15th St NW, Ste. 910
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel: (202) 296-1099