The Master of Public Health is abbreviated as (M.P.H.) is the professional degree awarded after having learned the multi-disciplinary studies in the field of public health. By virtue of having gained the MPH degree the person holding it gets engaged in the practicing of public health. It is focused on prevention of diseases besides carrying on health promotion for the mases.
The Master of Public Health degree program can be accessed all over the world from the medical schools, more specific Schools of Public Health and Schools of Public Affairs.
As set by the traditions the Master of Public Health degree has been designed for enabling exposure to the candidates studying the course to its five basic disciplines referred as core disciplines, which are related to the matters concerning public health.
The disciplines are mentioned below:
- Details of Biostatics.
- Past record of Epidemics (Epidemiology).
- Issues related to Environmental Health.
- Principles of Health Policy & Rural & Urban Health Administration.
- Principles of Social & Behavioral Science.
Moreover there is fully integrated and inter-disciplinary Master of Public Health program and enables the candidates to become competent in various professionally needed traits in the areas of effective understandable communications, course related informatics, diversity in various cultures and their health needs, leadership characteristics, appearing and behaving as health professional, planning associated with the program, public health related biology and systematic thinking.
The students keen in studying in US are required to be medical graduates for pursuing the Master of Public Health degree course and there after start practicing public health. The major and medical students have the access for pursuing the same program known as public health medicine.
In few other countries the Master of Public Health study program is accessible only to medical graduate i.e. M.B.B.S. or an equivalent degree course. Persons not holding a medical degree get the option of joining alternative degree course named as Master of Science in Public Health abbreviated as (MSPH), which is focused on academic issues related to public health with more stress on the research activities in the field of health.
In all other respects MSPH is including the same class teaching like Biostatics and Epidemiology as they are taught in Master of Public Health and in addition there is course work related to research methods.
The Master of Public Health degree holders can further pursue their studies in the course leading to Doctorate degree in Public Health.