Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Connecticut provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to work in the public health field. Once you finish one of these degree programs, you might go to work in a community health center that offers affordable health care for those without insurance. You can also use an MPH degree to work as a policy advocate who urges the government to make changes to the health care system or as a research analyst who looks at new research in the field.
Connecticut is home to several colleges that offer graduate programs in public health.
Sacred Heart University
College of Health Professions
Established in 1963, Sacred Heart University is a relatively modern university in Connecticut that has an affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church. Though its first class of freshmen numbered just under 200 students, it now has a total enrollment of more than 8,500, which includes both full-time and part-time undergrads and graduate students. Princeton Review included Sacred Heart University on its annual list of the best American colleges in 2017 and also recognized its business school as one of the nation’s top choices. U.S. News & World Report called Sacred Heart one of the best northern colleges too.
MPH Program
While there are several Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Connecticut, you should consider the MPH program offered by Sacred Heart University. This program includes a service learning component that allows students to give back to the community around the campus and gain some practical experience working with the general public. Students must take 48 credits, but the university gives them the option of enrolling part-time or full-time. There is also an accelerated version of the program that Sacred Heart designed for those who do not have any public health experience but do have a bachelor’s degree or those who took college classes in the past.
Accreditation
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
5151 Park Ave.
Fairfield, CT 06825
(203) 371-7999
magnusone@sacredheart.edu
Southern Connecticut State University
Graduate School
Connecticut is home to four state colleges that include Southern Connecticut State University. Founded in 1893 as the New Haven State Normal School, it offered teaching certificate programs for more than four decades before becoming a college in 1937 and switching to standard degree programs. The university is one of the only in the country to offer a degree in teaching students with autism disorders, and its nursing program ranks highly because such a high percentage of students pass their licensing exams. More than 8,400 undergrads enroll in SCSU programs, and it also has a graduate population of more than 3,000 students.
Public Health, MPH
SCSU created its Public Health, MPH program for those who want to work in the health care field. Though the deadline for applications is at the beginning of March, you should submit your application sooner because the university stops accepting students once it fills all available spots. The 48 credits that you take will include electives and classes like foundations of public health, health promotion methods, public health research and epidemiology. You must also do an internship and either do a thesis or a final project. The university awards you up to six credits for the work you do.
Accreditation
Council on Education for Public Health
Contact
501 Crescent Street
New Haven, CT 06515
(203) 392-7278
PublicHealthGrad@southernct.edu
University of Connecticut
School of Medicine
One of the top choices for students looking for a public university in the state is the University of Connecticut. With an enrollment of more than 23,000 students, it ranks as one of the most populous campuses in the state. Though most think of its main campus in Storrs, UConn also has campuses in six other cities across the state that offer opportunities for students living in both rural and urban areas. UConn is a public Ivy, which means that it offers the same opportunities as Ivy League schools do but is a public school that is more affordable.
MPH Program
UConn has an extensive alumni network that makes it easier for students in its MPH program to find internships and learn about open jobs before they graduate. The university built this program around seven key or core areas of study that include social sciences, health care management, health administration and public health law. As a full-time student, you will finish the program in two years, but part-time students can take up to four years to finish. There is a practicum class that you must take and a capstone requirement that asks you to create a final project that addresses a public health topic.
Dual Degree Program
Those with interests that go beyond public health may consider enrolling in a UConn dual degree program. Also called interdisciplinary programs, this gives you the chance to earn two degrees in less time and study another field of medicine like dental medicine or nursing. You can also select a dual degree in pharmacy, social work or law. While you will take classes from two different departments, each department will recognize and accept 12 of the credits you earned in a different program towards your degree requirements. UConn offers one of the only Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Connecticut with a dual option.
Accreditation
Council on Education for Public Health
Contact
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269
(860) 486-4900
University of Hartford
College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions
The University of Hartford appeals to local students as well as international students. Located in West Hartford, its campus actually spreads across and touches several other cities and counties. Though some students commute to classes, many prefer living on the campus. Founded in 1957 as a branch of a popular art school, the college slowly added to its curriculum and moved its focus away from art classes. It now offers more than 80 programs at the bachelor’s level and 28 degree programs for graduate students. The University of Hartford also offers associate degree programs and a few certificate programs.
Master of Science in Nursing With Focus in Public Health (MSN)
Some Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Connecticut are better suited for those who have real life experience like this program that the University of Hartford designed for working nurses. This program lets you earn your MSN and also learn more about the public health field. The university gives you the option of taking one or more classes each semester to finish your degree in two to four years. This program includes a practicum and 30 credits of electives and classes like epidemiology, advanced nursing practice, theoretical perspectives in nursing and theoretical basis of public health nursing.
Accreditation
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
200 Bloomfield Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117
(860) 768-4100
Yale University
Yale School of Public Health
Yale University is the only Ivy League college in Connecticut. Founded in 1701, it also ranks among the oldest campuses in the entire nation. As an Ivy League school, the university is highly selective and typically accepts less than 10% of the applications it gets. ARWU, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report consider Yale one of the top 10 colleges in the country, and Washington Monthly ranked it just outside the top 10 at number 13 on its own list. Its graduate programs in business, engineering, law, medicine and nursing all rank among the top programs in the United States.
Master of Public Health
Yale University offers a number of degree programs for those with an interest in public health like its general Master of Public Health program. You take five units each semester over the course of four semesters and do a summer internship to graduate in just two years. Though this is a general program, it allows you to learn more about specialized subjects such as epidemiology and chronic diseases. You will also take classes on health care policy to learn more about the policies affecting the industry and on the management and operations of health care facilities.
Accelerated MBA/MPH in Health Care Management
The first accelerated program for MPH students is this Yale program. Yale designed this health care management to meet the needs of students who view the health care system as a business. You have the chance to earn both an MBA and an MPH degree, which will put you in demand among employers in the real world. You take six units of public health classes, five units of health care management classes and several electives. The program also includes a public health practice requirement. You will take two practicum classes, do an internship and take a research class to fulfill this requirement.
Advanced Professional MPH Program
Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Connecticut often feature a design more suited for traditional students than working professionals, but this advanced MPH program that Yale offers allows busy professionals to earn their degrees without taking time off work. You must have a bachelor’s degree and five years of experience, a master’s degree and two years experience, a doctoral degree or at least three years of medical school before starting this program. You take a seven-week session in the summer and do two intense semesters of work to graduate in 11 months, and you can pick a specialization in global health, health policy or another area.
Five-Year BA-BS/MPH Program
One of the more unique MPH programs available through Yale University is this program, which the university designed for undergrads. When you enroll, you spend five years taking classes to earn a BA or a BS, but you’ll also take graduate level MPH classes in your senior year that let you finish that full degree in just one additional year of study. The courses that you can take in your fourth year include introduction to toxicology, health economics and US health policy, principles of epidemiology, social and behavioral foundations of health and introduction to statistical thinking.
Joint Degree Programs
Yale University also offers seven options for those who want to earn a joint degree in both public health and another field. You can choose to also study law, environmental studies, divinity, global affairs, international economics or management. Some of these programs are best for those with some medical experience. You can get a second degree in general medicine or nursing, and there is another program that trains you on how to become a physician assistant. Before you can enroll in one of these joint degree programs, you will usually need to apply and receive acceptance to both programs.
Accreditation
Council on Education for Public Health
Contact
47 College Street
Suite 108
New Haven CT06520-8034
(203) 785-2844
ysph.admissions@yale.edu
Whether you want to enroll in an Ivy Leave university or a more affordable state university, you have lots of options on the East Coast. Before looking at other states though, check out the top Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Connecticut to see how those programs can help you with your career goals.
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