For those who are looking to earn master’s in public health degrees in Iowa, the state is known for being an ideal location to settle in for a lifetime of happy living. The residents within this area value their happiness and health, making public health a smart career choice for students looking to enter the field. In addition, students who know they would like to work in public health may consider earning a master’s degree rather than a bachelor’s degree, particularly because most employers require an advanced degree for most positions, and a master’s degree can also open up additional opportunities such as more responsibilities and, ultimately, a higher salary.
Residents who live in Iowa and who wish to pursue a master’s in public health degree have a number of options. Some schools offer straightforward MPH degrees, while others combine the MPH curriculum with other degrees such as the JD, PharmD, and DVM for those pursuing law, pharmacology, and veterinary degrees, respectively. Since Iowa’s population has increased to nearly 3.1 million, the need for experienced and educated public health professionals has also increased. Iowa is 45th in the country in terms of state poverty rankings, which is relatively low compared to other states throughout the U.S. However, approximately 10 percent of Iowa residents are without health insurance, which could indicate a serious flaw that may ultimately result in negative health-related effects for those who cannot afford to get treatment.
Read: What is the Employment Outlook for the Public Health Field?
In addition, the 2012 U.S. Census indicated that approximately 43 percent of Iowans are living in rural areas with limited access to proper healthcare. In order to provide access to emergency care and primary care as well as to prevent disease and injury, the Iowa Department of Health (IDPH) implemented several new public health programs to strengthen early childhood medical care and prevent disease. Also, students who do not reside in the state but who wish to take action and seek out an active role in public health may consider earning their master’s in public health degree online. These programs provide the same high-quality education as on-campus degrees, but students may complete their coursework from home. The programs are typically completed in two to three years, and students generally take 40 to 60 credit hours in coursework. This is a great option for those who are already working in a professional environment, for those who have caregiving responsibilities, or parents of children who cannot possibly be on-campus for extended periods of time.
Allen College
School of Health Sciences
The Allen College School of Health Sciences offers students a number of degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels. Students may pursue careers in radiography, occupational therapy, nuclear medicine technology, medical laboratory science, diagnostic medical sonography, and public health. The School aims to provide students with a well-rounded education that allows them to not only expand their knowledge of the field in which they are interested but also to gain hands-on experience in their respective career choices. Students are prepared for careers in a variety of positions throughout the field of community and public health.
Community/Public Health (MSN)
The Master of Science in Community/Public Health focuses on advanced social, nursing, and public health sciences education. The degree provides a foundation for consulting and practicing in diverse multicultural settings as well as addressing health disparities of diverse and vulnerable populations. Students will learn about health policy, leadership, healthcare systems, population-level interventions, health promotion, and community/public health concepts. Students have the option to combine this degree program with the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner or family nurse practitioner programs. Doing so will open up many opportunities for career advancement, and students may be eligible to command a higher salary due to the additional education they receive. Graduates will be prepared to assume roles in administration, research, consultation clinical practice, case management, and education. Those who graduate with an advanced community/public health degree can expect to work in a variety of settings such as hospice care, long-term care, correctional health, international health, occupational health, non-governmental organizations, universities and schools, public health, and in various private, public, and community organizations and agencies.
Accreditation
– Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Contact
1990 Heath St.
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 226-2000
admissions@allencollege.edu
Des Moines University – Osteopathic Medical Center
College of Health Sciences
Established in 1980, the College of Health Sciences at Des Moines University offers a number of high-quality master’s degrees in public health, physician assistant studies, and healthcare administration as well as two Doctoral of Physical Therapy programs, one of which is post-professional and one of which entry-level. The College aims to advance the well-being and health of society through the development of exceptional healthcare professionals through a learning-centered environment. The College values lifelong learning, health promotion, and the transfer of evidence-based research into daily practice, and students will benefit from not only a strong classroom education but also experience as they work hands-on in the field of public health.
Master of Public Health
In the fully accredited online Master of Science in Public Health program, students will gain the skills and knowledge they need to become true public health professionals. They will work with others to promote health and wellness to communities, families, and individuals, and they will also learn how to protect them from a number of health threats. Students will complete the degree at their own pace from home, and they may choose from one of three concentrations, including general public health, health service management, and health promotion. Students may complete the degree in two-and-a-half years, and they will earn 46 total credit hours that include a capstone project, an internship, and six hours of electives.
Accreditation
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
3200 Grand Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50312
(800) 240-2767
info@dmu.edu
Iowa State University
Center for Food Security and Public Health
The Center for Food Security and Public Health (CFSPH) strives to increase international and national preparedness for intentional or accidental introduction of diseases that threaten public health and food production. The Center provides resources for agencies to prepare for animal emergencies and tools for infection control as well as online education degrees for animal health professionals and veterinary students. The Center is funded entirely through cooperative agreements and grants from state and federal governments as well as nonprofit and industry organizations.
Masters of Public Health
Iowa State University offers two master’s degrees in public health. The first is for current ISU DVM students, and the second is offered for veterinarians. The first is a 42-credit-degree program that students can complete by the time they earn their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Students must take three credits per semester at the University of Iowa for an extra $500 fee. The second program is also a 42-credit-hour program designed for veterinarians. Students will take 18 credits from core courses such as public health, health promotion and disease prevention, an introduction to U.S. healthcare, epidemiology, biostatistics and environmental health. The degree includes a three-credit practicum project as well as electives in public health informatics and emergency preparedness, food safety, public health law, and foreign animal diseases.
Accreditation
– Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Contact
1137 Pearson
505 Morrill Rd.
Ames, IA 50011
(515) 294-4531
grad_college@iastate.edu
Kaplan University
Online Health Sciences Degrees
Kaplan University, a learning institution that is recognized worldwide for its high-quality online degree programs, helps students to prepare for their future by offering valuable healthcare credentials online, including a master’s degree in health informatics or health information management and a bachelor’s degree in health science. The school aims to help students develop practical skills and real-world knowledge for a variety of careers in the healthcare industry. Students take courses entirely online and complete hands-on training, internships, and capstone experiences in their own communities, allowing them to work at their own pace while maintaining current employee and family relationships.
Master of Public Health Degree (MPH)
The master’s degree in public health from Kaplan University is a widely recognized credential for students seeking managerial and leadership positions in private, nonprofit, and governmental organizations within the health industry. This degree will help students develop the professional, ethical, and administrative skills they need to apply public health theories and principles to health communication and education programs. Students will take a total of 40 core credits that include topics such as health behavior, foundations in public health, healthcare statistics, environmental health, and public health leadership and administration. To earn the degree, aspiring public health leaders must complete a total of 56 program credits.
Accreditation
– Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Contact
4655 121st St.
Urbandale, IA 50323
(800) 987-7734
infoku@kaplan.edu
University of Iowa
College of Public Health
The College of Public Health at the University of Iowa offers education and training in environmental and occupational health, health management policy, behavioral and community health, and biostatistics. Degrees are offered at both the master’s and doctoral levels, and the College also offers a certificate in public health that is designed to strengthen students’ skills and knowledge in basic public health competencies. The College is most noted for its combined degrees, which allow students to earn a master’s degree in public health in conjunction with doctoral degrees in veterinary medicine, pharmacological studies, and law.
Master of Public Health
The master’s degree in public health is recognized worldwide as the main professional practice degree for the public health field. The MPH program at the University of Iowa prepares students for public health practice by educating them in the five core disciplines of the industry: social and behavioral sciences, health services administration, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, and biostatistics. In addition to these five major areas of focus, students are required to complete a 200-hour capstone project in a public health setting. Students who are enrolled in the program full-time can complete the degree in two to three years, or five to five semesters, depending on the track and electives they choose as well as when elective courses are offered.
Accreditation
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
145 N. Riverside Dr.
100 CPHB
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319) 384-1500
lexie-just@uiowa.edu
DVM-MPH Combined Degree
The purpose of the dual Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master in Public Health degree is to provide students with formal training in both veterinary medicine and public health. The total degree requirements includes 42 semester hours. Students will take 18 semester hours in core public health courses, including biostatistics, public health, epidemiology, health promotion and disease prevention, global environmental health, and an introduction to the U.S. healthcare system. All MPH must complete 200 hours in practice courses that include a poster presentation and a paper. Students may transfer 12 hours from their veterinary medicine coursework in classes such as small animal internal medicine, public health and the role of the veterinary profession, infectious diseases and preventative medicine, and pharmacology and therapeutics.
Accreditation
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
145 N. Riverside Dr.
100 CPHB
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319) 384-1500
lexie-just@uiowa.edu
JD-MPH Combined Degree
The purpose of the combined JD-MPH degree at the University of Iowa is to provide students who are pursuing a degree from the UI College of Law to receive not only formal training in law but formal training in public health as well. Students who pursue this degree track will develop special expertise in public health issues as they relate to the law, and it is designed to train qualified students to hold leadership positions in both the private and public sectors. Students will take 18 semester hours in core MPH courses that cover biostatistics, public health, disease prevention and health promotion, epidemiology, and global environmental health. Students must complete 200 hours in a practicum course in which students will demonstrate their skills in a setting that has components of both law and public health. The 42-semester-hour combined degree also includes 12 semester hours in JD coursework that covers legal areas such as health, international environment, employment, environment, administration, labor, family, and public health.
Accreditation
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
145 N. Riverside Dr.
100 CPHB
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319) 384-1500
lexie-just@uiowa.edu
PharmD-MPH Combined Degree
The combined PharmD-MPH degree is designed to provide students with specialized public health knowledge as it relates to medication safety, disease prevention, and health and pharmacology promotion. Areas that require a combined degree in these two fields include family and juvenile health, managed care, insurance, genetics, and the spread and treatment of immunology, community health, and disease. Students must take 18 semester hours in core courses in public health topics such as epidemiology, the U.S. healthcare system, health promotion and disease prevention, biostatistics, global environmental health, and an introduction to public health. Every MPH student must successfully complete 200 hours in practice courses as well as complete a written report and poster presentation. There are 12 semester hours of credits that students take in the PharmD major that count toward the MPH degree, including pharmaceutical economics and insurance, social aspects of primary care, pharmacy practice lab, cardiovascular therapeutics, infections disease therapeutics, and endocrinology, ophthalmology, women’s and men’s health therapeutics. Students must also choose nine semester hours in electives that can include nutrition and exercise, clinical investigation, global health, aging studies, epidemiology, biostatistics, health management and policy, occupational and environmental health, community and behavioral health, and maternal, child, and family health.
Accreditation
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
145 N. Riverside Dr.
100 CPHB
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319) 384-1500
lexie-just@uiowa.edu
When looking for a master’s degree in public health, it is important to find one that is provided by an accredited institution. Accredited MPH programs offer existing public health professionals the opportunity to not only pursue their continued education but also allow them the chance to broaden their career prospects — which can be particularly helpful since professionals come from varying backgrounds and levels of experience. In many cases, MPH graduate students have backgrounds in teaching or business, while others have worked in a related profession such as nursing, statistics, or health administration. The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is the recognized accrediting organization in the U.S. for public health degrees as well as for specific schools within the universities that offer these programs. Students who attend a CEPH-accredited program benefit from flexible, comprehensive degrees, the opportunity to become certified, and recognition.
Students who are looking to enter the field of public health can do so via a number of master’s degrees. Whether you are looking to earn a master’s degree for the first time, advance your bachelor’s degree in order to gain additional employment opportunities, or you’re seeking to switch careers completely, the master’s in public health degrees in Iowa can get you to where you want to go.
