Do I have to have MPH to get doctorate in public health?

[Danielle14]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I already have my BSPH with a concentration in health promotion and education. I also have my CHES. The area that I am in did not have anything close to an MPH or even a MS in community health, so I am currently in a M.Ed. program for higher education and student affairs counseling/administration. I will be done next fall, but what I am interested in is health administration in university settings. I do plan on getting my doctorate, but without any master's work in public health I have no chance. Do some programs have prerequisites or particular master's level PH classes that are required before I apply? Or am I better off getting another master's degree?

 

[364462]

I already have my BSPH with a concentration in health promotion and education. I also have my CHES. The area that I am in did not have anything close to an MPH or even a MS in community health, so I am currently in a M.Ed. program for higher education and student affairs counseling/administration. I will be done next fall, but what I am interested in is health administration in university settings. I do plan on getting my doctorate, but without any master's work in public health I have no chance. Do some programs have prerequisites or particular master's level PH classes that are required before I apply? Or am I better off getting another master's degree?

I think only each program can more accurately answer your question. I suggest starting, as I am sure you have already, by looking at their sites. Also, I would imagine that there may be differences between PhD and DrPH programs with regards to their requirements for successful applicants. I wonder, for instance, if in some programs you can earn the masters-level degree "en route" to the doctorate. I hold a doctorate in psychology, but I also earned a masters at the end of 3rd year after passing qualifying exams. I then recently just graduated, at the end of 5th year. I hear you with your concerns about another masters degree. So, I suggest looking at the basics and search through the programs' sites. Good luck!

 

[SB1234]

Because public health is often highly applied/professional, some PhD/DrPH programs require you to hold a masters degree (not necessarily a MPH) before admission. There's also many that follow the more modern admissions method of allowing in exceptional students who have completed baccalaureate studies only.

I would check up on the individual schools you are interested in.

 

[Stories]

If you know you need a doctorate for your line of work and know what to expect (ie. you can hold a conversation about your area of interest), there's no need for an additional master's degree. The point of most master's degrees is to get a student acclimated to his/her field of study of he/she doesn't possess a degree in that field already.