Defining Public Health Experience?

[DiamondDustx]

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Hi all!

This may seem like a silly question (but I had some difficulty trying to find a forum thread that spoke to this specifically).

After reading some posts, I know what defines public health experience. However, my questions are:

1) If I've done 1-3 years of work in clinics, with research, and organizations with a public health focus during undergrad, does that fit the bill for MPH schools looking for 2+ years of public health experience? Is that experience defined by work done after undergrad (full-time employment and such), or does work during undergrad suffice just as well?

2) Additionally, does it have to be work for a continuous 2+ years or do different experiences (ranging from 3 months - 1+ years) add up?

Thank you very much! 🙂

 

[sokapheapluuh]

I would consider the hours. From what some schools were saying, something like the equivalent of 40 hrs/wk for 2 years (so ~4,000 hrs of experience). But I could definitely be wrong! That's just how I took it

 

[JDGBruin1317]

I may be wrong but I think it depends on the school. Some schools want a couple of years of public health experience, whether it's volunteer or paid which can include what you did during your undergrad years. However other schools, such as John Hopkins or Harvard require two years of paid work experience, which is often after your undergrad.

 

[JDGBruin1317]

I'm actually wondering this as well because I'm graduating college this June and plan on applying to grad schools this fall, however I don't have a lot of public health experience.

 

[sokapheapluuh]

I'm actually wondering this as well because I'm graduating college this June and plan on applying to grad schools this fall, however I don't have a lot of public health experience.

If you're looking at Hopkins, you can apply to the MSPH directly after undergrad, but they have the 2 year requirement for the MPH. I'd contact schools if you can't find what they're looking for in an applicant's experience on their website.

 

[impervious0ne]

When Public Health programs ask for work experience, do these have to be paid positions? Or can it be volunteering/internship work?