Public Health is a multidisciplinary profession that focuses on prevention of disease and promotion of health in populations. The public health disciplines include health policy and management, health services administration, nutrition, bio-statistics, epidemiology, oral health, family health, health education and communication, occupational safety and health, environmental health and international and global health. Your local Board of Health director probably has an MPH. Many medical students add an MPH degree to their MD with very little added time.

Skills and competencies in the public health disciplines include analytic and assessment, policy development and program planning, communication, cultural competency, basic public health sciences, financial planning and management, leadership and an understanding of systems.

Degree
MPH or DrPH

Program Length
2 (MPH) - 4 (DrPH) years

Professional Schools’ Organization
Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH)

Application Service
Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS)

Academic Admission Requirements
School specific and vary with specialty area, e.g. epidemiology requires science background where policy and management requires more background in management.

Admission Exam
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

Recommendation Letters
Letters of recommendation from a pre-health advisor are required, and may be kept confidential. Some schools may require additional letters of support.

Public Health at UMass Lowell
Find out more about pursuing a graduate degree in public health at UMass Lowell. 

Careers in Public Health