Frequently Asked Questions—Public Health

Academics

How should I plan my program of study to prepare for a career in public health?

There isn’t a single recommended undergraduate major for students intending to apply to a CEPH-accredited school or program of public health. Public health students come from a variety of educational backgrounds; a quality undergraduate program is a plus for any applicant.

However, there are some undergraduate majors that can be beneficial when applying to public health. For example, to study epidemiology or biostatistics, a major in math or basic science is ideal. For an education in behavior sciences or health education, consider sociology, psychology, or anthropology as a major. For studying health services administration, consider a business or political science background. To study global health, a social science degree is helpful. For those who want to study environmental health, consider studying either biology or chemistry. Maternal and child health lends itself to both biology and social sciences.”
(National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, 2013)

Successful completion of one semester of college level mathematics (calculus, algebra, statistics), general biology, and one semester of health-related science (microbiology, nutrition, anatomy or physiology, or another biology course) is typically required.

Research your programs of interest at www.aspph.org/.

Admissions

What is the typical profile of a successful public health program candidate?

“While admissions committees look for high graduate entrance exam scores and GPA, other aspects of an applicant’s record, such as career achievement, professional experience, and clarity of career goals are equally important.  Admissions decisions are based on an overall assessment of the ability of applicants to successfully complete the degree track area selected. Each program or track within a given department may set additional requirements for admission; therefore, applicants should refer to the individual programs for details. All schools of public health require effective verbal and written communication; therefore, students should try to take advantage of undergraduate opportunities to hone those skills.”
(National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, 2013)

“Schools and programs of public health do accept students without prior work experience; however, they look favorably on applicants who have at least a little experience, so students should consider pursuing some experience before applying. There are many options for individuals who are looking to gain experience before applying to a school or program of public health.” (National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, 2013)

Examples include:

• Become a Skidmore peer health educator
• Assist with the planning for Public Health Awareness Week
• Working part-time or full-time at a hospital or health clinic; such as a reproductive health clinic, immunization program, or health promotion program
• Volunteer for a nonprofit direct services organization such as a Community Health Center, an HIV/AIDS clinic or a local chapter of the Red Cross
• Work at a nonprofit organization that is directly involved in public health advocacy and policy, either in the U.S. or abroad
• Work or volunteer for a local health department

The typical profile of a successful public health program candidate varies by type of degree and by institution. It is suggested that applicants contact the school or program that they are most interested in attending to ask about specific requirements. Search your programs of interest at www.aspph.org/.

What kind of degree should I consider?

“At CEPH-accredited schools and programs, the most common public health degree is the Master of Public Health); however, most schools offer other master’s degree, such as the Master of Health Administration (MHA) or Master of Science (MS). Additionally, all CEPH-accredited schools of public health must offer at least three doctoral degrees, such as the PhD, doctorate of public health (DrPH) or doctorate of science (DSc, ScD).

Professional degrees generally have a greater orientation towards practice in public health settings. The MPH, DrPH, and MHA are examples of degrees that are geared towards those who want careers as practitioners of public health in traditional health departments, managed care organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, consulting firms, international agencies, and state and federal agencies, among others.

Academic degrees are more oriented towards students wishing to seek a career in academics and research rather than public health practice. Examples of academic degrees are the MS, PhD, and ScD. However, each school of public health can tailor its degree programs significantly, so students are encouraged to check with individual schools and programs for more information.”
(National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, 2013)

When should I apply?

SOPHAS is open from September to August each year. Public health schools and programs have multiple deadlines, so applicants should keep a close eye on the list of deadlines found on the SOPHAS website. Most applicants submit applications during the fall.

What does SOPHAS mean?

The Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) is the online centralized application service for applying to CEPH-accredited schools and programs of public health. SOPHAS streamlines the application process and provides ongoing communication with applicants.

Who can I talk to on campus about my interest in public health?

Your HPAC advisor, Shannon Rodriguez, MCC, NCC (Career Development Center), or the HPAC Chair, Dr. Kelly Sheppard.

To make an appointment with the Career Development Center, please call 518-580-5790.