If you have a love for both public health and business administration, you should definitely consider obtaining an MPH and MBA. With these two degrees, you will be able to work for some of the world’s best public health agencies, insurance companies, hospitals and other medical research organizations. An MPH is designed principally for those looking to work for public health agencies such as county and city hospitals, federally qualified health centers, community health centers, state public agencies, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organizations. MBAs are designed mainly for students looking to break into business management. However, with the combination of both of these degrees, individuals can command large salaries by working as administrators in the health field. Here is a quick overview of what you can do with both degrees.
What do I need to obtain an MPH?
In order to obtain a Master’s in public health, students must go through an accredited Master’s program that will expose them to a wide variety of courses centered around epidemiology, public health education, program design, evaluation, research methodologies and public health emergency management. With an MPH, students are prepared to take on leadership roles within public health agencies, hospitals, research organizations, social service agencies and other organizations dedicated to improving health outcomes for community residents. Most MPH programs are designed as either full-time or part-time programs with courses being offered in the evenings for working professionals. It generally takes anywhere between two to four years to complete an MPH program.
What do I need to obtain a MBA?
An MBA program is substantially different from an MPH program. In an MBA program, students will take at least one to two years of foundational coursework in accounting, finance, statistics, management, marketing and communications. Students will become grounded in business operations and then will proceed to a more specialized concentration. For those with an interest in health, a healthcare management track may be the most advantageous MBA program concentration. Courses in healthcare management center around facilities management, healthcare marketing, healthcare law and finance. After completion of all coursework, students are often required to complete some sort of internship to gain real-world experience in business management and operations. For those with a MPH background, internships can be completed at hospitals, universities and research organizations that have large business planning and operations departments.
What are some MPH MBA jobs?
For those with this particular background, it is very easy to land leadership positions within a large organization. This could include being Chief Epidemiologists, Chief Financial Officers, Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Innovation and Research.
What is a typical MPH MBA salary?
Healthcare managers in 2012, according to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, brought home a salary of $88,580. Salaries tend to be higher in larger metropolitan areas like Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles. Salaries will also be contingent on years of experience, education and organization. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also noted a projected employment increase for of around 23 percent.
Although this might seem like a lot of education, obtaining both of these degrees will be highly worth it. If you want a top leadership role in a healthcare organization, it is definitely worth the investment to obtain a MPH and MBA.