Degree Overview - Master of Public Health vs. Master of Science in Public Health

Are you unsure about which program will benefit you in the long run when it comes to your public health graduate degree? A number of different programs can be considered by individuals who want to take up a public health masters programs. You might encounter an MS or a master of public health but these two degree programs are not the same.

When it comes to a Master of Public Health, this is a program that helps students develop the necessary knowledge in the public health field. Since public health is the main focus of MPH programs, those who are able to graduate from any of these programs can delve into the public health industry. Aside from epidemiology, professionals in this industry can also be tasked to deal with concerns pertaining to health policy and administration.

There is more than one major area in public health and core courses in these areas need to be completed by someone taking an MPH. Here is where students are required to complete internships or prepare a final thesis before the program can be completed. The Master of Public Health is often directly conferred by the Graduate School of Public Health at that school/university.

Students can have varying undergraduate disciplines and still be able to participate in such programs. Most of the time, the students that engage in these programs are undergraduates. In some cases, MPH degrees are reserved to the people who are holders of doctorate degrees.

Depending on the school that you choose, admission policies might differ. In some facilities, admission is only pegged at around 35%. Aside from a 3.0 GPA as an undergrad, it is very important for students in MPH programs to get a 50th-percentile on every GRE section at the very least.

If you will be studying as a full time student, you can complete a Master of Public Health degree in two years. If you are a working professional armed with a PhD, you can engage in an accelerated program that lasts for 12 months. Grants and other methods of funding might not be applicable when it comes to professional degree courses.

MS, MSc, ScM, or MSPH programs are all master's of science degrees and they normally deal with professional research. Even if you choose to participate in a certain specialization, your coursework will not be limited to that area of expertise. The Master of Science in Public Health is the exception because it is still an academic research degree but include some of the PH courses from the MPH.

When it comes to public health, if you want to pursue a career path in this field, do not pursue the Master of Science. It is because this profession requires the interdisciplinary education that only MPH can provide. The program normally ends with either a research project or thesis.

Many students enrolled in an MS program are best suited to academic doctoral programs such as PhD or ScD as both have similar coursework and research requirements. Here, courses will last for 24 months and then you will finish with a thesis. For a masters of science degree, it is the School of Art and Sciences that grants the credentials to graduates.

In general, applying to MS programs is more difficult and competitive than to Master of Public Health programs because of the smaller accepted class sizes and the critical individual attention on MS students during defense phase and thesis. Even if this is so, variations in admission rates exist. Financial aid is rarely provided when it comes to post grad programs but in the case of MS students, the necessary funding may be provided by their companies.