a pr il 2 0 11

Issue Topic:

VOLUM E 5: I SSUE 2

Studying
Public Healthin the USA

In This Issue:
Studying Public Health in the USA
Note from the Editor:
Public health is an inherently international disciplinewith a wide array of degrees and concentrations available toprospective students. According to the 2010 Open Doors Report,
nearly five percent of all international students in the UnitedStates are pursuing degrees within the health professions. Someof these students will find work in international humanitarian
medical organizations that service global communities, while
many others will return to their home countries and effectchanges in their local health care systems. This issue highlights
the numerous opportunities that public health education
offers, including fast facts, online resources, and insight fromorganizations and experts in the field.
The range of degree programs available to public healthstudents in the U.S. is extensive, and Amy Siglock, Program
Officer in the University Placement Services Division at theInstitute of International Education, offers an in-depth overview
of the options. As a complement to Siglock’s article, theAssociation of Schools of Public Health provides a practicalguide to the numerous opportunities available to students witha public health degree. Finally, Connections interviews Thomas
Cook, Professor at the University of Iowa College of Public
Health, to get his take on the changing face of public healtheducation in the U.S. and what students should look for in a
public health program.
This issue’s Am Chair Tour features the EducationUSA
center in Alexandria, Egypt, including interviews with Rohayma
Rateb and several of the CCC students at the Center. In thethird installment of his Best Practices in Social Media Outreachseries, EducationUSA Marketing Coordinator Martin Bennett
offers some tips on using SMS/text messaging in advising.
The News section includes information about joining the live
webinar series that provides expert advice on a wide range ofadvising related topics.
This issue is also accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation
entitled “Studying Public Health in the USA.” To find thisPowerPoint and others, please visit the Connections section on
the EducationUSA website.
It was great to connect with many of you at the EducationUSA
Middle East and North Africa Regional Conference in Doha(please see the News section for a photo and more information).
Your questions and comments help us to make Connections
more pertinent to your center, so please feel free to email me atany time to share your thoughts.
– Shannon Harrison, Executive Editor, Connections
Assistant Director, Higher Education Services
Institute of International Education
sharrison@iie.org

VO LUME 5 : I S S UE 2: APRIL 2011

Features
2 Studying Public Health in the United States:
Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Options
A guide to the complex degree options available to public healthstudents in the U.S.
By Amy Siglock, Institute of International Education

6 Career Opportunities in Public Health
A practical guide to the career options available to students witha degree in public health.
By Association of Schools of Public Health

9 Interview: A Conversation with Professor Thomas Cook
Connections asks Thomas Cook, Professor at the University of Iowa
College of Public Health, for his perspective on public health education in
the United States.

Departments
10 Technology Resource
Best Practices in Social Media Outreach:
SMS/Text Messaging Strategies
The third installment in a social media best practices series, this article
features effective uses of SMS/text messaging in advising.
By Martin Bennett, Institute of International Education

11 Advising Resource
Field of Study Focus: Public Health

12 Arm Chair Tour

Featured Center: Alexandria, Egypt
Interview with Rohayma Rateb, EducationUSA Adviser, and students from
Alexandria studying in the U.S.

15 News
Announcements, Updates & More
Ethics in AdvisingStudying Public Health in the United States:
Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Options
FeatureBy Amy SiglockP

ublic Health is an increasingly important field throughout the world, and there are a number of exciting and interesting program opportunities in the U.S. available to students. Core areas of study within public health are biostatistics,
epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences. Other
common specializations include maternal and child health, international or global health, and health promotion and education (the last being a subset of social and behavioral sciences).
Within the public health field there are a variety of degrees available
to students at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels. The
application process at each level of degree, and at different institutions, can vary greatly. This article will present information about
degree opportunities and application requirements and proceduresin the hopes of elucidating the offerings and application processes
students will encounter at public health schools in the U.S.
Undergraduate Degree Study
The traditional first degree in the field of public health is the MPH(Master of Public Health); however, some universities offer anundergraduate program. Universities may offer a bachelor’s degreein public health, or BSPH, as a combined five-year program that concludes with the student earning both a BSPH and an MPH. Someschools also offer programs that award only a bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH)
BSPH programs provide students with a broad introduction to general public health practices and often require coursework in the coreareas of study within the field. Concentrations are also sometimes
available in areas such as health behavior, environmental health, andhealth policy.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
B.A. programs often require both general education coursework andpublic health-related coursework. This type of program prepares
undergraduate students for entry into social science-based publichealth graduate programs, such as health education and promotion,by providing a background in the social and behavioral sciences.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
B.S. programs tend to have a curriculum focused on the natural sciences and public-health related coursework, but also require general
education classes. This type of degree program is well suited forstudents who are interested in entering the fields of epidemiology,
biostatistics, or environmental health sciences.
Notes on Applying to Undergraduate Degree Study
At a number of schools students are not able to apply directly toundergraduate programs in public health. In many cases students
must apply to the university as an undeclared major, or as anothermajor. Then, at some point during their freshman or sophomore

year, they will be able to officially apply to the School of Public Healthto become a public health major. This usually requires a short application form, including an essay. Admissions committees look for astrong grade point average (GPA) in the student’s previous undergraduate coursework.
In some cases students are able to apply directly to the BSPH, B.A.,
or B.S. program in public health in which they are interested. In bothof these scenarios, the admissions committees look for a strong
GPA during students’ high school studies, excellent writing skills as
evidenced in the statement of purpose essays, and solid scores on
the SAT. International students whose first language is not English
will also need to provide TOEFL or IELTS scores.
Graduate Degree Study
Graduate study in public health offers an overview in the publichealth field and allows students to concentrate on their particularareas of interest. When applying to master’s or doctoral programsin public health, students need to identify the areas within the publichealth field in which they would like to specialize. Common specializations include health policy and management, epidemiology, biostatistics, health education, behavior and promotion, environmental
health science, international or global health, and maternal and childhealth.
Many universities also offer more specific concentrations withinthese basic core areas. Examples of unique programs include theProgram in Forced Migration and Health offered by Columbia
University and the Program in Disaster Management at Tulane
University. Some additional listings of unique and interesting programs can be found in the sidebar on the next page.
While some students applying to graduate programs in publichealth may hold an undergraduate degree in public health, the vast
majority do not. Most students who apply to master’s programs inpublic health hold undergraduate degrees in a life science or social
science field that relates to public health (i.e. biology, psychology,
statistics, business), or they hold degrees in medical-based fields
such as medicine, nursing, dentistry, or pharmacy. The majority ofinternational students applying to MPH programs are physicians intheir home countries.
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Research Centers and Institutes
at Schools of Public HealthMany of the strong public health schools in the U.S. have a number of research centers and institutes housed within the universitythat focus on areas of interest within public health. Most of these
institutes conduct research across disciplines in areas of importance in the field. Here are a sampling:
University of California, Los Angeles
www.ph.ucla.edu/centers.html
Examples of Centers at UCLA: Center for Environmental Quality
and Health & Center for Global and Immigrant Health
University of Washington
sph.washington.edu/research/centers.asp
Examples of Centers at UW: Center for Public Health Nutrition &Center for Public Health Genetics
University of Pittsburgh
www.publichealth.pitt.edu/interior.php?pageID=135
Examples of Centers at U. Pitt: Center for Aging and Population
Health & Center for Public Health Preparedness

Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)
The MSPH is an academic degree that is more research focusedthan the MPH. This degree typically takes two years to complete andmay require field work and a thesis project. Coursework in the coreareas of public health is also required. The most common specializations for MSPH degrees are epidemiology, biostatistics, and healthpolicy/research. These programs are rigorous and focus on methodology, research, and data analysis. The degree prepares students for
doctoral programs in a related public health field.
Master of Health Administration (MHA) or Master of HealthServices Administration (MHSA)The MHA and MHSA are professional degrees focused primarily on
health care management and policy. These programs are typicallyfor midcareer executives who require additional training to manage
health organizations. Many programs will require applicants to haveat least one undergraduate course in introductory accounting andstatistics.
This degree program is focused almost entirely on management
and business administration issues and generally does not requirecoursework in all of the core areas of public health. An internship will
typically be required, but a thesis will not.

Most doctoral programs, including Dr.PH. and Ph.D. programs,
require that students hold a master’s degree in a related field. This
usually means an MPH degree or an M.S. degree in a field such as
epidemiology or biostatistics.

Doctor of Public Health (Dr.PH.)
The Dr.PH. degree is the terminal professional degree in the field of
Public Health. It generally requires three to five years to complete
the program.

In addition to the students’ academic backgrounds, universities lookclosely at the applicants’ commitment to public health, as evidenced
by their work and volunteer experience and their personal statement.
In particular, admissions committees are interested in finding out
about how students will utilize their graduate degrees in publichealth to improve the public health system in their home countries.

Applicants to Dr.PH. programs are required to hold a MPH, MSPH,
or M.S. in a related public health field.

Master of Public Health (MPH)The MPH is the most popular degree in the public health field. It
is the first graduate professional degree offered. MPH programs
require students to take coursework in all core areas of public health(i.e. health policy and management, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, etc.) with a specialization in one of the core areas.
The degree typically takes two years to complete; however, a few
universities offer one year (either nine or eleven months) programs.
These intensive programs are usually available only for students
who hold advanced degrees, and the majority of students accepted
to these programs are practicing physicians in their home countries.
In addition to coursework, most MPH programs require students tocomplete a field practicum or internship. Many also require a thesis
or capstone project as well.

The Dr.PH. program will require students to complete coursework
in all core areas of public health. Students will also select a concentration within the broader field. At least one, and in many cases
two, internships or field assignments are required, as is a thesis orcapstone project.

Fast Fact
The most common graduate degrees in the publichealth field in the U.S. are: Master of Public Health(MPH), Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH),
Master of Health Administration (MHA), Doctor of
Public Health (Dr.PH.), and Doctor of Philosophy(Ph.D.).

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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Ph.D. is the most advanced academic degree available in publichealth. It is focused on research and scientific methodology andusually takes three to five years to complete. The Ph.D. program
prepares students for careers in research and academia and forleadership positions in government and nongovernmental organizations. These programs emphasize applied research and analysis in
the student’s area of interest (i.e. epidemiology, health behavior).
A prior M.S. or MPH degree is preferred, but not necessarily
required for admission to Ph.D. programs. Competitive GRE scores
and a strong research background are important. A match between
the student’s interests and current faculty interests and research isalso an important consideration for admission to a Ph.D. program.
It is often essential that a faculty mentor or advisor be identified,either by the student or admissions committee, before an applicant
will be admitted to the program.
Notes on Applying to Graduate Degree Study
General Requirements:
The application requirements for graduate programs in public healthvary by university and by specific degree program. In general, successful applicants will have at least a 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate
studies, a clear study objective and compelling personal statement,
three letters of recommendation, and competitive GRE scores.
(High scores on the quantitative section of the GRE are importantfor students interested in the fields of epidemiology and biostatistics.) Some doctoral programs also require applicants to submit anacademic writing sample. The sample should be a published article
or academic research paper between 10 and 20 pages in length. The
subject matter should be related to public health.
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health MPH Program Admissions
website is a good example of what most public health programs
will cite as requirements: “Successful applicants to the MPH
program have a strong academic record and relevant academic
preparation with a particular emphasis on quantitative skills.…Clear
career goals…At least two years of full time, post-baccalaureate,
health-related work experience or a doctoral degree in a field underlying public health.” All of these components—strong academic
background, clear and compelling statement of purpose, and work
experience and/or an advanced degree in a health-related field—are
essential for a competitive application.
All international students whose first language is not English arealso required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. To be competitive
for admission to master’s programs, students should provide a
TOEFL score of at least 550 on the paper-based exam or 80 on theiBT exam, although more competitive universities will require scoresof at least 600 and 100, respectively. Doctoral applicants should aim
to score 100 or higher on the iBT TOEFL.
Application Process:Many of the comprehensive schools of public health in the U.S. utilize a common online application called SOPHAS (Schools of Public
Health Application Service, www.sophas.org/index.cfm). This application allows students to apply to multiple programs using the same
application form. All of the data entered on the application need to
be entered only once, regardless of how many programs the student
applies to. Students have the opportunity to tailor one essay for eachschool that will be sent to that individual program. Students have tosend only one set of transcripts and other supporting documents(i.e., letters of reference) to SOPHAS. SOPHAS then attaches the
documents to the student’s account and mails copies of the original
documents to each of the universities.
It is important to note that although a number of schools utilize the
SOPHAS application, many also require that the student complete a
supplemental online application through either the graduate schoolof that particular university or the school of public health itself.
Students should carefully read the individual application requirements and procedures on each university website to make sure they
complete all of the necessary forms.
While a number of schools (36 as of March 2011) use the SOPHAS
system, many schools of public health, and schools that might nothave a designated school of public health but offer public healthdegrees, use their own graduate school or school of public healthonline application system. It is important that the student investigate the application process at each school to make sure the correct
procedure is followed.

OnlinePublic HealthResources
What is Public Health?: www.whatispublichealth.org
Association of Schools of Public Health: www.asph.org
American Public Health Association: www.apha.org
Council on Education for Public Health: www.ceph.org
American Journal of Public Health: ajph.aphapublications.org
Schools of Public Health Application Service:www.sophas.org/index.cfm

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It is also common for schools that use the SOPHAS system to use
only the common application for master’s and Dr.PH. applicants.
Many schools on the SOPHAS system require Ph.D. applicants
to apply through the graduate school. For example, students canapply for an MPH program at Emory University or the Universityof Kentucky through SOPHAS, but in order to apply to the Ph.D.
program they must submit an online application and all requiredmaterials to the graduate school of those universities.
There are a number of public health programs in the U.S. that offer
both excellent coursework and valuable field and practical experience. To be successful, students should present a strong portfolioof academic achievements, including grades and test scores, butalso show a commitment to public health in their home countries.
Admissions committees review the applicants’ CVs and admission
essays carefully to form an accurate picture of the students’ work,
volunteer, and research experiences in the public health field andtheir plans for utilizing the knowledge they will acquire in the U.S. to
improve public health when they return home.

Amy Siglock is a Program Officer in the University Placement Services
Division at the Institute of International Education.

Public Health Student Spotlight

Name: Kiran S. Kamble
Home Country: India
U.S. University: Harvard School of Public Health – Harvard University
Name of Program: Global Health Concentration – Master of Public Health (MPH)

What advice do you have for other international students who arethinking about applying to a public health program in the U.S.?
My advice to international students is to be as specific as possible
in their approach. I recommend taking the following strategic
steps:
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idea of the accredited public health institutes in the U.S.;1SJPSJUJ[FUXPPSUISFFDPODFOUSBUJPOBSFBTZPVXPVMEMJLFUPtake on as majors for your public health program, e.g. epidemiology, biostatistics, maternal and child health, etc.;
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What is unique about your institution’s public health program?
I graduated from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)
with a Master of Public Health (MPH). The unique selling featureof my institution is its perfect balance between theory and practice. HSPH has an interesting mix of faculty that have excelled inboth academia and public health practice.
Why did you decide to study public health in the United States?
After having practiced in the health sector for sixteen years – eight
years in public health – I realized that I needed to acquire certain
skills to contribute better to public health. I made a list of myweaknesses and shopped around for appropriate institutions andprograms globally. Eighty percent of the institutions on my list
were from the U.S., so I decided to focus my energy on applying
to a public health program there.

What do you hope to do with your degree once you return toyour home country?
I have joined a colleague in establishing a global health organization (www.o3iglobal.org) and our aim is to contribute to innovative, evidence-based public health interventions for underserved
populations in developing countries. As far as my country India
is concerned, I want to strengthen the public health systems insuch relatively less developed states as Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa,
Jammu, and Kashmir.

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Career Opportunities in Public HealthFeatureBy Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH)

P

ublic health is a diverse and dynamic field. Public health professionals come from varying educational backgrounds andcan specialize in an array of fields. Public health professionals serve local, national, and international communities.
They are leaders who meet the many exciting challenges in protecting the public’s health today and in the future.
Public health careers offer something for everyone. Epidemiology
and biostatistics involve mathematics and modeling. Environmental
health includes a wide range of science skills. Health administration
incorporates business and management skills. Health education
involves skills required to develop community-wide prevention programs. Health policy includes an understanding of law-making processes. This is an exciting time to pursue a career in public health.
Some of the reasons include:

Where do public health professionals work?
Public health professionals work in both the public and private
sectors. Many public health graduates will find work in the public
sector in local, state, or federal health departments. The jobs available at health departments range from Food Safety Inspectors to
Health Educators; from Policy Analysts to Epidemiologists. Other
public health professionals will find work in university systems as
researchers.

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of health over the next decades will not come from new
medical findings or cures, but rather the broader development and application of population-based prevention programs.
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change. Greater emphasis is being placed on health promotion and disease prevention as a means to reduce thecosts of care by improving the health of our populations.
These changes have created a broad array of new opportunities for professionals with advanced training in public health.
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toxic wastes and pollutants on their health, greater emphasis isbeing placed on assuring the safety of our communities as well
as worker health and safety. As a result, there is growing demandfor experts in environmental health and industrial hygiene.
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and child and substance abuse, and an increased emphasis isbeing placed on behavioral change to prevent the risk of STDs,
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and unplanned pregnancies. Greater
emphasis is also being placed on school health and the health ofminority and disadvantaged populations.

Those interested in working for a nonprofit organization can findjobs in health advocacy, policy, or research, or at a local nonprofit
that focuses on specific health issues. Still other public health professionals will find work in the private sector, working in randomized
control trials for pharmaceutical companies or for health insurancecompanies.

What are the career opportunities in public health?
While there are dozens of specialties in public health, most career
opportunities are found in the following fields:
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#JPNFEJDBM-BCPSBUPSZHow can a graduate degree in public health enhance one’s career
opportunities?
Many public health jobs require a graduate degree in public health.
A graduate degree gives public health professionals a competitiveedge over other professionals and enables professionals to:HBJOLOPXMFEHFPGUIFGBDUPSTUIBUJOºVFODFMPDBM OBUJPOBM BOE
global legislative and social polices;
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skills needed for problem solving;EFWFMPQNVMUJEJTDJQMJOBSZBOEDPMMBCPSBUJWFTUSBUFHJFTGPSTPMWJOH
health-related problems;FOIBODFDPNNVOJDBUJPOTLJMMTCZXPSLJOHXJUIEJWFSTFQPQVMBtions; and,
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What kind of job title can I expect after graduating with a degree inpublic health?
A degree in public health provides innumerable opportunities withmultiple specializations within the five core disciplines in a master’sof public health degree program.

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Education
Public health problems involve complex and interrelated social,
behavioral, legal, medical, and economic issues. If you are interested in health education, virtually every specialization withinpublic health offers career opportunities that will make an impact
on people’s lives. As an educator with a graduate degree in publichealth, your primary challenge will be to develop and implement
interventions designed to improve overall health.
Examples of job settings:
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Administration/Management
Rapid changes in both the private and public sectors of health careand related industries mean more opportunities for qualified professionals to manage complex institutions, organizations, and healthservices delivery programs. Whether your background is in scienceor business, there are dynamic career opportunities for public healthgraduates in all sectors of the health care industry.

Examples of job settings:
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PolicyHealth policy examines the complexity and dynamics of our publichealth system and its impact on the health of individuals and communities. Whether you’re looking for a career in health policy inthe private or public sector, a graduate degree in public health will
multiply your career opportunities regardless of your academic background. With an advanced degree, you’ll be in a position to makevital health policy decisions that affect countless lives.
Examples of job settings:
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About ASPH
The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) represents theCouncil on Education for Public Health (CEPH)-accredited schools of
public health. CEPH is the accrediting body for both schools of publichealth and public health programs. There are many benefits of attending a CEPH-accredited school. Accreditation is a rigorous peer-review
process which assures a well-rounded graduate education. Attendinga CEPH accredited school of public health will qualify degree holders
for many jobs which specify graduation from an accredited school as acondition of employment.
ASPH promotes the efforts of schools of public health to improve thehealth of every person through education, research, and policy. Basedon the belief that “you’re only as healthy as the world you live in,”
ASPH works with stakeholders to develop solutions to the most pressing health concerns and provides access to the ongoing initiatives ofthe schools of public health.

Established in 1953, ASPH serves as a resource for member schools by:
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graduate education, research and service in public health;
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corporate, and community agencies to strengthen education,
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health education;
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development of competencies for MPH graduates and creation of
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training opportunities for students and graduates.
For more information, visit www.asph.org

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Community PracticeCommunity practice offers career opportunities to those striving
for mobility or a leadership position in health care programs. A
graduate degree in public health will equip you with the knowledge
and leadership experiences needed to launch a successful career incommunity practice.
Examples of job settings:
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Research
A career in basic and applied research demands interdisciplinary
skills to meet the challenges of a rapidly-changing field. A background in science – biological, natural, social, or behavioral – opens
the door to many career opportunities, and an advanced degree inpublic health will help you realize your full potential.
Examples of job settings:
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-BCPSBOEDPOTVNFSPSHBOJ[BUJPOT)FBMUITFSWJDFTEFMJWFSZPSHBOJ[BUJPOTPublic Health Student Spotlight
Name:
Altinay Jarimbetova
Home Country: Uzbekistan
University: Western Illinois University
Name of Program:
Health Education and Promotion
What advice do you have for other international students who arethinking about applying to a public health program in the U.S.?
Altinay: Public health programs in the U.S. are different fromthose in Uzbekistan. It is helpful to get to know the U.S. systemof public health, along with the U.S. insurance and legal systems
as they relate to health. These were the areas that I struggled withfor a while.
Verónica: My advice is to contact professors and students in the
program they are interested in, to have an understanding of thestrengths of the program, and to assess whether their objectives
can be achieved by enrolling in that particular program.
What is unique about your institution’s public health program?
Altinay: It offers students a choice between community healtheducation and health sciences with an emphasis on public health.

Name:Verónica Alejandra Fuentes Cáceres
Home Country: Chile
University: Pennsylvania State University
Name of Program:
Ph.D. in Health Policy and Administration

Verónica: The advantage of my program is that there are several
opportunities for working in research right away. Another important advantage is that the program incorporates quantitative andqualitative training in the first year, which helps us to be in a better position to decide the kind of research that we want to pursue.
What do you hope to do with your degree once you return toyour home country?
Altinay: I would like to continue working with international
humanitarian medical organizations such as Doctors Without
Borders, the Red Cross, and Medical Teams International.
Verónica: I plan to go back to Chile and work in academia.
Ultimately, I want to produce knowledge that helps to solvepressing problems in my country’s healthcare system, and to
train professionals to implement the changes necessary to solve
those problems.

EducationUSA / CONNECTIONS/ APRIL

2011

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8

Interview: A Conversation with Professor Thomas Cook
FeatureC

onnections interviewed Thomas Cook, a professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Iowa
College of Public Health, to provide readers with an inside perspective on how international students engage in studying public health in
the United States. The College of Public Health, founded in 1999 out of long-established programs at the University of Iowa, brings together
educational and research programs to promote global leadership across the disciplines of public health, with a special emphasis on the health ofrural populations.

Connections: What distinguishes public healtheducation in the U.S. from public health education in other parts of the world?
Professor Cook: From my own experiences I’ve
found that some international students sometimes have different conceptions of what constitutes the field of public health than students in
the United States. Historically, the field of publichealth was focused first and foremost on investigating rates and patterns of infectious diseases,
and in many developing countries, public healthis still largely equated with the study of infectious
diseases.

Connections: What do admissions counselors
look for when reviewing applications from international students who apply to a public healthprogram?

Professor Cook: I can speak only from my experience at the University of Iowa. In general,
when we review applications from international
students, we very much look for applicants who
have ties to institutions and organizations in theirhome countries. That is, we look for applicants
who have worked in public health in some capacity in their home countries and are now seeking to broaden their skills and knowledge base.
While real world experience is important for us
In the United States and most European counThomas Cook, a professor in thein making admissions decisions, we also look for
Department of Occupational andtries, the vision of public health has broadened
applicants who show obvious passion for a speEnvironmental Health at the University
to include a wider range of topics and concerns.
of Iowa College of Public Healthcific public health issue. We prefer applicants who
Public health schools across the United States arewill
returntotheirhome countries at the completion of their pronow examining a diverse array of issues that include maternal andchild health, nutrition, substance abuse, and injury prevention, to grams and make positive contributions to their local communities.
name just a few. There’s been a real awakening recently to the possi- Applicants that have connections to local public health institutions
bilities of what the field of public health can and should encompass. and demonstrate passion for the field give us confidence that they’ll
be able to mobilize their home communities and apply what they’veConnections: What are some of the recent trends in public health learned in our program to their places of origin.
education in the United States?
Connections: What distinguishes the public health program at theProfessor Cook: For one thing, there has been an increase in the University of Iowa?
number of joint degree programs in public health schools across theUnited States. In the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health, Professor Cook: Because of our geographic location in the Midwest,
it’s not uncommon to see aspiring lawyers who hope to specialize in the University of Iowa College of Public Health has a longstanding
health-related issues doing a joint degree program in law and public focus on rural and agricultural health. That is, we have developed
health, and the same would go for environmental engineers doing expertise in health issues that relate specifically to our surrounding
joint degrees in engineering and public health. We also have joint communities, which are primarily rural and centered on farming. But
degree programs with the veterinary school that deal with food safe- our program has evolved steadily over the years in diverse ways. The
ty and diseases that might cross over into our food from animals– program now has a multidisciplinary orientation. In addition, we’ve
become more internationally focused, and have established partnerGPSFYBNQMF BWJBOºVPSTBMNPOFMMB
ships with universities from such places as The Gambia and several
I think that all of these joint degree programs speak to the cross- former Soviet countries.
disciplinary and collaborative nature of public health educationin the United States. At the University of Iowa’s College of Public
Health, nearly all faculty members have secondary appointments Thomas Cook is a professor in the Department of Occupational andwith schools and departments across the campus, and many of our Environmental Health at the University of Iowa College of Publicstudents are enrolled in joint degree programs.
Health.
EducationUSA / CONNECTIONS/ APRIL2011/9