{"id":6690,"date":"2020-02-24T13:46:10","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T18:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/?p=6690"},"modified":"2024-12-17T12:20:16","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T17:20:16","slug":"what-is-an-mph-degree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/what-is-an-mph-degree\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Master\u2019s in Public Health (MPH) Degree?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many of us know that we want to leave an impact on society. We know what we\u2019re most passionate about, and therefore, we can start to understand where our paths will take us. We know in what arenas we want to work, or lead. We want to help define a generation of workers in our discipline. We want to impact populations, and improve the greater good. We want to be successful.<\/p>\n

How can you shape your legacy, and also be remembered for doing something that actually matters for the world? For the types of people like us\u2014who are strategic thinkers, who can rationally see problems in current systems, who can influence change, and who want to improve the lives of others\u2014a Master\u2019s in Public Health (MPH) degree could be part of our personal and professional road to the future.<\/p>\n

Simply put, an MPH is a Master\u2019s in Public Health degree. It is an advanced degree for those looking to make an impact in their communities. At a larger scale, an MPH degree is an investment in world health\u2014from the super-local to the international scale. It\u2019s you raising your hand to say, \u201cYes, I want to implement projects, research, education, or treatment that improves the health of those in a given community.\u201d The impact might be broader than you think, which is inspiring at many levels!<\/p>\n

Take for example, this initiative promoted by the Office of the Associate Director for Policy and Strategy at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Hi-5<\/a>, or Health Impact in 5 Years, is an initiative that takes a community-wide approach with education through a pyramid shaped teaching tool. The most impact can be felt at the bottom two tiers of the pyramid, and is therefore where the Hi-5 program focuses. Namely, it focuses on improving:<\/p>\n

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  1. The Social Determinants of Health, including things like a public transportation system, early childhood education, and water fluoridation, and<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Changing the Context, which puts healthier choices within reach, from including school-based violence prevention, to tobacco use intervention.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The benefits from seemingly small changes like these, actually have a lasting public health impact, and can help to alleviate all sorts of public health problems, from blood pressure and obesity, to cancer, STDs, anxiety and depression.<\/p>\n

    Understanding how to implement programs like these, is what a graduate Public Health student does! In a Public Health Master\u2019s degree program, you\u2019ll focus on a few core areas within the broader curriculum<\/a>:<\/p>\n