4 universities solving the world’s most pressing health challenges

The importance of practical experience cannot be overstated, particularly in the field of public health. Simply put, when it comes to saving lives, there is a vast difference between knowing and doing. Hence why esteemed universities across the globe have increasingly shifted their approaches towards being more hands-on and experiential, acknowledging the need for graduates capable of entering the field ready to make a difference. 

After all, over three years later, the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of being the last pandemic, climate change is leading to more extreme weather events, and violence is stil one of the leading causes of death for people under the age of 40 in the US. These are just a few of our world’s multifaceted challenges — all of which not only require attention but urgent solutions. If you agree, join the fight for a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable future at one of these universities in the US:

Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Northeastern University has deep industry links which have led to enduring partnerships with over 175 co-op employers. Source: Northeastern University

For an experiential education in every sense of the word, come to Northeastern University’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences – an institution renowned for its ability to seamlessly bridge the gap between theory and practice. In fact, 100% of its programs come with the option to undergo a co-op, which sees students applying their newfound knowledge in organizations, companies, and institutes aligned with their academic interests. 

It’s an inspiring place for aspiring changemakers, particularly those looking to dedicate — or even reroute — their careers to promoting and protecting the health of communities. Northeastern University’s Master of Public Health Program was designed for such individuals. The MPH stands out for its “Urban Health” specialization, one of the few of its kind, which builds upon Northeastern’s rich history of community engagement and brings together interdisciplinary faculty with expertise in working with diverse urban populations. 

Through unrivaled co-ops and clinicals in Boston, the hub of health innovation, or through placements around the globe, students get to learn from and work with top employers in their chosen field. They further enhance their career connections through projects embedded in experiential coursework and a field practicum (at the likes of Florida Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) as well. 

Northeastern University has deep industry links, which have led to enduring partnerships with over 175 co-op employers. Such alliances are typical of R1 research institutions determined to tackle the world’s most pressing health challenges — encompassing study at the cellular level to the global systems impacting health across communities. 

Anything is possible at a multidisciplinary hub enlivened by engineering, business, law, and science experts and filled with state-of-the-art facilities. Groundbreaking outcomes are quicker to achieve when renowned researchers collaborate with ambitious students. Here, students, as early as their first year, are encouraged to participate in the field, labs, and other clinical settings. To learn more about the Bouvé College of Health Sciences, click here.

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

The Bloomberg School of Public Health is known for its unrivaled breadth and depth of programs that are hands-on and flexible. Source: JHU Bloomberg School of Public Health

If you want to be an expert on prolonging life, preventing and controlling disease, as well as promoting physical and mental health, and deploying important health services, where better to learn than the number one public health school in the world? At the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, you’re not just trained for the field; you’re meant to lead it, too. Here, you’ll learn from experts who save lives millions at a time, including Nobel Prize winners and advisors to the Biden administration.

The Bloomberg School of Public Health is known for its unrivaled breadth and depth of programs that are hands-on and flexible. Choose from more than 90-degree programs and 40 certificate qualifications in areas such as epidemiology, mental health, and health policy management.

Whether you prefer full-time or part-time study, online or on-campus courses, the Bloomberg School of Public Health offers flexibility for everyone to advance their careers in public health. Its four-to-one student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes ensure full participation in a highly interactive environment.

The Master of Health Science in Epidemiology is a two-year academic degree focusing on applied epidemiologic methods. It’s ideal for aspiring epidemiologists with limited or no research experience — they will complete 64 credit units in epidemiology and elective courses, pass a comprehensive exam, produce a publishable-quality manuscript, and present their research during the annual poster symposium. 

The learning doesn’t end there: students will be mentored, train with renowned faculty and participate in research teams. With over 80 research centers and institutes available for internships and hands-on experiences, students can get a head start in producing groundbreaking work to improve health in their communities.

City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy

CUNY SPH delivers rigorous and affordable in-person and online graduate education that prepares students for success in all domains of public health. Source: CUNY School of Public Health & Health Policy

Ranked #15 out of 202 public schools and programs (US News and World Report 2022), the City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is well-known for its strong commitment to health equity and social justice in all their education, research, and advocacy programs. CUNY SPH ranks in the top position among public schools for public health in both New York State and the tri-state area as well.

Their nine master’s degree programs are very much in tune with the ever-changing public health landscape. Besides the traditional Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Science in Public Health (MS), CUNY SPH has introduced several cutting-edge programs that focus on some of the most urgent issues of our time – for example, the MS in Population Health Informatics; MS in Health Communication for Social Change; and MS Global and Migrant Health Policy. MPH degrees are offered in both hybrid and online formats, whereas all MS degrees are online only, with the exception of the MS in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences.

Whichever mode you choose, expect excellence, flexibility, and affordability.

Online programs are priced at the subsidized in-state tuition rate regardless of your location, which means you get even more value for your money.

As the programmes are highly flexible, you can choose to attend full-time or part-time and even switch between the two if you want. Add outstanding student services, including the pioneering Career Skills Academy, and you have all the help you need to forge a successful career in this dynamic field.

The George Washington University: Milken Institute of Public Health

GWSPH is home to seven departments. Source: The George Washington University

In its 25-year evolution, The George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health (GWSPH) has built an impressive research enterprise and continuously launched cutting-edge postgraduate and doctorate programs — both accomplishments have grown its student body exponentially.

Apart from being the US capital’s only school of public health, GWSPH is also the largest of its kind in the US, located in Washington, D.C.  — an epicenter of world politics — with access to both US and world leaders. Nearly 3,000 students are already here rubbing shoulders with pros and prepared to change the world by bettering lives and improving public health. Upon successful completion of a robust program, they go on to join an impressive global alumni of 290,000 changemakers.

The school offers several specialized programs that fill a public health skills gap that is only growing. The Master of Public Health (MPH) Biostatistics nurtures the necessary skills to successfully apply statistical methods to the biological, biomedical, and health services sciences. The Master of Public Health (MPH) Environmental Health Science and Policy was designed to develop professionals who can spearhead the reduction of risks posed by environmental and occupational hazards.

Meanwhile, the Master of Public Health (MPH) Epidemiology teaches the application of critical and analytical skills for a better understanding of disease and human health. Upon successful completion, graduates improve communities by developing, implementing, and evaluating innovative health practices and policies. Those keen on working in resource-poor settings have more to gain from the Master of Public Health (MPH) Global Environmental Health. A joint program between the Environmental and Occupational Health and Global Health departments, the program sets out to prepare students to apply analytical skills to prevent or lessen problems associated with environmental hazards to human health.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International