Public health is the science of understanding and researching human health worldwide. Public health fields also promote continuous education efforts in communities, healthy living habits, and improving the health and well-being of people in the United States and around the world.
When choosing an academic program, it is important to apply to the schools that most closely match your abilities, skills and grades/test scores. U.S. News & World Report ranks graduate programs in public health. This ranking can help prospective students decide among schools.
A typical Ph.D. program requires students to sign up for a full-time course load, though some programs are more flexible than others. According the Association of Schools of Public Health, there are a few core areas of public health study. There are: bio-statistics, environmental health science, epidemiology, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences. Depending on the field of focus you choose in your program, there may be more or less coursework in any of these areas.
Apart from coursework, Ph.D. candidates are usually encouraged to work in research in the specialty area they have chosen. Typically, a full-time Ph.D. candidate in public health will complete his degree in three years if that student already holds a master's degree. If not, programs take up to six years of full-time study, though many students complete the program in five years.
According to the Association of School of Public Health, there has never been a more exciting time to enter the field of public health. The study of public and community health has been growing and expanding more than ever before. Because of this, a public heath Ph.D. will be in high demand. Public health research and education are more common than ever before, as prevention is being promoted in place of treatment.
As with many graduate degrees, opportunities to work in academia are common. Many Ph.D. students continue at their home university, teaching and researching, or move to a different university. Aside from education, administration and management fields in public health are also growing rapidly. Private and public corporations are looking for experts in public health to head their various initiatives. Similarly, policy makers and lobbying firms are often looking for health care experts. Those with a public health Ph.D. can also enter community practice or private research.