Helping To Improve The Health of Global Populations: International Public Health Degree
Are you the type of person who not only wants to make a positive change in your community, but also help take on the health challenges that the world is facing on a global scale? Issues such as mental illness, environmental health, communicable and non-communicable disease as well as women’s and children’s health is something that is important all around the world. To help prepare you for these challenges and more, while also gaining an understanding on how the health of populations worldwide can be improved, a degree in international public health is definitely an advantage. There are a lot of factors that impact the health of populations around the world, from the environment to the culture and economics. Completing a course in international public health provides students with an opportunity to study these factors and learn how the public health systems operate in foreign countries.
International Public Health Degree Information
Bachelor of International Public Health
The Bachelor of International Public Health degree is aimed at students who wish to make an impact and take on global health challenges. Over the course of this program, students are educated in all areas of international public health, which includes everything from the basic medical sciences to health promotion, law and ethics, health economics and public health leadership. The information taught during this type of degree program can be invaluable for students as they assist with many of the global and public health issues. Completing the Bachelor of International Public Health degree typically takes about three to four years and can also be done part-time. This type of degree may also involve a capstone project, but students are typically given a lot of options in this area, from maternal and child health to infectious diseases, health promotion, drug and alcohol, mental health and much more. Course topics may include General Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Communicable Disease, Health Leadership and more.
Master of International Public Health
International Public Health is also available as a master’s degree, which can take up to two years to complete. To be eligible for admission, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Course topics may include Biostatistics, Global Health Studies, Comparative Health Systems, Population and Reproductive Health as well as HIV/AIDS Studies. Electives may range from International Medicine to International Medical Emergency Management and World Health Organization studies. With a master’s degree in International Public Health you can better prepare for leadership positions in this field.
International Public Health Degree FAQ
Is It Possible To Earn My International Public Health Degree Online?
There are institutions that offer International Public Health as a fully online degree program. This means that you do not have to attend any campus based classes in order to fulfill all the requirements to earn your degree. Instead, students can typically choose the time and place that is most convenient for them when doing the online coursework. This makes it an ideal solution for students who have other obligations, such as work or family that make it impossible to adhere to a campus based schedule. Typically, online programs in this field offer exactly the same accreditation as those you would find on-campus, which means you are not missing out on anything by choosing the online option. For a degree like this it also means you can study it from an institution in another country without having to leave your home country.
Who Is An Ideal Candidate To Study International Public Health?
Anyone can study international public health, but to really enjoy it and potentially make a career out of it you need to be someone who has a genuine desire to make a difference in needy communities around the world. You need to be very determined and committed as those employed in the field of international public health often have to work in some of the most challenging conditions found in the world. You should also be able to work well as a team as the work done in this field usually requires the cooperation of a number of people. In short, if it is your dream to improve the health outcomes of people around the world living in developing countries then this is a good degree to pursue.
What Type of Career Options May Be Available To Me With A International Public Health Degree?
Students who earn a degree in International Public Health typically have a wide range of career options available to them. Some go on to find employment as community health workers while others prefer to work as health educators. It is also a degree that is useful to those interested in working as an operations research analyst, instructional coordinator, logistics manager, clinical research coordinator or social and community service manager. In addition, people employed as environmental science and protection technicians also often have this degree. The biggest employers of people with this type of degree is government agencies, such as health departments as well as research centers. Other agencies, such as the CDC, World Bank and UN are also potential employers of people with this type of degree.
How Much Can I Potentially Earn With This Type of Degree?
How much you earn after obtaining this type of degree will depend on where you are employed and in what position. For example, the 2019 median pay for health educators and community health workers was about $46,910 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the other hand, Operations Research Analysts made about $84,810 per year during the same period.
What Are The Other Advantages Of Studying International Public Health?
The biggest benefit of a degree in International Public Health is obviously the fact that it can help to enable you to make a real difference in the world. It is a great stepping stone for anyone interested in pursuing international opportunities that may be available in the health sector. When working in this field your actions can have a direct impact on the lives of people around the world who are living in disadvantaged communities. Since this type of degree typically has a large number of electives to choose from, it enables you to base your studies around your personal commitments and needs. There is an urgent need for better population health in low as well as middle-income countries as without it the social and economic development is also harder.
