Strengths of Yale's MPH program? Possible to switch concentrations?

[PreMPHMan]

Anybody know which programs are strong for Yale's MPH programs? How are the policy and the epi programs there? I asked a friend who is getting his MPH right now and he says he basically knows nothing about them.

I am stuck between two Yale MPH concentrations too... is it possible to switch if you change your mind after getting accepted? Or would your application have to be reviewed again by the new admissions committee of the new department?

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[werd814]

Howdy PreMPH man,

Briefly, Policy, Epi (both CDE and ID), and Management are all very strong here. EHS is decent, but takes some work to make a truly phenomenal education (which, inmo, is totally feasible). The global health program is new, but gaining a TON of momentum. I have been extremely happy here as a Global Health and EHS student. I hope to respond later in more detail-- I'm just under a deadline tonight.

As far as switching concentrations a semester or so in, it's super feasible. Find an advisor to take you on in whichever concentration tow which you'd like to switch, fill out some forms, and you're basically good to go. Switching before you start classes is harder, but doable-- my flatmate did just that.

 

[PreMPHMan]

Thanks for the reply! Are you currently in an MPH program at Yale?
Sort of strange that it would be harder to switch during the first semester than before classes begin. I'm assuming the first year curriculum would be different for say Chronic Disease Epi and Policy, which would make one think it would be harder to switch after classes started. Did your flatmate say why it was harder?

Good to hear that policy and epi are strong because those are what I'm interested in. Does infectious epi involve more benchwork/lab than the chronic disease one? Also do you know where people usually do their internships in the policy program?

Thanks again for the help!

 

[2013MPH2013]

Hi,
If you already have a policy background, you may want to go for the epi concentration. Also, the policy division is very heavy in healthcare economics so it depends how much you are interested in that. The good thing though is there are not a lot of required policy courses so you would have the freedom to take a lot of our electives in epi.

Internships in policy really vary: consulting, pharma, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, global--USAID, UNICEF, UN, HHS and other government agencies and state public health organizations, policy think tanks, etc. There are a lot of opportunities.

Werd probably knows better than I do but my impression is it is quite easy to switch concentrations. I know a handful of people who did it over the summer or in the beginning of small semester and i know about 15 people who switched at semester (from a variety of divisions). If you want to switch from policy, you just need to show you have the necessary academic background for Epi. If you don't, then they probably want you to go through the semester of required classes to see how well you do in Epi and Biostats.
Good luck!

 

[aiya1280]

Hi,
Rather than begin a new thread, I thought I'd post here since my questions are kind of along the same lines. I've been accepted to Yale for HPM with the Global Health concentration and have heard that the health policy program in particular is very strong. (I'm essentially comparing this program to Columbia, to which I've already been admitted, and the Hopkins MSPH in International Health for Health Systems, which I'm still waiting on.) Could anyone comment of the strengths and weaknesses of Yale in this respect? I'd like to eventually do international work, so any information on internships, job prospects, etc. in that direction would also be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[PreMPHMan]

Someone else has told me that the policy program at Yale might be more clinical based because it is so closely related to the med school. Also is it a pro or con that Yale splits up their programs for policy and management? I've rarely come across this at other schools.

 

[2013MPH2013]

The Yale policy program is not clinical at all, in my opinion. Like I mentioned above, it has a strong emphasis/leaning towards health economics and people who are interested in pursuing a PhD. It is also completely US focused unless you are in global health or take global health policy classes. (You do not need to be in the global health concentration to take any of the global health classes--in fact, I'm not quite certain why they have a special concentration because it is the same for everyone.) You do have a lot of electives in the policy program though and I feel like I can get in all of the global health classes I want. The Policy and Management division have a lot of the same requirements in terms of core health policy classes. It is a little more difficult to take management courses if you are not in the management division but it is definetely possible. I don't see it as an advantage or disadvantage. It is just different.

 

[mphplease]

Random question. Is the option to defer your admission available at Yale SPH?

I just got into Health Policy with the Global Concentration but I would need to save during a year to afford the $$$

 

[QuizzicalMPHer]

It may be possible to defer. I'd give a call. Probably a question for Susan Whalen.