By getting a master’s degree in public health, you’ll increase your assets as an employee and be qualified for better jobs and higher pay rates. However, before you jump into taking classes as the first college you see, take a moment to learn about all of the programs offered in this field. By determining what characteristics are most important to you, you can rank all of the public health programs available and choose the one that is best for you.

What are some of the characteristics found with top programs in this field? Here are some of the most important things you can consider:

Accreditation

Many companies and publications that do annual rankings won’t even consider programs that aren’t accredited. Accreditation means that a third party has evaluated the program to ensure that it is properly preparing students for the work they’ll do when they graduate. This is especially important to consider if you’re interest in online programs. Non-accredited courses can teach you about public health in some cases, but you can’t get state licenses or qualify for many jobs if your college wasn’t accredited. The government maintains a list of accredited schools, though the actual accrediting process is done by non-government entities.

Public Health Internships

When getting a master’s degree in public health, the focus is not just on theory, but also on practical use of what you’ve learned. The top programs offer internships and other real-life learning opportunities so that you can learn how to apply the skills you’ve learned. If you don’t already have a public health job lined up after you graduate, and internship can also become a full time position, or at least help you find a job, since you’ll be networking with others in your industry.

Professors with Professional Experience

You’re only as good as your teachers, so as you’re ranking master’s degree programs in the public health field, take a moment to learn about the professors you’ll have at each school. The best programs will have professors that have professional experience in the public health industry, preferably as leaders in the field. The more experience these professors have working in public health, the better. While theory is important, the more experience a professor has in the real world, the better prepared you’ll be to take on public health jobs after you graduate.

Alumni Networking

The best public health programs will have alumni networking options for those who want to stay connected to the school and other students after graduation. Networking is great for finding a job, but also for finding candidates if you’re someday in a position to hire new employees. Alumni networking is also important if you want to learn about business opportunities, make partnerships, mentor new students, lean about volunteering, and more.

So which public health program is top ranked? While publications like US News and World Report do provide a listing of the best schools according to their criteria, it is often much more productive to create a list of your own criteria and rank programs yourself. Start with the criteria listed above and add to it the things you find most important in college programs.

Public health is the science of preventing disease and promoting health at the population level. Since the late 1970s, public health degrees (specifically the MPH) have evolved from a second degree for doctors and other medical professionals to a primary degree in its own right, with six core disciplines: behavioral science, biostatistics, environmental science, epidemiology, health education/promotion, and health services administration. These disciplines of public health are taught online by the schools listed below.

Master of Public Health MPH - Epidemiology MPH - Intl Public Health MPH - Health Systems Mgmt	Liverpool University: The University of Liverpool MPH programs feature three programs, including epidemiology, health systems management, and international public health. The university features a modular system that allows for students the flexibility of obtaining credits at partner institutions and applying them to the Liverpool program.
Master of Public Health	Walden University: Walden University's Master of Public Health degree program is designed to fill the increasing need for health professionals that are knowledgeable on the development of healthy individuals, organizations, and communities. The program provides a core education in the public health field, uses a real-world teaching methodology, has industry leading professors, and a practical fieldwork practicum.
Master of Public Health MPH - Disaster Mgmt MPH - Health Education MPH - Health Mgmt & Policy MPH/MBA Dual Degree	Benedictine University: The second-largest Master of Public Health program in the state of Illinois, Benedictine University's MPH program features a core discipline of public health with a focus on the needs of today's healthcare industry. Specializations are offered in disaster management, health education, health management, and public health business administration. Courses feature a conceptual, factual, and skill base. Students are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a professional setting.
Accelerated BS to MPH MPH in Epidemiology MPH in Health Education MPH in Program Development	Kaplan University: The Kaplan University Master of Public Health degree program prepares students for health-care careers in governmental, nonprofit, and private organizations. The convenient, online program teaches students how to analyze and apply scientific research, prepare public health policies, develop health education programs, and review the impact of occupational and environmental factors. Kaplan offers various specializations within their MPH program, including epidemiology, health program development, and health education and promotion
Master of Public Health (MPH) MPH - Health Mgmt & Policy MPH - Social & Behavioral Sci	Capella University: The Master of Public Health program at Capella University prepares graduates for careers in public health management, social welfare, or research. Emphases within Capella's MPH program include health policy and social science. The curriculum explores the behavioral, psychological, and social factors that contribute to the health of populations. Courses include Principles of Biostatistics, International Public Health, and Environmental Health Concepts in Public Health.
Master of Public Health	American Military University: The Master of Public Health online degree program conferred by American Military University prepares students for careers in public health service and policy management with courses in healthcare business administration, healthcare law, and healthcare policy.
Master of Public Health MPH - Dental Health MPA - Health Administration	A.T. Still University of Health Sciences: The A.T. Still University of Health Sciences Master in Public Health Dental concentration is designed for dental professionals curious about dental public health. Dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and other dental industry professionals are eligible to apply. Graduates work in community health centers, institutes of higher education, non-profit organizations, and local, state, and federal government. Related degrees include a general MPH and an MPA in health administration.
MS - Disaster Medicine	Philadelphia University: The Master of Science in Disaster Medicine and Management at Philadelphia University is focused on the study of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, hazardous materials, natural disasters, psychological effects of disasters, stress intervention, and disaster research. The program is a partnership between Philadelphia University and the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Albert Einstein Health Network.
MPH - Policy Management	New York Medical College: The New York Medical College Institute of Public Health offers a 45-credit-hour MPH degree in health policy management that will prepare its graduate students for a variety of healthcare careers. Graduates of this program will have thorough knowledge of the different business planning and policy enacting factors of public health.
Click here to learn about more MPH degrees