Public Health Career Education in Washington
Between 2013 and 2014, the Washington State Department of Health increased its state public health budget by nearly 21% from $207.4 million to $262.6 million, according to data published in 2015 by the non-profit group, Trust for America’s Health.
The report also revealed that Washington received the 10th highest payout of federal public health funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at $237.8 million. The balance of federal grant money came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which contributed $151 million to public health programs in Washington.
The scope of the public health system in Washington is massive, supporting everything from zoonotic disease research and biomonitoring to communicable disease surveillance and injury prevention.
In Washington, heart disease is the second leading cause of death, and one that public health professionals are working hard to combat. In fact, in 2014, the Washington State Department of Health spent more than $21 million on chronic disease prevention and health promotion programs. The effect over time has been subtle but substantial. Between 1980 and 2011, deaths in Washington related to heart disease decreased by 67%, and the rate of heart disease-related deaths in Washington has remained lower than national averages for the last 35 years.
Graduate-educated public health professionals are tasked with the tremendous responsibility of developing, implementing, and managing cost-effective, goal-specific public health programs, which serve to improve the overall health and quality of life of Washington residents.
The Master of Public Health provides a highly customizable curriculum that supports career opportunities in public health policy development, program planning and evaluation, public health campaign marketing and communication, epidemiology, and more. Earning an MPH helps put public health professionals on a path to career advancement, but it’s also equally suited to helping bachelor’s-educated professionals from other backgrounds pursue a new career in public health policy development and program administration.
MPH programs offer a part-time online option that gives working professionals the freedom and flexibility to earn a graduate degree on their own time.
Academic Overview
The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency that establishes accreditation standards for MPH programs. Programs with CEPH accreditation incorporate the five core competencies of the MPH Core Competency Model that was created by the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) in 2004:
The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) further supplemented the MPH Core Competency Model with the addition of seven interdisciplinary areas of focus. These cross-cutting competencies have become foundational to effective public health practice and also a part of accredited MPH programs:
Focus Areas and Specialization
Most MPH programs incorporate a variety of focus areas and specializations into their curriculum, which allows students to focus on the area of public health that interests them most. The specializations shown below are not universal to all MPH programs, but they are representative of key specialty tracks commonly available in MPH programs
Health Communication: Ideal for those interested in learning how to effectively use communication and marketing to influence public health policy. Washington’s Health Education Resource Exchange (HERE) is an example of a health education campaign dependent upon the leadership and marketing skills of public health professionals.
Courses within this specialization may include:
Health Policy: Ideal for those interested in health policy development and working to improve health outcomes both in the U.S. and abroad. One of the most influential and effective health initiatives in Washington is the Washington CARES About Cancer Partnership, which was formed in 2001 and was originally known as the Comprehensive Cancer Control Partnership.
Courses within this specialization may include:
Program Planning and Evaluation: Ideal for those interested in planning and implementing health programs and subsequently evaluating their effectiveness in achieving defined program objectives. A sampling of the public health services available to Washington residents includes Access to Baby and Child Dentistry Program (ABCD), Tobacco Prevention Program, Nurse-Family Partnership, and the Healthy Aging Partnership.
Courses within this specialization may include:
Global Health: Ideal for those interested in developing strategic, successful health policies directed at preventing disease and promoting health at both the national and global level. CDC-sponsored global health programs include the Global Disease Detection Program (GDD) and the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP).
Courses within this specialization may include:
Accelerated One-Year and Part-Time Options
Accelerated – Many MPH programs offer an accelerated one-year option that affords students the opportunity to earn their master’s in public health in only 12 months. While the one-year, fast-track option encompasses the same course material and utilizes the same curriculum as traditional MPH programs, it is much more fast-paced and time consuming.
Part-Time Many MPH programs also offer a part-time option that provides students with a certain degree of latitude and flexibility in completing their degree. In fact, a lot of schools allow students up to four years to complete the MPH program using the part-time option.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for the master’s degree in public health frequently vary between educational institutions. The list below is not universal in nature but does list some of the admission requirements common among MPH programs:
In March of 2005, an article was published in the Seattle Times detailing the growing demand for public health jobs in Washington. The role of public health professionals in creating programs designed to help manage chronic diseases is an important one. The push toward a more health-conscious populace is also accelerating the need for public health professionals in Washington, according to the Times piece.
In 2015, the Washington State Employment Security Department released the following employment projection numbers for public health professions in the state for the ten-year period leading up to 2023:
In March of 2015, the following salary figures for public health occupations in Washington were published jointly by the Washington State Employment Security Department and the United States Department of Labor. The salary range for each occupation spans from entry level (tenth percentile) to the most experienced (90th percentile). Average salaries are also included for various cities throughout Washington:
The Master of Public Health is an innovative and customizable degree that puts students in the advantageous position of being prepared to work in nearly any area of public health. (The job descriptions shown here are included only for informational purposes; they don’t convey an assurance of employment or guaranteed job offers.):
Project Coordinator – Epidemiologist at Urban Indian Health Institute in Seattle
Senior Public Health Officer, Diagnostics Development, at PATH in Seattle
Health Services Consultant 3 – Emergency Preparedness Specialist at Washington State Department of Health in Tumwater