The 21st century saw the biggest public health crisis when the entire world had been in a lockdown which felt like ages being caged in our homes. The COVID pandemic established the importance of public health management even more for the countries. Since the US, has faced many other public health crises, and is one of the earlier nations that transformed from an agricultural society to an intense urban and industrial one, widespread diseases among people due to being in close proximity have been seen in the US even before the 2020 pandemic. Therefore, public health services have been operational in the US since the 18th century.
Due to historical reasons as well it being the biggest economy in the world, the USA is known for its research and scientific developments in health and medicine. The USA is also a global leader in all fields of education, and public health is one of them. American universities equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge through their Master’s programs to deal with complex public health issues. In this blog post, we will list down some of the top Master’s in Public Health Programs (MPH) in USA, making your job easier by providing their strengths and areas of specialization, and how to get admission in them. In all the Master’s programs, the application review committee looks at your statement of purpose (SOP) and letters of recommendation (LORs) with as much importance as your academic credentials. So, make sure you go through the programs’ requirements and curriculum thoroughly and align your SOP accordingly. Or else, you can also take help from Contentholic’s professional SOP and LOR writing services to make that perfect pitch before the admission committee.
How You Should Choose a Program
Before selecting a program, there are things you should keep in mind that are aligned with your future career goals and plans.
- Specialization: You should decide in which area you want to specialize through your research.
- Rankings of the Program: Do consider the rankings of the program as well as the university so that you get to choose the institution with a good reputation and expert faculties.
- Location: Consider where the school/college offering the program is located and whether there are any internship/fieldwork opportunities.
- Curriculum: Check the coursework to see whether the topics of your interest are covered.
- Faculty: You can look at the faculty’s qualifications and research work to assess their expertise.
- Cost: Do consider the tuition fee, and living expenses of each program to make an informed decision.
List of Top Master’s in Public Health Programs
1. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
This university is known for its exhaustive academic programs and groundbreaking research. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is ranked at the top for its MPH program in the world. The faculty is known for their teaching, practice, and ongoing research worldwide. The central courses of this program are biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral determinants of health, management sciences, public health problem-solving, computer applications, demography, environmental health, biological sciences, and public health policy. There is a population-level practicum project of 100 hours in this program, conducted anywhere in the world from a lab or a health agency. The annual tuition fee for this program is USD 82,440.
To get admission to this program, you will need two years of health-related work experience or a postdoctoral degree aligning with public health. The candidates also need to have a strong academic background, especially in quantitative skills. A SOP would be asked of you so that you can explain your past academic and work experiences, career ambitions, and how this degree will fit in your future career path. The review committee of applications will also require three LORs. And lastly, an English proficiency test is required of international students.
2. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Another world-renowned institution, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is a leading school for public health education. The school has strong interdisciplinary research and a comprehensive curriculum. The school is divided into different departments such as biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, global health and population, health policy and management, immunology and infectious diseases, molecular metabolism, nutrition, and social and behavioral sciences. There are several research centers as well for advanced research in areas of public health. The total annual direct and estimated indirect cost for a Master’s in Public Health is USD 105,510 (for a 1-year program, 45 credits), a full-time MPH for a 1.5-year program is USD 96,690 (65 credits), and a Master of Public Health Generalist, 2-year (part-time, online) is USD 63,806.
To apply to the MPH program of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, students have to submit their application through SOPHAS- the common application for schools and programs of public health. The students also need to submit an SOP and objectives, official test scores, three LOR, resumé/curriculum vitae, and all post-secondary transcripts or mark sheets.
Your SOP should not exceed 600 words, and describe your academic and professional developments for a career in public health, your main focus of interest or the department you are most interested in, your future career path, and address any relevant strengths and weaknesses in your background.
3. Colombia University–Mailman School of Public Health
This school is known for its innovative approach to public health education which is based on an interdisciplinary, collaborative, and integrated core structure. This is a 2-year Master of Public Health program. The departments in this program are biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, population and family health, and sociomedical sciences. Each student has to select a department at the time of applying to this program. The faculty and staff of this school conduct research and carry through programs in more than 100 countries. There are many interesting centers you can be part of such as the Colombia Center for Children’s Environmental Health, Center for Climate and Health, Center for the History and Ethics of Public Health, and many more. The tuition fee per year would be USD 48,904 and the estimated program fee would be USD 6,823. Other expenses per semester for food, housing, books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation would be USD 9,438, USD 15,057, USD 1,250, USD 3,177, and USD 1,323 respectively.
All the applicants for MPH have to apply through SOPHAS. Additional documents would be 3 LOR. The letters have to specify your academic and research abilities, your ability to work independently, as well as your ability to understand and take in new information. In addition, you have to submit an SOP of 500-1000 words, constituting your reasons to apply, your interests in the applied department and MPH degree, and the connection between your program and your long-term career goals You can also share an addendum with the officials in case you were not able to share some information anywhere else in your application.
4. University of Michigan–School of Public Health
The Master of Public Health (MPH) in this school has two degree programs. One is an MPH in Environmental Health Promotion and Policy. The graduates from this program mainly work in government agencies, NGOs, consulting firms, etc. The second is an MPH in Environmental Health Sciences. The special focus areas of this program would be environment, sustainability, and health; occupational health sciences- industrial hygiene; and occupational and environmental epidemiology. The MPH is a two-year professional degree, with the most defining feature being a summer internship in a private industry, a government agency, or a community organization in the U.S. or some other country. For an international student, the fee for this degree would be USD 26,712.
To apply for any of the MPH programs you have to submit an online SOPHAS application, along with official transcripts, an SOP, and objectives (if you are applying for more than one program then you have to submit an SOP for each program), a reflective essay only if something was not covered in any parts of your application, a quantitative experience statement, resume/CV, LOR, and language proficiency requirements (if applicable). Your SOP should be within 1000 words, answering the questions related to your motivation to apply to the University of Michigan School of Public Health and your academic department/program of interest, how the degree fits in your career plans, previous experiences, and any particular faculty you would like to work with.
5. University of North Carolina–Gillings School of Global Public Health
Gillings School of Global Public Health is one of the top public schools of public health. The academic areas in this school are biostatistics, environmental sciences and engineering, epidemiology, health behavior, health policy, and management, maternal and child health, nutrition, and public health leadership and practice. Its research strength lies in data science; design and implementation; using research and policy to improve public health across North Carolina and around the world; preventing and reducing cancer, infectious and chronic diseases; and improving health from chemicals and behaviors to communities and environment. The tuition and fees per year range from USD 28,953.00-35,953.00.
The minimum requirements for getting into one of the programs of MPH in this school are a graduate degree, a minimum grade of B (or GPA of 3), a written SOP, LOR, relevant work, service, and experience. This goes for each program or department you would be applying to in MPH. It is advised that students take help from professional SOP writers so that their SOP reflects upon their understanding of their course requirements.
Areas of Specialization for Future Research
- Epidemiology: It focuses on the study of dispensation and determinants of health and disease in populations.
- Biostatistics: Make use of statistical methods to investigate health data and conduct research.
- Health Policy and Management: Analyze the evolution, application, and evaluation of health policies and programs.
- Environmental Health: Explores the effect of environmental elements on human health and well-being.
- Global Health: Addresses health issues that go beyond national borders and affect people worldwide.
Career Prospects After Getting an MPH Degree
Your master’s degree in public health can lead you to various career opportunities. You can work in different sectors or agencies, be it government, non-profit organizations, healthcare institutions, academics, or the private sector. Some potential specialized jobs could be epidemiologists, biostatisticians, health policy analysts, environmental health specialists, public health program manager, global health advocate, health communication specialist, and health educator.
Conclusion
This blog post covered why you should study in USA for your Master’s degree and the top MPH programs in USA. If you are planning to study abroad for your Master’s degree in public health, the USA is the place for getting the best of the skills, knowledge, and credentials you can ask for to make a pivotal contribution towards public health issues. By carefully considering the programs from various institutions and various branches of public health, you can set yourself towards a successful and fulfilling career in public health.
US Universities are very particular about their intake of students. Not only do they look at the academic credentials of the candidates but they also go through the SOP and LOR of hundreds of candidates to select only the notable ones. Therefore, as mentioned earlier in the blog, consulting professional SOP writers gives you an idea about how to be true and honest in your writing. If you are searching for study-abroad consultants to help you with the documents for applying for an MPH degree in the USA, you can contact Contentholic’s SOP and LOR writing services. They will increase your chance of getting accepted to your desired school/college in America.
