MPH, or Masters of Public Health, is a two-year full-time degree focusing on healthcare maintenance via public awareness and health solutions. The MPH program transmits knowledge through various teaching/ learning strategies such as lectures, case studies, practical exercises, lab work, field trips, seminars, journal clubs, collaborative learning, group discussions, assignments, hands-on training, internships, and dissertations.
Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree program in health science or a related discipline from a recognized university to be eligible for the MPH program. The needed minimum is 60%.
MPH admissions are based on either a merit list or entrance tests. JIPMER, PIMS-AICET-ASPG, SRMJEEH (PG), and other top entrance exams for course admission are available. The average course expense for pursuing an MPH degree is INR 3-6 lacs per year.
The best MPH colleges in India are IIHMR (cooperative program with JHSPH, USA), JIPMER, Jamia Hamdard University, JSS Medical College, and others.
Candidates who complete the course are hired in a variety of positions, such as Public Health Management Analyst, Public Relations Officer, Health Counsellor, and so on. The average pay ranges from INR 3 to INR 15 Lakhs.
Course Highlights
| Course Level | Post Graduate |
| MPH Course Duration | 2 years |
| MPH Course Examination Type | Semester-based |
| MPH Course Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in any Health Science subject |
| MPH Course Admission Process | Based on counseling following the completion of a suitable admission exam and merit ranking |
| MPH Course Course Fee | INR 3 to 6 Lacs p.a. |
| MPH Course Salary | INR 3 to 15 Lacs p.a. |
| Top recruiting companies | WHO, McKinsey & Company, UNICEF, PHFI, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and others. |
Also Read: Top Engineering Colleges in India
Specialization
The Master of Public Health program includes nine master’s degrees. They can be finished in two years and may require community involvement.
Community Health Promotion
This curriculum prepares students to enhance community health and minimize health disparities.
The curriculum highlights the need to do research in order to analyze behavioral health patterns and psychosocial risk factors, establish community-wide preventative and intervention programs, influence health policy, and evaluate behavioral health change results.
Students finish their program by combining classroom instruction with relevant practical experience. During the day, the majority of classes are held on campus. Part-time enrollment is possible, allowing students to finish the degree in up to five years.
Environmental Health
Students can opt to specialize in one of three specializations in addition to acquiring a strong foundation in environmental and occupational health concerns:
- Environmental Infectious Disease
- Global Environmental Health
- Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
- Industrial Hygiene
- Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine
- Occupational Injury Prevention Research Training
- Toxicology
Because of the growing number of environmental and occupational health challenges, the job market for graduates with an MPH in Environmental Health is exceptionally robust. There are positions available at universities, public and private enterprises, government offices, and non-governmental organizations.
Epidemiology
When the COVID-19 epidemic hit the world in 2020, the necessity for epidemiologists was stressed. Epidemiologists are disease investigators that look into health-related issues and their occurrence, distribution, and factors in order to find strategies to improve the health of whole communities.
For this curriculum, students have three options:
- Standard education
- Tracking Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Accelerated program for students having an MD, DDS, DVM, or Ph.D. in a relevant subject.
Maternal & Child Health
The UMN School of Public Health was the first in the country to provide this curriculum aimed at promoting the health of women, children, and families.
The program offers two curriculum choices, either of which can be completed online, in person, or a combination of the two.
Standard track: excellent for students with little experience.
Advanced Standing Track: tailored for students with an advanced health degree or at least three years of professional experience in maternal and child health or public health.
Public Health Administration & Policy
This top ten public health policy program prepares students to be successful leaders and innovators in positions of public health administration. Graduates learn how to build and manage companies, as well as influence legislation in order to promote public health.
Graduates of this MPH program can find work in governmental organizations, non-profits, and enterprises devoted to promoting public health.
Courses are offered in person, online, or in a hybrid format.
Public Health Administration & Policy (Executive)
This program is aimed at individuals with at least three years of experience who are or aspire to be in positions of leadership while promoting population health.
Students collaborate to solve challenges and acquire knowledge. The curriculum combines on-campus and online study and may be finished in 25 months.
Public Health Nutrition
Better diet and health contribute to stronger communities. Graduates promote individual and community health and disease prevention via healthy eating choices.
The program is available in two formats:
Nutritional evaluation, program design, health behavior modification, intervention techniques, and policy creation are all emphasized in the standard program.
Students can achieve an MPH while also studying for the Registered Dietician test through the Coordinated Master’s Program.
Public Health Practice (Executive)
Working professionals with advanced degrees who wish to further their careers in health care can benefit from this flexible program. It is customized to their schedules and educational needs.
Students can enroll in classes from around the University of Minnesota, either online or in person.
Eligibility Criteria
The following are the prerequisites for the Master of Public Health Course:
- Applicants must have a graduate degree in Medicine, AYUSH, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Veterinary Sciences, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and Allied and Health Sciences.
- Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Statistics, Biostatistics, Management, Engineering, Demography, Population Studies, Nutrition, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Social Work, Economics, Law, or a related field are also encouraged to apply.
- Candidates must have a graduating grade point average of at least 60%.
- To take the course, applicants must have a basic understanding of computers.
Admission Procedure
Admission to the Master of Public Health program in India is based on either an entrance examination or a merit list. The MPH admissions process has been halted owing to the ongoing second wave of the covid 19 epidemic. However, because the unlocking process has begun in all states, applicants must keep the following information in mind.
The admission processes that candidates must take during the application process are as follows.
- Candidates must go to the website, register themselves, and create a login ID. Then they had to fill out the application form with all of the essential information.
- Then, candidates must upload the needed papers in the proper format and pay the application costs.
- Following payment of the application fee, applicants must retain the receipt details for future reference.
- In the event of entry-based admission, students must take the entrance exam and score well.
- If qualified, candidates are invited to an interview and group discussion.
- In the event of a merit list, the college administration publishes a list of qualifying candidates.
Fee Structure
MPH admissions are made either on merit lists or through entrance tests. JIPMER, PIMS-AICET-ASPG, SRMJEEH (PG), and other top entrance exams for admission to courses are available. The average course expense for pursuing an MPH degree is INR 3-6 lacs per year.
Subjects & Syllabus
| Semester I | Semester II |
| Introduction to Public Health | Epidemiology |
| Human Biology & Public Health Chemistry | Demography & Population Sciences |
| Medical & Health Statistics | Project Planning & Management |
| Research Methods in Public Health | Communicable & Infectious Diseases |
| Health Psychology, Communication & Counselling | Non-communicable Diseases |
| Practical’s/Field visits | Practical’s/Field visits |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Health of Vulnerable Populations | Public Health Nutrition |
| Environmental Health & Sustainable Development | Health Systems Development & Management. |
| Occupational, Industrial and Urban Health | International Health |
| Health Policy, Planning & Economics | Research Project |
| Public Health Internship | Practical’s/Field visits |
| Practical’s/Field visits |
Placement
Candidates who have completed the Master of Public Health might search for work in the following sections:
- Environmental science
- Hazardous waste inspection and control
- Health-related administration, legislation, laws
- Biosecurity, epidemiology, community activism
- Sanitarian, disease specialization
- Public health education
- Disease analysis
- Food service, and coordination.
Such postgraduates may pursue careers in areas such as healthcare analytics, big data, GIS, consulting businesses, policy-related research, evidence production, and so on.
Some of the most popular career paths accessible to such postgraduates are given below, along with the related wages.
| Job Profile | Average Annual Pay Scale in INR |
| Biostatistician | 5 to 6 Lacs |
| Management Policy Advisor | 10 to 25 Lacs |
| Tropical Disease Specialist | 10 to 25 Lacs |
| Reproductive Health Specialist | 20 to Lacs |
| NGO Director | 30 to 50 Lacs |
| Outcomes Researcher | 30 to 40 Lacs |
| Health Center Administrator | 10 to 30 Lacs |
| Assistant Public Health Professor | 10 to 25 Lacs |
| Community Activist | 5 to 15 Lacs |
Course Scope
Candidates who complete a master’s degree in public health can pursue a variety of work opportunities in the related sector or pursue research-level courses such as a Ph.D.
Ph.D. in Public Health: A Ph.D. in Public Health is a three-year doctoral program that is considered the pinnacle of public health study. It enables the user to undertake numerous studies on the effects of various social and environmental behaviors on public health. The course challenges applicants to develop several models that can aid in the maintenance of a population’s public health. The Ph.D. in Public Health program lasts three years. It can be extended for another five years.
FAQs Related to MPH
Q. Why pursue a master’s degree in public health?
Ans. The curriculum of the course consists mostly of on-campus and online classes, a capstone exercise, and a practicum-based project. The program is designed to increase knowledge, improve skills, and expose students to real-world issues in public health. The curriculum seeks to improve students’ skills in the following areas:
- Biostatistics
- Epidemiology
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
- Biology of Public Health
Q. What is the Master of Public Health program?
Ans. The Master of Public Health program is interdisciplinary in nature, including study components from disciplines such as Medicine, Engineering, Information Technology, Social Sciences, and Management, among others. The public health program was created for health promotion, health economics and policy, public health management, epidemiology and biostatistics, demography, social sciences, and so on.
Q. Is obtaining a master’s degree in public health simple?
Ans. This question has a relative answer. If one prepares all of the materials and subject content ahead of time and thoroughly reviews each subject before the semester, MPH may be a relatively simple course.
Q. How long does an MPH degree last?
Ans. MPH is a two-year postgraduate program.
Q. Which is better, an MBA or an MPH?
Ans. MBA programs assist applicants in comprehending the numerous facets of business administration as well as organizational and management issues.
The MPH degree is designed to study the public health system and the numerous tactics that may be used to provide a better healthcare regime. MBA looks to be a superior curriculum in terms of flexibility, and it also offers the possibility of a higher salary.
Q. What can I accomplish with a public health master’s degree?
Ans. With a master’s degree in public health, you can work in a variety of hospital administration and public health departments. Healthcare Administrators, Social and Community Service Managers, Medical Records and Health Information Technicians, and other positions are available.
Q. Is a master’s degree in public health worthwhile?
Ans. An MPH degree holder makes an average income of INR 3-15 lakh per year, which is comparable to the whole investment in the course (INR 3-6 lakh), indicating that it is worthwhile.
Q. Why pursue a master’s degree in public health?
Ans. The following are some of the benefits of pursuing an MPH as a career route.
Improved Employment Opportunities: Candidates will have more opportunities in health and other relevant areas. Candidates can be hired in a variety of positions such as Health Communications Specialist, Health Resources Professional, Public Relations Officer, Environmental Health & Safety Specialist, and many more. The Indian Healthcare Industry is predicted to produce over 4 crore employees in the next few years, implying increased potential.
Job Security: There is a growing demand for public health personnel in all sectors. With an increase in overall government spending on public health and an increase in general awareness, job security for MPH graduates is likely to be strong in the next few years.
Opportunity to work in a rising sector: The Indian healthcare industry, which is presently valued at USD 193.83 billion, is predicted to nearly double to USD 372 billion by 2023, offering opportunities for MPH graduates.
The MPH program is critical for developing students’ health management abilities and preparing them to improve the efficacy and efficiency of public health programs and services.
The MPH program prepares students for difficult jobs in public health administration in both the public and commercial sectors, as well as non-governmental organizations and national and transnational organizations.
Q. Who should pursue a Master of Public Health?
Ans. Candidates who wish to work in the hospital administration division should seek an MPH degree.
Candidates who want to further their careers after finishing a bachelor’s degree in healthcare or a similar subject should pursue an MPH degree.
Candidates interested in working to raise public awareness about health should seek an MPH degree.
Individuals who want to work in the healthcare industry, particularly at the grassroots level, should enroll in an MPH program.