Professional degrees of public health

The Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) and the Doctor of Public Health (Dr.PH.) are multi-disciplinary professional degrees awarded for studies in areas related to public health.

The MPH degree focuses on public health practice, as opposed to research or teaching. Master of Public Health programs are available throughout the world in Medical Schools, Schools of Public Health, and Schools of Public Affairs.

The traditional MPH degree is designed to expose candidates to six core areas of public health:

1. Biostatistics
2. Epidemiology
3. Health Services Administration
4. Health Education
5. Behavioral Science and
6. Environmental Health

In addition to these core areas, MPH degrees may also intersect with fields such as urban planning, policy, advocacy, community organizing, communications, integrated health, social work and social sustainability.

In some countries the MPH program is only available for medical graduates (MBBS or equivalent), those without the medical degree can join the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) program. The MSPH degree is an academic public health degree rather than a professional public health degree. The MSPH is more research-oriented than is the MPH. Required MSPH coursework includes most of the same classes needed for the MPH degree, but in addition the MSPH degree requires additional coursework in research methods, epidemiology, biostatistics, and similar public health studies. Also, MSPH students must complete a research thesis. The extra coursework roughly requires an additional year of study in relation to what is required for the MPH degree.

The DrPH degree is for those who intend to pursue or advance a professional practice career in public health and for leaders and future leaders in public health practice. They face the particular challenge of understanding and adapting scientific knowledge in order to achieve health gain and results. This degree leads to a career in high-level administration, teaching, or practice, where advanced analytical and conceptual capabilities are required. The usual requirement for entry into this program is a Masters degree in Public Health (MPH). The DrPH program develops in its candidates all competencies included in MPH programs, with increased emphasis on high level skills in problem-solving and the application of public health concepts.

The Doctor of Health Science degree (D.H.Sc.) is similar to the Doctor of Public Health degree in scope and necessary requirements for completion. However, the D.H.Sc. is a post-professional academic degree for those who intend to pursue or advance a professional practice career in Health Arts and Sciences, and Health Care Delivery Systems, to include clinical practice, education, administration, and research. Masters credentialed paramedical professionals (Respiratory Therapist, Radiology technologist, Dental hygienist, and Athletic trainer) and advanced practice clinicians with Masters degrees (Physician Assistant/Physician Associate (PA), Nurse Administrator, and Nurse Practitioner (NP)) are drawn to the D.H.Sc. credential in effort to advance their careers to the top executive level.

Asia

• Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
• China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
• Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
• Daebul University, South Jeolla, South Korea
• University of the Philippines- Los Baños - Open University, Laguna, Philippines
• Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
• Mahidol University, Faculty of Public Health, Bangkok, Thailand
• Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
• The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• University of Public Health, Yangon, Myanmar
• University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
• University of Otago Wellington School of Medicine, Dunedin, New Zealand
• University of the Philippines Manila, College of Public Health, Manila, Philippines
• James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• National University of Singapore, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore
• Mae Fah Luang University, Chiangrai, Thailand
• Institute of Environmental Sciences and Water Research Centre, University of Karachi, karachi.Pakistan

Australia

• Griffith University, School of Public Health [Southbank Campus], Brisbane QLD
• University of Queensland, School of Population Health, Brisbane, Queensland
• Queensland University of Technology, School of Public Health
• Curtin University, School of Public Health, Perth, Western Australia
• Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC
• LaTrobe University, Melbourne, VIC
• Monash University, Melbourne, VIC
• University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia
• University of Melbourne, School of Population Health, Melbourne, VIC
• University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales
• University of Sydney, School of Public Health, Sydney, New South Wales
• University of Western Australia, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences - School of Population Health, Perth, Western Australia
• University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales
• University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
• Menzies School of Health, Darwin, NT

Africa

Jomo kenyatta university of Agriculture and Technology. Institute of tropical medicine and infectious diseases (ITROMID). Nairobi, kenya.

• University of Nairobi, School of Medicine, Nairobi, Kenya
• Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
• Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
• Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
• University of Ibadan, College of Medicine, Ibadan, Nigeria.

North America

Canada

• Memorial University, Division of Community Health and Humanities, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
• Dalhousie University, Masters Program in Public Health (in development), Halifax, Canada
• McGill University, The Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Montreal, Canada
• Université de Montréal, Master of Science Program in Community Health, Montreal, Canada
• Université Laval, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Social and Preventive Medicine, Quebec City, Canada
• University of Ottawa, Program in Epidemiology, Ottawa, Canada
• Queen's University, Community Health and Epidemiology, Kingston, Canada
• Lakehead University, Master of Public Health (MPH) Thunder Bay, Canada
• University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Canada
• University of Western Ontario, The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, London, Ontario, Canada
• University of Waterloo, Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, Waterloo, Canada
• University of Manitoba, Master of Public Health (MPH), Winnipeg, Canada
• University of Saskatchewan, School of Public Health, Saskatoon, Canada
• University of Alberta, Department of Public Health Sciences, Edmonton, Canada
• University of British Columbia, School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver, Canada
• Simon Fraser University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Vancouver, Canada
• University of Victoria, School of Public Health and Social Policy, Victoria, Canada
• University of Northern British Columbia, Community Health Sciences, Prince George, Canada

Mexico

• Autonomous University of Tamaulipas, Ciudad Victoria and Tampico, Mexico

United States

Main article: History of Schools of Public Health in the U.S.

Council on Education for Public Health

In the United States the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredits schools of public health and programs of public health through a formal review process.

• List of Schools & Programs of Public Health Accredited by the CEPH
• CEPH Accredited Online programs: Des Moines University, (M.P.H. degree) Master of Public Health

In addition to coursework, CEPH programs have thesis and practicum requirements that may be waived if the candidate has substantial prior experience in the field. Non-CEPH programs may have other requirements.

Certified in Public Health (CPH) Exam

In 2008, the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE), an organization established in the United States, began offering a certification exam. The exam is based on the MPH degree's core competencies, which were agreed upon by a national effort in 2004–2006 in the United States. More than 900 individuals sat for the first NBPHE exam of which slightly more than 500 received qualifying scores, according to the official press release.

Council of Graduate Programs in Public Health

The Council of Graduate Programs in Public Health represents the accredited and emerging graduate programs across the U.S. that grant public health degrees and therefore prepare students for professional careers in public health. The Council encourages, promotes and supports universities, schools and colleges in developing, maintaining, and advancing graduate programs in the disciplines of preventive medicine, social medicine, community health and public health. The Council is sponsored by the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research.

Europe

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom the MPH is usually a one year full-time program. Taught modules typically account for two thirds of the MPH and a project one third. Students may be medical or non-medical graduates. Degrees vary in their content, but most cover similar areas of public health. Because of the key role played by public health practitioners in the NHS a UK MPH also often includes Health Economics.

Degrees that include a substantial epidemiological component are more selective and some require applicants to demonstrate ability before applying, by completion of an online test MPH Selection Test [1]

Faculty of Public Health (UK)

In the UK specialist accreditation in public health is provided by the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) [2]. Specialist accreditation is through participation in a four year program analogous to specialist training for doctors. Specialist trainees must pass an examination, demonstrably achieve certain skills and submit a portfolio of work. However specialist training in public health is also open to non-doctors.

• University of Birmingham, School of Health and Population Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
• Nottingham University, School of Community Health Sciences, Nottingham, United Kingdom
• University of Leeds, Nuffield Centre for International Health & Development[3], United Kingdom

Rest of Europe

• University College Dublin, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Population Science, Dublin, Ireland
• Reykjavik University, School of Health and Education, Reykjavik, Iceland
• Karolinska Institutet, Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
• American University of Armenia, School of Health Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia
• Andalusian School of Public Health, Spain
• Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences (NIHES), Netherlands, [4]
• Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
• Netherlands School of Public and Occupational Health, Netherlands
• Slovak Medical University, Faculty of Public Health, Bratislava, Slovakia
• Umeå University, Umeå International School of Public Health[5], Sweden
• University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark [6]
• University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
• University of Trnava, Faculty of Health Care and Social Work, Department of Public Health, Trnava, Slovakia, [7]
• VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• University of Bergen, Norway

South America

Argentina

Universities with certified Masters in Public Health in Argentina.

• U of BA
• NU of LP
• NU of C
• NU of R
• NU of T
• NU of S
• NU of CA

Colombia

• University of Antioquia, National Faculty of Public Health, Medellín, Colombia
• National University of Colombia, Public Health Department, Bogota, Colombia

Ecuador

• San Francisco de Quito University, Quito, Ecuador

Peru

• Cayetano Heredia University, Faculty of Public Health and Administration, Lima, Peru

External links

• Council of Graduate Programs in Public Health
• Association of Schools of Public Health
• Council on Education for Public Health
• Master list of CEPH accredited Schools & Programs of Public Health as of August 27, 2008
• National Board of Public Health Examiners
• Charter Class of Certified in Public Health Examinees
• Profile of the 2008 NBPHE Candidates
• The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region
• Online MPH program

References

Doctor of Health Science

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