online public health degree

online public health degree

The Importance of Earning an Online Public Health Degree

1. Overview of Public Health

If one is interested in pursuing a career in public health, with the goal of working towards improving the health of individuals and communities, then obtaining a public health degree is the way to go. Anyone interested in mastering the art of preventing injury and illness through practices that promote a healthy society or developing strategies to prevent conditions that lead to unhealthy living should consider pursuing a career in health education. Health education is a diverse field but with a common objective – improving the health of individuals. Depending on their level of education and training, health educators play a crucial role in achieving public health goals. They often work with different groups of people, from various backgrounds, in order to promote overall well-being.

Public health is a far-reaching subject and has been characterized in various ways, for example, “the science and art of keeping people well and productive”, “the process of ensuring individuals and communities achieve and maintain optimal health”, and “the coordinated efforts of society to ensure the conditions of health; this is achieved through the combination of law, policy, education, and other means.” Public health strives to improve the quality of life through prevention and treatment of disease, including mental well-being. This is done through the surveillance of incidents and the promotion of healthy practices, services, and efforts to eliminate conditions that could lead to harm in society. The purpose of public health is to improve society’s overall well-being. This is done through the assessment of social, environmental, and economic factors that are detrimental to people’s health and identifying potential solutions to such problems. This is then implemented through policies that propose solutions and the creation of healthy living conditions. Public health is an important field but often suffers from lack of support, which has led to debates about its identity and its value to the public.

2. Advantages of Earning an Online Degree

2) Cost The cost of an online degree is often less than the same degree from a traditional brick and mortar institution. The cost for room and board is obviously eliminated when earning a degree from home, and though online students still have to pay for the cost of the credit, tuition, and fees, these expenses are usually less when associated with a traditional school. Many online students are still able to secure financial aid to help with these costs. Finally, the cost of travel to and from a physical location is also eliminated, saving potentially hundreds of dollars a semester.

1) Flexibility Unlike traditional campus-based courses, lectures and other coursework are completed entirely online. Depending on the course, students may work on their own time to finish assignments or there may be specific meeting times for lectures/assignments. However, course accessibility is available 24 hours a day. This is particularly important for working professionals hoping to advance their careers while continuing to hold down their current jobs. Additionally, many students with families are finding online courses to be a good alternative to on-campus classes, as they can effectively complete coursework while still spending time with their family.

3. Top Careers in Public Health

Public health is a diverse field with opportunities focusing on reducing health disparities in underserved populations, health promotion and disease prevention, environmental health, and global health, among others. Individuals interested in a public health career have a number of occupations from which to choose. According to the University of Minnesota, public health careers can be categorized into five main areas. The first is epidemiology, which is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states and the application of this study to control health problems. The second key area of public health is biostatistics. This field involves developing and applying statistical methods to the understanding of public health problems. Health services research is the third key area of public health. These workers do research on the many aspects of health policy and health care including costs, quality, access, and outcomes. The goal of this research is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system. The fourth main area of public health is health education/behavioral science. Workers in this field may design, implement, and evaluate health interventions to change individual or group behaviors. This can include working with communities to develop programs targeted at modifying social or physical environments in order to improve health. The last key area of public health is administration. Administration positions can range from program directors, division heads, and up to top level executives. These workers shape the direction of health organizations and often times are responsible for delivering public health to a population.

4. Choosing the Right Online Program

When weighing the different options in online public health degree programs, the first consideration might be the level of degree. Some students may not be sure if they want to commit to a study program because they are unfamiliar with the subject. In this case, certificate programs might be a good starting point. A certificate in public health will expose students to the foundational concepts of the field, proper terminology, and methodology. Any credits earned in a certificate program can be applied to a higher degree. Many schools offer a certificate program as an articulation into a Master’s degree. A Master’s degree, however, such as the SM or MPH, are the most popular online public health degree programs. Consideration should also be given to the DrPH and PhD programs for students who may be potentially pursuing a PhD.

Exploring different online public health degree programs can be one of the most important steps in the education process for this field. With the growing popularity of this major, educational institutions have responded to the demands from students and employers for professional health education by instituting various online public health degree programs. Earning a degree in public health can take many different forms, so it is important for students to tailor their educational goals to their program of study, keeping in mind how far they want to take their public health career.

5. Steps to Enroll and Succeed in an Online Public Health Degree Program

The next step is to make sure that you are technologically capable of completing the program. Online learning requires a certain level of computer proficiency. You will need to be able to use email, save and attach files, word process, install and update software, create bookmarks, and access and search the internet. You’ll also need to consider whether or not you have a reliable internet connection because dial-up internet is often too slow to effectively learn online. You will need to contact your school’s online learning advisor or an online tutorial to confidently say that you are technologically capable of completing the online program.

First, you need to identify which online public health program best suits your professional and career goals. If your goal is to build your own practice, enroll in a program that teaches you how to set up and manage a business. If you’re looking to become an epidemiologist, ask the school about whether an epidemiology track is offered. Finding out which schools best suit your needs can be done by viewing information on school websites or contacting schools through email or phone. The next step is to contact an admission counselor and apply to the school. This may require a transcript and/or letters of recommendation. After you are admitted, schedule an appointment with an academic counselor to plan your path throughout the program.