Students who wish to study public health may find themselves confused when faced with a decision between a master of public health degree (MPH) and a master of heath administration degree (MHA). Though both degrees appear to be very similar on the surface due to their healthcare field designation, the two degrees are vastly different and tend to appeal to students who have interests in very different aspects of healthcare. Overall, MHA programs target students who are more interested in the business aspect of healthcare, whereas the MPH is better students who are interested in health issues such as disease and prevention. Nevertheless, there also is a small amount of overlap between the two fields of study.
MHA Overview
Because healthcare is one of the largest businesses in today’s economy, the MHA degree incorporates elements of business management and exclusively covers the healthcare industry itself. Students study the management and delivery of healthcare and related policy. Faculty members who teach courses in this degree program often have extensive industry experience and have often served in senior management roles. The MHA can be best described as a business management degree that relates exclusively to the healthcare context.
MPH Overview
The MPH is a standard degree that is recognized internationally in the field of public health. Areas studied include epidemiology, prevention, and public health informatics. Those who earn a master’s degree in public health may work in a range of areas from obesity prevention to studying how malaria affects certain regions. They may work for government agencies, private organizations, and international entities that operate within the field of public health. Opportunities in the public health sector continue to grow as societies become more health conscious and researchers learn more about disease prevention and treatment. The University of Minnesota has written an excellent article about popular careers in public health and the greatest public health achievements in the 20th century. One such public health achievement noted is a 51% decrease in deaths by coronary disease through risk factor modification.
General Program Requirements
Requirements for enrolling in a master’s program in public health or public health administration vary from institution to institution. Nevertheless, students generally must have completed a bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution. Institutions generally require GRE or GMAT scores, depending on the school and the program for which the student wishes to apply. The MCAT exam is also accepted by some institutions. Students who apply for a master’s degree in health administration may find that some institutions may look favorably upon the completion of management and business-related undergraduate courses.
Overall, individuals who find themselves to be interested in health issues like diseases and epidemics, illness prevention, and public safety will generally find it more beneficial to pursue a master’s degree in public health. Those who are more interested in the business aspect of the healthcare industry will likely find the master’s degree in public health administration to be more interesting and more beneficial to their career aspirations. The healthcare industry continues to grow, and students who are interested in public health as well as those who would like to pursue a degree in health administration will likely be met with increasing career opportunities.
Further Reading: Which Degree Should I Pursue?
