Public Health (M.P.H.) Field

Public health is a broad and expanding field concerned with the health needs of populations. Public health professionals seek to identify and meet these needs through the development, implementation, and administration of programs and policies emphasizing primary prevention and health promotion. They are also involved in planning, coordinating, and evaluating existing and proposed community health services with the goal of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of program delivery. In recent years, the public health field has undergone rapid changes, creating new opportunities for highly skilled and motivated professionals specializing in health promotion, health services management, and other areas of public health. The M.P.H. program is designed to respond to these opportunities.

Employment opportunities in the public health field are expected to increase in the future, and the demand for managers in health services is already high. A report the American College of Health Care Executives predicted:

• The health care share of the GNP will increase to over 12%.
• There will be a radical shift from hospital care to alternative care structures and operations.
• Health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations will increase over the coming years.
• There will be a continuing emphasis on management of health care to reduce the spiraling cost of care.
• Advances in computer applications will be significant in the operations of health care agencies.
• Emphasis will be on effective decision-making; Organizations will need to establish data-gathering systems to report on quality and cost.

Thus, the societal need for leadership and managerial skills in the health care field is clear. Graduates of the M.P.H. program will be well prepared to help meet this need.

At the same time, there has been a growing recognition by medical and other health care professionals of the need for a greater emphasis on health services and programs that target disease prevention and health promotion. In fact, the U.S. Public Health Service has spear-headed a national strategy to significantly improve the nation's health by the year 2010. Through the establishment of national goals and objectives for the prevention of major chronic illnesses, injuries, and infectious diseases, as outlined in its landmark document Healthy People 2010, the Public Health Service and other high profile organizations have focused the spotlight on the importance of primary prevention and health promotion.

According to a survey of recent graduates of the program, over 90% were employed in health or health-related positions. The following are some examples of positions held by program graduates:

Health Educator, Community Hospital
Executive Director, Chemical Dependency Center
Director of Health Promotion, County Health Department
Administrator, Long-Term Care Facility
Director of Health Promotion, Private Corporation

Additional Information

• Program Requirements
• Program at a Glance
• Guidelines
• Internship Reqs & Forms
• Certification in Public Health