There exist several hundred colleges in the US that provide masters in public health programs. A lot of these are masters in public health programs in community health/preventive medicine and community health education. When looking through a selection of colleges offering the degree, make sure that the one you choose has been accredited by the CEPH.
For what does CEPH stand? How does picking only accredited colleges benefit the students? The types of programs the CEPH or Council on Education for Public Health accredits are indicated in its full name.
When considering a school offering a master of public health program, be sure that the degree you are looking for is included in the accreditation. It is generally the case that specialized schools for the subject have all their programs accredited together. Of course, students should ask college authorities to find out if the program in which they are interested has received the accreditation.
It is necessary to note that there are different types of accreditation. More focused programs require the CEPH accreditation, while others may not; it is in fact possible to have accreditation of the regional type without the CEPH's to accompany it. Regional accreditation is concerned with a more general view of the body to be accredited.
The CEPH is more focused, as it is more concerned with the ability of a program to train students for the future. It can be compared to how there are accrediting institutions for other areas of specialization, like nursing. CEPH is the sole organization identified by the US Department of Education to perform accreditation on public health schools and programs, including masters of public health programs.
The requirements for getting the accreditation differ from one category to the other, with the two categories being accreditation for academies and accreditation for courses. With a school, of course, you are going to have to consider the many courses available in it too. The academies of this type have to let students choose from any of the major areas of specialization as well.
The only prerequisite for the programs in this regard is the availability of one degree. This has not prevented many programs from providing a selection of focus options. In addition, schools should offer doctoral programs, while MPH programs are not obliged to.
The value of a degree that has CEPH accreditation on it is peerless. Accredited schools have degree programs in each of the five core areas of public health - Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Behavioral Sciences/Health Education, Environmental Health, and Health Services Administration. Those in universities offering doctorate classes even have the option of becoming true experts of their discipline.
Colleges of this type can help you if you need to transfer credits. Generally, schools with accreditation are quick to accept transferred credits and deal summarily with other such exchanges. Graduates are also qualified to sit for the Public Health Certification examination, conducted by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE).
There are certain occupations that actually demand CEPH accreditation of their applicants' masters in public health programs. Governmental organizations for public health also make much of CEPH-accredited degrees. An academy with accreditation will also give you more resources to help you achieve your mastery of the field faster.
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