Do I Need Job Experience Before Getting A Master’s in Public Health?

Master's in Public Health If you are planning to study public health and you would like to earn an advanced degree, it is important to determine what the admissions requirements are before you graduate with your Bachelor’s. By learning about the Master’s degree requirements while you are still a young undergraduate student, you will not be forced to return to school to complete additional courses just for acceptance into the school of health. While all schools require Master’s degree candidates to possess an accredited and relevant undergraduate degree, there is a widespread debate concerning whether or not job experience should be required. These requirements will exist for both online learning and in person learning. For example, one should never assume that they will need less requirements when applying for a biostatistics masters programs online versus one at a traditional campus.

Further Reading: 10 Best Online MPH Degree Programs

What Are the Requirements to Earn Your Master’s in Public Health?

If you would like to earn an advanced Master’s in Public Health degree, also commonly referred to as an MPH, you do not need on-the-job experience in public health to meet most admissions requirements. This professional degree will prepare you to become a leader or specialist in Public Health, and the coursework prepares you to deal with many different emerging public health problems domestically and globally. The Master’s in Public Health program includes a long list of courses that prepare you to become a valuable asset in the field. Some of the courses you can expect to take include: Public Health Administration, Education, Practice, Socio-Health Services, toxicology, Occupational Health, Health Policies and Programs and Global Disaster Management.

The course load that you must complete will depend entirely upon the concentration that you choose. While the elective and core courses can vary, the requirements are generally the same. In most cases, you will need to possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited facility to be considered. You may also qualify by holding a degree from a foreign institution. In addition to a degree, applicants must also earn a minimum score on their Graduate Record Examination. This proves that you are competent to enter into graduate school.

Related Resource: Earn your Master’s in Public Health Online

What Are the Requirements to Enter Into a MBA Program?

Earning an Master’s in Public Health is not your only option if you want an advanced degree in public health. If you want to become a business leader within the Public Health arena, you may want to consider taking a different route and earning your MBA with a concentration in Public Health. The MPH/MBA degree program prepares you for administrative and leadership roles in the healthcare system. While an undergraduate degree is required, job experience is preferred, but not required. Most business schools offering this specialized type of program will request that applicants have at least one year of experience in public health to be considered, but a record of performance in school and high scores on the Graduate Management Admissions Test may suffice.

There are programs that exist today that are designed for executives, and these programs have more strict professional experience requirements. In the growing field of public health, where the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts growth of 23%, there is a great need for talented and educated professionals. Since job experience before getting a Master’s in Public Health is not always necessary, it is essential to compare requirements so that you can graduate as quick as possible.