Though you may not realize it, your daily life is influenced to some extent by public health movements and initiatives. Public health professionals work in your best interest as they prevent the spread of disease, identify threats to individual and community-wide well-being, shape healthcare policy, promote best health practices, and more.

Considering how essential public health is to modern society, many people find it a worthy cause to pursue careers as public health workers. You may be one of these people, aspiring to make positive change in public health. And while earning a bachelor’s degree can get you started, a master’s in public health could unlock the door to even greater career heights and opportunities.

This blog discusses five reasons to earn a master’s degree in public health as well as how WGU can help you enhance your public health career path. Read on to learn more.

Why Get a Public Health Master’s Degree?

1. Enhanced Career Opportunities

Completing a master of public health (MPH) program grants graduates deeper insight into specific public health subjects, research methodologies, and more. This increased commitment to the public health field can lead to better, more lucrative career opportunities. With a master’s, you could stand out to future employers and qualify for an increased income and more frequent promotions over the course of your career.

An MPH can open doors to expanded job prospects in diverse sectors of public health, including private healthcare companies, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and other nonprofit organizations. Whichever sector you prefer to work in, your MPH will likely afford you greater influence in shaping the future of public health.

2. Specialization and Expertise

The primary purpose of a public health master’s degree is to impart the knowledge and skills that you need to become an expert in your area of specialization. These areas typically include the following:

• Epidemiology
• Biostatistics
• Infectious disease
• Environmental health
• Health education
• Nutrition
• Community health
• Global health
• Health policy and management
• Health equity

An MPH in one of these areas is a great foundation for students who want to become leading epidemiologists, dedicate their lives to preventing disease, or address complex public health challenges like obesity or cancer. The more expertise that public health workers possess, the more influence they can gain in advancing public health goals. A master’s can often provide that expertise.

3. Impactful Research and Practice

A core pillar of many master’s programs is research. The same applies to most—if not all—post-graduate public health programs. While engaged in an MPH program, you may take part in scientific research, testing theories and building skills in critical thinking and problem-solving. You might also perform fieldwork or work on projects designed to simulate real-world public health issues.

Students that complete a master’s in public health often become skilled researchers and acquire valuable hands-on experience in community or global health programs, studies, and health initiatives. Employers love to see these types of job candidates—those who contribute to evidence-based public health interventions and are ready for the demands of a public health career.

4. Networking and Collaboration

Some of the greatest joys in professional work come from forging meaningful associations with colleagues, team members, and leaders. Fortunately, many public health master’s programs can provide you with abundant networking opportunities and occasions to collaborate. Spending time in an MPH program naturally involves studying with like-minded individuals, establishing a professional network, and building interdisciplinary relationships.

You may also find ample opportunities to be mentored by faculty members and in turn become a mentor to others around you. These kinds of social experiences increase soft skills like communication, leadership, and emotional intelligence—all of which are held in high regard by potential employers.

5. Personal and Professional Development

In addition to the above-listed benefits, earning a master’s degree in public health will foster personal and professional growth. While this growth varies from person to person, it is important not to overlook the value of the disciplined intellectual and vocational development you can receive from an MPH program. The more you put into studying public health, the more fulfillment and satisfaction you might get out of your career.

Completing a master’s can keep you personally and professionally driven and may even spur you on to enrolling in a public health doctoral program or reaching an executive position in an organization. You may also find it enriching to continue your public health education via work-related training seminars, online courses, certifications, and more.

 Next Steps on Your Public Health Journey

Pursuing a career in public health may not always be easy, but the benefits of an MPH degree can help make you equal to the task. If you’re passionate about researching, promoting, and improving the health of populations on a local, regional, or global level, consider the advantages of a master’s degree in public health and put in the effort to earn one. It may enhance your public health journey in ways you can’t imagine.

But where should you earn your master’s? WGU’s online, accredited Master of Science in Public Health program could be the perfect fit for you. Our MPH curriculum is designed with input by industry experts, so you’ll learn only the most relevant, career-oriented skills as you study.

WGU’s competency-based learning model means that you advance through courses as quickly as you show mastery of the material, so you can potentially graduate faster and save money. Plus, access coursework 24/7 with no set log-in times. Get started today.