MPH or DrPH? Need some advice!

[KARHO22]

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Hello there. I recently stumbled upon this forum and I am glad that I did. I am currently a graduate student who has had a major career change (Engineering to Dietetics to Public Health) and discovered that I would love to pursue a career in pubic health. I am currently working on a MS in family and consumer sciences with an emphasis in nutrition with the hopes of obtaining my registered dietitian credentials as well. This summer I will also be in South Africa working with an NGO in Port Elizabeth. I am looking forward to this experience. I was also a former JRCOSTEPer with the USPHS. So I have a little experience with public health. Not sure if this would help or not.

As I research more about nutrition and its role in public health issues both domestic and internationally I have come to the decision that I would like to pursue a degree in public health. I am torn however as to which degree would be better for me, a MPH or Dr.PH.

Since my background isn't in public health I was concerned if this would be a problem in applying to doctoral programs. This lead me to think, should I pursue a MPH first and then go into a DrPH program. I am curious as to

1. Whether or not writing a thesis would be required to get into a Dr.PH program?
2. Does work experience in the public health field play a roll when applying to either a MPH or DrPH program?

I have researched three schools thus far and I must admit that their programs are pretty competitive. Johns Hopkins, Tulane, and UNC-Chapel Hill are my first three. I just don't know what these and other schools look for in a person (besides the general criteria, good gpa (currently a 3.5), work experience, undergraduate PH coursework, etc..) who is applying to MPH or DrPH programs.

I hope someone wouldn't mind sharing their thoughts. Thank you.

 

[sbdreamer1982]

I might be wrong, but I think an MPH would give you more credibility prior to an Dr.PH. Many Dr.PH programs require an MPH.

 

[KARHO22]

I might be wrong, but I think an MPH would give you more credibility prior to an Dr.PH. Many Dr.PH programs require an MPH.

Thanks. That is what I have been thinking. I am just not sure where I would want to do the MPH. Also the money aspect plays a factor as to whether or not I will be able to go for a MPH. Still looking at schools to see how cost efficient they are.

 

[Stories]

Thanks. That is what I have been thinking. I am just not sure where I would want to do the MPH. Also the money aspect plays a factor as to whether or not I will be able to go for a MPH. Still looking at schools to see how cost efficient they are.

Also, most DrPH degrees are for folks who are pretty established in public health. Hence why most folks will come in with a MPH.

 

[KARHO22]

Also, most DrPH degrees are for folks who are pretty established in public health. Hence why most folks will come in with a MPH.

Thanks for the advice Stories, appreciate it. I have been looking at programs that will combine my Dietetic internship with an MPH. I have another question for you. Did you or are you working in the public health field during your education? Also in your opinion do you think that online MPH programs are as reputable as University based programs?

 

[Stories]

Thanks for the advice Stories, appreciate it. I have been looking at programs that will combine my Dietetic internship with an MPH. I have another question for you. Did you or are you working in the public health field during your education? Also in your opinion do you think that online MPH programs are as reputable as University based programs?

I did my practicum with a city health department for a semester. That was only a few months, though. During my MPH, I actually worked on a research project with one of the faculty members as a research assistant.

I don't much about online programs as I never researched them. I do know that many of the CEPH and ASPH accredited schools do offer an online MPH. Check out this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=492187

 

[KARHO22]

I did my practicum with a city health department for a semester. That was only a few months, though. During my MPH, I actually worked on a research project with one of the faculty members as a research assistant.

I don't much about online programs as I never researched them. I do know that many of the CEPH and ASPH accredited schools do offer an online MPH. Check out this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=492187

Stories thanks. I have looked into that thread. I found it helpful. I am keeping my options open. I am looking at two schools that offer the MPH with the combined dietetic program. That way I can work on the MPH and work towards obtaining my RD.

I am also thinking that next semester I will volunteer with our city health department. They aren't hiring, but some experience is better than none.

What areas of research are you interested in? I am thinking of MCH and Nutrition of course.

 

[Stories]

Stories thanks. I have looked into that thread. I found it helpful. I am keeping my options open. I am looking at two schools that offer the MPH with the combined dietetic program. That way I can work on the MPH and work towards obtaining my RD.

I am also thinking that next semester I will volunteer with our city health department. They aren't hiring, but some experience is better than none.

What areas of research are you interested in? I am thinking of MCH and Nutrition of course.

I'm guessing you'll be doing a MPH + MS in Nutrition to attain the RD certification? Pretty cool stuff.

My research is respiratory and lung related cancers caused by environmental agents. Yep, environmental epidemiology! 🙂 The motto of our discipline is: exposure assessment, exposure assessment, exposure assessment.

 

[xscpx]

Does anyone know about DSc Programs and how they compare to the PhD and DrPH?

 

[Stories]

Does anyone know about DSc Programs and how they compare to the PhD and DrPH?

Three schools I know of offer the ScD: BU, Harvard, and Hopkins. BU and Harvard offer the ScD instead of a PhD because the respective SPH confers the degree directly on students rather than going through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (what almost every other school does). The PhD and ScD are effectively the same exactly thing, just differing in title because of which school confers the degree.

At Yale, I'm officially a Graduate School of Arts and Science student (since I'm a PhD student), although my "department" is classified as "Epidemiology and Public Health" even though it's the entire School of Public Health.

Why Hopkins offers a PhD and a ScD (in three departments), I have no clue.

As others have described here, DrPH and the PhD/ScD are very different degrees in coursework, dissertation, and aims of the degrees.

 

[KARHO22]

I'm guessing you'll be doing a MPH + MS in Nutrition to attain the RD certification? Pretty cool stuff.

My research is respiratory and lung related cancers caused by environmental agents. Yep, environmental epidemiology! 🙂 The motto of our discipline is: exposure assessment, exposure assessment, exposure assessment.

Stories, you're almost right. I will be doing just the MPH with the Dietetic Internship. I am working on the MS in Nutrition now. Yes I like to think it is pretty cool. Nutrtition is so fascinating to me.

Enviro Epi sounds pretty interesting as well. Are you focusing on one particular area? That reminds me of a few of my friends who work for the state health dept here were telling me about the neighborhoods that were built close or around toxic areas. The cases of asthma and other lung problems are high. Pretty sad that people live around areas like that.

 

[Stories]

Stories, you're almost right. I will be doing just the MPH with the Dietetic Internship. I am working on the MS in Nutrition now. Yes I like to think it is pretty cool. Nutrtition is so fascinating to me.

Enviro Epi sounds pretty interesting as well. Are you focusing on one particular area? That reminds me of a few of my friends who work for the state health dept here were telling me about the neighborhoods that were built close or around toxic areas. The cases of asthma and other lung problems are high. Pretty sad that people live around areas like that.

My outcomes will study respiratory cancers. The exposures of interest vary as I will be working with a number of different projects, but for the most part it will be inhaled chemicals.