{"id":6188,"date":"2019-10-31T14:13:59","date_gmt":"2019-10-31T18:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/?p=6188"},"modified":"2024-12-17T12:20:16","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T17:20:16","slug":"valuable-online-mph-courses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/valuable-online-mph-courses\/","title":{"rendered":"5 of the Most Valuable, Online MPH Courses"},"content":{"rendered":"

If the career options and earning potential in public health alone don\u2019t get you excited, it\u2019s probably the subject matter that ultimately makes you want to enter this field. With valuable coursework and an eager attitude, a Master\u2019s in Public Health<\/a> (MPH) will open doors for you to take on job titles like Biostatistician, Disaster and Emergency Specialist, Epidemiologist, Public Health Director, Public Health Educator, or Sanitarian.<\/p>\n

In an MPH program, the classes will not only be interesting, but also will act as a springboard for success in your next new role. You\u2019ll build a foundation of knowledge that will continue to work for you as you move along on your career path. Besides the elective courses \u2013 during which you can flex your intellectual muscles in the direction of your choice \u2013 there are certain, absolutely-essential courses that are mandatory for structuring your career, no matter the route you choose. And often, you can find those courses online.<\/p>\n

Goodwin College\u2019s MPH program is offered entirely online. The program begins with foundational online courses, followed by a series of electives that students choose, based on their passion areas. But what are the must-take courses in our MPH curriculum<\/a>? Below are the 5 online MPH courses that are so central to the discipline of public health, you\u2019ll need them regardless of your career path \u2013 whether you want to inspect local food service institutions, or become an expert in communicable diseases.<\/p>\n

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  1. Foundations of Public Health<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Learn the ins and outs of this discipline\u2019s development of a governing body of theory and research that has made public health what it is today. Namely, you\u2019ll dive into the 10 Essential Public Health Services<\/a>, outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a public health servant, these ten pillars will truly become your bible. From understanding the cycle of assessment, policy implementation, and assurance, to specific steps like diagnoses, education and enforcement, to how research supports the entire system. As recently as 1994, with these essential guidelines, the world of public health changed. Your contributions too can continue to help fuel innovation in this field.<\/p>\n

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    1. Biostatistics<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Public health is largely about data measurement and application. Statistical and research methods combined are a cornerstone to not only the Biostatistician job, but to public health careers in general. You\u2019ll learn probability theory and bivariate analysis, as well as in-depth techniques for testing hypotheses. This course is a combination of math, medical science, and research practice, making it very practical. Furthermore, if you do decide to pursue your career as a biostatistician, you\u2019ll be looking at a strong median annual salary of more than $88k<\/a>, according to the BLS, and extremely strong job prospects, rising at a 33% rate, or much faster than average.<\/p>\n

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      1. Social and Behavioral Sciences<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        The quality of a given population\u2019s health is directly impacted by social, behavioral, psychological, cultural and economic factors. This course will delve into some of the greatest contemporary public health issues, including obesity, diabetes, mental health, substance abuse, adolescent health, tobacco use, and much more. As you begin to understand the complicated landscape of specific population health problems, you\u2019ll also learn how interventions are developed and deployed, how to identify risk factors and conduct evaluations, and how advocacy for evidence-based public health programs is built. The American Public Health Association<\/a> outlines the topics and issues that are top-of-mind for public health workers nation-wide: and they are vast, including everything from vaccines to healthy housing, health equity to climate change. Social and behavioral sciences are relevant to more issues than you might realize: society plays a huge role in influencing positive and negative health choices.<\/p>\n

        This core course is a valuable tool across varying professional roles in public health. As cited in the International Journal for Equity in Health<\/a>, Trisha Greenhalgh relays that high-quality social science studies are strong in theory, and flexible in method. Theory is a framing tool, while methodology are the techniques used. For instance: implementing community-specific programs such as smoking cessation campaigns, or education on sexually transmitted diseases. A social and behavioral science course will help you develop adaptable techniques to best do your job, no matter where you land.<\/p>\n

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        1. Public Health Policy<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Policy is found at the local, state and federal levels. This online MPH course sets you up to understand the infrastructures of programs large and small, and how policies are implemented and administrated. An essential tool for a Public Health Director or Educator, those interested in law, policy-making and enforcement will find this course most interesting. However, policy affects all public health careers, and you\u2019ll need to understand at least the basics in order to excel in your job of choice. The World Health Organization<\/a> defines the incredible possibilities for an explicit health policy. It can accomplish the following for a given community:<\/p>\n