Public health master’s programs are for those interested in working alongside hospitals, physicians, and insurance companies to tackle the critical challenges faced every day by the millions of people whose lives are touched by the complex U.S. healthcare system.
In an article about the worth of a master’s degree in today’s labor environment, The Economist says that the experience is about calculating trade-offs. Will the prestige be worth the price? How significant is physical presence for you to get the total value of the degree? How will you balance work, life, and study? The answer to all of the above depends on where you want to take your career.
One important trade-off students must make early on is what career path they want to pursue.
The Masters of Public Health at Everglades University is for students who are committed to the healthcare industry.
The Masters of Business Administration is a broader degree for students interested in upper management jobs regardless of the industry.
So the question is, MBA vs MPH, which is right for you?
MBA
Our MBA program empowers you with solid principles and decision-making skills
Everglades University has been a leader in higher education since its opening in 1999. In that time, the world has changed dramatically. Academia has been forced to rethink assumptions. Many professors have decided to flip their curricula 180 degrees.
That is why the MBA program at Everglades University focuses on making your skills future-proof by empowering you with solid principles and decision-making techniques. We believe this format provides students a better basis for a long and fruitful career than specific business procedures that may become obsolete with the rapid advance of technology.
Below are the mandatory classes for aspiring MBAs.
- Accounting for Decision Makers
- Leadership Skills for Managers
- Managerial Finance
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing Management
- Applied Managerial Statistics
- Business Policy and Decision Making
MBA Skills
Master’s programs are suitable for adult students with full-time jobs; this is why no MBA program could be complete without tangible real-world experience. MBAs are for professionals in any industry who are knowledgeable about accounting, operations, and management. This degree is the right choice for project leads, data analysts, and entry or mid-level pros seeking more responsibility within a company.
Jobs for someone with an MBA
These are a few of the jobs assumed by subject experts who receive masters degrees in business administration:
- Project Manager, (Unspecified Type / General) $81k.
- Operations Manager. $81k
- Senior Financial Analyst. $81k
- Director of Operations. $101k
- Financial Controller. $86k
- Financial Analyst. $64k
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO) $138k
MPH
The Masters in Public Health is an unbeatable degree for health students who wish to take their career to the next level. Graduates of our public health master’s programs will be able to confront complex health issues, such as improving access to health care, controlling infectious disease, influencing healthcare policy, community health assessment, and epidemiology.
Benefits of the MPH Degree
Unlike the MBA, the MPH degree is for professionals with a specific industry in mind: healthcare. For students seeking to advance their careers in the wide world of healthcare, the MPH is an unbeatable option. This degree can carry a student into a fulfilling and fruitful career while getting paid to prevent illness and disease and improve others’ lives.
Public health professionals are often the top leaders in emergencies and emergency response. They are also analysts, communicators, and organizers. When comparing MBA vs MPH careers, public health careers are unique in that they aim to drive positive changes in a community’s health through awareness, education, policy, and research.
Much of the world’s swift response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the CDC’s outreach and most vaccine funding, was spearheaded by public health professionals like those who would benefit from the MPH degree.
MPH Duration
When comparing MBA vs MPH, both take about 12 months, or 48 weeks, to complete. This timeframe corresponds to 36 credit hours, broken up into required courses, electives, and a capstone course. (This will vary if a student transfers in credits).
- Public Health Administration Required Courses (21 Credits)
- Introduction to US Healthcare Systems (3.0 credit hours)
- Principles of Epidemiology (3.0 credit hours)
- Influencing Healthcare Policy (3.0 credit hours)
- Public Health Administration Practices (3.0 credit hours)
- Research Methods in Public Health (3.0 credit hours)
- Community Health Assessment (3.0 credit hours)
- Biostatistics (3.0 credit hours)
Jobs for someone with a Master’s in Public Health
There are many rewarding and lucrative jobs available for those with a MPH
These are a few of the jobs assumed by subject experts who receive masters degrees from public health programs:
- Statistician – $72,800 – top 10% earn more than $119,000/year
- Biostatistics – $75,560 – top 10% earn more than $121,890/year
- Epidemiology – $65,270 – top 10% earn more than $108,320/yr
- Health education – $48,790 – top 10% earn more than $86,810/yr
- Executive director – $76,220 – top 10% earn more than $187,200/yr
- Environmental health – $63,570 – top 10% earn more than $109,070/yr
- Occupational Health – $66,790 – top 10% earn more than $97,380/yr
1. Disaster Management
Environmental health and disaster agencies such as FEMA hire many public health professionals. On Feb 1, 2021, FEMA designated $245 million to Florida for COVID-19 vaccination. The communicators who wrote this article for FEMA and many of the administrators who implemented the funding are all public health professionals working under disaster management.
In this role, you can make about $74,420 per year working for state or local government agencies—or a lot more in the private sector.
2. Biostatistics
Biostatisticians, or health informatics specialists, work in public health organizations, government agencies, research facilities, food safety agencies, and the pharmaceutical industry. They calculate and analyze statistics from broad populations and studies to conclude on solutions to health problems. This work is best suited for people with quantitative minds who love math and science. An experienced biostatistician with a master’s degree can earn $117,000 or more per year.
3. Social and Behavioral Sciences
Government agencies are not the only ones funding public health campaigns. Many health professionals who choose this specialty work for NGOs, non-profits, foundations, and even private companies that study society’s impact, culture, and human behavior on health programs’ effectiveness.
Your work may focus on preventable diseases or substance abuse and might involve analyzing risk factors or designing campaigns that promote healthy behaviors. Two possible careers in this specialty are health educator (where you’ll make about $65,000 per year) or health program manager (which pays close to $90,000 per year).
How to Get Started in Public Health
Graduates in public health master’s programs unlock a world of opportunities to expand their careers and help their communities. The possibilities are vast, as there is a wide selection of in-demand jobs to choose from. At Everglades University, you conveniently have the option to study on-campus or online, allowing you to have flexibility around your schedule. The first step towards pursuing your public health career is to enroll in a high-quality program that will equip you with the skills you need.
Everglades University’s Masters in Public Health could be your best chance at transforming your love of preventing disease and helping others live their healthiest possible lives into a great career.