Public health professionals are dedicated to educating people about protecting their health. Masters and doctoral degrees are available. Major fields of study in public health include administration or practice, aerospace medicine, audiology and speech, behavioral sciences, biochemistry, biostatistics, demography, chronic diseases, gerontology, comprehensive health, drug abuse and alcoholism, environmental health, environmental health engineering, environmental physiology, environmental toxicology, epidemiology, health education, health policy and management, human genetics, immunology, infectious diseases, international health, maternal and child health, mental health, microbiology, bacteriology, mycology, virology, nutrition, occupational and environmental medicine, occupational health and industrial medicine, occupational health nursing, population studies, family planning, reproductive biology, public health nursing, radiation health sciences, social work in public health, tropical medicine, and others. The need is especially acute for epidemiologists and biostatisticians. Required Courses Required courses depend on the area of study in the MPH degree.
Many undergraduate majors are acceptable.
Their responsibilities include the planning, financing and organization of the many parts of the health care delivery system. In an increasing number of instances, the administrator is legally responsible to maintain a quality level of care at a particular institution. Four year bachelor's programs are available, but a two year master's program in public health or hospital administration is necessary for upper level management.